Design driven: Skoda Superb

How good is the new Superb? To quote Larry David, it’s pretty good. Tested in close proximity with its upmarket sibling, the Audi A6 Avant, it becomes clear that the design team in Mlada Boleslav has in recent years closed what used to be a fairly sizeable gap.

The fourth-generation Superb launched back in November 2023 with a handsome new exterior, a cleaner interior and suitably plush materials for what is Skoda’s premium offering. Now approaching March 2026, it is ageing gracefully. The fact that a car this young can already be described as “ageing” reflects the wider industry’s obsession with design speed. We digress.

The Superb seems to look at home in any manner of setting. From West London high street or cobbled Brighton mews to muddy country lane, it just fits in. At nearly £50,000 this is not a cheap car but it somehow feels far less brash than a 3 Series in M Sport trim or an AMG Line C-Class. Both of which can be had for similar money. The Superb is affable and, in ‘Ice Tea Yellow’ metallic paint, offers a refreshing pop of colour.

Compared to the outgoing generation, it is better looking in every way but not through revolution; more a gentle evolution of already strong fundamentals. The third generation was a nice looking car too, this is just slightly more polished. I am not usually a fan of narrower headlamps, but these new units (still with clear glass) are more elegant. Ditto at the rear. And this chimes with the overall upmarket aesthetic, reflected elsewhere in the portfolio. Some have said Skoda has gone a bit too posh.

Inside, and the cabin is a very pleasant place to spend time. Long motorway slogs were eaten up with ease and in supreme (superb?) comfort. Part of this is down to the comfortable fabric seats but also less obvious ergonomics: large wing mirrors, plenty of glass and a low-set dash. All of which improve visibility and actively reduce stress, even if just a little. 

In estate guise the Superb remains a ‘do it all’ workhorse that can scrub up for posher outings

The centre console has two proper cupholders and a small storage tray below the IP for trinkets, bags of sweets or the car key. Above this sit three objectively huge toggles for air conditioning and heated seats, which are pleasant to the touch and about as intuitive as it gets for HVAC controls. A smaller separate knob above this handles audio, but the steering wheel toggles within thumb reach saw more use. 

"The Škoda Design team has combined the best of both worlds," notes head of design Oliver Stefani, "[with] manual and digital controls. Everything has been designed with the aim of further simplifying the overall user experience.”

That said, the central display feels a little overpowering. There is no world in which a car like this launches with no screen, of course, but beyond the steering wheel (and the road ahead) it is one of the main focal points. I am a fan of the two-spoke steering wheel with its prominent cutouts at north and south. Vaguely reminiscent of Citroen’s monospoke, but not derivative.

Our test car featured some nice inlays on the door cards and lower wraparound section of the IP, accented subtly by a thin green light. Take note, this is what ambient lighting should be. It does just enough to add a little character at night without overwhelming. Look closer at the dash and there is some attractive stitching that adds a sense of craftsmanship – it could have easily been left as flat plastic. Good stuff. 

Performance is realistically where the Superb falls down. The six-speed box feels a little dated somehow, leggy in its gearing compared to eight-speeds that seem to keep the motor on torque all of the time. The 1.5 TSI may work brilliantly in the Octavia and Fabia, but it feels underpowered in this larger estate even with hybrid support. Remember the old 3.6 V6 Superb? Different times.

In a motoring journalism career of 12 years now, this particular Superb takes the award for worst brakes ever on a press loaner. 

After 15 minutes of driving we almost turned back to take our own much older steed instead. It was almost as if the system was flush with air, meaning no meaningful reduction in speed for most of the pedal’s travel range. Hit a certain point and the system suddenly bites. All this is a recipe for a frazzled driver and some dog sick in the boot (which we cleaned up before returning to Skoda – our pooch sends his apologies.)

That aside – perhaps a maintenance issue more than anything inherent – and the Superb in estate guise remains a strong ‘do it all’ workhorse that can scrub up for posher outings when needed. With the Vision O concept, it is clear that estates remain a focus for the brand and that show car – first revealed in Munich last year – is our best look yet at how the Superb may be updated in coming years.

Skoda Superb iV SE L Estate

1.5 TSI petrol

6-speed DSG automatic gearbox

204PS combined output

Electric range (WLTP) 79 miles

Retail price / price as tested: £44,930 / £47,335

Head of design: Oliver Stefani