Skoda Superb Estate Pre Model SE 2.0 TDI CR 5dr Car Review - March 2012

A four cylinder diesel engine delivers a reasonable amount of power with a top speed of 137 mph. Acceleration is fairly fast with the car reaching 0-62 mph in 8.9 seconds thanks to an impressive power output of 168 bhp.

As a diesel car, efficiency is expected to be high and this model achieves 48.7 mpg on a combined cycle which is considerably higher than the petrol model. Carbon emissions are lower than those of Skoda Superb Estate S 1.8 TSI, but at 151 g/km they are still in the upper end of the scale and incur fairly high road tax costs under tax band G.

Handling is comfortable, although at lower speeds the car occasionally feels a little unstable. The estate feels most at ease on motorways where cruising speeds are perfectly matched to its performance.

In terms of noise efficiency, the Skoda does a good job of eliminating sound from the wind and road. Suspension can be a little noisy when driving over bumpy roads, but this shouldn’t be overly disruptive.

The exterior of the car is attractive and this model offers a fair amount of in-car kit for buyers.

Standard equipment which is provided with this model includes power steering, central locking, stability control, alloy wheels, climate control, electric door mirrors, electric front windows, cruise control, rear parking sensors, an alcantara interior and an advanced stereo system with CD and MP3 connectivity.

Built-in sat nav is available as an additional option for £1,555 with Bluetooth connectivity priced at £410 whilst a metallic paint finish is priced at £440.

The boot boasts an impressive storage capacity of 633 litres when the seats are up and when the rear seats are folded down this expands to 1,865 and there is plenty of seat adjustment to help occupants get comfortable. Drivers also get the benefit of a wide range of movement and adjustment in the steering column and this means driving positions should be comfortable. The arrangement of controls is logical and makes operating controls whilst driving straight forward.

The quality of the interior is good and the instruments feel strong and resilient whilst looking stylish. The car is known for its reliability and this means that buyers should have confidence especially with a three year warranty for 60,000 miles offered with the car.

Safety credentials are high in this model, with the car achieving the full five star rating in the NCAP crash tests for overall safety. An advanced safety kit is fitted to the car as standard with driver, passenger and front side airbags included alongside an immobiliser and alarm.

Priced at £23,485 this model is more expensive than the petrol model but still manages to be fairly reasonable for its class and size. Despite the additional purchase price over the petrol, this diesel model offers better value for money through increased efficiency and therefore lower running costs.

Resale values are fairly strong for this model as depreciation is limited and this is another benefit for drivers. This makes the diesel model a better investment for those looking for long term ownership.