Skoda Superb Estate (2015 – 2024) Review

The Skoda Superb Estate is close to perfect when it comes to being a family wagon. Offering vast amounts of space for both passengers and luggage, it is practical and refined in equal measure. Compared to ‘premium’ estate cars such as the BMW 3 Series Touring and Audi A4 Avant, the Skoda Superb is far more affordable as well. It's one of the best estate cars going.

For maximum practicality and value for money, the Skoda Superb Estate is almost unbeatable. It boasts a truly massive boot, and can transport five adults in the kind of comfort usually found in only the most expensive luxury cars.

Skoda launched the third-generation Superb Estate in 2015, and has subtly evolved and enhanced it over the years. During that time, the Superb has managed to outlive most of its key rivals, with the Ford Mondeo Estate, Mazda 6 Tourer and Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer all now consigned to the history books. 

Without any mainstream challengers, this leaves the Superb Estate pitched against premium options like the BMW 3 Series Touring and Audi A4 Avant. Compared to these cars, the koda Superb Estate delivers far more space on the inside, along with a more affordable price tag. 

Value for money is one of the Superb Estate’s big attractions, with prices starting from around £32,000. For the amount of real estate this brings, the big Skoda is hard to fault, especially when a basic BMW 3 Series Touring will cost at least £41,000. Factor in the level of standard specification and this price tag becomes even more impressive.

All Superb Estates come with dual-zone climate control, front and rear parking sensors and an 8.0-inch multimedia touchscreen as standard. There are also Skoda’s ‘Simply Clever’ additions throughout the cabin, such as umbrellas neatly hidden inside the front doors. 

Further up the model range, features such as a digital instrument panel, satellite navigation and leather upholstery all become standard. The options list is extensive, but diving too deeply into it can see the car’s price climb quickly skywards. 

Adding to the overall feeling of quality is ride comfort that feels more akin to pricier German executive saloons. Skoda has tuned the suspension to absorb the worst that poor quality roads can throw at the Superb Estate, meaning motorway journeys in particular are relaxing affairs. 

The flipside is that, even in the raciest Sportline Plus trim, the Superb never feels that exciting. There is a 280PS 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine with all-wheel drive, but this is an exception from a range that focuses on efficiency rather than performance. 

Company car drivers will be drawn to the iV plug-in hybrid, thanks to its low Benefit-in-Kind tax rating. However, the regular petrol and diesel engines offer enough power to cope with a boot full of suitcases, flat-pack furniture, or whatever else the Superb needs to carry. 

Just how big is the Superb Estate’s boot? Well, in non-hybrid form, there is room for a whopping 660 litres of luggage with the rear seats up. Folding them down expands this to a truly colossal 1950 litres. The boot is well shaped, with a wide tailgate that can be opened simply by waving your foot beneath the bumper on certain models. 

Overall the Skoda Superb Estate still offers a combination of practicality and value that is near-impossible to beat. 

The regular Skoda Superb hatchback offers a practical interior, but the Estate version turns things up to 11. Boot space in non-hybrid cars is a sizable 660 litres with the rear seats in place. For comparison, an Audi A6 Avant can only offer 586 litres. 

Dropping the rear seats flat expands the Superb Estate’s luggage space to a gigantic 1950 litres. It means you can tackle the most ambitious furniture shopping trip with confidence, or go on a family holiday without needing to pack light. 

The additional battery pack of plug-in hybrid models reduces boot capacity to 510 litres with the rear seats up, or 1800 litres with them folded down.

Space for front-seat passengers is extremely generous, with no end of legroom and headroom. The same is true in the rear, with the ability to transport three adults in comfort. Granted, the middle-seat passenger gets a slightly worse deal, but it is still accommodating compared to most other premium estate cars. 

Skoda offers its ‘Simply Clever’ solutions as well, including umbrellas hidden in the front doors, and an ice scraper inside the fuel filler flap. It’s all designed to make life that little bit easier. 

Taking what Skoda charges for the Superb Estate into account, the level of interior quality is hard to pick fault with. Naturally, there are some slightly cheaper materials used, but these are not in areas you will normally come into contact with.

