Facelifted Skoda Superb officially revealed

An overhauled version of the Skoda Superb sedan and wagon has been unveiled that introduces mild cosmetic updates, refreshed engines and the option of a new plug-in hybrid powertrain from the Volkswagen Passat GTE.

In the flesh, only a side-by-side comparo with the old Skoda Superb will pick out the new LED Matrix headlamps, the new grille and remodelled front bumper.

At the rear and, again, the refresh is subtle with a pair of new lamps, a new chrome boot lid finisher and bold 'SKODA' badging.

It's inside, you'll immediately notice the improvements introduced with the 2019 Superb, there's now a full digital instrument cluster and a new infotainment system.

Under the bonnet, the big Skoda has been gifted a range of cleaner more efficient engines from the recently refreshed VW Passat, these include three petrols and diesels.

On the petrol side, there's a 150kW turbocharged 1.5-litre TSI that's paired with either a six-speed manual or a 7-speed dual-clutch DSG transmission.

Want more power and there's a 2.0-litre TSI turbo with either 140kW or 200kW – the latter coming with all-wheel drive and 7-speed DSG.

Prefer diesel and there's a 1.6 TDI with 88kW that gets a 7-speed DSG as standard or the bigger 2.0-litre TDI that produces 110kW or 140kW.

In Europe, as mentioned, the big news is the availability of Skoda's first ever plug-in hybrid.

Lifting its entire electrified powertrain from the VW Passat GTE, the Superb iV combines a turbocharged 115kW 1.4-litre TSI petrol, an 85kW integrated electric motor within the six-speed dual-clutch transmission and a 13kWh lithium ion battery.

In total, the Superb iV produces 160kW/400Nm and has the ability to cover a WLTP-verified 55km on pure-electric power alone and up to 850km when combined with the petrol engine.

Using a standard socket and lead plugged into a panel located behind a flap in the radiator grille, an average charge from is said to take 3 hours 30 minutes using a 3.6kW wall box charger.

Official economy figures have yet to be released by Skoda but the efficient plug-in hatch is claimed to emit less than 40g/km of CO2.

As well as having to find somewhere to charge it every night, the big downside of the Superb iV is you have to sacrifice boot space in the sedan (485 litres, down from 625 litres and wagon 510 litres, reduced from 660 litres).

But a smaller boot is irrelevant to any Australian who fancies the big efficient Superb hybrid with a decent touring range because Skoda Australia says the Superb iV has been ruled out Down Under.

Instead, the rest of updated Superb hatch and wagon are expected to land in October 2019. Prices are expected around then.

The brand also revealed updated versions of the Skoda Superb Scout models but these will not be imported to Australia according to the local arm of the company, due to only "marginal" sales.