• Logically laid-out dashboard
• Solid build and pleasant materials
• Easy to get comfortable

How is the quality and layout?

The Skoda Superb shares plenty with other models using the same tech. That includes the smaller Skoda Octavia, but since the quality of the materials and switchgear is good, that’s no bad thing.

It has a neat, clean, uncluttered and unfussy design that feels robust and classically elegant, if not overly luxurious or expensive. The classic white-on-black Skoda instruments look simple and are easy to read, though the Laurin & Klement model’s cream borders actually look a little cheap.

There are some harder plastics used lower down, but there are plenty of soft-touch materials that are befitting of the Superb’s price tag. Multiple adjustments for the seats and a good range of positioning for the steering wheel combine with the central armrest to make for a comfortable driving position.

Infotainment and tech

The colour trip computer nestled between the speedometer and rev counter has clean and crisp graphics and plenty of information. You can specify Skoda’s Virtual Cockpit in the Superb, too, which offers a highly configurable set of digitally rendered dials in place of traditional instruments. You can spend ages flicking between various selections – so take some time to set it up how you want it before you get going, as it can be quite distracting to operate on the move.

It’s worth pointing out that the standard 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system is actually more user-friendly than the larger 9.2-inch unit, as it comes with shortcut buttons around the outside of the screen when the larger unit does not. The sat nav has sharp graphics and bright colours on any system, with a simple intuitive interface and easy-to-follow instructions.

If you’ve got an iPhone, the on-board Apple CarPlay is incredibly simple to use too, allowing for voice control through Siri or familiar touchscreen app-style operations through the car’s system. The same goes for Android Auto.

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Comfort

• This is the Superb’s plus point
• Soft suspension means a relaxed ride
• Interior is hushed and comfortable

If you want a comfortable car to drive, then the Skoda Superb borders on the exemplary. No matter where you sit, there’s acres of room – as is tradition, the largest Skoda in the range can rival many premium luxury models for lounging space. A long wheelbase results in class-leading levels of legroom for rear passengers.

They also benefit from an optional tablet or phone mount on the rear of the front seats, which allows them to control in-car entertainment and view their trip itinerary from the navigation. A power socket in the rear of the centre console keeps portable devices powered, and the tri-zone climate control on Laurin & Klement models ensures they can keep cool (or warm) independently of the settings in the front of the cabin.

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Choose that top-spec trim and you’ll also benefit from the firm’s adaptive suspension system. Drivers can choose between different modes, including Comfort, and tailor the car’s suspension responses to their desires and road conditions. Most of the time it works well; leave it in the default setting to get the best from it though, as while Comfort allows for greater bump absorption, it does tend to induce some wallow through corners.

Short, sharp shocks rarely make their way through to the cabin – only some subtle suspension noise alerts you to their presence – but larger bumps in close formation can upset the Superb and send it into an unsettled bouncing motion. At speed it feels amplified, and it’s an odd and not entirely pleasant feeling. There’s little wind or engine noise to be heard, though, and all of the seats are comfortable – though the rear seats aren’t electrically adjustable, like you may find in more premium models.