Skoda Superb Estate hybrid interior, dashboard & comfort
The Superb iV plug-in hybrid isn't as classy-feeling as a Volkswagen Passat GTE or BMW 330e, but it's still hard to fault
This is one area where you may favour the Volkswagen Passat if you like a posh-looking interior, as the Superb’s more bland, functional cabin doesn’t have quite the same high-class blend of material finishes and general aesthetic the VW benefits from. For all that, it’s a really comfortable, logical and solid-feeling interior with great standard equipment; it never feels ‘budget’ despite the good value for money this car represents.
Heated front seats with power-adjustment and lumbar support for the driver, are standard on the iV and are comfortable even for tall drivers. There’s good visibility all round, but you’ll likely want the rear-view camera.
Skoda Superb dashboard
The Skoda’s dashboard is focused on the big touchscreen – an eight-inch screen is included on the SE Technology and SE L, while a 9.2-inch screen is a £1,120 option, and standard on higher trim levels. Physical shortcut buttons make it easy to hop from function to function and straightforward rotary air-conditioning controls are also very easy and intuitive to use.
For £465, the 10.2-inch digital driver’s display (which looks great, is crisp and clear to see even in bright conditions and allows you to configure the dials to prioritise the information you want) is a worthwhile extra if you value a high-tech interface, but we think the standard dials and driver’s information readout do the job just fine. Overall, while the Superb lacks the tactile blend of materials you get in the Passat, it still boasts a high-quality interior that's extremely comfortable and easy to use.
Equipment, options & accessories
The Superb iV is only offered in the SE Technology trim level above – the cheaper S and SE cars available elsewhere in the range are not available with the plug-in hybrid iV powertrain. That means great standard equipment, including heated seats, leather upholstery, keyless entry, adaptive cruise control, rear parking sensors, LED headlights, 17-inch alloy wheels, heated and power-folding wing mirrors, dual-zone climate control, and more.
It really does have enough equipment that you could simply settle for SE L – our favoured spec, adding Matrix LED lights and slightly bigger wheels – with no options, and still have a seriously comfortable and enjoyable car. Mind you, the only standard paint colour is Energy Blue (while Meteor Grey is standard on the top-spec Sportline Plus), so most buyers will want to choose one of the optional metallic paint shades at extra cost.
For all that, there are plenty of options that do enhance the SE L's specification, including the upgrade to a 9.2-inch touchscreen, a reversing camera, digital dials and wireless phone charging. The panoramic glass roof is also a real crowd-pleaser, but costs a hefty £1,190 to add to any Superb trim level.
The Sportline Plus and Laurin & Klement trims get the bigger touchscreen and digital dials, among a host of other style and comfort upgrades, but SE L with a few choice extras is by far the best value option and still feels like a lavishly equipped car.
Infotainment, apps & sat nav
On SE Technology and SE L trim, the standard eight-inch touchscreen could be accused of looking a little small, but it gets the same software and interface as the bigger 9.2-inch screen, so it's easy to use and also features sat nav with charger search function, Bluetooth, digital radio and multiple USB charging points as well as Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay.
However, it's well worth upgrading to the 9.2-inch touchscreen in the SE L (it’s standard on higher-spec cars) since it is a better-looking screen. Overall, it’s one of the best infotainment systems out there, with its logical and responsive menus and clear, bright graphics.
The Skoda Connect app can be used to remotely access battery charging status, start or stop charging and even operate the car's air conditioning, provided it's plugged in to a charger. There's also Amazon Alexa integration, meaning these actions can be carried out by voice command to an Alexa device. Compatibility with Google Home devices will be rolled out by autumn 2020.
