The new Skoda Superb: A sleek highway beast preserving brand values

It was lunchtime after a morning full of meetings, an extraterrestrial lightning visit to a remote settlement, and an elegant escape from a demonstration of anarchists. "Drive!", I commanded my loyal driver, "drive red, we need to get to the news studio on time!", I urged him. The driver still tried to resist, because even a retired hillbilly boy knows that there are offenses that should not be committed, when every citizen has a road camera that records the dozens of offenses he commits every day.

So that's how we drove for fun, overtaking left and right, the blinkers flashing red-blue and for a rare moment I felt like a brother, really very important. That's how I fantasized to myself when I replaced the driver's position in the right rear seat of the Superb, trying to feel what it's like to be a minister, a senior CEO or the head of a crime family.

the truth? The feeling was not bad at all, even with the seat belt on properly. Skoda's business department was and remains a spacious and pampering position with a place to straighten your legs, adjust the air conditioning and music, and plan the dismissal of the public servant who does not follow my whims.

Exterior design: Among the effects of the electric revolution, we can mention the resurgence of the family-sedan category, which in the past was almost wiped out by the tsunami of crossovers. Range anxiety has forced tram manufacturers to squeeze every possible kilometer out of car batteries, and one way to do this is to improve aerodynamics.

This trend has brought some blush back to the cheeks of the low and elegant sedans - first and foremost Tesla, followed by the Chinese and European manufacturers. The truth is that with or without electricity, Skoda has never abandoned the elegant family configuration, and the Superb is the flagship of the Czech manufacturer. In Israel, Skoda leads the parade of family-executives with 500 Superb deliveries in 2024 (against only 228 Sonatas, and 144 Toyota Camry). For comparison, we note that during that period 766 Tesla-3s and 640 Xpeng P7s were sold in Israel.

The truth is that the outgoing Superb also looked excellent, low, elegant and respectable. The Czechs state that the conservative clientele did not want to see significant changes, and perhaps it was the suits from the finance department who wanted to save on development costs at a time when Skoda also has to spend billions on developing new electric cars.

Indeed, it takes a discerning eye to distinguish between the outgoing model and the new one. The dimensions are almost the same (a centimeter difference in width and height, a negligible addition of 5 centimeters in the length of the new model), as are the fronts. The new model has a front grille in a hexagonal structure, the previous one had a trapezoidal grille. The new LED Matrix lighting units have a slightly different design, the secondary units have been completely eliminated.

The rear also has minor changes, including elegant LED lighting with dynamic direction indicators. No one will replace the previous Superb because of design innovation, but conservative customers will be happy to replace the third generation with the fourth. We note that despite the conservatism, the new model looks fresher and more up-to-date.

Passenger cabin: with the same wheelbase, the passenger cabin is also not fundamentally different in terms of the interior space (which was great when it was) and the emphasized usability. But the dashboard has undergone a significant technological transformation, with a high-quality 13-inch display mounted in the center. The display is colorful and bright, as are the accompanying cameras. The use of the display is clear and intuitive, the hierarchy makes sense, and there is no doubt that this is a product superior by orders of magnitude to some of the products that come to us from China.

The response speed is excellent, illustrating that there is great computing power behind the glass. Below the monitor are installed three large physical dials, pleasant to operate and finished with sharp grooves - this is a perfect reversal for rummaging through complicated and troublesome menus.

The driver can choose an alternating functionality of the three dials, similar to the system we met in the Range Rover. We also liked the dashboard - 10 inches - in front of the driver, and the overhead display that projects speed data, navigation and other parameters on the front window that are fun to see, without taking your eyes off the road.

The four main seats are very spacious and comfortable, the front ones are electric and offer upgraded messaging capabilities, it was very pleasant, thank you! The seats are very ergonomic and well supportive, the padding is very firm - at times I would have preferred them to be a little softer.

Moving the gear lever to the steering wheel allowed for a convenient and useful central console. With the Simply Clever approach, you will continue to receive the traditional umbrella and ice scraper and another topical accessory, a pad for wiping fingerprints from the multimedia display.

To close the "minister's corner" I checked the space in the back - the back seat is indeed more spacious than the front-right one, but the view out is less good. I guess for those who are constantly busy with their cell phone or computer, there is no reason to move to the front seat. You can also sit in the rear-central seat, but it is less luxurious.

The volume of the trunk has increased a little more, up to 645 liters (a whopping 1,795 liters, with the rear seat folded); The huge hatchback door facilitates access to the depths of the trunk. In the best of tradition, the trunk is extremely useful with a real spare wheel, mooring and suspension hooks, nets and a new "cargo hammock" and also a lockable side compartment. There is no doubt that the passenger compartment is one of the strengths of Superb for its generations, and the fourth generation also lives up to expectations. The Superb offers a pleasant and pampering living space, whether you are a brother with three helpers, or whether you are taking the family for a distant weekend.

Engine, performance and fuel consumption: the electric age has not yet arrived for the new Superb, but soon a plug-in hybrid version will be presented, based on the 1.5 liter gasoline engine, augmented with an electric motor and a 25.7 kWh battery. The hybrid Superb will have a power of 197 hp and an impressive range of 120 kilometers on pure electricity, but in the meantime we will be content with five gasoline and diesel engines, almost identical to those of the outgoing model.

