Skoda aims to keep faith on price of Superb

The Superb deserves to lift Skoda's sales. Photo / Supplied

Volkswagen-owned Skoda is under currency exchange pressure to hike its prices, like every carmaker in New Zealand.

But it aims to hang on as long as it can to the launch prices of its latest offering, the top-end Superb sedan.

It unveiled two versions of the classy four-door on roads north of Auckland the other day. The introductory model comes in at $51,990 and the premium example sits at $59,990.

Both are powered by 2-litre diesel engines, reinforcing Skoda's policy of ultimately becoming an all-diesel importer.

The entry-level pump-injector unit delivers 103kW and peak torque of 320Nm. Skoda claims town-and-around fuel consumption of 6.8 litres/100km and CO2 exhaust emissions of 177g/km.

The engine in the top-end model uses common-rail injection to produce 125kW and 350Nm. Combined fuel use is 6.7 litres/100km, says Skoda, and emissions are rated at 169g/km.

Both engines are mated to the Volkswagen Groups's six-speed direct-shift gearbox, a powertrain combination that works as well as anything going around.

Skoda sales are - like every other carmaker's - down so far this year, after a buoyant 2008 in which the carmaker moved 325 units, against 181 in 2007.

The company is not banking on the Superb and its maximum five-star crash rating to boost 2009 numbers, although the car deserves to succeed.

For one thing, it offers more room in the rear than anything else on the market, let alone the large car segment. The twin tailgate/boot lid arrangement is an extra convenience too, providing more luggage space than many station wagons.

For another, the Superb (Skoda-speak for superior large car) is beautifully built and comes with road manners that belie its nameplate and blue-collar history.

The Superb sits on a VW Group chassis, a reworked mix of the front-drive Golf and Passat architecture. Skoda claims suspension revisions front and rear help make the Superb the quietest car in its class.

It comes well equipped with every possible electronic safety aid, including nine airbags and an adaptive headlight system called AFS. At speeds of between 15km/h and 50km/h it widens the beam to better light the edge of the road.

At 90km/h and beyond, or the so-called motorway function, the beam is raised to illuminate more of the road. The third mode is similar to a dipped headlamp function and is activated at speeds of between 50km/h and 90km/h. AFS also features a cornering light function.

Skoda also unveiled its facelifted Octavia range, now an all-diesel, eight-model line-up.

It gets a revised front end, with a bolder headlight assembly, more robust radiator grille and a one-piece bumper. Inside, the steering wheel, dashboard, air-conditioning controls and the decorative strips on the doors and the central console have been redesigned.

Exterior changes affect the Octavia and Octavia Combi models only - revisions to the Scout and RS models are mostly interior.