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What’s it like?
When Skoda revived an old nameplate from its distant past for the Volkswagen Passat-based Mk1 Superb in 2001, there was a danger for its model designation to be a total misnomer. Thankfully, the first two generations were fine; maybe not ‘superb’, but they were big, spacious and well-equipped, and represented excellent value for money.
However, the arrival of this Mk3 in 2015 changed things – now the Superb had additional desirability and high-quality finishing mixed in, without sacrificing any of the characteristics its predecessors held. That makes it one of the best large family/executive cars of its type, so good that it not only beats most of its obvious competitors but you could also consider it a great used alternative to an Audi A4, BMW 3 Series or Mercedes C-Class, it’s that good. Even better, it was sold as both a commodious Fastback and a simply enormous Combi estate, so the practicality levels of the Superb are through the roof.
Which model to go for?
Skoda sold this generation of Superb with petrol engines badged ‘TSI’, and diesel engines christened ‘TDI’. Broadly speaking, there are smaller-capacity and larger-capacity versions of both, with a couple of power outputs of each too. Originally, the Superb was available with a 1.4 TSI and then a 2.0 TSI, or a 1.6 TDI and a 2.0 TDI. More powerful versions of the 2.0-litre engines, petrol or diesel, could be paired with 4x4 all-wheel drive, which meant they gained the seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox. It was an option elsewhere in the range and there are also many models fitted with the six-speed manual.
By the facelift in 2019, the 1.4 TSI had been replaced with a more advanced 1.5 TSI, while the most potent petrol model – which previously had 280hp and four-wheel drive – was slightly derated to 272hp but was still comfortably the most powerful Superb in the entire range. Meanwhile, the regular petrol and diesel cars were joined by a plug-in hybrid named the ‘iV’, which used the older 1.4 TSI engine and a six-speed auto with an 85kW electric motor, or an overall power output of 218hp.
However, with all that choice, the vast majority of used Skoda Superbs on our second-hand market are TDIs – either the 120hp 1.6 or the 150hp 2.0. Even the iV with its super-low CO2 output couldn’t break the TDI’s stranglehold on buyers of the Superb when new, as it is comparatively rare - if slightly more common than some of the 190hp-plus petrol models. Good news, though, as the 2.0-litre 150hp TDI is unquestionably the best all-round powertrain for the Superb, so your only main choice is seeking out which gearbox you want to go with it.
Does anything go wrong?
Model-specific faults are not known with the Skoda Superb, but on the diesels you want to watch for clogged particular filters (DPFs), which will be more commonplace on lower-mileage cars that have done predominantly shorter journeys; it’s one of the rare instances where, as long as the maintenance record is up to snuff, higher mileage isn’t the deterrent to buying a Superb TDI it might otherwise be.
Skoda issued eight recalls for the third-generation Superb, which were for a fuse fault leading to a voltage flashover; a loose engine cover; the screw connection in the brake pushrod; a problematic electrical connector; the driver’s airbag; the rear wheel bearing housing; the passenger seatbelt tensioner; and a fault with the sunroof.