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Skoda’s Very good answer to the Volkswagen Passat’s exit from Australia


Skoda has extensively teased its next-generation Superb wagon, and it’s now the liftback’s turn under the spotlight.

The company has previously confirmed the next Superb is due in Australia either at the end of 2024 or early in 2025, citing engine availability.

With Volkswagen opting not to bring the wagon-only next-gen Passat to Australia, the Superb will be the Volkswagen Group’s only offering in the medium-to-large passenger car segment.

Compared with the outgoing Superb liftback, the new car is 43mm longer at 4912mm and 12mm taller at 1481mm. It measures an unchanged 1834mm wide, on an identical 2841mm wheelbase to the current car.

Luggage capacity has increased by 20L to 645L, while there’s 11mm more front headroom and 6mm more in the rear.

As has been common practice with various Volkswagen Group brands of late, the Superb has been previewed with essentially no disguise ahead of its official reveal.

We can see the new car has an evolutionary design, with a prominent crease still running along its side – though this now runs in line with the door handles.

Skoda claims a drag coefficient of just 0.24.

The interior was recently revealed completely undisguised, with a more modern look.

There’s a 13-inch infotainment touchscreen, a head-up display, and a 10-inch digital instrument cluster.

Three large rotary dials centred with 32mm digital push-button control screens sit below the air vents to provide a variety of functions.

Skoda says these ‘Smart Dials’ will combine haptic and digital controls for the climate, seat heating, volume, driving modes, air conditioning, and map zoom functions.

The automatic gear selector has been moved to the steering column, freeing up space in the centre console for extra storage, while there’s a 15W wireless phone charger and five USB-C ports throughout the cabin.

Power-adjustable front seats are available with adjustable lumbar and a built-in pneumatic massage function, while the Superb features upholstery made of 100 per cent recycled polyester.

The next-gen Superb will continue to offer petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrains, though Skoda Australia has ruled out offering PHEVs and no longer sells diesels.

The petrol and diesel engines all meet Euro 6d emissions standards and are mated with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

The base engine is a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder producing 110kW and featuring a 48V mild-hybrid system.

Above it sit two 2.0-litre turbo-petrols, one with 150kW and one with 195kW, and two 2.0-litre turbo-diesels, one with 110kW and one with 142kW.

The most powerful petrol and diesel options come standard with all-wheel drive.

In Europe, the 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder plug-in hybrid will offer more than 100km of electric range, and will be offered exclusively in the wagon.

The new Skoda Superb will be available with the following safety equipment:

  • 10 airbags
  • Autonomous emergency braking
  • Pedestrian detection
  • Cyclist detection
  • Junction assist
  • Surround-view camera

While we’ll be waiting a while for the next Superb in Australia, Skoda has previously confirmed there will be more current-gen models to tide the brand over.

“We will in the meantime, we will have a few more of the outgoing generation so that we can supply customers. It’s not that high volume, as you know,” Skoda Australia managing director Michael Irmer told CarExpert earlier this year.

Skoda is paring the range back, however, with the 162TSI Style liftback and wagon facing the axe from the fourth quarter of this year.

MORE: Everything Skoda Superb
MORE: 2022 Skoda Superb review



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