Superb Škoda: Czech it out
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By JS aka "Germane Gear"
The Škoda Superb is a little like European royalty: perhaps not that well known in Australia, but exuding refinement, elegance and
understated luxury.
Introduced to the Australian market in 2007, the brand has an impressive pedigree. Research reveals the Škoda journey began in 1895 with two Czech designers, Laurin and Klement, engineering a better bicycle, then pioneering the motorcycle before proceeding to four wheels. Today, Škoda is one of Europe’s fastest growing car companies, acquired by Volkswagen in the 1990s – and it’s easy to see why they wanted this aristocrat in their lineage.
My Škoda journey begins with a trip to the south-east end of Melrose Drive. Here Lennock Škoda’s amiable sales manager, Colin Yap, gives me the low-down on the Superb before setting us loose for 24 hours.
As fate would have it, ABC Classic FM played Czech composer Dvorak’s New World Symphony as we headed off. Wending our way up Mt Stromlo, the Superb negotiated the long and winding road with consummate ease and grace. Later, when we hit 100 after crawling through a peak-hour Glen Loch Interchange bottleneck, there was plenty of power in the 2.0 litre turbocharged diesel engine lurking beneath the genteel exterior.
One of the most surprising features is Škoda’s patented TwinDoor boot. In stage one, it opens like a regular sedan; but with the press of a button, in stage two the boot and rear window lift in unison like a hatchback. Fold down the back seats, and there’s enough room to load in a (modest) royal throne.
Other features include nine airbags, delayed courtesy lights, front foglights with corner function, rear parking sensors, a compact umbrella stowed in the left rear passenger’s door and oodles of leg room in the back.
Up front, the adjustable steering wheel and driver’s seat (with memory function) have comfort and safety front of mind.
Leather or fabric, all seats have heating, which embraces the Superb experience on a Canberra winter’s day. This regal European is sheer class.
Škoda Superb, the name says it all.