Skoda Superb Estate (2025) Review

Introduction

Calling your new car ‘Superb’ is a bold move, but it’s one that Skoda has managed to pull off remarkably well. Not least because pretty much every version of the Superb has been, well, superb. Now, though, in a world increasingly obsessed with technology, style and efficiency, the latest Superb Estate might have a hard time winning friends and influencing people. Yet Skoda has tried anyway, and we’re putting the new model to the test.

Although other cars might be going electric, Skoda has kept the Superb pretty much as it ever was, fine-tuning the petrol, diesel and hybrid powertrains, but shying away from an all-electric version. The formula of sharp design, ample interior space and robust build quality is, as expected, unchanged, but will that be enough to ensure this car remains a hit with private customers and company car drivers alike?

At a Glance

The new Superb doesn’t look all that different from its predecessor, but there’s nothing wrong with that. Skoda might once have been seen as something of a joke, but the modern brand is sharp and stylish, as well as being considerably more competent than before.

Perhaps the best expression of that modern competence comes from the Superb’s cabin, which is awash with smart materials that have been ably bolted together, giving the air of a much more upmarket product. And that’s before we consider the design, which manages to prove you can mix technology, style and ergonomics together completely problem-free. Not that the manufacturers who seem to be incapable of such witchcraft will thank the Czech company for it.

But customers will love that, and they’ll love the amount of space there is on board a Superb Estate, too. The boot is massive, as long as you don’t go for a hybrid model, and there’s loads of space inside the passenger cabin.

Under the skin, the Superb is offered with a choice of different engines, including a ‘basic’ 1.5-litre petrol engine and a host of 2.0-litre petrol and diesel options. There’s also an intriguing plug-in hybrid with a long electric range, which is bound to appeal to company car drivers and those who only rarely venture further than about 50 miles from home.

Yet if you drive a Superb and most of your miles are local, you’re missing out. The Superb is a stellar long-distance car, with a comfortable ride and some really efficient, punchy diesel engines. Perhaps the handling is a bit blunt as a result, but there are few cars in any part of the market that feel as capable on a long motorway jaunt.

Key Features

There’s no point in having a Skoda estate if it isn’t roomy, and the Superb definitely comes up trumps on that front. At 690 litres, the boot is huge, and though it does get a bit smaller if you choose a plug-in hybrid over a conventional petrol or diesel example, it’s still pretty spacious. And if you fold the back seats down, the space goes from ‘huge’ to ‘ginormous’ in seconds. For carrying lots of stuff, the only thing better than a Superb Estate is a van.

Space in the cabin is impressive, too, but not quite as impressive as the Superb’s ride comfort. It doesn’t float like an American barge – it feels more nuanced and more controlled than that – but it’s unbelievably comfortable on a motorway and you come out at the other end feeling almost as refreshed as when you left. You’ll need a limo to beat one of these on a long drive.

Range & Batteries

There may not be an electric Superb, but the plug-in hybrid is very capable, thanks in no small part to its 20kWh battery pack. Offering an electric range of up to about 80 miles on a single charge, it allows you to use the Skoda as an electric car around town, then utilise the flexibility of the petrol engine on a longer drive. In fact, those who charge regularly at home should find they are rarely troubling the petrol engine when they head to the shops, on the school run, or on any local drives.

Performance & Drive

The Superb range includes a broad selection of different powertrains, so there should really be something for everyone.

The base option is a 1.5-litre mild-hybrid petrol engine, paired with a seven-speed automatic gearbox and driving the front wheels alone. With 150hp, it’s reasonably potent for an entry-level option, and its 9.3-second sprint from 0-62mph is perfectly adequate.

However, that engine also forms the basis of the plug-in hybrid ‘iV’ models, which combine the 1.5-litre petrol engine with an electric motor and a 20kWh battery to produce 204hp. As well as offering excellent electric-only range, the system provides enough power to cut the 0-62mph time to 8.1 seconds, while the car tops out at 136mph.

Although the hybrids are appealing for those who mostly drive around town, the diesel engines might be preferable for those who mostly cover long distances. The basic diesel option sends 150hp to the front wheels via the automatic gearbox that’s standard across the range, offering the same 9.2-second 0-62mph time as the 1.5-litre petrol, but with a different power delivery.

Then there’s the more powerful 2.0-litre diesel engine, which produces 193hp and comes with all-wheel drive as standard. That gives the Superb a bit more grunt, and the traction to use it when the road is wet or slippery. The result? A much faster 0-62mph time of 7.6 seconds, despite a relatively small reduction in fuel economy.

Alternatively, if you want outright power, you can have the 2.0-litre petrol engine with 204hp and all-wheel drive, taking the 0-62mph time down to 7.4 seconds, or you can have the even more potent 265hp 2.0-litre petrol option, lifted straight from the Kodiaq vRS. That car is monstrously quick, galloping from 0-62mph in 5.7 seconds, but you’ll pay the price at the fuel pumps.