All the controls drivers and passengers will use have a soft-touch feel, and the switchgear gives the impression of being built to last. In range-topping Laurin & Klement trim, the Superb comes with luxurious leather trim, pushing it closer to premium German rivals.

As a slightly older model in the Skoda range, the Superb Estate avoids the modern trend of controlling every function through a multimedia touchscreen. It means there are still physical buttons and dials for the climate control, making for a simpler user experience. 

An 8.0-inch ‘Bolero’ infotainment display is the basic touchscreen found in the Superb Estate SE model. It includes DAB radio, smartphone connectivity with USB-A and USB-C ports, and Bluetooth. However, as the entry-level model, it does without satellite navigation.

Superb Estates in SE Technology and SE L trims benefit from standard ‘Amundsen’ satellite navigation. This incorporates wi-fi to get the latest traffic and weather updates, along with helping you navigate to petrol stations and car parks. 

Sportline Plus and Laurin & Klement models come with a larger 9.2-inch ‘Columbus’ infotainment touchscreen. Satellite navigation is included, with the larger screen making it a little easier to use. 

Opting for a Superb Estate in SE L trim or above also delivers Skoda’s Virtual Cockpit digital instrument panel. This offers customisable view options, and adds an extra degree of luxury to the interior.

As with all cars, prices for the Skoda Superb Estate have increased since it was first launched in 2015. Yet, with the 1.5 TSI SE model priced from around £32,000, it still represents tremendous value. For comparison, the cheapest Audi A4 Avant costs almost £38,000, but offers much less space inside. 

The only downside to the Superb Estate’s pricing is that it will not hold its value as well as premium-badged rivals. Higher depreciation can translate into larger monthly PCP finance payments, but the Superb remains great value. There are likely to be deals on nearly-new or pre-registered models, too.

Affordable to purchase and affordable to run, the Skoda Superb Estate brings plenty of value for money to fleet managers and cost-conscious private drivers. 

The iV plug-in hybrid is likely to deliver the most savings, thanks to its remarkable official WLTP fuel economy figure of up to 233.9mpg. Take that number with a big pinch of salt, though, as this relies on you keeping the 13kWh battery pack fully charged. 

Even if the iV’s real-world numbers don’t match the official figures, company car drivers can still take advantage of those low CO2 emissions. They mean a low Benefit-in-Kind tax (BiK) rating of just 12 percent.

Opting for the popular 2.0 TDI diesel with 150PS sees an official WLTP combined average of 56.1mpg, with the 200PS version averaging up to 51.5mpg. Choosing the 4x4 drivetrain does increase fuel consumption slightly, to 47.4mpg. 

A popular choice, the 1.5-litre TSI petrol engine can average 43.9mpg. And unlike some small turbocharged petrols, the reality does match the claimed average. 

At the other end of the scale, the 2.0-litre TSI petrol with 280PS returns an average of just 33.1mpg in Sportline Plus specification. This is the price you pay for sporty performance in a large estate car. 

Skoda sells the Superb with a standard three-year or 60,000-mile warranty. As an optional extra when buying new, this can be upgraded to four or five years. The first two services can be covered as part of a fixed-price deal, costing £465.

Forget any ideas of the Superb Estate being a cut-price version of the BMW 3 Series Touring when it comes to driver engagement. Skoda clearly understands the target audience for this big wagon, and has tailored it to deliver a comfortable car in which to while away long motorway journeys.

It means there is a degree of body-roll when cornering, although the Superb Estate still generates plenty of grip. The steering is light and accurate, but not particularly engaging. This matters little, though, as the Superb still offers confidence and assurance at any speed. 

A key selling point is the car’s ride quality, which is smooth and cosseting. Sportline Plus models gain a stiffer setup, along with 19-inch alloy wheels, but even this manages to avoid being uncomfortable. 

Range-topping Laurin & Klement models, along with plug-in hybrid versions of the Superb Estate, gain Dynamic Chassis Control as standard. This offers selectable levels of suspension stiffness, but it is not worth the extra money to add it to other trim levels.

With multiple petrols and diesels to pick from, along with the plug-in hybrid, there will be a Skoda Superb Estate engine to suit all needs. 

