VW top brass called in all their engineers at an R&D facility at the VW; gave them a telling off basically because the car park for the staff there was full of Octavia and Superb's. So yes; the people who design and engineer VW's, drive Skoda's.
A simple recipe could be simply to turn some of the VW factories into Škoda ones because Škoda remains restricted to the Czech and Slovak factories - the Superb will be made in the Slovak capital. Why doesn't Zwickau, our East German former comrades, start to make all Škodas to increase the proportion? Octavias, Kodiaqs, Enyaqs, and/or Superbs? This common sense decision - from the viewpoint of VW shareholders like me - is opposed by some crazy German pride that is clearly more destructive than it was during the Third Reich when Škoda tanks were happily copied and that's how Germany was winning up to 1942 or so; by annoying Czech labor unions that want to have a monopoly over Škoda, and perhaps something else, too. Due to the overproduction of the increasingly uncompetitive pure VW sister models, the consumers suffer, and so do the shareholders.
There's a reason these are stupidly popular as company cars as well. Where I live whenever you go onto any office building parking lot it'll be full of skodas in all colors and sizes. Back when I just started working it was the BMW 3 series (touring, usually) that reigned supreme but over the years the Superb has taken over as the go-to company car for every "I work in IT and drive a semi-nice car" person it seems. Now it's at the point that I barely even see 3 series anymore, it's all skodas lol.
@@thierryvtI have talked to lots of Indians, including a Škoda India manager. Indians really don't see a difference between the luxury of Škodas and BMWs. The brands have the same status there. It may be refreshing to be a person that is not excessively sensitive to some details. In Europe we compare VW and Škoda and the latter mostly wins in recent years although it was arguably better for ten years or more. But maybe without the inertia and stereotypes, we would realize it makes more sense to compare Škodas and BMWs, true siblings that live in two families.
They have their limits, for instance in many reviews apparently VW has more sound insulation compared to Skoda and many other little subtle touches that makes the car better overall. Anyhow, if this will be 40k to start with, I doubt sales will go boom.
It's defenetly a good car but im not completely sold on the exterior looks of it. I think the previous gen looks better.But the new superb looks better then the new Passat.
The exterior is ok. It's the interior dash facelift I particularly dislike, designed to take the huge infotainment system screen. The facia in all but the l&k looks and feels cheap. The retained dials also feel flimsy. I'll be keeping my Mk III for a long time.
Sounds like Skoda is going to lead the way for practical, fun to drive, comfortable, easy to live with, efficient, and fantastic PHEV hybrid estate cars! I mean, people who can't charge at home, and who can't use fast chargers, will really benefit from the 50kw fast charge! The boot on the engine models being nearly 700 litres is superb, and better than pretty much any rubbish SUV! The new interior, although looks like only the premium version, looks so lovely! This will be a car for real superb driving! I hope they sell well, and come at good value. Well done Skoda!
We currently have a 2021 Superb sport line hatch, our second Superb and third Skoda and could not image buying another brand or model. Quality build, just a lot of car for the money, but what sets the brand apart are the dealers and customer service.
Same platform as the passat, but looks so much better. (in terms of looks, Skoda is what the more expensive VW should look like). I do hope they make an EV for these... Considering fosiel fueled cars (and hybrides) are getting banned/discouraged or penalized in more and more countries.
I already have a Skoda Superb estate/combi……. I WILL be getting another, (because they are truly superb) just as soon as there are some used cars available. I priced up an estate new, (L&K 265bhp AWD ) and it was a frightening £51K 😮
Just taken delivery of a new (23MY) Superb Estate SEL to replace a Kia Niro which I had to reject and I have to say that the build quality, fit and finish is way better than the 2022 Audi A3 Black Edition that I had last year. The Superb is great to drive and very economical. Love the looks of the new model but not convinced by the ‘tech’, give me physical buttons any day, so much safer. Great review and look forward to seeing the new model being driven.
I drive a Octavia vRS & I love it apart from the lack of physical controls for the air con , which drives me nuts . This is exactly what I want in a Skoda .
