Skoda Superb Estate (2010 – 2015) Review

Skoda Superb Estate (2010 – 2015) At A Glance

Huge interior and load space. More legroom in the back than a Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Clever touches throughout. Well specified as standard and great value for money.

Visibility at the rear can be a bit restricted. Usual hesitation from DSG auto. Columbus navigation prone to failure.

Real MPG average for a Skoda Superb Estate (2010 – 2015)

Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.

Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.

Diesel or petrol? If you're unsure whether to go for a petrol or diesel (or even an electric model if it's available), then you need our Petrol or Diesel? calculator. It does the maths on petrols, diesels and electric cars to show which is best suited to you.

Satisfaction Index

Reviews for Skoda Superb Estate (2010 – 2015)'s top 3 rivals

Honda Accord

Impressively quiet and strong i-DTEC diesel engine. Feels well built and reliable. High refinement and...

Ford Mondeo

Fantastic to drive. Refined and comfortable to travel in. Massively roomy cabin and huge load capacity....

Toyota Avensis

Comfortable and quiet on the move, economical diesels including 1.6-litre diesel, well built and durable.

Ask Honest John

Do low profile tyres get punctured more?

"We have a 2014 Skoda Superb Estate. In five years of owning it, there have been eight punctures due potholes or nails. Is this due to the low profile 17-inch tyres? Two of them have occurred whilst towing a caravan. We do not drive on unmade roads, mainly on motorways or major roads. We have never owned a car in over 40 years where we have had punctures such as this. "

That's a lot of punctures for sure. Low-profile tyres doesn't have as much ability to absorb the impact as a standard tyre so this might be why they're getting damaged so much. I'd recommend changing them.

Answered by Georgia Petrie

Why does my Skoda Superb DSG judder at low speeds?

"I've noticed an occasional 'judder' when moving off in my 2012 Skoda Superb automatic petrol estate. It has the seven-speed DSG gearbox. Am I right in thinking that this is a sealed gearbox with fluid for life? Is this a known fault and is there a cure?"

Well known fault with the low torque dry clutch seven-speed DSG. These were originally filled with synthetic oil and 'sealed for life'. But the synthetic oil can become conductive and fuse the Mechatronics, so they were recalled and filled with mineral oil, which creates a new problem because that can't last longer than three - four years and the transmissions are not designed for regular oil changes. The other reason for judder could be impending failure of the dry clutch pack.

Answered by Honest John

Skoda Superb using lots of oil - what should I do?

"I own a 2011 Skoda Superb Estate 4x4 1.8 diesel. It has only done 40,000 miles but is using an excessive amount of oil. I have been in touch with Skoda UK they have suggested that I arrange for a diagnostic check with the local dealership, which I will do. I have some concern that if they recommend changing the engine I will be replacing the it with another with potentially the same issues. Can I demand a different engine? "

You can't ask for Skoda to replace a 1.8 with a 2.0 and in any case the 2.0 CDAA has precisely the same problem. You can demand a reduction of the bill because this is a common problem. You should do this via the dealer from whom you bought the car.

Answered by Honest John

Skoda Superb - a good used buy pre recall?

"I have an opportunity to purchase a 2011 Superb Estate 170 SE with 40k miles at trade price, as it is currently business owned and due for replacement. I know the car it has been well looked after and is right for me and family, however I am concerned about the recall next year and potential impact on economy and / or performance. Should I be concerned and would you consider it a reasonable purchase at this time? At the price quoted (£8k) I am struggling to find much else to compete against it."

Volkswagen released the 'fix' for EA189 2.0 TDI yesterday and it is no more than a software reprogramme, taking about half an hour. They promise that it will not affect economy or performance. See: http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/news/volkswagen-emissions-scandal/volkswagen-announces-ea189-dieselgate-fix/

Answered by Honest John

More Questions

Inside of the Skoda Superb Estate (2010 – 2015)

• Boot space is 633–1865 litres
• Euro NCAP rating of five stars

Inside, there's a lot more to the Superb Estate than just a big boot - it's classy, upmarket and shows great attention to detail. The driver benefits from a comfortable and highly adjustable driving position while the steering wheel adjusts for height and reach, while the seats can be adjusted in a number of directions. Everything inside appears high quality, from the seat fabrics, to the switches, buttons and systems - the sat nav (where fitted) and stereo system, for instance, also appear in the Volkswagen Touareg.

Rear passengers are pampered too. There's more legroom than a Mercedes-Benz S-Class, which means that passengers can really stretch out. To emphasise this, there's a couple of adjustable footrests for the passengers. The Superb's shape lends itself to good headroom, while on the move, it's quiet with wind, road and engine noise very well suppressed.

Opt for the electrically-operated two-piece panoramic glass sunroof that runs the length of the car and the interior is bright as well as roomy. Getting out of the car in the rain? No problem, as with the saloon, there's an umbrella (on SE and Elegance models) concealed in the rear passenger door with a built-in drying system.

But it's the boot that's the star attraction. As well as its sheer size (you'll need to buy a Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate to beat its 1865 litre load space), it's also practical in a number of other ways. It's low to the ground and therefore easy to load and boxes and bags can be securely stowed with an effective partition and tether system that uses an extendable bar (see gallery for images of how this works) to divide up the space.

