Sharing my thoughts on the 2024 Skoda Superb

I have spent a lot of time choosing the right manufacturer and model for our next family car, and I want to share my experience and final choice about the new 2024 Skoda Superb.

I want to make it clear that this post is not for commercial purposes and is purely my personal opinion and experience.

I was searching for a sedan, hatchback, or estate car for my family of four. I prefer non-SUV models because I like how they sit on the road, how they handle, their better noise insulation, improved fuel economy, and the overall design. So, I tried the new Skoda Superb.

We took long test drives twice, one with the PHEV L&K trim and another with the 1.5L TSI Selection trim. We drove more than 200 km on each test drive in mixed conditions that included highway and city driving. We went with the mid-trim model because after driving the L&K, three of us, including my wife and older daughter, got a bit nauseous. Here are the main things that stood out for us:

  • Suspension:
    • DCC plus on L&K: it does an amazing job of absorbing bumps and handling sharp turns at high speeds. We barely felt anything; it was that smooth. However, as mentioned, we did feel a bit sick with it, even in both sport and normal modes.
    • Normal mode without DCC plus: it felt like a mix between normal and sport compared to DCC plus, but it still absorbed bumps well with very little noise.
  • Plug-in system: it felt just like a real electric car and gave a substantial boost to the 1.5 TSI motor. From our point of view, the claimed range of 120 km is realistic, and you can expect around 100 km on a full charge based on driving habits.
  • Noise insulation: this was a big surprise for me. Even driving the wagon version, it performed greatly with very little wind or tire noise entering the cabin at speeds around 140 km/h. The double acoustic windows must have contributed to this.
  • Matrix LED headlights: they are super bright and responsive, able to light up surrounding cars without blinding other drivers. I would highly recommend them.
  • Leather seats with massage function: very comfortable with good side support. My wife and kids appreciated the massage feature.
  • Fuel consumption with 1.5 TSI: averaged 7.1 L per 100 km in mixed mode, which is a great figure considering the large size of nearly 5 meters in length and weight over 1.6 tons. It’s worth noting that this was achieved during test drives when I was accelerating faster than normal.
  • 13-inch display for the infotainment system: very responsive, clear, and fairly easy to use. I don’t see any issues in getting used to it.
  • Trunk space: it’s large. Even with the PHEV model, which has about 170 liters less than the pure TSI, it felt spacious. In numbers, it matches the trunk of a Toyota Camry but feels more practical with a rectangular shape compared to the Camry’s. The non-PHEV model has a significantly larger trunk.
  • Cabin space: enormous. I’m 184 cm tall and could easily fit a full backpack between my knees and the driver seat, which was adjusted for my height.
  • Headrest horns in the backseat: very comfy and didn’t get in the way even when resting my head on them. My entire family approved.
  • Physical dials for adjusting sound, temperature, etc.: I loved them. They might feel a bit cheap, but I definitely prefer them over touch bars and haptic surfaces.

In the end, we were worried about feeling sick even with the firmest DCC suspension setting, so we decided to order the mid-trim PHEV model, adding Matrix LED headlights, leather seats for easy cleaning, the Family pack with the horns and extra rear passenger airbags, and an electric tailgate.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, really interesting. What other cars or models did you think about?

Kim said:
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, really interesting. What other cars or models did you think about?

Happy you found it interesting.

I checked out the new Toyota Camry and the Volvo S90.

As a previous Toyota owner, I found the sound insulation on the new Camry poor at speeds over 90 km/h. My 9-year-old Avensis handles that much better despite having 169k km. Also, I found the seats uncomfortable, and the trunk space was less than what the Superb PHEV offers, even though they are comparable in liters.

The S90 has been my dream car for the past 20 years because of my great experiences with my dad’s S80 on the highway. The sound insulation was less impressive than I anticipated, and I’d say the Superb wagon is very close. However, the trunk space was quite small. In the end, it didn’t seem worth the higher cost.

@Grier
That’s probably because the new Volvo isn’t the same since it was bought out by China.

What about squeaky and crackly plastic parts? I recently checked the latest Kodiaq and I noticed the noise from door handles and other parts were awful.

Kai said:
What about squeaky and crackly plastic parts? I recently checked the latest Kodiaq and I noticed the noise from door handles and other parts were awful.

In the Superb, you really have to put pressure on the imitation wood line on the front panel to hear any noise. Even then, the sound is minimal.

I didn’t hear any sound from the door handles either, whether driving or operating them.

The physical dials feel a bit wobbly when you shake them, but overall, I really liked them and have updated my post about that. Overall, there is not a lot of cheap hard plastic in the cabin.

I’m curious how the DCC in sport mode could make you feel more sick than the normal suspension. When I road-tested the new Kodiaq, my wife got sick in comfort mode right away, while the sport mode was fine for her.

