Skoda Superb test drive since 2008 -

The dream of a taster

Renault Laguna. Price: 885 425 rub. On sale: since June 2008
Skoda Superb. Price: 940 000 rub. On sale: since August 2008
In our market, these cars are recently. They have a similar price, similar dynamic indicators and even the body type is identical. Although, affirming the latter, you can be very mistaken. The new Renault Laguna is only like a sedan, while remaining a hatchback, but Skoda Superb can be both that and this in one person
 
Renault Laguna
The enlarged wheelbase, as well as the rest of the dimensions of Laguna III, allowed the designers to significantly expand the space for passengers. In addition, only expensive materials are used in the interior decoration, which in cars of this class are found for the first time. The beginner for our market is a diesel engine.
Driving
The car has become much more assembled, while the suspension, as before, is a reasonable compromise between comfort and controllability.
   
Salon
Particularly to the eye and pleases with expensive finishing materials.
   
Comfort
A spacious interior and good sound insulation have a long journey.
   
Safety
The basic configuration consists of six new generation pillows, ABS and an emergency braking assistance system.
   
Price
Available.
  
Skoda Superb
Search for something in common in the appearance of the new and old Superb business is ungrateful. The model is completely updated. However, the car is not remarkable to the Unified car. Full -wheel drive, a new engine, as well as the Skoda, patented by engineers, the design of the trunk cover is far from a complete list of differences in the old version from the new one.
Driving
A dynamic, with quite predicted behavior a car. Separate praises deserve brakes. They are not only effective, but also quite informative.
   
Salon
It is not just big, it is huge, especially if we are talking about the second row of seats. The trunk is also impressive.
   
Comfort
At a high level, the list of additional equipment will not impress, perhaps, only sheikh.

  
Safety
Corresponds to the class of the car.
   
Price
It is justified at the level of competitors.
What to say there, the sedan has always looked and will look more representative. One bad thing: practicality is not enough. How many times have you had to see how the unlucky owner of a solid car is trying to squeeze a box with a TV or a washing machine in a small opening of an open trunk. What to see there. It himself was a hostage to such a situation. And oh, as I wanted at such moments, so that the trunk lid turned into the fifth door. But, alas, not all cars are capable of this, not all. However, there are exceptions: Renault Laguna, in which the trunk cover is not large, but visually present, and Skoda Superb, which is unambiguously perceived as a sedan. Although, of course, it would be more correct to call them not hatchbacks, but with liftbacks. After all, it is precisely such a term that means the body type, when, when similar with a sedan, the car does not have a trunk lid, but the back door.
Both the first and second car in our market relatively recently. The official sales of Laguna began in June, Superb a little later, in September. Both machines relate to the D-segment and as for how Laguna is positioned, there are no questions, but with whom to put Superb with one row, it is not clear. It's all about the wheelbase. It was she who allowed the model to be one of her kind, because none of the classmates will provide such a space on the second row of seats.
But not only a large wheelbase is knocked out by Superb from the clip of classmates. The fifth door is another nuance that makes you think very much when you try to position this car. The fact is that Superb can be either an elevator or a sedan. If the luggage is small, open only the trunk lid. There was a need to arrange something voluminous open the door in the car. Conveniently, you won’t write anything.
With Laguna, such a trick will not pass. But even despite the fact that its fifth door does not have the opportunity to transform in such a fantastically, it is no less convenient to use it. The fact is that the regiment, which covers the luggage compartment with an open door, actually completely overlaps the salon and thereby prevents the climate in it, which is especially relevant in the cold season. But one of the messages in order to make a rear door at Superb was also this task to protect warmth. Nevertheless, 560 liters of Superb trunk volume versus 450 liters of Laguna, the result is impressive. And if you also fold the back row of seats
The scope that Skoda Superb provides for passengers of the second row is also impressive. You can stretch your legs here really completely. Well, for those who have not come out, there are special stops that can be easily moved on the floor and fixed in the right place through the fastener of Wilcro. Renault Laguna, of course, cannot boast of such a spaciousness on the gallery, but here there is enough space to sit, if not a leg on the leg, then in any case it is quite comfortable.
As for the convenience of landing in the driver's place, in this indicator Laguna and Superb are actually the same. This is evidenced by numbers, because the width is wider than the Frenchman by only 5 millimeters. But as for the interior design, the cars are completely different in this indicator. The Superb interior is akin to classic Czech beer is designed and tasty. There is nothing superfluous in it, and any element, whether it is a instrument shield or a climate installation control unit, can not exist without each other, as hops and malt cannot exist without each other. Laguna is not so strict in this regard. Here, any element also logically complements the other, but there is no longer the strictness as in Superb. It’s like a young wine of a fighting taste, a bit tart and fresh. Which, in principle, is quite expected from the Frenchman.
But the fact that Laguna has become much more collected and even stricter in motion was, if not a revelation (it has been driving it earlier), then a pleasant confirmation of conclusions made earlier. In any case, in terms of stability of behavior on the Laguna road, little of different from Superb, and this is provided that the wheelbase here is not significant but less. If we talk about dynamics, then according to this indicator, cars vary slightly. Which, however, is quite logical, given the difference in the weight and power of the engines. Laguna, although easier than Superb, is her engine weaker.
However, the lack of power is easily compensated by the choice of a car with a more powerful engine. The benefit is both Renault Laguna and Skoda Superb.

Database
Renault Laguna - Skoda Superb
Dimensions, weight
The number of places 5 - 5
Equipped mass, kg 1369 - 1455
Full mass, kg 1919 - 2075
Length, mm 4695 - 4840
Width, mm 1811 - 1815
Height, mm 1445 - 1460
Base, mm 2756 - 2760
Trunk volume, l 450 - 565
Fuel tank volume, l 66 - 60
Dynamics
Maximum speed, km/h 210 - 220
Acceleration time to 100 km/h, from 9.1 - 8.6
Braking distance at a speed of 100 km/h, from 37.7 - 37.2
Control consumption of fuel, l/ 100km:
city cycle 10.7 - 10.4
country cycle 6.3 - 6.0
mixed cycle 7.9 - 7.6
Technique
The type of engine is gasoline, in-line, 4-cylinder
Working volume, cm3 1997 - 1798
Power L.S. at min -1 140/5500 - 160/5000
Torque at MIN -1 195/3750 - 250/1500
Transmission 6-speed, mechanical
Front drive - front
The front wheels suspension is independent - independent
The rear wheels suspension is semi -dependent - independent
The front brakes, ventilated - disk, ventilated
Rear disc brakes - disk,
Steering with an amplifier - with an amplifier
Tire size 195/60R16 - 205/55R16
Radius of turn, m 11.05 - 11.5

Author: Oleg Kalaushin
Photo: Igor Kuznetsov
 

 

Source: Magazine 5 wheel [October 2008]