Styling

The styling is again on the conservative side, but there's a greater sense of purpose and elegance about the new car.

The large, chrome-edged, lower front air intake, reshaped headlamp clusters with the Superb' name etched in and the brightwork framing the side windows serve to make the car more noticeable and raise your perceptions of it.

Those perceptions are matched by what greets you inside. Soft-touch plastics on the surfaces you touch most often, two-tone trim, splashes of chrome and plenty of executive toys ensure the Superb won't be found wanting when it comes to the touchy-feely side of things.

Skoda is making no attempt to get above itself with prices or what it sees as competitors, though: there are likely to be three trims targeted directly at the Ford Mondeo.