As for the first question: The Superb costs €46k and something, with endless extras, some should come with the car free of charge. Skoda represents today something as "eh...that's another German car brand", since it practices the same prices as most car brands today, and puts all the good things as an extra. The answer you gave, applies to Dacia.
We have the one before (2019) and it's one of the best cars I've driven (exclude Audis top range) but it's amazing. Truly great family car. Loving it, hope we get a VRS version of this one later down the line
Did they fixed the infotainment system problem which beged the entire car and needed hard reset to fix it? They gave the same issue to the Octavia 4th gen also and no updates manage to fix it so far. The 13" screen is way too much and too high up.
I've got a 3rd gen Superb estate 2.0d 4x4 and I absolutely love it for it's practicality, comfort, technology and simply effortless cruising - I think only a 4th gen would encourage me to swap cars. Though I have to add I am not a fan of these modern screens protruding from the dashboard, I much prefer the sleeker more integrated appearance of the gen 3. To me newer screens look like they have been plonked in as an afterthought and not designed in from the beginning - generally looks a bit sh1t!
For me the only thing they made better at this car is the back. Seems it is way closer to 90° which means you will loose not that much space in the back.
Another fantastic review. Am I alone in my aversion to the stuck on afterthought looking central screen? That would stop me buying a car. I have a 2017 Focus ST. The screen is big enough, and nicely integrated into the dash.
i had 4 skodas, fabia, superb, new superb and now kodiaq, i am very interested in plug in hybrid, only thing i don't like on skodas is GREEN glasses, especially when tinted. Every car manufactuer makes glass darker black, only skoda makes their glasses darker green.
Mk3 Superb Estate owner here - 280 L&K. Fabulously fast & practical car. However, they missed a trick by not having a full EV version in the lineup for this new Mk4, which is what I'm waiting for. Prices of all new cars are too expensive which is why I buy at 2-3 years old so it looks like I'll be waiting a while longer for Skoda or someone else to make a full size EV estate car. Not sure I like that new gear shift position & I'm guessing there's no spare wheel now - which is a negative IMO.
You get VERY quickly used to having the gear lever on the steering column. I had it on my old Citroen C4 Picasso and it is MUCH more convenient than the traditional position for an auto. As the bonus of course it cleans up the centre console hugely and would be a welcome change from the massive compensation that i presently have... size does matter, it seems!
It is not true that plug in hybrid is only on estate because of its site. The reason is company savings and countries where plug in hybrid is mostly sold prefer estates.
Great move Skoda, the move away from touch screen for all controls will sell cars! Funny to think that buttons and controls are the new premium. I hope BMW is listening….
Overall I like the new design, but am disappointed by the slight lack of solidity/stiffness on the interior fittings/dials - maybe the final production versions will have that ironed out. I am disappointed not to have seen much of the more conventional grey or black interiors as they are much more of what will be bought by most people. I currently have my second Gen 3 Superb and drive an enormous amount each year (35,000 miles/56,000 km). The cars are great, but have been plagued by a plethora of dire software problems. Due to my high mileage, I will be changing cars next year. I will definitely look at the new Superb, but I would need some convincing that Skoda are able to provide the technical expertise to quickly sort out the inevitable teething problems of such a complex vehicle.
Skoda is obviously becoming more premium and expensive than it used to be. With SEAT brand discontinued and Skoda going up market, VW Group doesn't have a budget brand to offer any more. That leaves a big market to rival brands, such as Dacia.
I have a 2015 mk3 estate. I would no way change it for this downgrade. The exterior is nice but that new dash is a horrible dust magnet with an iPad stuck on with blu-tack. Hate it.
As usual Doug a great thorough thinking man’s review. I hope that the floppy dials and dash is down to non production quality ? Otherwise I think Skoda have done well to retain the shape of the car - I own a current model Superb - and the inclusion of the heat and ac controls is such a bonus. Is there any idea as to when they will actually start production and sell?
Any fully tan interior? Hate those two or three coulor interiors you get as soon as you chose anything except black or grey. The one in this comercial don´t look wery nice with grey belts on a just partly brown interior...
