Skoda’s already competent Superb has been further boosted with the addition of all-wheel drive to the range. It’s available with a 105hp 1.6l TDI engine and a 2.0l TDI which produces 170hp, the later powering my test car, there’s also a 3.6l petrol variant, though I doubt we’ll see any of these on Irish roads. This Superb employs the fourth-generation Haldex inter-axle clutch that distributes drive between the front to the rear wheels as required, to provide the best possible traction. As we had no snow this Christmas, I didn’t have the opportunity to put the Skoda’s 4×4 capabilities to the test. It does however provide for a very stable and reassuring drive, and should conditions deteriorate I’d have no hesitation in trusting the Superb to transport me home safely.
This Combi (estate) version of the Superb matches its saloon sibling for class-leading levels of comfort. My test car was finished in Elegance trim which comes with a multitude of equipment such as touch-screen satellite navigation, adaptive front lights, heated leather seats front and rear and tyre pressure monitors. The parking assistant will take control of the steering wheel which takes the chore out of parallel parking for you. It uses sensors on the side of the car to measure the gap between two parked vehicles and will guide the car into the parking space for you.
The 2.0l TDI common-rail diesel produces 170hp and would be my recommended engine choice, mated to a six-speed manual gearbox it proved to be fuel efficient and will return 6.2l/100km on a combined run. The Superb Combi 4×4 range is priced from €36,490, while my top-spec test car comes in at €38,295. The addition of all-wheel drive to Skoda’s Superb Combi further enhances the car’s capabilities and strengthens its position as a true all-rounder.
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