During the launch I drove three petrol versions. The 1.5 liter is supported by a mild hybrid system, and it continues to "do the job" with a modest 150 hp. It allows fluid and not lazy driving, but works hard to maintain a fast pace of movement on mountain roads (9.3 seconds from zero to 100).

For conservative customers who at best drive calmly, this is a reasonable and absolutely suitable option. The 1.5 liter version was pleasant and quick to steer thanks to its relatively low curb weight, 235/45R18 tires and front-wheel drive. All models are equipped with a 7-speed DSG gearbox that performs excellently, even when crawling through traffic jams.

The gear lever has been moved to the steering column, which is fine; I liked less the sophistication of turning the gear lever on a pivot - you can get used to the new operation, but I'm not sure it's better than the traditional one.

In order to improve fuel consumption, many aerodynamic improvements were made, which lowered the vehicle's drag coefficient to 0.23, 15% less than the outgoing model. We were not able to check the fuel consumption, but it should improve slightly - during the test we saw consumption figures of 15-17 kilometers per liter.

At the peak of gasoline performance is a sporty 2.0-liter version, which provides 265 horsepower and 40 kgm - this is a powerful and fast car (5.7 seconds from zero to 100), but it does not give a sporty enough feeling; Certainly not when there are electric cars on the horizon that give a much stronger acceleration experience, for less money.

The most successful version in my opinion is the 2.0 liter 204 hp gasoline, which provides an excellent combination of agility, comfort and a feeling of lightness. In relaxed driving it is also quite economical. In the top versions, you can choose between driving modes (sport, comfort, economical, individual) - the adaptive shock absorbers are stiffened and the steering wheel is slightly tapered, but the change is not dramatic. You will feel the main difference in the gearbox, which will pull to a higher RPM.

The powerful diesel version (194 hp for the Minister) is less successful in my opinion; The diesel is less refined than the gasoline units, and its responses are not fast. All models come with an extensive safety system, precise cruise control (which receives information from the navigation system, and adjusts the driving speed), and ten airbags. The cruise control is quick to decide that you are not focused enough, beeps a warning, to the point of shaking the car with the brakes, so that you don't fall asleep at the wheel.

Comfort and road behavior: one of the insights sharpened in the launch of a family sedan is the high price we pay for the crossover fashion that bites into all market segments. We all fell in love with the feeling of height and control that raised crossovers give, but we forgot how much we lose in terms of ride comfort, stability and road behavior, and fuel consumption.

On the good roads of the Czech Republic, the Skodas were very comfortable, a little on the stiff and precise side, what we used to call "German". The Superbs will arrive in Israel with 18 and 19 inch rims, depending on the level of the engine and the car's accessories. With a wheelbase of 2.84 meters the car is very comfortable, even on uneven asphalt - but we will have to wait for an Israeli test to see how the Superb skips between the regiments and asphalt patches.

With a low center of gravity and a well-weighted steering wheel, the Superb is quick to enter a turn, is not excited by asphalt bumps that shake it in the middle of a turn, and the feeling is very safe and predictable - even in the front-wheel drive versions, and certainly with the 4x4. The Superb does not pretend to be a hot sports car, but it is capable of being very fast, and providing significant driving pleasure. The driving position is excellent, the steering wheel is well positioned and the right size. Improved acoustic insulation leaves most of the wind, tire and engine noise outside the passenger compartment.

Bottom line: 1.6 million Superbs have been sold worldwide since 2001, and the fourth generation looks more attractive than ever. The new Skoda Superb will arrive in Israel towards the end of 2024, in two gasoline versions (1.5 and 2.0 liters) and a 2.0 liter diesel. The trim levels will range between Sportline and Selection and above them the top Laurin & Klement. Most of the cars will arrive with 2x4 drive, a minority of 4x4 - the specifications are not yet closed, as are the prices.

Don't expect popular offers, already today you will pay NIS 194-306 thousand for the outgoing Superb - and the prices for the new model will only go up. Unfortunately, the station wagon ("combi") models will not arrive in Israel. Unfortunately, the Superb will continue to be sold with a manufacturer's warranty for only two years without a km limit, with a paid option to extend the warranty to three years.

The car manager orders protected 2.0-liter diesel Skodas for the ministers, to my surprise with 2x4 drive; Precisely for those who may escape from protesters or hill boys, I would recommend a 4x4, which can be a better escape vehicle. I'm not a minister, but if I was planning to buy a Skoda Superb, I would go for the 2.0 liter gasoline (preferably with 18 inch rims). I like the declared conservatism of the Czech brand, an exception in the frenetic landscape of the car market in 2024.

The new Superb is a polished highway animal, which maintains the brand values we have known for 20 years. It is a solid and high-quality executive family, which does not get carried away by passing fads, and continues to devote itself to everyday usability - without neglecting the motor capabilities, advanced technology and a very high level of safety. The Superb is suitable for family or business use, and it is also capable of giving the sporty driver moments of pleasure and challenge, as long as he manages to find a driving road that is not congested from turn to turn. 

Rami Gilboa, who was a guest of Skoda in Prague, participated in the preparation of the article