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.