Even with that much power, though, the Superb remains resolutely comfortable. Admittedly, the SportLine models won’t be quite as supple as their siblings, particularly in the sportiest settings, but even a mid-range SE L model rides beautifully, absorbing the bumps tidily and wafting along at 70-plus-mph. If you’re driving on the motorway, there are few cars that will make it as pleasant an experience as the Superb.

Around town, the Superb’s size means it doesn’t feel especially wieldy, but it’s easy to position on the road and visibility really isn’t too bad in the estate, which allows you to see exactly where the rear end is. It isn’t a city car, but it copes well for something of this size, and the long range of the hybrid means you can use it as an electric car around town, giving it smoother and quieter power delivery.

Finally, country roads won’t necessarily show the Superb in its best light – the steering is a bit light and there’s a bit of body roll from the higher estate bodywork – but it’s still competent. Although there isn’t all that much feel from the wheel, the steering is at least precise and the grip is plentiful, so it feels safe and secure, even if it doesn’t necessarily want you to throw it into corners.

Charging

Filling the Superb’s battery can be done relatively quickly from either a fast public DC charge point or a domestic AC ‘wallbox’ charging unit at home. There’s no point spending a fortune on a 350kW charger, as the Superb will only charge at a maximum of 40kW, but a more common 50kW charge point will top the battery up to 80% in 26 minutes, which is pretty good going. And if you want to charge from a 7kW wallbox at home, you’re looking at just a few hours. You could easily do it in an afternoon or an evening.

Running Costs & Emissions

The Superb’s running costs naturally depend on which version you choose, but they’re all remarkably efficient. Even the basic 1.5-litre petrol engine will top 50mpg on the official economy test, while the 2.0-litre diesel engine will take you closer to 60mpg. And while the 2.0-litre petrol options drink fuel a bit, they still aren’t too bad. Even the 265hp, all-wheel-drive option returns more than 35mpg.

But the star of the show is the plug-in hybrid. Perhaps the 200-plus-mpg official figure is unlikely, but you can easily do 50 or 60 miles on a single charge, and if you can top the battery up regularly at home, it’ll keep your fuel bills to a minimum. And for company car drivers, the low emissions mean Benefit-in-Kind (BIK) tax won’t be too savage either. Especially as it’s calculated as a percentage of the car’s purchase price and, being a Skoda, the Superb’s list price is much lower than that of, say, an Audi A5 Avant.

Interior & Technology

Once upon a time, Skoda’s cabins were dull, bland and generally underwhelming, but times have changed dramatically. The new Superb comes with a big touchscreen and a host of lovely plastics and leathers, giving it a cabin that wouldn’t look out of place in a much more premium model.

The style is quite modern and fresh, but in a classic kind of way, so it won’t feel too alien to those more accustomed to Skoda products of the last 10 years. Admittedly, the two-spoke steering wheel might look a little weird in pictures, but the buttons on the wheel all work well and the layout is generally logical and ergonomic. Even if having the gear selector on the steering column might feel a bit odd to the uninitiated.

Perhaps the crowning glory of the Superb’s dash, though, is the three rotary dials in the central part of the dashboard, below the touchscreen. Able to rotate and push, and fitted with little high-definition screens, the outer switches allow you to change the temperature, adjust the seat heating (and ventilation, when fitted). It seems to be a strange idea for some manufacturers, but it works brilliantly in the Skoda. Who’d have thought it?

The central dial, meanwhile, changes its function when you push it, allowing you to flick between fan speed, driving modes, and other controls. It’s all quite sensible, really, and it merges the old and new ways in a form other manufacturers could learn from.

And the Superb now backs that up with a much better touchscreen than was originally fitted to the Octavia or the Enyaq. The new 13-inch display is clean and clear, and Skoda’s latest software makes it more user friendly than some VW Group systems of the past five years. A customisable toolbar helps, allowing drivers to place shortcuts to regularly used functions, and sharper responses from the software have also made it a commendable system.

The digital instrument display is good, too, with all the information you need in exactly the right places. It may not have the functionality of Audi’s brilliant Virtual Cockpit, but it’s just as good as anything else from the mainstream brands. And thanks to the steering wheel controls, you can use it to access menus such as the driver assistance tech, making it easier to activate or deactivate as required.

Practicality & Boot Space

Practicality is the big selling point of any Superb, and particularly the Superb Estate. Happily, the big Skoda delivers with the kind of cargo bay that wouldn’t look out of place in a Chinook helicopter. With a massive 690 litres of carrying capacity, it’s absolutely enormous, and perfectly capable of swallowing whatever you throw through the tailgate. And if you fold the back seats down, you end up with a space that rivals small vans, let alone other estate cars. We would, however, issue one note of caution. Because of the battery, the plug-in hybrid Superb only has 510 litres of luggage space in the boot, and that’s a little less impressive. It’s still very useful, but it isn’t quite as remarkable.

Fortunately, both hybrid and more conventionally powered Superb Estates have the same humongous interior, which means there’s loads of space for passengers. In the front, there’s plenty of headroom and shoulder room, so you don’t feel too close to the person sitting next to you, while rear legroom is very generous, and headroom is also ample. It isn’t quite palatial in there, but plenty of more expensive cars feel more cramped in the back.