Why VW put D up and R down on gear selector? Mercedes use this for years oppositely. R is up and Drive mode down.😭 for those who change the cars daily very unpleasant if not dangerous detail.
Sadly we here in the USA don't get access to Skoda products. Well designed, economical products that obliterate VW, which is why we don't get to see them, the Germans don't want the Czechs undercutting their own products. And a double sadness that we don't get any station wagons, only huge heavy SUV's that weight 4000 lbs.
I can’t get over the name coming from the states I find it very stupid. But at least it have a name unlike the random number / letter combinations of many other manufacturers
It might be a stupid name in the US, but apart from the historical reason for the name, unlike ANY current US market cars, it really lives up to its name.
What monstrosity is that digital gauges tablet with corners sticking out? Who approved THAT to production? 😂 It doesn't fit under that rounded dash. Looks like superglued on the top of analog gauges to hide them.
VW top brass called in all their engineers at an R&D facility at the VW; gave them a telling off basically because the car park for the staff there was full of Octavia and Superb's. So yes; the people who design and engineer VW's, drive Skoda's.
Makes sense since VWs management has no idea what theyre doing for a while already.
A simple recipe could be simply to turn some of the VW factories into Škoda ones because Škoda remains restricted to the Czech and Slovak factories - the Superb will be made in the Slovak capital. Why doesn't Zwickau, our East German former comrades, start to make all Škodas to increase the proportion? Octavias, Kodiaqs, Enyaqs, and/or Superbs?
This common sense decision - from the viewpoint of VW shareholders like me - is opposed by some crazy German pride that is clearly more destructive than it was during the Third Reich when Škoda tanks were happily copied and that's how Germany was winning up to 1942 or so; by annoying Czech labor unions that want to have a monopoly over Škoda, and perhaps something else, too. Due to the overproduction of the increasingly uncompetitive pure VW sister models, the consumers suffer, and so do the shareholders.
There's a reason these are stupidly popular as company cars as well. Where I live whenever you go onto any office building parking lot it'll be full of skodas in all colors and sizes. Back when I just started working it was the BMW 3 series (touring, usually) that reigned supreme but over the years the Superb has taken over as the go-to company car for every "I work in IT and drive a semi-nice car" person it seems. Now it's at the point that I barely even see 3 series anymore, it's all skodas lol.
@@thierryvtI have talked to lots of Indians, including a Škoda India manager. Indians really don't see a difference between the luxury of Škodas and BMWs. The brands have the same status there. It may be refreshing to be a person that is not excessively sensitive to some details. In Europe we compare VW and Škoda and the latter mostly wins in recent years although it was arguably better for ten years or more. But maybe without the inertia and stereotypes, we would realize it makes more sense to compare Škodas and BMWs, true siblings that live in two families.
I’m amazed that VW is allowing Škoda to make better cars than they do. I guess VW just assumes customers will buy it for the badge
Had a Kamiq, was awful in many ways, couldn’t get rid of it quick enough. Guess they are ok if you are over 80 and lost your mind.
They have their limits, for instance in many reviews apparently VW has more sound insulation compared to Skoda and many other little subtle touches that makes the car better overall. Anyhow, if this will be 40k to start with, I doubt sales will go boom.
@@iain8837may i ask what was so horrible about the kamiq?
They are basically increasing the market cap of skoda... 😂
VW is stable...
@@rokybalboa381 Just a Daft reply!
It's defenetly a good car but im not completely sold on the exterior looks of it. I think the previous gen looks better.But the new superb looks better then the new Passat.
Applies to pretty much every new Skoda and VW. The last gen models just looked better...
It doesnt.
Exactly! That's what I felt 😢
Think it looks like an Octavia.
The exterior is ok. It's the interior dash facelift I particularly dislike, designed to take the huge infotainment system screen.
The facia in all but the l&k looks and feels cheap. The retained dials also feel flimsy. I'll be keeping my Mk III for a long time.
