Item: Used Skoda Superb Estate 2015-present
Rating: 5
Author: Steve Huntingford

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/mondeo/estate/used-review/n941">Ford Mondeo Estate</a> was once the go-to car in this class, as it’s big, great to drive and reasonably refined. It’s good value for money, too, whether new or used, and reliable and relatively cheap to run. Although the Superb has stolen some of its thunder over recent years, the Mondeo is still a force to be reckoned with.

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/passat/estate/used-review/n917">Volkswagen Passat Estate</a> shares a lot of its underpinnings with the Superb, and it has a similarly capacious interior. It’s good to drive, reasonably cheap to run and loaded with luxury. There’s a good choice of punchy and efficient engines and an excellent reliability record too.

For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter&nbsp;<a href="https://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html">here</a>

If you fancy buying a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/skoda/superb?used=true&amp;nearlynew=true&amp;postCode=tw1%203sp">used Skoda Superb Estate</a>, or any of the other cars mentioned here, check out our used car deals <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars">here</a>.

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<h3>Engine torque</h3>

Some Superbs made between 12 October 2018 and 27 June 2019 might not provide&nbsp;enough engine torque at low speeds. Affected cars can be sorted with a simple software update, which can be performed at a Skoda dealer.

<h3>Electric failure</h3>

Some electrical functions on&nbsp;examples built between 1 May 2015 and 1 December 2015 could stop working due to an incorrectly installed cable clamp in the fuse box. Find out from your dealer if your car is affected.

<h3>Sunroof anti-trap function</h3>

The anti-trap software on Superbs constructed between 1 May 2015 and 1 April 2016 might not work when the sunroof is closing when operating the global close feature with your key. Speak to your dealer to find out&nbsp;if your example is affected, because a software update to disable the sunroof from the global closing system will be required.

<h3>Rear wheel bearing</h3>

The rear wheel bearing housing on some Superbs assembled between 1 August 2017 and 31 August 2017 could shatter because the metal&nbsp;wasn't hardened correctly during manufacture. If your car is affected, it will need to have new housings fitted at a Skoda dealer to sort the issue.

<h3>Slow airbag inflation</h3>

The driver's airbag on a small number of cars made between 8 January 2018 and 28 February 2018 might not inflate quickly enough in a collision and will require a new unit to be installed by a dealer to fix the problem.&nbsp;

<h3>Airbag and seatbelt tensioners</h3>

The airbags and seatbelt tensioners on some Superb models built between 1 May 2016 and 31 November 2016 might not trigger in a collision, potentially causing&nbsp;injury. Speak to your local dealer to find out if your car is one of those affected, because they'll need to reinstall all the relevant airbags and seatbelt tensioners to eradicate the problem.

In our most recent What Car? Reliability Survey, the Skoda Superb appeared in the executive car class. In petrol form, it achieved first place out of 18 cars, while its diesel counterpart ranked 11th. Skoda as a brand came 12th out of 30 manufacturers featured.&nbsp;

If you would like to see the full reliability list, head to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2021-what-car-reliability-survey/n23397">What Car? Reliability Survey</a>&nbsp;pages for more information.

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Estate

One of the greatest success stories in the car world of recent decades is Skoda’s rise to become a hugely credible mainstream maker of good-value, good-sense cars.

Central to that success has been its place within the VW Group, alongside the Volkswagen brand itself, plus the likes of Seat and Audi. That has given it access to exactly the same underpinnings for its cars as the other brands, and it has complemented this by adding its own developments, from the way the cars drive and ride through to the features they have and the pricing.

The result is a range that extends from a city car to a large executive saloon, with family and large seven-seat SUVs too. There’s a wide variety of petrol and diesel engines, all of which are competitive for the class.

As a result, Skoda has a range of cars that is almost entirely class-leading or among the class leaders, and it has enjoyed long-time success at the What Car? Awards as a result.

