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GIVING ITS RIVALS A RUN FOR THEIR MONEY: The attractive Skoda
Superb Hatch SportLine is challenging the dominance of some its more established competitors

AFTER a week with the excellent Skoda Superb SportLine, I ask myself why would you pay for an Audi A6 or A4?

In fact the same question could be posed around the BMW 3 or 4 Series.

The aforementioned vehicles are noteworthy (the Audis are related to the Skoda) but there is only one that provides genuine value for money – and it isn’t the Germans!

The impressive Superb Hatch SportLine makes a perfect cut-price alternative if you are not a badge snob.

A blend of punchy performance and four-wheel drive provides hot hatch-troubling performance, wrapped up in a roomy, comfortable family car that slips neatly under the radar for now.

Make no mistake this imposing vehicle is a fantastic all-rounder. I did nearly 400 miles in said vehicle, and it never let me down.

The SportLine trim comes with 19-inch alloy wheels and 15mm ride height drop, which go some way to adding sharpness to the Superb’s output.

The seats and upholstery are among several SportLine-specific cabin upgrades; there’s a flat-bottomed steering wheel, bits of fake carbon trim and black headlining, too.

Inside the cabin is an eight-inch navigation touchscreen (a larger 9.2-inch screen is optional) features a special performance menu that provides readouts for oil and water temperature.

Since its launch the Superb has always left many unimpressed. It wasn’t exiting enough to drive they said.

Times have changed.

For most journeys, there are few cars for the price that can beat it for comfort and relaxation. The SportLine just ups the ante in terms of performance and looks. With excellent build quality, there’s little chance of this Skoda’s rear badge turning out to be ironic.

In case you were wondering, my test drive, was is in Meteor Grey. It looks great doesn’t it?

The colour was enhanced by Bi-xenon headlights with AFS (adaptive front light system) and LED daytime running lights, black roof headlining, exterior gloss black sports styling including front grille, side strip, window surrounds and door mirrors and SportLine badging and gloss black rear spoiler (hatch only). Options fitted included a CANTON sound system (£610) and a sunroof (£865).

Skoda sold 1.2 million cars last year and has a goal of increasing that to two million by the middle of the next decade.

If the company’s innovative designers keep producing the likes of the Superb, Karoq, Kamiq and Scala, it should be a case of mission possible for the Czech manufacturer.

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