Sounds like Skoda is going to lead the way for practical, fun to drive, comfortable, easy to live with, efficient, and fantastic PHEV hybrid estate cars! I mean, people who can't charge at home, and who can't use fast chargers, will really benefit from the 50kw fast charge! The boot on the engine models being nearly 700 litres is superb, and better than pretty much any rubbish SUV! The new interior, although looks like only the premium version, looks so lovely! This will be a car for real superb driving! I hope they sell well, and come at good value. Well done Skoda!
Great looking cars inside and out - always surprises me how they do such as good job at Skoda and balls it up so comprehensively at VW.
Yeah and BMW also.
Big thumbs up on including physical controls 👍
I am living in Guyana and that brand of vehicle is not known to many here, however the looks of it is amazing.
The boot on the new Superb is even more practical than the old versions. A friend of mine had one of the original Superbs and loved it to pieces!!
We currently have a 2021 Superb sport line hatch, our second Superb and third Skoda and could not image buying another brand or model. Quality build, just a lot of car for the money, but what sets the brand apart are the dealers and customer service.
Same platform as the passat, but looks so much better. (in terms of looks, Skoda is what the more expensive VW should look like). I do hope they make an EV for these... Considering fosiel fueled cars (and hybrides) are getting banned/discouraged or penalized in more and more countries.
I already have a Skoda Superb estate/combi……. I WILL be getting another, (because they are truly superb) just as soon as there are some used cars available. I priced up an estate new, (L&K 265bhp AWD ) and it was a frightening £51K 😮
Finally the gear shifter at the steering column. I am a big fan of that. It is just so much better when driving an automatic.
Just taken delivery of a new (23MY) Superb Estate SEL to replace a Kia Niro which I had to reject and I have to say that the build quality, fit and finish is way better than the 2022 Audi A3 Black Edition that I had last year. The Superb is great to drive and very economical. Love the looks of the new model but not convinced by the ‘tech’, give me physical buttons any day, so much safer. Great review and look forward to seeing the new model being driven.
Right up till you said no manual, I’d been thinking good for towing. But looks like it’ll still be better than both the Passat and Mondeo.
I drive a Octavia vRS & I love it apart from the lack of physical controls for the air con , which drives me nuts . This is exactly what I want in a Skoda .
As for the first question:
The Superb costs €46k and something, with endless extras, some should come with the car free of charge.
Skoda represents today something as "eh...that's another German car brand", since it practices the same prices as most car brands today, and puts all the good things as an extra.
The answer you gave, applies to Dacia.
We have the one before (2019) and it's one of the best cars I've driven (exclude Audis top range) but it's amazing. Truly great family car. Loving it, hope we get a VRS version of this one later down the line
Legit my next dream car right now, shame it'll probs cost £50k topped petrol model.
Did they fixed the infotainment system problem which beged the entire car and needed hard reset to fix it? They gave the same issue to the Octavia 4th gen also and no updates manage to fix it so far. The 13" screen is way too much and too high up.
What is the mpg for estate version if is plug in ???
Skodas used to be very competitively priced but not any more. Also I don't see any front fog lights or have I just not spotted them?
no rear wiper on the hatch is a pain !
I've got a 3rd gen Superb estate 2.0d 4x4 and I absolutely love it for it's practicality, comfort, technology and simply effortless cruising - I think only a 4th gen would encourage me to swap cars.
Though I have to add I am not a fan of these modern screens protruding from the dashboard, I much prefer the sleeker more integrated appearance of the gen 3.
To me newer screens look like they have been plonked in as an afterthought and not designed in from the beginning - generally looks a bit sh1t!
For me the only thing they made better at this car is the back. Seems it is way closer to 90° which means you will loose not that much space in the back.
Totally agree. A distraction while driving.
The estate looks good. The rear window looks less sloped so a more usable boot.
Another fantastic review. Am I alone in my aversion to the stuck on afterthought looking central screen? That would stop me buying a car. I have a 2017 Focus ST. The screen is big enough, and nicely integrated into the dash.
That tablet sits so awkwardly in the dashboard.
I’ll keep my mk3 superb I think
So, how to operate the windshield wipers? Nothing on the stalk and never seen in menus.
