Skoda Superb SE 2.0 TDI CR (140bhp) DSG 5dr Car Review - March 2012

Delivering 140 bhp at 4200 rpm through its four cylinder engine, the Skoda Superb SE 2.0 TDI CR (140 bhp) DSG reaches a top speed of 128 mph. However, this still fails to reach the highly impressive top speed of 155 mph offered by the petrol-powered Skoda Superb Elegance 3.6 V6 4x4 although there is a definite improvement on the Superb S 1.6 TDI CR.

Acceleration speeds are also improved over the more basic model with the car taking 10.2 seconds to travel from 0-62 mph.

Whilst this car may not match the performance of the Superb Elegance 3.6 V6 4x4 model, the efficiency is much better and it could be seen as a good compromise. The car achieves 47.9 mpg on a combined cycle and CO2 emissions are a little higher than in some models at 154 g/km and this pushes the car into a high road tax band (G).

In terms of noise disruption, the engine once again performs well. As the latest generation common-rail units, the diesel engines are refined and smooth and the car also does a good job of keeping noise from the wind and road out of the cabin, making this a comfortable and pleasant car to drive.

The Skoda Superb SE 2.0 TDI CR (140 bhp) DSG is an attractive car and this trim levels offers a good range of kit for drivers. All of the essentials needed in a modern car are available as standard fittings and those looking for additional comfort can always upgrade to the Elegance trim level.

Standard equipment includes power steering, central locking, stability control, alloy wheels, climate control, electric door mirrors, electric front windows, cruise control, rear parking sensors, alcantara seats and an advanced stereo system with CD and MP3 connectivity. Bluetooth connectivity can also be added for an extra £410, whilst a built-in sat nav costs £1,555.

The Skoda Superb S 1.6 TDI CR is a great car for families with plenty of room within the cabin for passengers and luggage. The large interior means that passengers and drivers will be comfortable and there is plenty of adjustment in the seats and steering column too.

The boot capacity is good too, offering a generous 595 litre capacity even when the seats are in place. Folding these down increases the capacity to 1,700 litres, giving owners flexibility when it comes to transporting cargo.

On top of this, the layout of instruments is logical and that makes the car easy to operate. Skoda is known for its high reliability record and to add further reassurance, the car also comes with a three year warranty for 60,000 miles.

The car’s high safety levels are one of its biggest attractions and the car achieved the top five star rating for overall safety in the NCAP crash tests. This is thanks to an advanced safety kit which is fitted as standard and offers driver, passenger and front side airbags as standard along with an alarm and immobiliser to protect against theft.

Priced at £22,620 this model is more expensive than others within the range, but it is still fairly reasonable considering its class and the combination of efficiency and performance is attractive to buyers.

Of course, the efficiency isn’t as high as that offered in other models, but road tax and insurance costs should remain manageable by falling under brackets G and 18 respectively. Refuelling costs should also be easy to cope with as the car achieves 47.9 mpg and that means those willing to make small sacrifices on economy for performance will opt for this model.