Skoda Superb (2015-2023) Review

If you can look beyond the notion that only SUVs make good family cars, the Skoda Superb is right there waiting for you as the perfect clan-hauling machine. That it is a popular choice among taxi and chauffeuring firms tells you everything you need to know; this car offers tons of space for passengers and luggage, but can also do starship mileages and has a tendency to not go wrong.

Indeed, take the Skoda badges out of a Superb and your passengers would merrily describe it as a Volkswagen or Audi inside such is the interior quality, and they wouldn’t be entirely wrong either. It all feels very Volkswagen Group in its interior fit, finish and look, which is a compliment here, again only adding to the feeling that you’re getting a lot of car for your money. 

A hatchback rather than a saloon, the wide opening at the rear only adds to the Skoda Superb’s usefulness, though if you want even more space you can have the Superb as an estate model, which we've reviewed separately. 

There are five trim levels and seven engine choices, in manual or automatic guise and front or four-wheel drive. One of the engine choices being a plug-in hybrid that mates a 1.4 turbocharged petrol engine to an electric motor, which brings the potential for electric only motoring over a genuinely useful range. Known as the Superb iV, it's a great hybrid car if you're in the market for one.     

This model arrived in 2015, and was given a facelift for the 2020 model year, before a new model came along in 2024. The name couldn’t be more descriptive, either, as really it is Superb, indeed, the biggest bugbear for those of us writing about it is to find other adjectives to describe it. The Skoda Superb is then, according to Microsoft Word’s thesaurus - outstanding, wonderful, terrific, splendid, fabulous, fantastic, marvellous, magnificent and more, and really we’re not about to disagree.   

Need more space? Then the Skoda Superb Estate is the one, but as all-rounders go the Superb is among the very best out there, which pretty much makes it the perfect family car. Fancy a new one? Read our new Skoda Superb review.

For most used buyers, the best combo is a 2.0 TDI 150 in SE, SE L or Laurin & Klement trim. That engine suits the Superb’s relaxed, long-distance character very well, offering strong real-world economy and enough mid-range shove that the car never feels strained.

If your mileage is lower, the 1.5 TSI petrol is also worth considering, especially in a well-specced SE or SE L, but it is the diesel that feels like the most natural fit in a car this large.

The Superb iV plug-in hybrid is worth a look if your routine genuinely suits it and you can charge regularly, but for many used buyers the conventional diesel still makes the most rounded case.

Used Skoda Superb prices now start from around £12,000 for earlier, higher-mileage cars, with later facelifted versions, stronger trims and plug-in hybrid models sitting notably higher.

Even so, the Superb still looks like excellent value. This is a large, refined and very spacious family car that often undercuts smaller or less practical premium-badged alternatives in the used market.

That value proposition is one of its biggest strengths. The Superb has never needed a prestige badge to make sense, and as a used buy it arguably makes even more sense than it did when new.

The Volkswagen Passat is the most obvious alternative because it shares so much underneath, but the Superb usually gives you more space for less money. The Mazda 6 is another good option if you want something a little more style-led, while a Peugeot 508 adds more visual drama but less outright room.

If badge appeal matters more, buyers may also look at cars such as the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series or Mercedes-Benz C-Class, though the Superb gives away very little in real-world usability and beats them all for outright rear-seat space.

The Superb’s real strength is that it feels like a car from the class above, yet usually costs no more than a mainstream rival from its own.

Practicality is the Superb’s party piece. Up front there is plenty of room, lots of storage and a relaxed driving position, but it is the rear compartment that really sets the car apart.

Rear-seat space is extraordinary by mainstream standards. Legroom in particular is vast, to the point that taller adults can sit behind taller adults without compromise. If you regularly carry passengers in the back, the Superb still feels like one of the smartest used buys around.

The boot is also huge. At 625 litres, it is larger than many estates from smaller classes, and because this is a hatchback rather than a conventional saloon the opening is wide and easy to use. Fold the rear seats and there is an enormous amount of load space to play with.

