Skoda Superb 2025 review | An enormously practical family car

What is the Skoda Superb?

The Superb is Skoda’s largest and most accomplished family car. It has long been one of the quiet bargains of the large car market, even in this age of the SUV. Sitting above the Octavia in the Skoda range, it competes with cars such as the Peugeot 508 and Volkswagen Passat, but distinguishes itself by offering significantly more interior space and standard equipment for the money. It’s available as both a hatchback and an estate, with both likely to offer more space than an SUV at a similar price. It’s physically larger than a Mercedes-Benz E-Class, yet typically costs less than a C-Class.

Now in its fourth generation, the latest Superb builds on that long-standing formula with a cleaner look, more technology and a broader mix of electrified powertrains. Buyers can choose from petrol, diesel and - in estate form - plug-in hybrid (badged ‘iV’) versions, including models capable of more than 70 miles of electric range according to the official figures. All versions use a DSG automatic transmission – there’s no manual option – while most are front-wheel drive, with all-wheel drive reserved for the more powerful engines.

The trim line-up is clearly defined: SE Technology and SE L focus on value and comfort. SportLine brings a more aggressive look with lowered suspension and darker styling details, while the flagship Laurin & Klement is the luxury option, boasting premium materials, and enhanced technology and comfort features to create a genuine alternative to the Audi A6 or Mercedes-Benz E-Class.

How practical is it?

The Skoda Superb is one of the most practical cars on the road. Even the hatchback boasts an impressive 645-litre boot, making it capable of handling everything from family luggage to larger items such as baby buggies. The estate offers even more space, with a 690-litre boot. Owners of large dogs should take note: there’s little this side of a van-based MPV that beats a Superb for canine-carrying ability. An optional variable boot floor creates a virtually flat load space. It’s available for a few hundred pounds on all estate models except the plug-in hybrid (PHEV).

Interior space for people is equally good. Rear passengers, even tall adults, will find more than enough legroom, while headroom is also generous. Although the middle rear seat isn’t as comfortable as the one you’ll find in Skoda’s Kodiaq SUV, the Superb still excels as a family car. Indeed, travelling in the back feels a bit like being in a limo.

In the front, the gear selector has been moved to the steering column, freeing up additional storage space in the centre console. This includes room for a wireless phone charger, further boosting the Superb’s practicality.

It’s worth noting, though, that the plug-in hybrid version of the estate (there's no PHEV version of the hatchback) has a smaller 510-litre boot due to the space taken up by the battery.

What's it like to drive?

The Skoda Superb has always prioritised comfort over dynamic handling, and this latest generation continues that tradition. It’s an incredibly cosseting car, ideal for long-distance cruising thanks to excellent sound insulation and suspension that smooths out rough roads at both low and high speeds. Overall, the Superb feels relaxed and refined.

For this latest version of the Superb, all cars use a dual-clutch DSG automatic gearbox, with no manual transmission available.

The entry-level 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine comes as standard with a mild hybrid system and delivers 148bhp. It performs admirably in the Superb, being quiet at lower revs and delivering its power smoothly. In terms of fuel economy, you can expect around 50mpg on long runs. The mild hybrid system improves efficiency by allowing the engine to shut off and coast when conditions allow, as well as enhancing its stop-start functionality when the car is stationary.

Skoda also offers a 2.0-litre TDI diesel engine, available with 148bhp or 190bhp, for those who often drive long distances. We are yet to try this in the latest Superb, but have sampled it in the Skoda Kodiaq. There, it delivered effective mid-range pulling power, but was rather noisy when accelerating.

If you’re after something more performance-oriented, there’s a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine with 261bhp, which delivers a 0-62mph time of 5.6 seconds. This provides more urgency for those seeking a quicker option, although the Superb is still more about refinement than excitement.

Alternatively, the plug-in hybrid, which is available only in estate form, combines the 1.5-litre petrol engine and an electric motor to deliver a combined 201bhp: enough to complete the 0-62mph sprint in 8.1 seconds and hit a top speed of 136mph.

While Dynamic Chassis Control adaptive suspension is available as an option on the SE Technology and SE L (it's standard on the SportLine and L&K models), we’ve yet to test it in this generation of Superb. Even in its standard setup, though, this big Skoda offers excellent ride comfort with good body control through corners. A BMW 5 Series (or a used Ford Mondeo, for that matter) is a more exciting car to drive, yet the Superb is perfectly competent.

Technology, equipment & infotainment

All versions of the Skoda Superb are well-equipped, and come as standard with a 13.1-inch touchscreen infotainment setup that supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system is easy to navigate, with clear graphics and simple menu structures.

Additionally, the Superb features Skoda’s Smart Dials. These are physical rotary controls for the climate system that, when pressed, can change function to act as shortcuts for the infotainment. It’s a neat idea, although we’d welcome a bit more heft to the controls.

A 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster is standard across the range, offering customisable displays and easy-to-read information.

There's a strong argument for sticking with the entry-level SE Technology trim, which is fitted with keyless start, heated seats and a reversing camera as standard. Upgrade to SE L for additional luxury features such as larger 19-inch alloy wheels, a more premium interior finish, Matrix LED headlights, a powered tailgate and ventilated, electrically adjustable seats.

The SportLine adds 19-inch black alloy wheels, more aggressive styling, sports seats with a massage function, progressive dynamic steering and Dynamic Chassis Control. Finally, the Laurin & Klement showcases a more upmarket look, with 18-inch alloy wheels, park assist and an advanced massage function for the driver and front passenger.

Skoda Superb running costs

In terms of purchase price, the Skoda Superb offers excellent value, with prices starting from around £37,000. The estate carries a £1,300 premium over the hatchback, but both body styles offer significantly more practicality than similarly priced SUVs.

Fuel economy is competitive across the range. The 1.5-litre petrol is rated at up to 50mpg, with real-world figures of around 48-52mpg achievable. The 2.0-litre diesel in 148bhp guise returned just shy of 58mpg in the official WLTP test, and is an excellent option for regular long-distance driving.

The Superb plug-in hybrid has the potential to deliver the lowest running costs if you have access to a home charger. Along with the potential to drive more than 70 miles in electric mode after a full charge, CO2 emissions from just 28g/km make it ideal for company car drivers. The Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) tax rate is just 6%.

Skoda offers both fixed and flexible servicing regimes. Under the fixed schedule, services are every 10,000 miles or annually, while cars on a flexible regime will request a service between roughly 9,000 and 20,000 miles, depending on how and where they have been driven.

Skoda Superb reliability

Skoda has a solid reputation for reliability, with the company usually performing well in dependability and customer satisfaction surveys. In this context, a 16th place ranking out of 30 manufacturers in the 2025 What Car? Reliability Survey might be deemed a little disappointing.

Meanwhile, there were mixed results for the previous iteration of the Superb in the executive cars section of the latest survey. Diesel versions finished joint second, but the plug-in hybrid and petrol models were towards the bottom of the table, in 19th and 21st out of the 23 cars included.

The latest Superb comes with a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty as standard, which is lacklustre by today’s standards. While it can be extended to four- or five years, you have to pay extra for the privilege. Rivals including Hyundai and Kia offer five- and seven years (respectively) of warranty cover as standard.