All models get roof rails and an electric tailgate is available in top models. Uniquely, the height at which it opens can be set by the owner - useful if you regularly go shopping and park in the same multi-storey car park. The tailgate also lights up the whole of the rear area when it's open by using downlighters on the tailgate itself and there's a handy rechargeable torch just inside the boot. It'll last for up to 48 hours and is magnetic, so will stick to the car's body - ideal if you need to change a wheel in the dark.

Equipment from launch (2010):

S is the entry-level model and comes with seven airbags, an alarm with interior monitoring and tilt sensor, split folding rear seats, remote central locking, Climatic air conditioning, CD stereo, electric front and rear windows, electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors, 16-inch Spectrum alloy wheels, ESP stability control and front fog lights.

SE adds front fog lights with cornering function, four-spoke leather multi-function steering wheel, umbrella in rear door, Alcantara upholstery, rear parking sensors, cruise control, dual-zone air conditioning, 17inch Trifid alloy wheels, electrically folding door mirrors and an integrated six CD touchscreen stereo.

Elegance has xenon headlights with integrated headlight washers, AFS (Adaptive Front-light System), tyre pressure monitor, rain sensitive windscreen wipers, Bluetooth, heated front seats, full leather upholstery, electrically adjustable driver and passenger seats, colour touchscreen satellite navigation, 18-inch alloy wheels and a four-spoke leather multi-function steering wheel.

Child seats that fit a Skoda Superb Estate (2010 – 2015)

Our unique Car Seat Chooser shows you which child car seats will fit this car and which seat positions that they will fit, so that you don't have to check every car seat manufacturer's website for compatibility.

Which car seat will suit you?

Driving Skoda Superb Estate (2010 – 2015)

• Engines range from 1.4 TSI to 3.6 V6 4x4
• Readers report Real MPG to be between 22–68 mpg

The range kicks-off with a pathetic-sounding 1.4 TSI, which on the face of it is an incredibly small engine for such a large car. But this is no ordinary 1.4-litre engine: it uses turbocharger technology to deliver 125bhp - the sort of power that you'd normally associate with a 1.8-litre engine. Performance figures are respectable, too, with 0-62mph achieved in 10.6 seconds and onto a top speed of 124mph. But the real benefit of this small turbo engine is lower emissions and better fuel consumption. It emits 159g/km CO2 and is capable of 40.9mpg on the combined cycle.

Most petrol buyers go for the 160bhp 1.8 TSI. It uses similar turbo technology as the 1.4 TSI to strike a balance between brisk performance and low emissions. It knocks the 0-62mph time down to 8.7 seconds and raises the top speed to 124mph, while emitting 171g/km CO2. It's a fine, flexible engine that's as happy around town as it is on the open road. Thanks to the turbo, there's plenty of 'ooomph' for effortless overtaking.

Theoretically there's a 3.6-litre V6 at the top of the range, but just a handful are sold in the UK each year, making it a novelty on the used market. The majority of buyers plump for one of the diesels. There's an entry-level 1.9 TDI with 105bhp, but it's quite an old engine and relatively unrefined compared to the alternative 2.0-litre TDI CR (common rail) with a Diesel Particulate Filter, which is available with 140bhp or 170bhp. In manual 140bhp form, this engine will return 51.4mpg (which is more than the 48.7 on offer from the 1.9-litre TDI) and get from 0-62mph in 10.2 seconds.

The best of the bunch is the 170bhp version, which is well suited to the Superb's not insubstantial size. It offers exactly what you'd expect from a common rail diesel - it's refined, hushed and laid-back on motorways. This is also the engine that's best-suited for towing, too, with a braked towing weight of up to 2,000kg on offer.

The excellent DSG automatic gearbox is available as an option on the 1.8 TSI and 2.0 TDI CR (both 140bhp and 170bhp versions) and standard on the 3.6 V6. It works by using two clutches and pre-selecting your next gear for ultra-quick changes. Four-wheel drive is optional on the 1.8 TSI and 2.0 TDI 170, while the V6 petrol gets it as standard.

Although best suited to the motorway, where it's an outstanding cruiser, the Superb Estate isn't out of its depth on the open road. The steering is good, bodyroll is kept in check and grip is good on most road surfaces. In town, you'd expect Superb's size to be an issue (it is more than five metres long after all), but this isn't the case, even when you're parking.

It's true that rear visibility could be better, but effective parking sensors partly make up for it and do a good job of guiding the Superb Estate into spaces. Alternatively, there's the option of Park Assist, which will park the car for you. It uses sensors to locate a suitable parking space and will then do all the tricky bits itself. All the driver has to do is control the speed with the accelerator, as all the steering inputs are made by the car.

Long term test

Skoda Superb Estate 2.0 TDI 4x4

Skoda Superb Estate (2010 – 2015) Models and Specs

On sale until October 2015

On sale until July 2013

On sale until July 2010

On sale until January 2010

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What to watch out for

Model History

• February 2010: Skoda Superb Estate went on sale in the UK
• February 2010
• May 2010
• August 2010
• September 2010
• November 2010
• October 2012: Skoda announced the Superb Outdoor
• February 2014: Revised Superb Outdoor launched
• June 2014: Skoda Superb TdF launched