Skoda Superb estate (2008-2015) - Engines, drive & performance

The Skoda Superb estate’s ride is excellent and it has soft suspension that absorbs bumps very well. It’s a big, comfortable and quiet car on the move, yet also surprisingly enjoyable to drive. Body lean in corners isn’t too bad and the steering inspires confidence, doesn’t require lots of input on the motorway and is also light enough to make town driving easy.

Skoda Superb Estate petrol engines

The basic 123bhp 1.4-litre TSI petrol isn’t too bad when you consider the Superb’s size. With this engine, the car will hit 62mph from rest in 10.6 seconds, although it does need to be worked quite hard. So, even though it’s the most economical petrol engine on paper, you’re unlikely to achieve its quoted mpg figures if you drive it that way. It’s not a bad choice for low- mileage town driving, though.

The middle-ground petrol engine is the 158bhp 1.8-litre TSI, which is a lot quicker (0-62mph in 8.7 seconds) and has good mid-range punch. Fuel economy and CO2 emissions take a hit compared to the 1.4-litre petrol and the diesels, though.

At the top of the range is a pair of fast, powerful petrol engines: a 197bhp 2.0-litre and a 256bhp 3.6-litre V6, both of which are only available paired with Skoda’s DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission. The V6 also has four-wheel drive as standard to boost grip. The former will do 0-62mph in 7.9 seconds, while the latter takes just 6.6 seconds, but they’re so expensive to run that they’ll always be low-volume sellers in a family-orientated car like this.

Skoda Superb Estate diesel engines

The most efficient Skoda Superb estate is fitted with the 104bhp 1.6-litre TDI engine. This is far from the most powerful model in the range and you’re looking at a relatively tardy 12.6 seconds to reach 62mph from rest, but the payoff is excellent fuel economy and low CO2 emissions for low road tax.

There’s also a pair of 2.0-litre TDI diesels, which are smoother than the 1.6-litre, suit the Skoda’s relaxed nature and are very good on the motorway. The 138bhp version will cover 0-62mph in 10.2 seconds when fitted with a manual gearbox and has good mid-range punch. It also loses little in the way of fuel economy compared the 1.6-litre, so it’s our choice as the best all-rounder.

The 168bhp 2.0-litre TDI is quite a bit quicker (doing 0-62mph in 8.9 seconds) and isn’t bad for fuel economy either, so we think it’s worth the extra cost for high-mileage motorway drivers or those who want more overtaking power.

Most but not all Superbs are available with the Volkswagen Group’s excellent DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission, which changes gear smoothly and quickly. Four-wheel drive is also available with a lot of models for extra grip in slippery conditions, but it does have a negative effect on fuel economy.