Okay, so this test car is anything but discreet in terms of colour. I suppose “Dragon Skin Yellow” pretty much says it all! The addition of the Sportline trim to the Superb range brings with it its own benefits. Sportline offers 18-inch “Zenith” platinum alloy wheels, black exterior side-view mirrors, window frames and side door strips, SunSet tinted rear and side windows as well as black front grille and darkened front fog lamps along with a glossy black diffusor with distinctive exhaust tailpipes and a black boot lip spoiler. You also receive a black roof lining and aluminium pedals.
Comfort Interior ambient lighting (which offers ten different colour options) Sports seats in a combination of black alcantara/leather with silver stitching and an electrically-adjustable driver seat are also available. My test car also benefited from the optional extras of 19-inch alloy wheels, a panoramic sunroof, alcantara steering wheel as well as front assist and lane assist.
What my test car also benefited from was what was hidden under the bonnet. Powered by a 2.0-litre TSI turbocharged petrol engine, producing 280hp and 350Nm of torque, it’s paired with a six-speed DSG transmission and power is fed to all four wheels. Chosen in a more discreet colour, this could make this Superb the ultimate “sleeper”.
Sitting into the Superb in Sportline trim you are greeted by brilliantly finished alcantara sports seats which offer an excellent level of support. The Superb still maintains its class leading space. Quite simply it is gigantic inside along with plenty of storage compartments throughout the cabin. Leg and headroom in any seat are generous with plenty of space behind either front seat for even the biggest rear facing child seat. Boot space also stands at a massive 625 litres which expands up to 1,760 litres with the rear seats folded down (without spare tyre). The materials utilised also appear to command a higher level of finish from previous models and they along with the build quality stand to reassure you of the long-term durability of the Superb. Inside, road noise is kept to an absolute minimum. The cabin quite simply is a nice place to be especially when it means you are having the opportunity to put that 2.0 TSI engine through its paces!
One of the best things about the Superb 280, like so many others these days is that it can still be driven as your daily commuter. Ease your right foot off the accelerator slightly and the fuel economy becomes very reasonable. You have enough space for all the school runs or soccer matches as well. The 4×4 system is almost redundant until you start to push the Superb on a bit. This system offers almost endless grip as the 280 hp TSI engine is being pushed along to the upper end of rev counter. You can still have that little bit of fun as you push it on but let us remember that this is a family saloon measuring in at almost 5 metres in length. It isn’t a Ford Focus RS or VW Golf R but nobody ever said it was. What this is is a family saloon which offers all of the practicality that goes with it but also offers plenty of power to blow off the cobwebs whenever it tickles your fancy!
The 6-speed DSG transmission paired with my test car also offered almost flawless gear changes regardless of what manner of driving I was undertaking. For those of you that are wondering, the Superb mated with this engine and transmission pairing will get you from 0-100km/hr in 5.8 seconds while it tops out at 250 km/hr. All this while it still has the ability to offer a return on fuel economy of approximately 7.1 litres per 100 km.
Personally, I welcome the addition of the new Sportline trim to the Superb line-up offering excellent comfort by way of the sport seats along with the cosmetic additions also. Opt for a more discreet exterior colour and you could genuinely have a cracking sleeper saloon that whilst it won’t turn heads like the “Dragon Skin Yellow” it will still leave some scratching their heads if you feel the need to blaze by them!
While you may not find the 280 hp Superb sitting on every Škoda dealers forecourt the Sportline trim is well worth considering if the Superb is on your shopping list.
Technical Specification 6 Speed Manual
Engine Size – 2.0 TSI
Fuel Type – Petrol
Power – 280 bhp
Torque – 350Nm
Acceleration (0 – 100km/h) – 5.8 seconds
Top Speed – 250 km/hour
Consumption (Combined) –7.1 litres/ 100 kilometres
CO2 emissions – 132g / km
Road Tax – € 280
Price – €47,250
Model Tested – €50,156 including optional extras.
If you would like to check out my thought on the previously driven Škoda Superb Combi then just follow the link below;
