Skoda Superb facelift review, test drive

This is the facelifted Skoda Superb sedan that will be showcased at the 2014 New Delhi Auto Expo next month. Skoda's flagship saloon has received a refresh comprising mainly of revised front and rear styling and a bit more equipment, and we’ve just driven it from Mumbai to the neighbouring hill station of Lonavala, to assess the improvements. 

 

First, a look at what’s new on the outside. The Skoda Superb facelift’s front end has been adequately redesigned for you to tell it apart from its predecessor. The most noticeable changes are an all-new ‘butterfly’ grille with the new, two-tone Skoda logo, reshaped head- and fog lamps, and a re-profiled bumper and bonnet. Keeping with the contemporary trend, Skoda has introduced bi-xenon headlights with integrated LED daytime running lights on the facelifted Superb which, on the top Elegance trim, get power washers. Further, the turn indicator is now a C-shaped strip of seven LED segments and looks quite sharp.

 

Move to the rear and the tweaks are a little more significant. You’ll immediately notice the new part-LED tail-lamps that seem to have borrowed cues from the Audi school of design. The rear bumper, spoiler and boot lid have all been tweaked to look more angular and the number plate has now been moved to the boot lid from the bumper. The boot lid also has the revised Skoda badge, and the ‘Superb’ badge, which uses the new company typeface, has now moved from the centre to the bottom right of the lid. While this new rear end is neat and modern looking, it’s no longer as unique and immediately identifiable as before. Another obvious change is the new set of ‘Helix’ alloys. The 10-spoke design looks a bit like the blades of a turbine and adds dynamism to the car’s profile.