Skoda Superb 2.0 TDI CR 170 4x4 SE

Practical Caravan reviews the Skoda Superb 2.0 TDI CR 170 4x4 SE and reveals that as a tow car, this spacious family car is a winner

Verdict

This car is very spacious with the advantage of four-wheel drive. It is an exceptional tow car.

Pros

Cabin space is very impressive
The engine pulls strongly
This model has handy four-wheel drive

Cons

Four-wheel drive hurts fuel economy

The first thing you notice about the Skoda Superb is how big it is. At over 4.8 metres long it takes up more space on the road than most of its family car rivals.

Some say space is the ultimate luxury, in which case the Skoda can fairly lay claim to being a luxury car

Towing

Most Superbs are front-wheel drive, but some, like our test car, send power to all four wheels. That’s good news for tow car drivers – and not just because of the improved traction when driving off a muddy pitch. The extra mechanical parts add to the kerbweight, making this Skoda much heavier than most family cars. That means a wider choice of tourers make suitable matches.

We hitched up a Swift Expression 470 with a MTPLM of 1310kg and headed to the test track. The punchy 168bhp diesel engine pulled car and caravan from 30-60mph in a swift 10.9 seconds – if you get stuck behind a dawdling tractor, you won’t be there for long.

Through the lane-change test the Superb was hard to fault, cornering with little roll and gripping hard. Only when we looked down at the speedometer did we realise how fast we were travelling.

Everyday Driving

The Skoda Superb is a fine car to drive solo, too. The ride may not be limousine-smooth but it’s comfortable over most surfaces and at motorway speeds the cabin is impressively quiet.

Space

The Superb is huge inside. There’s enough front legroom for drivers of well over six feet tall to get comfortable, and a huge amount of room in the back, too. Some say space is the ultimate luxury, in which case the Skoda can fairly lay claim to being a luxury car.

Running Costs

Fuel economy isn’t as good as the two-wheel-drive equivalent but if you tow a heavy van or regularly stay at CLs and CSs the benefits of four-wheel drive outweigh the disadvantages.