Skoda Superb S 2.0 TDI CR 4dr (140bhp) DSG 5dr Car Review - March 2012

The Skoda Superb S has a powerful, 2.0 4 cylinder 16v 1968cc diesel engine. The engine displays an amazing willingness on different roads, be it on the motorway or country road. Because of its size, manoeuvring the car around town will be daunting. The engine produces 138bhp. The peak torque of 236 lb-ft comes between 1750-2500rpm, which is remarkable. You only need to rev the engine a little to get tremendous pull.

Handling is good. Good levels of grip and controlled body movement make it thrilling to drive on twisty roads. There is very little body roll and the responsive steering is quick to keep the turning angle accurate. It uses a six-speed automatic DSG gearbox, which is slick and quick. Suspension is supple enough to keep the ride smooth and firm enough to absorb bumps.

High-quality soundproofing keeps road and wind noise from penetrating the cabin. The engine revs quietly too and you can enjoy a meaningful conversation while driving.

The windows are large so glass seems to be everywhere, which can only mean that visibility is great on all sides. Both windscreen and rear pillars are thin and further enhance this visibility.

The five-door, five-seat hatchback is smart and classy. Everything from the side lines, rear and roof to the nose and wheel-arches, is well-shaped and finished.

The interior is just as polished and looks expensive. Soft-touch materials are used on the dashboard while the panels have a rich finish on them. The seats too are covered in soft, durable fabric and should last a good number of years.

The S trim is not the most lavishly equipped trim in the Superb range. For the widest range of standard equipment, you would have to upgrade to Elegance or opt for the mid-range SE to get a little more equipment. Still, the S comes well-equipped for an entry-level car. It has power steering, stability control, central locking, air con, alloy wheels, electric door mirrors, electric front windows, driver airbag, passenger airbags, front side airbags, alarm, immobiliser, MP3 connectivity and CD player.

There is also a range of cost options, including climate control for £500, cruise control for £220, rear parking sensors for £330, metallic paint for £440 and Bluetooth for £915.

Space is what makes the Superb S stand out from other large family hatchbacks. The car can ferry five adults in absolute comfort. Headroom is as plentiful in the rear as it is in the front. Legroom too is in abundance; even six-footers will have some space to swing their knees about.

The boot is class-leading in size, shape and flexibility. It gives a remarkable 595 litres of space with the seats up. Fold the rear seats to increase capacity to 1700 litres. The boot also has a dual opening system. When opened from outside, it opens like a saloon. When opened via the boot-opening button in the cabin, it opens like a hatchback. So you can go for either of the boot-opening mechanisms depending on what you want to load into the boot. The lip load is also positioned low so you will not have a difficult time loading heavy stuff.

Finding the ideal driving position is easy, thanks to adjustments on the steering wheel and driver’s seat.

Safety provisions are good, with all the basic safety equipment installed. The car got a 5-star rating for overall protection in the Euro NCAP.

The car is solidly built and feels well engineered from behind the wheel. It also has the good reliability record of its manufacturer to boost its image. No major complaints about its mechanisms have come forth, and it is unlikely to disappoint. Skoda has placed a 3-year/60,000 mile warranty on this car so you have something to fall back on if problems crop up.

The Skoda Superb is priced lower than its rivals, despite the fact that it has more practicality to offer. The car is set to have good resale values, as is the trend with Skoda models.

The engine is economical and returns 47.9mpg - very impressive for the class and 3mpg higher than the Ford Mondeo. Carbon emissions are not the class lowest, but at 154g/km, they are modest for this class. This then places the car under road tax band G, for £165 in VED a year.

The Superb is a cheap to insure, going by its insurance group, 18. It comes with a 10,000 mile service interval which won’t push your expenses too high since Skoda service prices are reasonable.