Safety

The Superb scored really highly when it was crash-tested by the European independent safety organisation, Euro NCAP. The five-star rating it achieved is the maximum on offer, and a 93% score for adult occupant protection puts the Superb up there with some of the safest cars on the road.

However, Skoda has fitted lots of equipment to help you ensure you never have to test that crashworthiness. Autonomous emergency braking can stop the car automatically if the driver doesn’t respond to a hazard, while speed limit warning technology alerts you if you creep over the speed limit and lane departure warning will help you keep the car from wandering out of its lane. Admittedly, the latter two systems aren’t universally adored, but they can both be quickly and easily deactivated via a button on the steering wheel and a menu in the digital instrument cluster.

More appealing is the standard-fit reversing camera, which helps to avoid low-speed bumps, and the optional head-up display, which is a really clever and useful addition to the car’s arsenal.

Options

The Superb range is fairly simple, with four different trim levels to choose from. The base model is the SE Technology, which comes with fabric upholstery and 17-inch alloy wheels, but don’t go thinking it’s some pared-back bargain-basement special. Heated front seats and a reversing camera are both standard, along with three-zone climate control, a digital instrument cluster and a 13-inch touchscreen with satellite navigation and the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration systems. It even gets push-button ‘keyless’ start.

It’s difficult to think how much more technology you would absolutely need, but we’d suggest most customers go for the mid-range SE L model nonetheless. With leather seats, heated and ventilated front seats, and an electrically operated tailgate, not to mention bigger alloys and keyless entry, it has everything you’re really likely to want.

Still, those looking for a sportier aesthetic can choose the SportLine with its 19-inch alloys, sporty styling and black trim, as well as dynamic chassis control technology that allows you to tune the suspension for handling or comfort, depending on the conditions.

And those who want the height of luxury and all the toys can have the Laurin & Klement model, named after the brand’s founders and shortened to L&K. Pick that and you get heated rear seats, a Canton sound system and the dynamic chassis control, but you forgo the SportLine’s black detailing in favour of a classier chrome look.

In terms of options, Skoda sticks everything together in packages, but the only one we’d choose is the Winter Package. Add this to an SE L and you get heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel and a heated windscreen, all of which will be a Godsend on a Baltic winter’s morning.

And, of course, we’d go for one of the optional paint colours. Skoda offers the solid Energy Blue as standard, and that’s fine, but Cobalt Blue is a much more attractive hue, and there’s a rich Carmine Red, along with the more conventional Graphite Grey, Pebble Silver and Midnight Black. Ice Tea Yellow Metallic deserves a look-in, though, despite its name. It might sound awful, but it’s more of a soft green colour that looks much better in the metal than in pictures or on Skoda’s configurator.

Rival Cars

As customers seem to clamour for SUVs these days, the Superb’s rivals are becoming fewer and further between. With the Ford Mondeo sadly gone and the Citroen C5 X now extinct, the closest alternative is the Volkswagen Passat, which is a soft and comfortable thing, but somehow much more bland than the Skoda with which it shares so much.

Other alternatives include the VW Arteon Shooting Brake, which has a bit more character but isn’t as practical as the Superb, and the Peugeot 408, which has a slightly more SUV-like feel, but isn’t as nice inside or as nice to drive.

Beyond that, the majority of the Superb’s rivals are ‘premium’ products such as the Audi A5 Avant, the BMW 3 Series Touring and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate. They’re all lovely cars with their own appeal – the Audi is the all-rounder, the BMW is the sporty choice and the Mercedes is the efficient option – but even their ranks have dwindled in recent years, thanks to the loss of the Genesis G70 Shooting Brake.

Long story short, if you want a big estate car and you don’t want to pay a premium, you’re probably going to need a Superb.

Verdict & Next Steps

As ever, the Superb lives up to its name. The latest version might have the odd quirk, such as its compromised touchscreen and strange column-mounted gear lever, but these are minor issues that you’ll rapidly become used to. In the main, this is still the most practical, comfortable and well made estate car out there, and it’s hard to find a situation in which the Skoda – or at least some version of it – would be out of place. §

Where to next?

View latest Skoda Superb Estate lease deals- from just £270.48 per month inc VAT**.

Call us on 0118 3048 688 or hit the green 'Enquire' button for more details.

Looking for a great leasing deal? Check out our incredible range of Special Offers and Lease Deals. 

New Estate? Read our latest Reviews and find the right model for you.

Want to know more about leasing? Take a look at our comprehensive Leasing Guides.

Interested in everything motoring? Why not catch up on all the latest Car Leasing News.

**Score based on Select’s unique meta score analysis, taking into account the UK’s top leading independent car website reviews of the Skoda Superb Estate

**Correct as of 08/12/2025. Based on 12  months initial payment, 5,000 miles annually, over a 24 month lease. Initial payment equivalent to 12 monthly payments, or £3,245.76 (Plus admin fee) Ts and Cs apply. Credit is subject to status.