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2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000
 
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Skoda Superb 125 TDI Ambition Wagon |
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To say this class is incomparable with last year is an absolute understatement. A European four-cylinder turbo-diesel wagon winning what has traditionally been the domain of the big Aussie family sedan is an ABC first. Victory by the Superb is clear evidence a family car doesn’t need six cylinders nor does it have to be petrol-powered. The world has changed. This is the family car category so space is the big question. The Superb Wagon is a viable alternative in terms of space. Front seat passengers can move their seats back as far as they like and the back seat passengers won’t have a care in the world. Rear seat legroom is almost limousine-like. While overall rear seat width doesn’t quite match Falcon, three teenagers will still fit with relative comfort. Rear seat entry and exit also eclipse the opposition. The wagon has 633 litres of luggage area, expanding to 1865 litres with the rear seats folded. The VW-sourced 125kW turbo-diesel engine provides effortless cruising and is perfectly matched to the six-speed DSG transmission. There is enough punch with the 350Nm of torque to allow you to overtake on the open roads with a minimum of fuss. Official economy figures for the Superb are 6.6L/100km. In road testing we have regularly seen highway economy as low as 5.3L/100km. Skoda also offers the Superb in a four-cylinder petrol-turbo and top-of-the-range V6 all-wheel drive variants which both have their individual appeal. There was a feeling among the judges that the wagon would suffer with increased internal noise, but the ear-meter, later backed up by decibel readings, confirmed the Superb to be at least the equal of its rivals for on-road noise. If it was let down anywhere in this area, it was the clatter of the diesel engine at lower speeds but it was never intrusive. In the critical area of safety, Superb scores a perfect 10. Nine airbags, ESC, ABS, EBD and BA provide a five-star safety rating, with two out of three stars for the all-important pedestrian protection rating. Build and finish quality is typical of what you would expect from the VW-Audi group. Quality materials give that premium feel, and solid ergonomics mean everything is within easy reach. In the end, the numbers across the board tell the story. The Superb heads the field in two of the three overall assessment areas. Better-than-average running and repair costs with class-leading economy from the TDI engine assist the Superb to line honours in Value for Money. Striking the balance between purchase price and standard features has always been a challenge for manufacturers. On this occasion Skoda doesn’t seem to have found it a problem, with a list as long as your arm, including bi-xenon adaptive headlights, park assist, tyre pressure monitoring, rain-sensing wipers and heated front seats. Superb is headed in this area only by significantly more expensive cars. The Superb has prevailed this year over some quality, locally-built opposition, who I’m sure won’t be sitting on their hands during the next year in an effort to lead the pack in 2011.
Finalists
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