Given the long-distance cruising nature of the Superb Estate, those doing a large annual mileage will probably be drawn to diesels. Skoda now only offers the 2.0-litre four-cylinder TDI, but with the choice of 150PS or 200PS outputs.

The lower-powered diesel can accelerate from 0-62mph in 9.2 seconds, with the 200PS version cutting this to 8.0 seconds. On the road, a healthy spread of torque means the 150PS diesel will be more than enough for most drivers. The 200PS engine can come with optional all-wheel drive, which boosts traction in slippery conditions. All diesels have a seven-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission as standard. 

For those who generally cover shorter journeys, the 150PS 1.5-litre TSI petrol engine should fit the bill. It offers respectable performance and better economy than the 190PS 2.0-litre TSI petrol, thanks to its Active Cylinder Technology. 

Maximum performance comes with the 280PS 2.0-litre TSI: an engine shared with various Volkswagen Group hot hatchbacks. In the Superb Estate, and combined with all-wheel drive, it means a rather rapid 0-62mph time of just 5.3 seconds. 

Company car drivers will be drawn to the plug-in hybrid iV model, which combines a 1.4-litre TSI petrol engine with an electric motor. With 218PS, it makes for effective progress on the road, with the ability to cover almost 40 miles on battery power alone. 

When the Skoda Superb Estate was originally launched in 2015, it was tested by the Euro NCAP organisation. The car was awarded the maximum five-star rating at the time, but the testing process has become tougher since then.

Regardless of ratings, the Superb Estate is still packed with plenty of modern safety equipment. Automatic headlights, front and rear parking sensors, cruise control with a speed limiter, and driver fatigue monitoring are all standard. Adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring and autonomous emergency braking are also fitted to SE Technology models and above. 

With such a huge amount of practicality on offer, the Skoda Superb Estate is a popular tow car. A factory fitted towbar is available as an option, along with a Tow Assist function to make hitching easier.

With a braked towing capacity of 2200kg, the 2.0 TSI 4x4 petrol and 2.0 TDI 4x4 diesel are best for hauling. The 1.5 TSI petrol and 1.4 iV plug-in hybrid can pull 1600kg.

The Skoda Superb Estate range starts with SE specification, featuring 17-inch ‘Stratos’ alloy wheels, a chrome front grille surround and body-coloured door handles and side mirrors. Given the size of the Superb Estate, standard front and rear parking sensors are a welcome inclusion, too.

Filling the Superb Estate’s cabin are features such as dual-zone climate control, seats finished in cloth upholstery and a two-spoke leather steering wheel. Skoda fits an 8.0-inch ‘Bolero’ touchscreen infotainment display, including DAB radio and Bluetooth. Wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto smartphone connectivity are also part of the package, along with the impressive Virtual Cockpit digital instrument panel.

Skoda pitches the SE Technology version of the Superb Estate at fleet users. Compared to the SE model, it boasts LED headlights, rear privacy glass and leather upholstery. The front seats are heated, too. Although it uses the same 8.0-inch infotainment display, this gains satellite navigation. Adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring and a drive mode selector are all included. 

The Skoda Superb Estate SE L boasts an even more generous specification, with full Matrix LED headlights that incorporate dynamic indicators and special lighting animations. A set of 18-inch ‘Antares’ alloy wheels, and a chrome strip between the rear lights, add some extra visual presence. 

On the inside, the Superb Estate SE L’s leather seats gain electrical adjustment, incorporating adjustable lumbar support and a memory function. Keyless entry, keyless start/stop and an electrically opening boot are also part of SE L spec.

Sportline Plus makes for the most visually dramatic Superb Estate, thanks to its bespoke bodykit and 19-inch ‘Vega’ alloy wheels. Buyers can also pick from exclusive paint colours, including the bold Dragon Green hue. 

Microsuede covers the front sports seats, which are also heated. A black headlining and a three-spoke sports steering wheel in perforated leather, plus a larger 9.2-inch infotainment display are fitted. The latter boasts a unique performance monitor, with readouts for G-force levels and oil temperature.