For family buyers, company-car users and anyone who simply needs a car that can swallow people and luggage without fuss, the Superb remains hard to beat.

The Skoda Superb measures 4,861mm long, 1,864mm wide and 1,468mm high. That makes it a very large family car by any normal standard.

Even so, it carries its size well. It feels big inside without ever becoming too unwieldy to place on the road.

The touchscreen interface also works well, with shortcut buttons making it easy to navigate menus. Skoda Superb S and SE models comes with an 8-inch touchscreen DAB audio system with Bluetooth, USB and SD card connection with voice control and a multifunction steering wheel. Smartlink+ comes as standard and includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, so you can mirror your smartphone's display on the car's big screen.

Skoda Superb SE L model's Amundsen system adds built-in sat nav, integrated WIFI and a year’s subscription to Skoda's connected services for things like live traffic updates and fuel prices. 

SportLine Plus and Laurin & Klement Superbs gain the larger 9.2-inch Columbus touchscreen, which is available as an option on SE and SE L models as part of the Technology Pack. Skoda also offers a Virtual Cockpit from SE L upwards. It replaces the conventional instrument pack with a 10.25-inch screen that offers five different views. 

Laurin & Klement models get this digital display as standard and add the range-topping 610W CANTON sound system with 12 speakers, vehicle noise cancellation and 3D surround sound.

With a price tag that’s firmly in the mainstream sphere, but scale in the premium large saloon and bigger range, you might think Skoda’s paid for all that extra metal by cutting corners inside. It hasn’t. No, the interior isn’t as stylish to look at or feel as an Audi A6, but it doesn’t disgrace itself. 

On the entry models some of the plastics are a bit harder and shinier than anything you’d find in an Audi, but at the Skoda Superb’s sales heartland – around SE L trim – the interior is lifted to levels that feel and look very good, with fine material quality on all the touch points. The build quality throughout the entire range is very impressive, with every switch, dial and knob all working with satisfying, consistent weighting, the overall impression is one of high quality longevity. 

There’s no real weak spot in the Skoda Superb's engine line up.  The 120 PS 1.6 TDI will suit if you’re after an economical cruiser; its not fast, but you’ll avoid fuel pumps rather well. The petrol 1.5 TSI alternative feels smoother to drive, though isn’t quite as good on fuel, despite its ability to shut down cylinders when they’re not required. 

Diesels have typically been the core engine for cars like the Superb. The 2.0 TDI with 150PS will suit most buyers, with its 9.1 second 0-62mph time being ample and it has plenty of mid-range for overtaking when you're on the move, regardless of whether it’s mated to the six-speed manual or 7-speed automatic transmission. There’s a more powerful 190PS version, but save your money as the marginal performance gains it brings are offset by reduced fuel economy.

There are more powerful 190PS and 280PS 2.0-litre TSI petrol engines, which offer ever greater performance, but in a car like the Skoda Superb aren’t really necessary.

The hybrid offers a compelling mix of electric-only range, with a 35 miles electric-only range, backed up by a 1.4-litre TSI petrol engine. Combined, the electric and petrol motors deliver 218PS, which brings a brisk 7.7 second 0-62mph time. It's only offered with the automatic transmission. 

Now offered with a plug-in hybrid drivetrain, the Skoda Superb can be run in electric only mode for up to 35 miles, depending on the driving conditions. Expect a mid-20s range in reality, which is enough to cover most commutes. Unlike some, it’s not a stand-alone model, simply being a powertrain choice, offered from SE L trim upwards. 

The base Skoda Superb S rides on 16-inch alloy wheels, SE and SE-L gaining 17-inch wheels, SportLine Plus coming with 19-inch wheels and the range-topping Laurin & Klement (L&K) model dropping that back to the more sensible 18-inch wheels. 