Superb, looks amazing, still love my Fabia...
i had 4 skodas, fabia, superb, new superb and now kodiaq, i am very interested in plug in hybrid, only thing i don't like on skodas is GREEN glasses, especially when tinted. Every car manufactuer makes glass darker black, only skoda makes their glasses darker green.
Skoda: A great car, designed with greatness in mind. The Superb is nothing new!! It’s a car that’s been running around since 2007!!
Mk3 Superb Estate owner here - 280 L&K. Fabulously fast & practical car. However, they missed a trick by not having a full EV version in the lineup for this new Mk4, which is what I'm waiting for. Prices of all new cars are too expensive which is why I buy at 2-3 years old so it looks like I'll be waiting a while longer for Skoda or someone else to make a full size EV estate car. Not sure I like that new gear shift position & I'm guessing there's no spare wheel now - which is a negative IMO.
You get VERY quickly used to having the gear lever on the steering column. I had it on my old Citroen C4 Picasso and it is MUCH more convenient than the traditional position for an auto. As the bonus of course it cleans up the centre console hugely and would be a welcome change from the massive compensation that i presently have... size does matter, it seems!
Physical buttons should be much more !!
I like the way VW make a car for any market, the first one of these was a Passat with a longer wheelbase
These cars almost look like how I wish BMws do look like these days.
Great car. Can’t wait for SKODA to do full EV equivalents of the Superb and Octavia.
I like the interior of the vw passat more but the exterior of this one.
Looks great! However, what are those dark things on the left along the wall in time 4:00? Are they mice? 🐭😄
lol, I think they are power connectors/cords for the studio lighting, daisy chained one to the next
New combi - front modificated old version, rear like a current passat...
It is not true that plug in hybrid is only on estate because of its site. The reason is company savings and countries where plug in hybrid is mostly sold prefer estates.
Great move Skoda, the move away from touch screen for all controls will sell cars! Funny to think that buttons and controls are the new premium. I hope BMW is listening….
All in one touchscreen saves a lot of money to the OEM. The cars get more expensive with lower costs for parts.
Will new Superb have Sportline package?
the hatchback needs to make its way over here to the states
Overall I like the new design, but am disappointed by the slight lack of solidity/stiffness on the interior fittings/dials - maybe the final production versions will have that ironed out. I am disappointed not to have seen much of the more conventional grey or black interiors as they are much more of what will be bought by most people. I currently have my second Gen 3 Superb and drive an enormous amount each year (35,000 miles/56,000 km). The cars are great, but have been plagued by a plethora of dire software problems. Due to my high mileage, I will be changing cars next year. I will definitely look at the new Superb, but I would need some convincing that Skoda are able to provide the technical expertise to quickly sort out the inevitable teething problems of such a complex vehicle.
There should be black and grey interiors
I saw a black and grey one and it looked nice
Had black mk2 facelift 170bhp Elegance hatch, everytime I see one, I kick myself on selling it😢
Been looking for a car and probably it will be new superb :) Nowedays skoda ain't the same it used to be. Its wiser choice over audi & bmw.
What a beauty! I love this car so much! I will definitely own it one day.
Physical controls look like they'll fall apart after a while....not very like skoda for cheap brittle plastic....disappointing
Skoda is obviously becoming more premium and expensive than it used to be. With SEAT brand discontinued and Skoda going up market, VW Group doesn't have a budget brand to offer any more. That leaves a big market to rival brands, such as Dacia.
I thought he was going to say the brown seat material was tanned with waste water from Spanish sewer inlets.
Are the Diesels Euro 6 Rated?
Yes they will, any Diesel engine after 2015 will be Euro 6 rated
Love that voice!👍😊
Are they going to offer a 2.0 petrol engine?
Apparently, there was a surplus of apparent features which apparently needed to be confirmed (apparently...)
It looks worse than then old gen (in the exterior)
Great cars Superb 👍
What’s the boot space comparison with a 5 series? I’d have thought that’d be a closer match than a 3 series…
Still nowhere near it, the 5 series saloon has a boot space of around 520 litres
Excellent review. Great car(s). What a pity there’s no manual but I understand why.
Well built, well equipped and overall such superb package - your right screen controls are terrible to live with
Great review as always. Nice car and the knobs are genius.
