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By Jonathan Crouch

Old school virtues get new packaging in the fourth generation version of Skoda's big Superb. Jonathan Crouch takes a look.

Ten Second Reviewword count: 59

This fourth generation Superb might well be the last all-new fossil fuelled car the Czech brand ever launches, so it's appropriate that as a product, it's very 'Skoda', sensible, spacious, good value and unpretentious in both hatch and estate form. There's something old (diesel engines) and something new (cutting-edge PHEV power) and the end result is quite simply superb.

Backgroundword count: 153

It seems strange now to remember what an outlandishly unusual product the Superb was for Skoda's line-up when it first launched in B5-series form back in 2001. We'd never seen a Skoda this big and luxurious. The pundits said it wouldn't sell and VW Group higher-ups made plans to quietly drop this Passat-derived model at the end of its first generation. But sell it did - so well that Skoda got the green light to build a second generation B6-series version in 2008, then a third generation B8-series model in 2015. Late 2023 saw the announcement of the fourth generation B9-series model we look at here, still Passat-based (it's now even built on the same production line) and sharing everything meaningful with the brand's second generation Kodiaq SUV. Nothing too radical's been changed here, but almost every part of this car has been thought about afresh. The result is difficult not to like.

Engines and Tech Specword count: 240

You'd expect an increased degree of electrification here - and, by and large, that's what you get. There's no full-electric version (the MQB Evo platform doesn't allow for it), but the iV Plug-in Hybrid powertrain that was rarely chosen with the previous generation model gets a big boost with this one. It offers a much bigger 25.7kWh battery (up from 12.7kWh before), which boosts EV range considerably - to 62 miles. The PHEV system (which this time only comes with the Estate version) still generates 204PS, but its engine is now a 1.5-litre petrol unit linked (like the previous 1.4-litre powertrain) to a 6-speed auto gearbox. All other Superbs use a DSG 7-speed auto, the range starting off with a conventional mild hybrid model that sees the 1.5-litre petrol unit reappear again, here in 150PS form. Next up are the 2.0-litre powerplants, petrol units with either 204PS or 265PS and diesels with 150 and 193PS. In both cases, the more powerful 2.0-litre option comes with AWD. Previous Superbs appealed particularly to long distance drivers, offering a solid feel, refinement and journeying comfort - and this one will be no different. Damping can be further improved by the new 'Dynamic Chassis Control Pro' adaptive system, which can provide an almost limo-like ride when set in 'Comfort'. Refinement will be enhanced by the sleeker body which is 10-15% more slippery (a Cd of 0.23 for the hatch and 0.25 for the estate).

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