Skoda Superb Elegance 2.0 TDi CR - Design Review

The Superb is starting to look dated now. There is a facelift in the works, but there is also an all new design language that is waiting to be unleashed with new Skoda cars. Though the Superb is ageing, it is still in demand. So Skoda thought to itself – why not bump up those sales figures further by launching a new variant of the Superb which can make the popular luxury car more affordable? Those thoughts were acted upon and what you have got now is the Ambition variant of the Superb, which promises the same level of comfort and safety, while being highly economical. But does that mean that Skoda may have cut corners with the quality or the features? Read on to find out. 

Let us talk about the design first. Look at the Superb from any angle, in any colour and in any variant and its imposing looks will have you spellbound even today. Though it is based on an extended Laura platform, the Superb doesn’t look a swollen Octavia anymore. The elongated nose bears a bold and smart look and mesmerises you enough to make you forget the Superb’s enormous length at first glance. 

Even with the chrome plated headlamp washers, the distinct shape of the Superb’s headlights is evident and Skoda’s new design element of embossing the model name on the headlight’s reflective element adds a fair bit of sophistication. The headlights on the Elegance trim boast of adaptive projector beam lamps which not only come on automatically when the environs go dark, but will also swivel with your steering wheel movement to give you enough luminance while tackling turns at night – Skoda likes to call them Active Cornering Lamps. It is complemented by the dual barrel fog lamps which sit in the bumper, unlike the older Superb in which they sat in the headlamp unit itself. The fog-lamps have cornering lamps too (passive type) and these are available even on the Ambition trim – and is a good safety feature to have.

Move to the side and the car’s unusually long length is evident. It’s unusual because unlike most other luxury cars of today which boast of sporty lines and low-slung, aerodynamic nose designs, the Superb’s straight-ish lines make it appear like an elongated box – somewhat similar to the yesteryear BMW 7-series cars. The Superb has a fair amount of flame surfacing too, largely similar to the kind found on the Fabia. The luxury sedan also comes with body-coloured rub rails and the blacked out B-pillar gives the glasshouse a long and seamless look.

The Superb’s back-end isn’t as awe-inspiring as the front- but it is distinctive. Unlike the other Skodas, the taillights on the Superb are wider and extend into the boot-lid. The centrally aligned Superb monogram contributes to the distinction. But what I appreciate the most is the simplicity of the tailgate – it isn’t busy at all! 

Like the nose, the tail is elongated too, but the low stance of the car prevents the rear overhang from being highlighted. It would be fair to say that the new Superb has one of the most balanced three-box designs, making it so popular amongst India’s frequent flyers. 

Also Read:

Skoda Superb User Experience Review

Skoda Superb Performance Review