This time we put a Skoda car to the editorial test, namely its premium Superb model. It was a diesel version with 110kW, manual six-speed gearbox, Style equipment and 4×4 drive.
The 4×4 drivetrain is what interested us the most in the tested car. The Skoda Superb is a vehicle whose qualities cannot be doubted. In the past, we have already convinced ourselves of this as part of our editorial test.
The popularity of 4×4 drive is clearly visible and these vehicles are also relatively affordable these days. Of course, the most representatives belong to the SUV category, but other models are also very popular and sold with this drive. The 4×4 powertrain is available on the market in several variants, from permanent to inter-axle clutch to hybrid. So you really have a wide range of cars with this drive to choose from. Recently, the German Auto Bild Allrad conducted quite an interesting market survey, which published the best four-wheelers on the market based on the survey. The winner in the category with a price of up to 40,000 Euro among cars imported to Germany was the Superb 4×4 tested by us.
The Skoda car company offers all-wheel drive on four of its models, namely the Octavia, Superb, Karoq and Kodiaq . Within the Volskwagen concern, you automatically associate the term Haldex with all-wheel drive, i.e. the name for the inter-axle multi-plate clutch. The inter-axle clutch itself has undergone some development over the years, we are currently talking about its fifth generation. The multi-plate clutch is located at the rear axle, and its design is somewhat simpler and lighter in the fifth generation. It contains a six-piston axial pump with a centrifugal valve, which is driven by an electric motor.
Everything else is taken care of quite logically by the control unit of the drive itself, which controls the revolutions of the drive pump, and the higher the revolutions of the pump, the greater the drive torque the inter-axle clutch can transfer to the rear wheels. Of course, the main role in the 4×4 drive is played by electronics. The electronic control of the inter-axle clutch enables engagement of all-wheel drive even when the vehicle is stationary. Furthermore, thanks to information from, for example, the position of the gas pedal, engine speed or the angle of rotation of the wheels, the electronics make it possible to change the torque percentages between the individual wheels within milliseconds. The torque is transmitted to the four wheels completely automatically and depending on the level of traction.
The inter-axle multi-plate clutch is, as far as the design is concerned, the same for all Skoda models. It differs only in its software tuning, which corresponds to individual models of cars from the Skoda range.
But let’s go back from the definition of the powertrain to the tested car. The Skoda Superb is a very comfortable, spacious and comfortable car. In the tested version, I would appreciate the adaptive chassis, the control of which is included in the drive mode selector, which offers Eco, Comfort, Normal, Sport and Individual options. In Comfort mode, the ride is extremely comfortable and surprisingly bouncy, while Sport mode offers a clear and noticeable hardening of the chassis. However, the chassis setting is automatically variable at the expense of driving safety, in the case of setting the shock absorbers to comfort mode and unexpectedly sharp cornering, the shock absorbers automatically and very quickly stiffen and the chassis stiffens as necessary.
On the contrary, the weaker side of the car is the behavior of the engine at low revs, it simply does not pull from the bottom. You have to wait a while for the engine to reach mid revs and the turbo boost. This shortcoming can be avoided with the tested manual six by timely downshifting, although it is usually not the main thing on your mind when driving. Personally, I think that the DSG transmission should deal with this ailment much better. Otherwise, the engine has sufficient power and a pleasant sound.
The 4×4 drive system works very well, but the question is to what extent you are able to use it in the Skoda Superb. Its presence also carries a certain toll in the form of a higher purchase price, higher car weight and the associated higher fuel consumption. As part of the editorial test, we drove it with exactly 7 liters of diesel.
The version we tested with a two-liter diesel engine, six-speed manual transmission, Style equipment and 4×4 drive starts at CZK 893,900 including VAT.
Skoda Superb is a very good car, not only in terms of aesthetics, but also in technical and practical terms. Its interior space, including the luggage compartment, is astounding. Personally, I can imagine owning one, but I wouldn’t choose a manual transmission, which simply doesn’t fit the car.
