Skoda Superb Estate: The Queen of Space

Somewhere towards the end of the 1990s, Portuguese band D’Arrasar found success with a song entitled “You Are the Queen of the Night”. Now, just over 20 years later, they could easily record a version devoted to the Skoda Superb Estate called “You Are the Queen of… Space”.

Recently updated, the Superb estate - first introduced in 2015 - continues to make its generous accommodation its strongest selling point, helped by its near five-metre overall length (4.86 m, to be exact).

Rear legroom makes it abundantly clear why the saloon version - actually a five-door hatchback rather than the conventional four-door three-box saloon - is so often selected for official state duties. The estate tested here adds even greater practicality, however, along with a vast 660-litre boot.

Spacious ergonomics

Inside, the restrained design of the Superb Estate’s cabin proves to be a genuine advantage from an ergonomics perspective.

Every control is positioned exactly where you would expect to find it, setting an example the newer Scala could follow after embracing the trend for removing physical controls.

The infotainment system also follows the established approach of Skoda models, and Volkswagen Group cars more broadly: it is intuitive, straightforward to operate and comprehensive without burying functions beneath an excessive number of menus.

That understated character carries over to the exterior. The Superb’s facelift is visually subtle, bringing Matrix LED headlamps at the front - a first for the Czech brand - LED rear lights, redesigned bumpers and a larger grille.

The finished result has not compromised the restrained look for which it has always been known, and I must admit that I like its ministerial presence. Less welcome is its striking resemblance to its smaller sibling, the Octavia, something that has been evident almost since the Superb’s first generation.

In this case, diesel still makes sense

Under the bonnet of the Skoda Superb Estate sat a 190 PS 2.0 TDI, and the truth is that the pairing works very well.

Mated to a seven-speed DSG gearbox, the engine proved willing, strong and even somewhat pleasant - or, at least, well insulated. Its greatest strength, though, is its ability to cover miles quickly without requiring you to bring a fuel tanker along.

Indeed, the fuel consumption I achieved over almost 1,000 km behind the wheel of the Superb Estate suggests that diesel still has a place in this kind of car.

After all, what other powertrain allows a vehicle of the Superb Estate’s size to return around 5.5 l/100 km in driving that included country roads, motorways and even the climb up one or two mountain passes? In town, consumption does not soar either, remaining between 7 and 7.5 l/100 km.

Diesel critics will have to forgive me, but these are figures normally associated with superminis, or with models whose efficiency relies on the discipline and willingness to “plug them in” - namely plug-in hybrids. On several occasions, the trip computer displayed a range well in excess of 1,000 km.

Family-focused, yet dynamically capable

Despite its emphasis on family duties, the Skoda Superb Estate does not disappoint dynamically. It is not the most exciting model in its segment, nor does it claim to be, but its responses are consistently neutral and predictable, delivering the security expected from a car with such an unmistakably family-oriented role.

It also combines admirable motorway stability with levels of comfort and calm that make it an outstanding companion for very long journeys.

In urban areas, meanwhile, its dimensions serve as a reminder that this is “a fish too large for such a small bowl”.

Is it the right car for me?

To answer the question raised at the beginning of this article, the Superb Estate does far more than establish itself as a benchmark for interior space.

Equipped with a diesel engine that reminds us why the market fell “in love” with this type of powertrain not so many years ago, it is a natural long-distance cruiser, encouraging family trips without any particular concern over fuel consumption.

For anyone seeking a car with restrained styling, remarkable economy, the ability to cover long distances without prompting complaints from its occupants, and enough room to make some studio flats in town look cramped, the Skoda Superb Estate could very well be the ideal choice.