Skoda Superb 125TDI Elegance wagon 2011 Review

Price Guide (recommended price before statutory and delivery charges): $49,990
Options fitted to test car (not included in above price): Power tailgate: $790
Crash rating: Five-star (EuroNCAP - sedan)
Fuel: Diesel
Claimed fuel economy (L/100km): 6.6
CO2 emissions (g/km): 175
Also consider: Volkswagen Passat; Ford Mondeo; Mazda 6

About our ratings

Just when we thought station wagons were on the brink of automotive oblivion, along come offerings so surprisingly good they give the genre a more-than-welcome kickstart.

Similarly to other once-dominant segments that have languished, then risen again (mid-sizers such as Mazda6 and Honda Accord Euro are examples), wagons are experiencing something of a renaissance as car designers imbue them with more style and, often, sportier dynamics. Car-based wagons appear to be deliberately flaunting their decidedly non-SUV characteristics.

And the new-breed wagons cover a wide range of demographics. From Hyundai's i30 to the sumptuous Mercedes E-Class (Benz will in the future also launch a wagon version of its lithe CLS). And there's an eclectic assortment of Euro oddities and pragmatic Japanese in between -- with very little travelling-salesman blandness to boot.

In fact, one of the most inspiring newcomers is from Holden, once the epitome of family wagon makers. The desirably hip Commodore Sportwagon moves away from the tendency towards more wheelbase, more bulk and less relevancy in an SUV-dominated world. Holden designers took a punt and made the chunky wagon smaller than its predecessor but a lot more appealing to look at. And, justifying the Sportwagon appellation, a better drive.

Among the many Euros entering the fray is Skoda, which has been offering wagon versions of the Octavia since the model's launch and, in May 2010, introduced a wagon as part of its top of the line Superb range.

If you are thinking the Czech wagon is a close competitor for its virtual stablemate, the VW Passat wagon, you'd be pretty right. There is a lot of Passat in there, including the basic engine/transmission combinations and drive systems. But there's one area where the Skoda trumps the VW: Interior space.

An indisputably important consideration when it comes to wagons, the Skoda Superb's load area is more accommodating than the already-generous Passat -- although it is the extra lounging room provided for rear-seat occupants that impresses most. This is a big mid-size wagon.

A 52mm increase over the Passat's wheelbase might not sound much, but it actually translates into a back seat that rivals many a luxury limo. No need to worry about long-limbed passengers in the front or rear of the Superb -- there's room here to spare even for grown-up basketballers.

Along with this, the Skoda is able to boast a 633-litre boot area with all seats in place, which is already way better than most, but its total seats-folded 1865 litres is what really makes an impact. Skoda says it is "bigger than anything yet seen in the segment" and it is hard not to agree -- the Passat wagon, already better than many others, quotes 603/1731 litres, while Mazda's mid-size 6 wagon is rated at 579/1751 litres. (By way of comparison, Holden's Sportwagon still betters the Czech -- 2000 litres of total load capacity).

But it is not just about capacity. The way Skoda's wagon delivers the space leaves a lasting impression. An optional rear floor extension facilitates easy loading, and adjustable luggage restraints can be positioned randomly on twin aluminium rails running along each side of the floor to secure items. The car's 60-40 rear-seat backrests double-fold to produce a perfectly flat load platform.

Thoughtful luggage area lighting produces a pool of illumination on the area outside, as well as inside the vehicle and there's a rechargeable LED flashlight that can be clamped magnetically anywhere on the car's body after it's removed from its dedicated stowage in the tailgate. Like the Passat wagon, the Superb is also optionally available with a power tailgate.

The length, width and height of the load area enable confident throwing-aboard of bulky items that would stymie many another wagons. Perhaps the only problem is the quality of the trim materials. Light cream colour in our test car, they almost demand you take extra care such is the excellent fit and finish.

Comparisons with the Passat are inevitable, especially considering there's nothing really in it when compared for price, but the reality is the Superb doesn't share any panels with its VW counterpart, even if the general thinking is basically the same... And example? The Passat offers a handy brolly cubby in the driver's door, while the Superb does likewise, except it's located in the left-side rear door.

In terms of build quality, there's nothing to choose between the two. The Superb, especially in Elegance form as tested here, has a Germanic upmarket look and feel with standard satellite navigation, dual-zone climate control, leather seats, woodgrain dash trim, power front seats (with memory on the driver's side), tyre pressure monitor and an acoustically pleasing 400-Watt sound system.

Passat and Skoda prices are generally in the same ballpark, although the Superb comes with some gear listed as optional in the VW. Significant examples are the standard fitment in the Skoda of Park Assist, and a driver's side knee airbag at both Ambition and Elegance level.

For both Superb and Passat, the 1.8-litre 118kW TSI four-cylinder is the base engine, followed by the 2.0-litre 125kW TDI and, at the top of the range, the all-wheel drive, 191kW FSI petrol V6.

The petrol four-cylinder hooks up to the corporate seven-speed DSG transmission, while the diesel and the petrol V6 drive through a six-speed DSG.

On the road, the Superb wagon, not surprisingly, drives a lot like the Passat wagon. Ride quality may be slightly better due to the longer wheelbase. The Skoda is quite serene, yet has a discernible competence with its readiness to tackle the dips and dives in a responsive, controlled fashion.

The electro mechanical power steering goes from lock to lock in a tidy three turns and is well weighted to make for easy parking (assisted by front and rear parking sensors and made even easier if the Park Assist is employed).

Six speeds in the DSG transmission may not sound as good as seven, but the 125kW/350Nm turbodiesel has plenty of urge to fill any gaps that might be there. In fact, the diesel is a tad smoother than the petrol 118 TSI DSG which can be a bit disconcerting at times with its over-eager step-off that often leaves the front wheels spinning if the driver is less than judicious with the accelerator. The diesel tends to soften the initial response to give a generally smoother getaway.

But the torque is available from low in the rev range (from 1750rpm), ensuring the 1627kg Superb wagon is never left at the back of the pack. In the manner of most contemporary turbodiesels it's quiet too, especially when on the move where it is virtually indiscernible from a petrol engine.

The six-speed DSG blurs ratio changes beautifully, but there remains some indecisiveness when the car is being inched forward or backward, with the clutch constantly engaging and disengaging in a way that has one almost yearning for a torque converter.

The benefits of DSG quickly overcome any shortcomings, however. The TDI Superb wagon is brisk (zero to 100km/h in 8.9 seconds), economical (6.6L/100km) and relatively clean, with a C02 reading of 175g/km -- although the petrol TSI is slightly better in this respect with 173g/km.

On test, we actually did better than the official figures with an average of 6.0L/100km, in mainly country driving.

While the use of superlatives when naming a car might seem a tad pretentious, let's remember the Skoda brand does have its Czech roots with different interpretations of English terminology. It might sound silly to call a car Superb at first but, like many others (what is a Yaris anyway?), you tend to get used to it.

Let's just say the new Skoda is a really, really good mid-size wagon.

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