SKODA

SUPERB

A used Superb Estate makes a brilliant family car, because it's comfortable, classy, well priced and incredibly spacious

Used Skoda Superb Estate 2015-present

MPG

The diesels are the most economical, with the 1.6 TDI Greenline returning an average claimed 72.4mpg, and the 148bhp 2.0 TDI&nbsp;averaging a healthy 65.7mpg in SE trim. The cheapest petrol to run will be the 1.4 TSI 150, which returns an average 54.3mpg. Post-<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/what-are-wltp-and-rde-new-fuel-tests-explained/n1223">WLTP</a>&nbsp;engines don't seem quite so economical, but the figures quoted for these models should be more relevant to real-world driving. The newer 148bhp 1.5-litre petrol continues to be the most efficient model to drink from the green pump at 42.2mpg, while the 148bhp 2.0-litre diesel continues to impress with a figure of 53.3mpg. The more powerful 187bhp diesel is far thirstier, at 43.5mpg, but that is for one with an auto gearbox and four-wheel drive. The worst of the lot is the most powerful 2.0-litre petrol that only gets 32.8mpg.

<h3>CO2 emissions</h3>

No Superb quite breaks into the&nbsp;free road tax band, but the&nbsp;1.6 TDI Greenline comes close with CO2 emissions of 109g/km, followed closely by the 2.0-litre diesel at 112g/km. The cylinder deactivation technology of the 148bhp 1.4 and 1.5-litre petrol helps to keep emissions down to 119 and 122g/km, respectively. Don't believe us? Well, the base engine 123bhp 1.4 petrol that does without such tech spits out more at 126g/km - almost as much as the 187bhp 2.0-litre diesel that's lumbered with an auto gearbox and four-wheel drive. Neither the 217bhp (146g/km) nor 276bhp (168g/km) 2.0-litre petrols are particularly&nbsp;green because they chuck out plenty of green house gasses.

<h3>Road tax</h3>

Road tax for all models registered before 1 April 2017&nbsp;will vary depending upon the emissions the engine produces (see paragraph above for more information)&nbsp;while examples registered after this date will have&nbsp;the same flat rate fee for cars that cost less than £40,000 when new. The current fee is £165 per&nbsp;year.&nbsp;

<h3>Servicing</h3>

Servicing plans are available for the Superb, with reasonably-priced plans payable by direct debit covering two or three&nbsp;services, depending upon the length of cover you want. Examples aged between 1-10 years will either cost you £22.50 over 18 months&nbsp;for two services, or 24 payments of&nbsp;£28 for three visits. Alternatively, you go go for a fixed price service at £179 and add on any extra jobs (such as air and fuel filter replacements) separately,&nbsp;when required.

<h3>Insurance</h3>

Insurance groups are reasonable, starting at just 12 for the 1.6 TDI and rising to 31&nbsp;for the faster petrols.

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A used Superb Estate makes a brilliant family car, because it's comfortable, classy, well priced and incredibly spacious



Bought from a trader, or privately, it’s possible to pick up this generation of Superb Estate for around £8000, especially if it has a higher than average mileage.&nbsp;Spending between £10,000 and £12,000 is probably a better bet for a&nbsp;good 2016 and 2017 car&nbsp;bought from an independent dealer, with an average mileage for the year and a full service history with either a&nbsp;petrol or diesel. Up the money further to between&nbsp;£13,000 and £15,000 for a tidy&nbsp;2018 from a main dealer, and around £16,000 to £18,000 on a 2019, or even a 2020, car. It should be possible to secure a good 2020 car, possibly even a 2021 model, for between £22,000 to £30,000, depending on trim. For a nearly new 2022 example, have a budget of at least £27,000.&nbsp;

Check the value of a used Skoda Superb with <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/valuations/">What Car? Valuations</a>

Find a used Skoda Superb for sale <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/skoda/superb?minManufacturedYear=2015&amp;sort=priceAsc">here</a>

<h3>Specification</h3>

As far as trim goes, the S model is fine, but we’d keep be tempted to spend a bit more money and&nbsp;find an SE Technology&nbsp;car, which has the best compromise of equipment and price. SE L and SE L Executive add a number of tempting&nbsp;luxuries, while top-of-the-range&nbsp;Laurin &amp; Klement model will appeal to those who&nbsp;appreciate an&nbsp;upgraded stereo and not having to scrape ice from the windscreen because it is electrically heated.

