Skoda Superb Sportline 2017 Review
Stylish Euro wagon delivers on the equipment and driving frontsWhat’s it all about?
Black packs are de-rigueur in 2017, whether you’re talking one-tonne utes, sports cars or family wagons. So, to uphold this keenly-observed trend, Skoda has released a new black-themed styling pack for its Superb 206TSI large car, available in sedan or wagon form.
OK, so the aptly-named Sportline is more than a splash of colour – it builds on the existing and impressive 206TSI flagship with 17 different trim changes. All the underlying mechanicals are carry-over, so thankfully Skoda kept the RS badge well away from this newcomer.
How much will it cost?
At $51,990 (plus on-road costs) in sedan guise - and $53,690 (plus on-road costs) as a wagon - the Sportline is the most expensive Skoda model currently on sale in Australia.
In saying that, the additional outlay does get you appreciably more kit than the $1000 listed. You can find the full changes in our separate pricing story here.
The car’s European roots are readily evident from the interior build and presentation. The cabin bristles with different surface treatments, including plenty of soft-touch panels, comfy seats and easy-to-read interfaces. There’s no virtual cockpit display, as found on other Volkswagen Group products, but the instrument cluster is still neat and easy to navigate.
The Sportline builds on the 206TSI’s impressive list of standard features, comprising bi-xenon headlights, a reversing camera, front and rear parking sensors, Bluetooth phone and audio streaming, colour touchscreen, sat-nav, climate control and front heated seats.
Elsewhere, the Superb pays attention to the little things, like Apple CarPlay. The eight-inch touchscreen also projects key performance functions including bar pressure, g-force, engine and oil temperatures.
On the safety front, the Superb gets a full suite of airbags, well-honed ABS and stability control functions, automated emergency braking and adaptive cruise control, among other highlights.
The Sportline runs an unchanged 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine carried over from the 206TSI. Outputs remain at a healthy 206kW and 350Nm, the vehicle sending drive to all four wheels via a six-speed dual-clutch transmission.
Taking a leaf from other European marques, Skoda offers several optional ‘packs’ with the Superb. The catch here is that they’re actually pretty worthwhile.
A $3400 Tech pack bundles adaptive chassis control with Driving Mode selection (suspension, steering, engine/gearbox calibrations), Lane assist, blind spot monitoring, electric tailgate, premium 12-speaker sound system with subwoofer, rear traffic alert and automated parking assist.
There’s also a $700 Comfort pack bringing electric front passenger seat adjustment and heated rear seats.
Buying a Skoda nowadays doesn’t represent the perceived ownership risk that it once might have, either. The Czech car maker is now keenly pursuing more transparency during the buying and ownership experience.
As such, the Sportline comes equipped with a five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty, a fixed servicing package and is offered with a guaranteed future value scheme. Granted, the latter feature probably doesn’t address all concern surrounding the marque’s resale values.
The fixed price servicing package is available in three or five year allotments. Three years or 45,000km is priced at $1299, while five years or 75,000km is priced at $2650.
Why should/shouldn’t I buy it?
The Skoda masks its 4.9-metre long proportions and 1600kg tare mass with mature and refined driving dynamics.
In sedan guise driven here, it feels pointed and responsive through the twisties, and equally composed over rough country backroads, with a keen sporty bend to the ride and handling.
Key to this are adaptive driving modes which, in Sport, tighten the car’s roll and pitch through corners and, in Comfort mode, help settle things over pockmarked surfaces.
Our vehicle, fitted with adaptive suspension, feels sharp over minor inconsistencies, however it irons out larger wallows admirably to strike up a neat comfort-performance balance.
Push harder and the Superb remains composed and in control, its Pirelli 19-inch rubber showing the first signs of fatigue, pushing slightly wide and squelching through faster corners.
The 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine is willing in its power delivery, summoning speed early thanks to the grippy all-wheel drive system and torquey engine, which hits peak figures from 1700rpm. The claimed 5.8 second zero to 100km/h time is further underlined by a healthy mid-range and quick-shifting dual-clutch automatic transmission.
The four-pot is muted in its delivery, too; in foot-to-the-floor scenarios, you’ll elicit a subtle blip between gear changes. Otherwise, the engine is content pushing for its 7.3L/100km fuel claim.
The one criticism of the driving experience is the transmission, which occasionally hesitates during take-offs and can make the engine feel slightly elastic in its power delivery. But on the whole, the Superb does most things well.
When is it available in Australia?
The Sportline is on sale in showrooms now, and is likely to be the first of several Sportline packages across the Skoda fleet.
Depending on the success of the new flagship, Skoda may consider deleting the existing 206TSI altogether, channelling its energy on one range-topping variant.
Who will it appeal to?
The Superb’s interior space, standard equipment and safety makes it highly compatible with modern families.
Generous front-seat proportions are matched by a comfortable rear bench easily capable of housing three full-sized adults on short stints (two in comfort on long journeys). Rear air vents, rear sun shades, quick-folding seat levers, door-mounted rubbish bins and two standard fitment umbrellas in the front doors bolster the Sportline’s everyday amenity.
Its 625-litre boot (wagon 660 litres) is nothing to sneeze at either, expanding to 1760 litres (wagon 1950) with the rear seat folded flat. That’s with a space-saver spare tyre underneath.
The rear bench is fitted with two ISOFIX fittings on the outer pews and three top tether points.
The Superb features load-lugging abilities to match its weekend-friendly stature, including a maximum braked towing capacity of 2200kg (maximum downball weight 90kg), plus roof racks.
Tech heads are with the fitment of Apple CarPlay, but might find the lone USB port insufficient. In place are 12-volt outlets in the first and second rows, plus the boot.
So, what do we think?
The large car segment might be shrinking, but you’d wonder why upon experiencing the Superb Sportline.
Sure, there’s no stonking V8, as found on Australian contemporaries, and the ride height pales against the ubiquitous SUV, but thoughtful packaging and a proven drivetrain and handling combination continue to make this sedan-wagon pairing relevant.
Sufficiently sporty but cleverly spared the RS moniker, the latest Superb truly lives up to the name.
2017 Skoda Superb Sportline pricing and specifications:
Price: $51,990 plus on-road costs (sedan), $53,690 plus on-road costs (wagon)
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 206kW/350Nm
Transmission: Six-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel: 7.3L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 167g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP
Related reading:
>> Skoda Superb 206TSI Review
>> Skoda Superb 162TSI Review
>> Skoda Superb Sportline pricing and specs
- Thoughtful interior packaging
- Strong engine
- After sales package
- Dual-clutch low speed hesitation
- Lengthy options list
- No standard electric tailgate
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