As ever, opting for larger wheels does impact on the ride quality, with bigger bumps, rougher surfaces being felt a bit more in the cabin. It’s not so bad as to be distracting, but the 18-inch wheel options is as big as we’d suggest – striking a balance between looks and comfort. 

You can add variable dampers to the ride and handling mix, which offer a choice of modes, from the cushioning Comfort through to stiffer Sport. It’s standard on the range-topping L& K model, and a cost option on SE cars and above. 

Otherwise the Skoda Superb’s an easy car to drive, with light steering, plenty of grip (traction greater in the four-wheel drive models if you feel you need them – as you might if you tow), and a suppleness that makes it comfortable on a range of roads.

The Skoda Superb’s big car space and supple ride comfort would all be wasted if refinement wasn’t up to scratch, but the well-rounded Skoda does a decent job here, too. There’s a bit of road noise on the move on poor surfaces, exacerbated by larger wheel sizes, but it’s no worse than any of its rivals in this respect. Engine sounds are nicely dampened, too, with the diesels a bit more vocal than their petrol alternatives, but only at higher revs.

Wind noise is decently contained, too, with only the faintest whisper of it at higher speeds. For the ultimate in refinement the hybrid, when running in EV mode, is super hushed, and even when its petrol engine does kick in it does so seamlessly.

Crash tested back in 2015 by Euro NCAP, the Skoda Superb scored a full 5 star rating. It comes with stability and traction control, ABS brakes, automatic post collision braking system, automatic emergency brakes with predictive pedestrian protection, seven airbags and tyre pressure monitoring. 

Optionally Skoda offers Crew Protection Assist, which includes a pre-emptive system that closes windows, the sunroof and tightens the seatbelts, it also adds side rear airbags for £475 on all. 

SE and above adds a Driver Fatigue sensor, SE L and above all also gain Blind Spot Detection, with a more comprehensive Lane Assist and Blind Spot Detection system also standard on SE L upwards. All offer the option of Traffic Sign Recognition - which displays the current speed limit on the infotainment screen – though at just £90, we’re at a loss as to why it’s not just standard equipment on all. 

Charge it from a normal three pin socket and it’ll take over 6 hours. Fuel consumption in all Superbs is affordale, with the diesels being the stars. 

Pick the 2.0-litre TDI and you’ll achieve anywhere between 49.6-58.9mpg under the WLTP measurement, choosing the DSG automatic will dent that slightly, while the best petrols will achieve between 5-10mpg less according to the official figures. 

The 148.7-217.3mpg of the hybrids is a quirk of measurement, as outside the battery’s 35-mile ultimate range you’ll be needing the petrol engine. Expect it in these conditions to achieve a still very impressive 50-70mpg, or more if you’re particularly light of foot. 

Any remaining Skoda warranty will depend on the age of the car, but Approved Used examples remain the most reassuring place to start.

Skoda Plus Approved Used currently includes 1 year’s Warranty, 1 year’s Roadside Assistance, comprehensive multi-point checks, independent vehicle history and mileage checks and a service history check. That adds a useful layer of reassurance on a big used family car.

Skoda servicing is generally straightforward, but on used examples it is still worth checking the history carefully.

The base S model attracts an insurance grouping of 18, that rising to a 31 for the range SportLine Plus or Laurin & Klement models with the most powerful 272PS turbocharged petrol engine. A 150PS 2.0 TDI auto SE L hatch, our motorway choice, is group 22, while our short commute, tax-efficient pick, a SE L 1.4 TSI iV plug-in hybrid is group 26. 

For most Skoda Superb examples registered on or after 1 April 2017, the ongoing standard VED rate is now £200 a year. If the car’s original list price was over £40,000, it would also have been liable for the Expensive Car Supplement in years two to six, taking the annual total to £640 during that period.

That is worth watching on higher-spec or more powerful cars, because some better-equipped Superbs could cross that threshold when new.