@Luca
That was strange for me as well. I think the way the suspension absorbs rough roads is different; it evens out the movement faster than the non-DCC setup, even in sport mode. Plus, the wheelbase, acoustic windows, and our sensitivity likely played a part.
In general, I didn’t want to risk being afraid of going on long trips because of feeling dizzy.

Great review. I saw a beautiful Superb wagon yesterday parked in the city.

Good i got 1.5tsi l@k interesting about getting sea sick :grinning:

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@Ezra
Nice car by the way!

@Ezra
The dealer mentioned that we are the third case in his 10 years of experience with similar feedback regarding the Superb. Really lucky!

I got the previous generation Superb estate PHEV - a nice second-hand German L&K version with 65k km. I haven’t tried the horns in the backseat yet as my wife prefers that I do the driving. I feel similarly about my car.

At first, we felt sick in Normal mode but later switched mostly to sport mode. Now we use Normal for short city drives and switch to sport for highways or mountain roads.

I was looking for a newer car to replace my old 2001 Saab 9-5 Aero. Being tall and heavy-built made it hard to fit in most cars I tried. The Subaru Forester felt good but was too pricey. I really didn’t like the CVT and it felt unstable at highway speeds. Not to mention, it had a complete lack of power.

So, we decided to look for an estate again but not specifically for a 4x4 or AWD. Most sporty wagons are too low, so I started checking out Passat and Skoda without prior knowledge. I drive 7-10 km to work every day, so a recent or brand new 10kWh PHEV would let me go electric through the day and charge overnight. The Passat didn’t have ventilated seats, but the Superb did, which influenced my decision.

Because of my low mileage, I didn’t want to go for diesel or pure ICE options. An AWD with an electric rear and ICE in the front would have been a great fit, or the AWD on the Superb 4x4. I thought about the Kodiaq PHEV but didn’t want FWD; I’d prefer AWD for more confidence on dirt roads and light mud, and I needed higher clearance. I see no value in getting a FWD SUV.

The trunk is a good size, and the DCC suspension is acceptable. It’s very practical. I enjoy the soundproofing, and it feels comfy with the panoramic roof and all the features. It also feels agile with the hybrid power and the DSG. At the beginning, I found it too easy to spin the tires when I just aimed for a quick acceleration.

But if I want a real driving experience, I can always take my old Saab, which lacks modern technology but has a turbo petrol 230hp engine, upgraded to about 280. I can enjoy some Motley Crue or Quiet Riot on the Harman Kardon while driving an empty road. Or just put on a CD of Queen - A Kind Of Magic. No screens, almost no assisting systems, except for ABS and engine-limited TCS with a button to deactivate. I still have more space in the Saab and find the driving position more comfortable. I am restoring it as a weekend project.

Yet, I believe the Superb was one of the few recent and/or brand new cars I could afford that offered all the practicality, performance, and features I had in my 23-year-old Saab along with all the recent upgrades my wife and I wanted (360 camera, PHEV, Android Auto, etc.). It was a solid purchase for us. Most people around me would lean towards the diesel or petrol versions, though.

I also looked at the Citroen C5x, which seemed like a good option, but a brand new one was 40% more expensive than the 3.5-year-old Superb.

Who lets you take a 200 km test drive? Great review. Personally, I think PHEV isn’t the best choice. It’s either go full electric, HEV or ICE. I have the 1.5 TSI in my Scala. It performs well for its size. The dry clutch works okay, but not great. Have you thought about the EA888? A 2.0L with a wet clutch? The wet clutch offers a smoother start and better durability, with some service needs. That would be my choice. I believe the EA211 (1.5 TSI) might be a bit underpowered for a Superb, and the dry clutch isn’t the best for long-term use. 1800 kg is a bit much for that drivetrain.

@Ainsley
Thanks for your thoughts.
I think a 200 km test drive is standard for important purchases like this car.

A wet clutch might be a better long-term option, but I’m not an engineer or mechanic.

From what I’ve seen, the 2.0 TSI is actually more expensive than the 1.5 with PHEV, around 1k euros more. Plus, the PHEV helps lower fuel costs since I can charge at work for free. And the 2.0 consumes about 1 L more per 100 km compared to the 1.5.

Honestly, the 1.5 TSI felt good when I drove it during the test.

@Grier
In Australia, you get maybe 20 minutes for a test drive. I wish we had 200 km. Here, I spend half the time with the salesperson in the car. It’s far from great.

Fuel prices are a bit lower here. The 2.0L probably uses more like +2L/100. I guess the company has to manage average fleet emissions, which may influence prices too.

If you get free charging and drive to work daily, then PHEV makes perfect sense.

It just seems odd to have an engine lugging around an electric drive and vice versa. I’m also curious how the engine handles frequent cold starts and stops and how it lubricates in PHEV mode. I suppose it’s all about trusting the engineers and product managers, though they have commercial pressures to navigate.

@Ainsley
I’m also from Australia. You’re right; European markets have way better prices and choices for cars. So you own a Skoda?