Watch: Skoda launches fourth-gen Superb

A new sedan and an estate launched at once? Happy Friday, everyone. The fourth-generation Skoda Superb was revealed yesterday with a handsome new design for both variants. Although it is technically a hatchback, not a sedan, the smaller of the two is very much a three-box layout and a welcome antidote to the crossover epidemic.

The front end is understated but strong, with a clean light signature created by new LED Matrix headlights which are 40 percent brighter than usual – no doubt the work of Petr Nevrela and his award-winning lighting design team.

In estate form the new Superb cuts a sleek figure, with a roofline that tapers ever so slightly towards the subtle boot spoiler. The rear end continues the minimalist theme and does well to stand out from other brands under the Volkswagen umbrella.

Much work has been done on the interior, too, with a cleaner layout owing partly to a stalk-mounted gear selector on the steering column, which frees up space. Despite a floating digital display, key functions still have prominent physical buttons and dials. “Back-friendly” Ergo seats feature ten pneumatically controlled massage cushions, and there is also the option for “100% sustainable” textiles for certain trim levels.

One new feature in the cockpit is the so-called ’phone box’ which offers inductive 15-watt fast charging but also cooling, useful for those of us with an ageing smartphone. The fluted air vents and mix of materials feels very much in line with today’s definition of premium.

The Superb has always been Skoda’s more premium offering, and remains a well-equipped and stylish alternative to the brands from Munich and Stuttgart.