Skoda Superb 2002 test drive - 2008 -

Skoda in a tailcoat

Superb encroached on a business class and came to conquer Russia
And in marriage, wonderful children are born according to the calculation. Once, having lost a share of shares to the German concern, Czech Skoda was prettier, stuck, and she seemed to like it. Things clearly went uphill, and in the end she completely and completely crossed the powerful wing of VW. Now you can think not only about healthy offspring, but also about prestige. In fact: every self -respecting automobile company is simply obliged to have its own departure to the High World. So Superb appeared, who inherited along with the family - the features of his brothers and sisters in the concern. The step, of course, is brave, designed that the buyer will learn how to appreciate Czech cars not only for reliability and accessibility, but also for other qualities inherent in the machines for wealthy people.
Immediately obvious - a business class. A large and solid car on which it is not shameful to roll to any meeting. Yes, this is Skoda, but she seemed to put on a tailcoat, and he is to her face. Some of the colleagues christened Superb with the stubborn octavia - figuratively, but not entirely true. With the same success, it can be called elongated Passat -this will be more accurately by exactly 10 cm, but again does not reflect the true picture. And the picture is that Superb is a completely original car. Yes, he retained Czech genes and absorbed something from Volkswagen models and even from Audi. But, firstly, he got from them by no means the worst, and, secondly, there is nothing bad and amazing in this. In a sense, the novelty is a vivid example of globalization, when the manufacturer reduces the number of platforms, but increases the number of models based on them. At the same time, solving seemingly heteropoly tasks: to ensure unification, achieving diversity.
Skoda designers undoubtedly managed to preserve the formed corporate identity. At the same time, they were able to save their flagship from excessive heavyweight, which happens when the company for the first time takes up the development of a prestigious model, wanting to emphasize its future place in the ranks. The front line is decorated with a branded grille of the radiator successfully floating on the hood. The back is no less peculiar, although the lanterns resemble the same Passat. On the other hand, why invent a bicycle when there are generally fresh, but already adopted by a European buyer, design decisions? There are no sharp corners and lines in the Superb exterior, excess clogs, nothing bothers the eye. Original castes of the 17th radius are introduced in the face of a special note.
The same confident-calm style is also distinguished by a salon. First of all, you notice how convenient the landing is in the car. The doors are large and open wide. Moreover, it is equally convenient to sit on the front and the rear seats. You can not be afraid to lick an evening suit on the threshold or sidewall of the body in bad weather. I admit, I did not even expect such a large space for the legs of the rear passengers. It is clearly freer here than in Passat. In the lateral part of the left door, why the left one - I still did not understand, there is a special compartment for storing fine luggage. The seats shares a wide armrest, there are special reading lights - if the owner wants to ride with a driver.
However, it is very comfortable in the driver's place. The seat and the steering wheel are adjusted, one might say, in all directions. The car that was obtained had mechanical adjustments, but this is the issue of configuration, you can order a version with a full electrical packet. The chair itself is moderately tough, and although it does not have pronounced lateral support, you probably will not get tired of it in a long road in it. Additional amenities are provided by an adjustable lumbar support. The buttons of control of electric windows, as well as the heated mirrors, are placed in the side of the door - exactly, as in Passat.
On the central console there is a Skoda Symphony radio. Doesn't it remind you? Such names are used by Audi. It turned out to be somewhat unexpected for me that I saw an ordinary radio with a cassette radio, although the system sounded very good. And again - the issue of options, you can order a CD changer. You can control the radio using buttons on the steering wheel. The bagel itself is sheathed with leather, it is small and comfortable.
Under the audio system there is a control unit of a separate climate control system. Unlike any other, the 5-speed lever of a mechanical gearbox looks like. It is small, but extremely successful, also lined with leather and has inserts made of polished aluminum in the upper part. Of course, there are versions with a machine gun, but they have not yet reached Russia. The dials of a tachometer and speedometer on the instrument panel are pleasing to the eye, the numbers on them are not quite usually applied, but they are read very well. The speedometer marked up to 270 km/h indicates not a dozen Superb capabilities.
Big and fast
This is true: Superb can be called without exaggeration not only the largest, but also the fastest car in the Skoda model range. The VW 6-cylinder engine with a capacity of 193 hp. In combination with a mechanical gearbox, it is endowed with a truly fighting character. Quiet, almost silent at low speeds, he begins to give a voice through the sound insulation of the salon only with very dynamic driving.
The clutch pedal will satisfy the most demanding driver. Moreover, it has a good feedback. And this is important. Since if at starting from a place only to overdo it with gas supply and abruptly throw the clutch pedal, the front drive wheels will immediately go into the slip, scaring the rubber passers -by. A short and clear algorithm along which the gear lever moves allows you to choose the right speed with lightning speed and without any problems. With sharp accelerations, I always checked the back of the chair for strength. The whole charm of an atmospheric engine of such a volume lies in the fact that in almost the entire range of revolutions when pressing an accelerator you immediately feel a pickup. At the same time, the reactions to the gas pedal, no delay in the response is felt.
Here is a traffic light, next to the stop line tinted BMW 525. Green. The driver of the Bavarian car probably did not count on competition with Skoda and clearly overestimated the dynamic potential of his car. A small wheel slip, and after 100 meters, BMW could only be seen in the rear view mirror. Maybe he has a machine gun, and the car is not very fresh? After a traffic light, a long arc of a turn, behind which is another intersection. The same BMW stops nearby. The driver’s glass is lowered and a series of questions immediately follows: great! Rides, apparently, normal. How much it costs? Having received the answer from me, the owner of the Bavarian car politely lets me forward, not wanting to compete once again. So Skoda Superb may not be modest.
Obviously, in a car of this class of suspension, by definition, comfort should provide comfort. However, they are tuned in such a way that it is not worth grazing before a steep turn. The cranes of the body, of course, are noticeable, but they are not at all critical. At the same time, Superb holds the way perfectly. In any case, the stabilization system will come to the aid of an inexperienced person and will suffer in a critical situation.
The steering deserves praise. It’s easy to twist the steering wheel in place, and with an increase in speed it, as expected, is heavy, allowing you to feel great. By the way, it was precisely such settings that made it possible to bypass the formidable rivals in the turns. The brakes are exactly what it is necessary: \u200b\u200bthe pedal, its course and the rigidity of the complaints do not cause. ABS, which is included in the standard equipment, will suffer from possible skidding on any coating. In general, Skoda Superb, it seems, cannot deceive the expectations that you have on the European business class car.
The bet is made
And the bet, admitted, is bold. Until now, the name Skoda has not been associated with expensive and prestigious cars. However, it cannot be said that the price was too high for a car of this class, rather, on the contrary, it is very moderate - from 22 thousand dollars. The version with a 6-cylinder engine, the most powerful in the range, costs 5 thousand more. And this is a good argument in a dispute for its share in the market segment, where competition is very serious.
In its dimensions, Superb is slightly larger than Passat and closer to the Audi A6, BMW of the 5th series and Mercedes-Benz E-class. And here the matter is not only in price, but also in the image. To date, if a person thinks about the acquisition of a prestigious car, he will remember Skoda, most likely, last. So the company's image will have to be seriously engaged in the flagship.
On the other hand, the interest in the brand in the Russian market is quite high, the level of sales of Czech cars is growing steadily. And Superb will certainly find its buyer.
Andrey Osipov

Source: Newspaper "Automobile Izvestia" [No. 8 (11), 2002]