New Skoda Superb is almost ready to spoil the VW Passat’s party

The fourth-generation Superb will come as an estate and hatchback

Skoda is almost ready to take the covers of its all-new Superb with the world premiere set for 2 November. We’ve seen the new car testing multiple times and even driven a prototype version of it, which left us impressed.

Skoda’s decision to offer the Superb as an estate and hatchback gives it a wider appeal than the closely related new Passat, which is only available as an estate. We expect the Superb to go on sale in early 2024, joining the recently unveiled second-generation Kodiaq SUV. 

• New Skoda Superb prototype review

The Superb will also borrow plenty of technology and design from its SUV sibling so we already have a pretty good idea what to expect when the full unveiling takes place.

Design

The exterior images we’ve seen so far show the Superb Estate clad in camouflage but we can see evidence of a more three-dimensional grille situated between thinner headlights with new-generation LED technology. Beneath, there’s a new lower grille shape and isolated air intakes at the side. The classic Skoda badge indent from the bonnet to the grille remains, but the clamshell bonnet isn’t as seamlessly integrated due to a more complex headlight shape.

From the side, there’s a generous rear overhang on both the saloon and estate. Meanwhile, a typical razor-sharp crease has appeared on the flanks and towards the rear we see a restrained bumper design. The C-shaped rear light unit is similar to that of the new Fabia, creating a more dynamic light graphic for following traffic at night.

The hatchback will retain its overall proportion set in comparison to the existing model, with a long and heavily raked rear screen. Despite a relatively short space between the front wheels and the windscreen, the Superb’s clamshell bonnet helps balance out its silhouette, just as the previous model’s did.

Interior and tech

There are big changes inside, with Skoda’s latest images showing us the dashboard layout of both the Superb and the next-generation Kodiaq SUV. There are some elements you’d expect, like a larger, 13-inch infotainment display sitting proud of the dashboard (something former Skoda CEO Thomas Schäfer hinted at when we last spoke to him), and a fully digital 10-inch instrument cluster, as well as de rigeur modern touches like ambient lighting.

But Skoda has also shuffled things around a bit, and even gone back to the future with a trio of physical knobs that control various interior functions – something the brand calls Skoda Smart Dials. These dials feature on the new Kodiaq as well, but the rest of the dash design is bespoke to the Superb.

The outgoing Superb hadn’t yet abandoned dials for climate control functions, but the ones in the new car have multifunction capabilities, from predictable ones like controlling fan speed and heating, to volume for the audio system, driving mode selection, and zooming in and out on the navigation screen. Pushing the relevant dial cycles between the modes.

Skoda has also relocated the gear selector to the steering column, Mercedes-style – this frees up space on the centre console for extra storage. Air vents are now fashionably integrated into a straked dashboard design, there’s a USB-C port behind the rear-view mirror for plugging in a dashcam, and sustainable materials are used throughout. And don’t worry, the brand’s existing ‘Simply Clever’ features, such as umbrellas hidden in the door panels, are still present and correct.

Chassis and powertrains

The new Skoda Superb sits on a revised version of the MQB evo platform and Skoda proudly states that it was tasked with the development of the chassis, which was borrowed by VW for the new Passat. There’s a slight increase in length and wheelbase, unlocking even more space in the already cavernous interior. Boot space has even gone up from 660 to 690 litres in the Superb Estate – identical to its VW sibling.

There will be no pure-electric Superb in this generation, instead, we’ll see the VW Group’s latest generation of combustion engines. While the popularity of diesel has waned, there’s still a choice of two 2.0-litre diesel options, with either 148bhp or 192bhp. 

Petrol power is offered in three forms. For the first time there’s a mild-hybrid option – a 1.5-litre TSI with 148bhp. A 2.0-litre turbocharged unit comes with either 204bhp or 265bhp and there’s a 1.5-litre TSI petrol mated to a 25.7kWh battery in the plug-in hybrid version. Skoda says the extra battery size will enable a pure-electric range of over 62 miles, increasing from the old PHEV’s 44-mile maximum.

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