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16/12/2011
Car Review By MURRAY HUBBARD
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In this season of ‘Car of the Year’ awards we’d like to hand out one of our own: the most under-rated car company. And the winner is ..... Skoda. With many car buyers Skoda is simply a blip on the radar. This low-profile division of the Volkswagen Group, with cars built in the Czech Republic, benefits greatly from flow-down technology developed by Audi and VW.
At the same time the company maintains an individuality of style and clever features. We have just spent an enjoyable week in the company’s latest offering, the Skoda Superb 4X4 103TDI wagon.
Like many other makers Skoda is decreasing engine size with little impact on power and performance with a big ticket improvement in fuel consumption and emissions. The Skoda Superb 4X4 103TDI is powered by a 1.968 cc four cylinder, turbo boosted direct injection diesel engine.
Starting at $43,990 plus on-roads, the Skoda Superb 4X4 103TDI Ambition model gives a hell of a lot of bang for your buck in terms of a big family wagon, with lots of safety, technology, bling and fuel consumption that belies a vehicle that tips the scales at a hefty 1700 kg.
BODY STYLE
Any wagon coming onto the Australian market is going to struggle to meet the high standards set by Holden’s Commodore. The Superb does not have the Holden’s good looks, nor is it butt ugly. What it is superb at is functionality in a body that has the appearance of being designed in the late 1990s. While the front is contemporary the rear styling is cumbersome compared to the local product.
POWERTRAIN/PERFORMANCE
Skoda may have launched the 103TDI Superb 4X4 wagon as the new entry level to its wagon range but there is nothing shabby about the performance of the 2.0 litre turbo-diesel that puts out 103 kW of power and 320 Nm of torque between 1750 rpm - 2500 rpm. What we really like about this new Superb is the transmission. The last time we tested a 6-speed DSG in a Skoda Superb we were critical of the transmission’s performance in stop/start traffic. We found it uncertain about which gear to select and the result was a jerky ride for all on board. That, thank goodness has been sorted and the DSG now has the smoothness of a traditional automatic transmission with the benefits of DSG.
SAFETY
Nine airbags tells us Skoda is serious about safety. Add in stability control, traction control and a raft of electronic gadgetry that assist to keep the car on the blacktop plus ABS brakes and anti-slip regulation and the package is formidable.
INTERIOR DESIGN/FUNCTIONALITY
Superb - both sedan and wagon - have always been about interior space and comfort. The rear seat leg room is second to none in this class and the rear pew easily accommodates three adults. With all five seats in use there is 633 litres of cargo space and fold down the rear seat and this balloons out to 1865 litres. The tailgate is wide and tall enabling easy access for large or bulky items. Aluminium strips and hooks make for easy tie-down of cargo.
In our week in Superb wagon we found the car user-friendly to the extent everything we had to do as a driver came naturally. This a sign of a well-designed, functional interior.
DRIVING IMPRESSIONS
For a while family wagons went out of vogue as the buying public went for high-riding SUVs. The Superb wagon, with 4X4 soft-road ability, and practicality, fits neatly into the slot of a family oriented sports wagon that sips rather than slurps fuel. In our road test the Superb delivered consumption of 6.8 litres/100 km, just above Skoda’s claim of 6.4 litres/100 km. The 2.0 litre turbo diesel may be small but it packs enough punch for any family wagon and is competitive for hard-line acceleration when needed as well as passing in the 80 - 120 km/h range. Sitting on 110 km/h on the highway is a breeze.
Despite it’s size and weight and the Superb wagon handles extremely well, tackling tight bends and sweeping curves alike with sure feet and little body roll. The Superb feels and drives on the light side despite the solid feel of the car. At $43,990 plus on-roads the Skoda Superb wagon 103TDI 4X4 is in the bargain basement for large family wagons, yet has the ambience of a luxury estate. With some exterior styling changes this wagon would assist Skoda in Australia in ridding itself of the under-rated tag.
MODELS AND PRICING*
(turbo diesel)
Ambition 2.0 litre 103TDI auto $40,990
Ambition 2.0 litre 103TDI 4X4 auto $43,990
Elegance 2.0 litre 103TDI 4X4 auto $50,490
Elegance 2.0 litre 125TDI auto $50,490
(petrol)
Ambition 1.8 litre auto $40,990
Ambition 1.8 litre auto $47,490
Elegance 3.6 litre 4X4 auto $58,490
(*Pricing does not include dealer or government charges)
FEATURES (Superb 2.0 litre Ambition 4X4)
ABS Brakes: standard
Air Conditioning: standard
Automatic Transmission: standard
CD Player: standard
Central Locking: standard
Cruise Control: standard
Dual Front Airbags: standard
Front Side Airbags: standard
Stability Control: standard
Traction Control: standard
SPECIFICATIONS
ENGINE:
Capacity: 1.968 litres
Configuration: in line 4
Head design: DOHC
Maximum Power: 103 kW @ 4200 rpm
Maximum Torque: 320 Nm @ 1750- 2500 rpm
DRIVELINE:
Driven Wheels: Front 4X4
Manual Transmission: N/A
Automatic Transmission: DSG 6-speed
DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT AND CAPACITIES:
Length: 4838 mm
Wheelbase: 2761 mm
Width: 1817 mm
Height: 1510 mm
Turning Circle: 10.8 metres
Kerb Mass: 1700 kg
Fuel Tank Capacity: 60 litres
Towing Ability: 1500 kg (kg with braked trailer)
SUSPENSION AND BRAKES:
Front Suspension: Mac Pherson struts
Rear Suspension: multi-link axle
Front Brakes: disc
Rear Brakes: disc
PERFORMANCE:
0-100 km/h Acceleration: 10.8 seconds
FUEL CONSUMPTION:
Type: diesel
Combined Cycle (ADR 81/01): 6.4 L/100km
GREEN VEHICLE GUIDE RATINGS:
Greenhouse Rating: unavailable 7/10
Air Pollution Rating: unavailable 6/10
STANDARD WARRANTY:
3 years/ unlimited km |
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