Whenever I fleetingly mention certain obscure actresses I perceive as attractive, perplexity registers on my wife's face. The same reaction would have once likely ensued if one described a ŠKODA as a thing of desirous beauty.
The latest Superb is nothing but, though, masterly chiselled with sharp, unobtrusively elegant lines, proportions that adeptly carry its vastness, subtly aggressive Bi-Xenon headlights and grille, and sexily captivating front and rear LEDs. Mazda6 aside, the ŠKODA's aesthetics unassumingly better those of its main rivals, including its cousin, the Passat. In fact, the Superb wouldn't look incongruous alongside the A6, 5 Series and E Class. Sitting just below the 4x4 Laurin & Klement variants, the ‘SE L Executive' Superb I tested for a week is fastidiously and robustly constructed, not quite to Audi's standards, but certainly matching VW's.
The Alcantara and leather pews are wonderfully comfortable but I'd opt for full quilted leather in a light shade. The 8-inch touchscreen with Columbus sat looks sophisticated and functions well as part of an ergonomically sound cabin, which is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatible. Head, shoulder, elbow and legroom are as ever abundant in the new Superb, which sits on a longer, wider platform. Offering a ridiculously massive 625 litres with the rear seats raised and 1,760 litres when folded, it trounces the Mondeo hatchback, even beating the Audi A6 Avant in litres. Its predecessor's ‘twindoor' tailgate has made way for conventionality, albeit electrically-opening, with foot gesture operation optional.
Other Simply Clever features include an umbrella in both front doors, a rechargeable torch doubling as the boot light, umpteen hooks, nets, compartments, storage and waste bins, an ice scraper under the fuel cap, and a cup holder allowing bottles to be twisted open singlehandedly. The Superb is excellent for families, chauffeur firms and its primary market, fleet drivers, with CAP forecasting class-leading 48% residuals after 36 months. Although fitted with Dynamic Chassis Control offering Comfort and Sport modes, the latter predictably firming proceedings up for more spirited driving, the Superb is best left in Standard, providing an effortless ride. Its forerunner felt feather-light and the new model has shed 75kg.
Aside from noticeable diesel buzz when kicking down the occasionally boomy DSG gearbox, it's a buttery experience, gear changes barely perceptible when wafting, and noise well suppressed. The steering feels a little detached and artificial but the suspension is nicely damped, the Superb not embarrassing itself. Averaging 52.4mpg after 250 miles split 50:50 between urban/rural and motorway isn't bad, having at one point chauffeured four elves. Don't ask.
Priced at £31,625 as tested, emitting 119g/km CO2 and sitting in VED band C with 21% BIK for year one, this particular specification hatchback isn't quite the fleet darling compared to its more parsimonious but less powerful and lower-equipped siblings. Overall, though, the all-new Superb is unarguably desirable and in many ways does indeed live up to its name.
