~Simply Superb~. Review on Skoda Superb

Romancing with car

Rest on the plush driver seat, tighten your seat belt, turn on music, put on AC and hold her close to you --- get ready for a long drive, feel the bumpy road as butter ---- Is there anything better than this to define romancing? Car is my best partner who always make me feel excited! I feel safe with her, she listen to you like a gentle lass with your gentle touch, its amazing to see her excited with your gestures! Love her, she return the same in myriad way!

Apart from being considered as a transporting equipment, it add to the social status, style quotient and over all image of the owner. To choose a car and maintain the same involves lots of calculations and deliberations - here is my limited experience with something which drove me crazy!

Superb -----

The name defines the same - she is superb! Size, comfort, mileage, style quotient ands value for money - she is simply superb! Look at her eyes (wraparound headlamps) that got a sharp edge and an upward sweep to them - remind me the grace of Jodie Foster!The cuts and curves of the nose will blow you away further!The chrome framing around the window is an easy excuse to pardon the heavy look on the rear!

Well, the new Superb is shorter than the older onebut it got a better style quotient and hence got an over all road presence!

Get Inside ----

Any car lover will definitely notice the striking resemblance of the interiors with Mercedes! But Mercedes comes with a much higher price!

The cabin space in amazingly large with a convenient boot space! Remember, this is being penned by a person with abnormal size (186 CM), so it is an anytime safebet for anyone with normal size.

The steering wheel with chrome smile resemble the lovely and tender palm of a beautiful lady! The Skoda badge and hooded circular gauge contribute more to the elegance of the same. All controls on the dashboard are also aesthetically arranged with out compromising the userfreindliness! The puddle light inside the cabin is something that need to be experienced ---- just like stormy clouds getting caressed by moonlight!

Dont miss the central touch screen which controls everything from audio to CD changer. You will definitely struggle to get acquainted with this feature in BMW and Audi.

The OE seats will pamper you and will never make you get out of the car! You can adjust them to any direction! The shoulder and underthigh support ensure that you are in for a limousine - like experience. No wonder, we feel like President of US after taking a short drive in Superb!

Apart from this, she got foot rest for rear passengers, a built in umbrella plus drainage system in the rear door ---- all unique concepts!

Driving Force

The 1.8 L petrol is a turbo charged direct injection motor which delivers 160bhp. The engine is mated to seven speed direct shift double cluth automatic gear box. It accelerates from 0 to 100 KMPH in 9.1 seconds and carries on to 150 KMPH in under 20 seconds (courtesy, Autocar India. Personal experience does not allow me to check the watch while riding). Dont worry that you will mess up the gear, the seven speed gear box ensures that you are always in the correct gear to get the best power out of the engine. But, the engine will definitely feel a bit sluggish at lower rpms around city drive due to turbo latg and you have to downshift tyo lower gear to move on.

Start your ride

Superb comes up with a stiffened suspension and hence the ride comfort is bettered. It is agile enought to make a mockery of its size.

Well, with out any doubt Superb betters Honda Accord and Toyota Camry also with 8.3 KMPH in city and 13 KMPH in Pune - Mumbai Express way (ideal road condition).

So ----

At a cost near around INR 19 Lakhs, it is not a cheaper option but with a better style quotient, excellent ride comfort, fuel efficiency - she is generous and it is hard to build a case against her. I should say, it is a car with sensible price tag.

What remain to be experienced is the availability of spare parts, maintenance, resale value etc. which were historically not good with Skoda petrols. The diesel version will be having a better residual value but I am not sure whether it is available of market as of now.

Note -Please dont congratulate me on owning Skoda Superb. It belong to my colleague who pools car with me. I am leading a happy life with my SX4 and Wagon R. But I am experiencing the comfort of Superb for many days which qualify me to pen this review for the benefit of others. Happy ride!

Courtesy -Technical information provided by vendor and Autocar India.