<h3>Engine</h3>

Both the 1.4 petrol and 1.6 diesel engines feel a little lacklustre, and the entry-level petrol is also the only engine in the range that can’t be had with an automatic gearbox. The 148bhp 2.0-litre diesel is better because you don't have to work it so hard to make brisk progress; it’s quicker than an equivalent <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/mondeo/hatchback/used-review/n873">Ford Mondeo</a> and we’d say it’s so good that it’s not worth paying the extra for the really gutsy but more expensive 187bhp version. Neither of the two 2.0-litre petrol engines are worth the added expense in fuel unless you only do urban driving.

Our favourite Skoda Superb 2.0 TDI 150 SE Technology

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<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Huge boot and excellent practicality</li> <li>Plenty of interior space so you can carry passengers as well as luggage </li> <li>Strong engines to pull a heavily laden car</li> <li>Comfortable ride, especially on the motorway</li> <li>Low running costs for company car drivers</li></ul>

If you’re after bags of space but you don’t want to commit to the van-like dimensions and styling of an MPV, there are some great estate cars on offer that should do the job.

Tricks to look out for include an electric tailgate&nbsp;that opens automatically when you wave your foot under the rear bumper; this is&nbsp;particularly handy if you’re trying to load in a heavy or&nbsp;bulky item. You should also look for handles in the side of the boot itself that can drop down the rear seats; these are much more convenient than having to walk around the side of the car to do it.

There are some terrific estates at most price ranges. The humble Skoda Fabia Estate offers cavernous space for not much cash at all, for example.

Further up the price range, another of our perennial favourites is the Skoda Superb Estate;&nbsp;it’s great to drive and as practical as most people should ever need. Meanwhile, for serious mile-munching ability and a premium, well-finished interior, it’s hard to look beyond the BMW 5 Series Touring.

This is a long and fairly wide car, so check the bodywork carefully for any damage and the alloy wheels for any kerb damage. Make sure the rear seats fold as they should. Look at the condition of the carpet in the boot, as well as the operation of the bootlid.

Check the interior for any stains on the carpet or seat fabric and make sure all of the electrical items work as they should.

If you're looking for information on the older model, click here for <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/superb/estate/used-review/n618">our used review of&nbsp;the 2008-2015&nbsp;Skoda Superb estate</a>.

If the sole criteria for a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/top-10-best-used-estate-cars-for-less-than-pound20000/n20206">family estate car</a> was space, the Skoda Superb Estate would be the answer to everyone’s needs. Simply put, it takes the already massive <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/superb/estate/used-review/n916">hatchback model </a>and adds even more rear capacity, enough to outgun just about every rival in this class, and just possibly everything else on the road too.

However, people look for a lot more than that in a good estate car, and luckily the Superb offers enough to satisfy their needs in other areas too.

There's a good choice of engines, for one. The 123bhp 1.4-litre&nbsp;petrol engine props up the range,&nbsp;followed by a more powerful 148bhp version (replaced with a 1.5-litre petrol with the same power output post-<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/what-are-wltp-and-rde-new-fuel-tests-explained/n1223">WLTP</a>&nbsp;from 2018 onwards).&nbsp;There are also a&nbsp;couple of versions of the 2.0-litre petrol&nbsp;(217bhp or 276bhp), but&nbsp;it’s the 118bhp 1.6-litre and 148bhp 2.0-litre TDI diesels that dominated&nbsp;sales and are the most prevalent on the used market.&nbsp;The 2.0 TDI is also&nbsp;available with&nbsp;187bhp, and can be had&nbsp;with a dual-clutch automatic gearbox and four-wheel drive.

