Skoda Superb

The Superb is a car with a confusing brochure. Flicking through the dimensions and equipment pages convinces you you're dealing with a large executive. However, turn to the price list and the numbers don't stack up, because Skoda is adamant it can sell you one for family car money.

The previous Superb's trademark feature was its segment-defying rear legroom. Amazingly, the new model is wider than before, as well as longer with a longer wheelbase. Despite this, its more advanced MQB platform means it's a considerable lighter too, 75kg in fact.

This recipe of big space for small outlay has seen more than 42,000 people sign up for a Superb in the UK since 2002; not a volume seller but an important one nonetheless.

Understanding the Skoda Superb's place

Its competitive pricing and big cabin give the Superb a wide spectrum of fleet-biased rivals, but it's ultimately the likes of Vauxhall's Insignia Grand Sport, some way clear of a Ford's Ford Mondeo, Volkswagen's Volkswagen Passat at one end and Audi's Audi A4, Mercedes-Benz's C-Class, Jaguar's Jaguar XE and BMW 's 3 Series at the other end, that Skoda will want its new Superb to be elbowing out of the way.

Overall, it is a good car to drive but not great. Skoda This 148bhp 2.0-litre diesel feels no less punchy than it does in the lighter Skoda Octavia, being committed from as low as 1400rpm and properly together by 1800rpm. Revving it out reveals a usefully wide band of torque, too, with no steps in the power delivery.

Our car was fitted with Skoda's six-speed, twin-clutch automatic which continues to frustrate in the same areas as almost all other applications. It dithers from standstill and lags on some manual down changes. Left to its own devices, though, the changes are generally quick and smooth on the move.

It's a hushed engine at idle, this 2.0-litre, and settles down quickly on the motorway in sixth gear. Push hard, however, and it starts to get vocal in the cabin and send back some vibration at the pedals. That said, it's no worse than a Passat or it's not a 3 Series-equivalent diesel.

But the Superb's engine range is vast with six alternative engine options. Propping up the range is a pair of 1.4 TSIs producing 123bhp and 148bhp resepectively, while at the top of the petrol tree is a pair of 2.0 TSIs punching out 217bhp and 276bhp. While the diesel range consists of a 118bhp 1.6-litre and a 187bhp 2.0-litre TDIs.

Handling the Skoda Superb's character

Versions with adaptive dampers, such as our 18in-wheeled test car, have three modes - Normal, Comfort and Sport. While the Superb's steering is always vague, Sport gives it some weight and inspires more confidence in exploring what are actually fairly high levels of grip, as well as stiffening the dampers and keeping the body on its best behaviour.

Make no mistake, though - while the Superb's front end isn't entirely without urgency, this is no Ford Mondeo and certainly no 3 Series in the handling department.