The twinned Passat might have dropped a sedan body shape, but Skoda will keep a pair of Superb body shapes.
Skoda is almost ready to take the covers of its all-new Superb with the world premiere set for 2 November and we’ve seen the new car testing multiple times. We’ve also driven the new 2024 Superb in wagon form where it impressed on many fronts, despite still being a prototype.
Skoda’s decision to offer the Superb as a wagon and hatchback gives it a wider appeal than the closely related new Passat, which is only available as a wagon. We expect the Superb to go on sale in early 2024, joining the recently unveiled second-generation Kodiaq SUV.
The Superb will also borrow plenty of technology and design from its SUV sibling so we already have a pretty good idea what to expect when the full unveiling takes place.
Skoda has confirmed that its new Superb family car will be available in a traditional hatchback form as well as the previously previewed wagon. This is a change from VW’s decision to offer the closely related new Passat only as an wagon, and continues Skoda’s drip-feed of information on its upcoming fourth-generation model. These new images preview the Skoda Superb hatchback’s shape for the first time, and are joined by the first pictures showing off the Superb’s smart new cabin.
The exterior images we’ve seen so far show the Superb Estate clad in camouflage but we can see evidence of a more three-dimensional grille situated between thinner headlights with new-generation LED technology. Beneath, there’s a new lower grille shape and isolated air intakes at the side. The classic Skoda badge indent from the bonnet to the grille remains, but the clamshell bonnet isn’t as seamlessly integrated due to a more complex headlight shape.
From the side, there’s a generous rear overhang on both the sedan and wagon. Meanwhile, a typical razor-sharp crease has appeared on the flanks and towards the rear we see a restrained bumper design. The C-shaped rear light unit is similar to that of the new Fabia, creating a more dynamic light graphic for following traffic at night.
The hatchback will retain its overall proportion set in comparison to the existing model, with a long and heavily raked rear screen. Despite a relatively short space between the front wheels and the windscreen, the Superb’s clamshell bonnet helps balance out its silhouette, just as the previous model’s did.
There are big changes inside, with Skoda’s latest images showing us the dashboard layout of both the Superb and the next-generation Kodiaq SUV. There are some elements you’d expect, like a larger, 13-inch infotainment display sitting proud of the dashboard (something former Skoda CEO Thomas Schäfer hinted at when we last spoke to him), and a fully digital 10-inch instrument cluster, as well as de rigeur modern touches like ambient lighting.
But Skoda has also shuffled things around a bit, and even gone back to the future with a trio of physical knobs that control various interior functions – something the brand calls Skoda Smart Dials. The outgoing Superb hadn’t yet abandoned dials for climate control functions, but the ones in the new car have multifunction capabilities, from predictable ones like controlling fan speed and heating, to volume for the audio system, driving mode selection, and zooming in and out on the navigation screen. Pushing the relevant dial cycles between the modes.
Skoda has also relocated the gear selector to the steering column, Mercedes-style – this frees up space on the centre console for extra storage. Air vents are now fashionably integrated into a straked dashboard design, there’s a USB-C port behind the rear-view mirror for plugging in a dashcam, and sustainable materials are used throughout. And don’t worry, the brand’s existing ‘Simply Clever’ features, such as umbrellas hidden in the door panels, are still present and correct.