If diesel is not your thing, but you have an eye on efficiency, then later versions of the Superb Estate offer the plug-in hybrid 1.4 TSI iV 218, which comes highly recommended, too.&nbsp;This uses&nbsp;an 85kW electric motor paired with a 1.4-litre petrol engine for&nbsp;a&nbsp;total power output of 215bhp.&nbsp;It's one of the quicker versions of the Superb&nbsp;(0-62mph takes 7.7sec), but&nbsp;also has an&nbsp;official electric-only range of&nbsp;35 miles.&nbsp;

As far as trims go, entry-level S models are better equipped than most cars for the money, featuring a 6.5in touchscreen, air-con, Bluetooth connectivity and a DAB radio. However, SE adds 17in alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, rear parking sensors and adaptive cruise.

SE Technology was aimed at business drivers, so&nbsp;it inevitably&nbsp;adds sat-nav,&nbsp;front parking sensors and an electric driver’s seat with memory function.&nbsp;Higher specced&nbsp;SE L Executive and Laurin &amp; Klement models are great value for money compared with similarly specced offerings from <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-reviews/make/audi">Audi</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-reviews/make/bmw">BMW</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-reviews/make/mercedes-benz">Mercedes</a>. Sportline and Sportline Plus trims were introduced in 2018, and come with&nbsp;larger alloys, interior and exterior black sporty carbon styling details and sat between SE L Executive and Laurin &amp; Klement trims.&nbsp;

All Superb Estates handle&nbsp;well, if not with the outright vigour of some of the smaller VW Group cars that share its platform, even in the Sportline form with the firmer suspension. Avoid 19in wheels&nbsp;and the Superb has a pleasantly supple ride that's almost a match for the Ford Mondeo. The only fly in the ointment is the occasionally floaty sensation you'll experience driving down an undulating road (perhaps not ideal for children who are prone to car sickness).&nbsp;It is refined on the motorways for the most part, with just a flutter of wind noise around the windscreen area and door mirrors.&nbsp;

Inside, the driving position is good, the dashboard and the major instruments and controls are all laid out in a clear and logical way and the quality of materials used is high. Its raison d'être is space, of course, and in that regard there’s a large amount up front and a huge amount in the rear. The boot is long and deep and holds significantly more than its main rivals, and is easily accessed, although in terms of its practicality it falls a little behind the flexibility offered by some SUVs.

All in, though, a used Superb makes a terrific family car. It is hugely spacious, quietly handsome and feels modern and up to date, as well as being outstanding value.

If you fancy buying a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/skoda/superb?used=true&amp;nearlynew=true&amp;postCode=tw1%203sp">used Skoda Superb Estate</a>, or any of&nbsp;the other cars mentioned here, check out our used car deals <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars">here</a>.

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Used Skoda Superb Estate 2015-present review

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Looking for alternatives to the used Skoda Superb 2015 - present? The expert What Car? review team guide you through some great options.

The Ford Mondeo Estate was once the go-to car in this class, as it’s big, great to drive and reasonably refined. It’s good value for money, too, whether new or used, and reliable and relatively cheap to run. Although the Superb has stolen some of its thunder over recent years, the Mondeo is still a force to be reckoned with.,The Volkswagen Passat Estate shares a lot of its underpinnings with the Superb, and it has a similarly capacious interior. It’s good to drive, reasonably cheap to run and loaded with luxury. There’s a good choice of punchy and efficient engines and an excellent reliability record too.,For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter hereIf you fancy buying a used Skoda Superb Estate, or any of the other cars mentioned here, check out our used car deals here.Page 5 of 5

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Used Skoda Superb Estate 2015-present review

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