Skoda Superb Estate Pre Model S 1.8 TSI 5dr Car Review - March 2012

A four cylinder petrol engine delivers a reasonable amount of power to this small car, with a top speed of 135 mph. In addition, acceleration is fairly fast with the car reaching 0-62 mph in 8.7 seconds thanks to an impressive power output of 158 bhp.

As a petrol car, efficiency is not expected to be as high as in the diesel models and this version achieves only 38.7 mpg on a combined cycle. Carbon emissions are also fairly high at 171 g/km and this gives the vehicle poor green credentials and high road tax costs under tax band H.

In terms of noise efficiency, the Skoda does a fairly good job of eliminating sound disruption from the wind and road. The petrol engine is also fairly smooth and quiet and although the suspension can be a little noisy over bumpy roads, but this shouldn’t be overly disruptive.

Handling is fairly comfortable although at lower speeds the car occasionally feels a little disruptive or unstable. This makes the estate most at home on motorways where cruising speeds are perfectly matched to its performance criteria.

The car is attractive from the outside and although this model offers the basic trim level there is still a good range of internal equipment for drivers to enjoy. This makes the car good value for money and those interested in additional comfort can always upgrade with optional extras.

Standard equipment which is provided with this model includes power steering, central locking, stability control, alloy wheels, air conditioning, electric door mirrors, electric front windows and an advanced stereo system with CD and MP3 connectivity.

Whilst a built-in sat nav is not an option on this model, there are a number of other features which can be added for an additional price. Bluetooth connectivity is priced at £915 with climate control costing £500 and rear parking sensors available for an additional £330. Those who want to add cruise control to their model will need to pay an extra £220.

The quality of the interior is high 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 with their purchase, with a three year warranty for 60,000 miles offered with the car.
In terms of comfort, the car offers plenty of space for both passengers and luggage and the boot boasts an impressive storage capacity of 633 litres even when the seats are in place.

Folding the rear seats down expands this available space 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.

The arrangement of internal instruments is logical and this means that operating controls whilst driving is easy.

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 £19,970 this car is fairly reasonable considering its size and class. Resale values are fairly strong too and this means that this car is a wise investment for those looking for long term ownership.

Running costs could be lower and those interested in economic savings might want to consider the diesel models instead. That being said, the car falls under tax band H and insurance bracket 20 which makes the running costs manageable, although not exactly low.