I have a 2015 mk3 estate. I would no way change it for this downgrade. The exterior is nice but that new dash is a horrible dust magnet with an iPad stuck on with blu-tack. Hate it.
The ice-tea yellow looks good on the estate.
I too appreciate this 3 beautiful nobs rather then having everything in screen and having everything on screen is dangerous.
no leather seats no buy, you can keep the plastic
On the rear that's opel insignia. What a shame , what have they done to this briliant car...
I’m like looking at a big Fabia😆
Leather looks a bit saggy already?
Great looking car 💪
Ever since the 2024 passat got announced, I've been waiting for this.
Why we are using hatchback for sedan car
I love skoda superb that car is fabulous
Great channel but the audio production is very mediocre.
Please stop saying they have made cars more practical by making them bigger, that's not true in a multistorey or on street parking
Whatever.
Really good looking car, Impressed with the interior.
As usual Doug a great thorough thinking man’s review. I hope that the floppy dials and dash is down to non production quality ? Otherwise I think Skoda have done well to retain the shape of the car - I own a current model Superb - and the inclusion of the heat and ac controls is such a bonus. Is there any idea as to when they will actually start production and sell?
I would bet it is the final quality and the floppiness is the price that you pay for all this sustainability and recycling.
Production starts this year, first cars come in April in the Czech rep, I don't know about UK though...
Same central display as Tiguan. Too big, too high.
Does this car have sunroof?
Yes and it's really big! The window itself as well as the opening.
The other version besides estate is a sedan/saloon. Not a hatchback. Why the hell are you saying it as hatchback??
Confusing right
It’s a lift back hatchback because the rear glass goes up as well
In a sedan only the metal part goes up
@@superior7387 wow thanks for the explanation
It's called Combi, so why do you say Estate?
Looks like the Skoda Octavia... As a faithful Skoda owner, both Octavia and Superb, I am not that impressed.
sedan model is a liftback not a hatchback
Any fully tan interior?
Hate those two or three coulor interiors you get as soon as you chose anything except black or grey.
The one in this comercial don´t look wery nice with grey belts on a just partly brown interior...
Why VW put D up and R down on gear selector? Mercedes use this for years oppositely. R is up and Drive mode down.😭 for those who change the cars daily very unpleasant if not dangerous detail.
Overuse of the word “apparently”, are you not sure as to what you are telling us ? Nice car.
Superb RS....
This is quite possibly, the best car in the world currently. Totally worth every penny you spend on it.
Good things happen when Skoda decides to make an Audi 😁
Can we have a new YETI, please.
Thinking man’s Bentley
That Ice T Yellow colour may as well have been called Cat Piss! 🤢
Very strange that Skoda now is better than Volkswagen, when it's the same engineers behind it.
How many times can you say apparently in a review lol😂
Škoda pronunciation is Shkoda. "Sh" as shut, sharp, shape ... etc. Š = sh.
Why no full hybrid?
Do you mean full EV, or a mild hybrid with no plug in option?
@@mikeperrett1539 Neither, I meant the equivalent of Toyota hybrid engine. Or a self-charging hybrid as some would call them.
@@belizarius_997It's even better, there's a plug in hybrid available.
Sadly we here in the USA don't get access to Skoda products. Well designed, economical products that obliterate VW, which is why we don't get to see them, the Germans don't want the Czechs undercutting their own products. And a double sadness that we don't get any station wagons, only huge heavy SUV's that weight 4000 lbs.
I can’t get over the name coming from the states I find it very stupid. But at least it have a name unlike the random number / letter combinations of many other manufacturers
It might be a stupid name in the US, but apart from the historical reason for the name, unlike ANY current US market cars, it really lives up to its name.
What monstrosity is that digital gauges tablet with corners sticking out? Who approved THAT to production? 😂
It doesn't fit under that rounded dash. Looks like superglued on the top of analog gauges to hide them.
Front end looks like a copy of the Seat Leon.
Those plastic seats look horrid. Why not not offer a nice cloth?
I like it but it looks like a facelift not a new model and the engine choices are poor for me