Skoda Superb Laurin & Klement 3.6 V6 4x4 DSG 5dr Car Review - June 2013

The 256bhp, 3.6-litre, V6 petrol engine found in the Superb Laurin & Klement 4x4 DSG is a different beast entirely to the power plant found in the cooking models in the range, making the car seriously quick. With 6-Speed DSG automatic gearbox and an engine producing 258 lb-ft of torque at 2500-5000 rpm, the Superb will do 0-62mph in just 6.5 seconds despite its considerable size, and has a top speed of 155 mph. At high speeds the Superb Laurin & Klement V6 is surprisingly agile, with the 4-wheel drive system giving plenty of grip, while the suspension is comfortable at all speeds. The car is most at home on more serene motorway cruises however, where the quiet and refined cabin can be most greatly appreciated.

Despite the unremarkable looks of the Skoda Superb, the Laurin & Klement V6 edition is definitely a wolf in sheep’s clothing, and as well as the beefy engine drivers will also benefit from a comprehensive list of standard equipment. Amongst other things you will be pleased to find that power steering, central locking, stability control, alloy wheels, climate control, electric door mirrors, electric front and rear windows, cruise control, rear parking sensor, leather seats, alarm, immobiliser, bluetooth, satellite navigation, and CD player with MP3 connectivity all come as standard, while an electric sunroof can be added for £690, and metallic paint for £495.

The Skoda Superb boasts a full 5-star rating by Euro NCAP, the independent consumer organisation who conduct safety and crash tests on all new cars released onto the European market, with airbags aplenty and other driver aids such as stability control included as standard. This score was achieved with full marks in the occupant protection category, four stars for child occupant protection, but a disappointing two stars for pedestrian protection. A 3-year, 60,000-mile warranty included with all new Skoda Superb’s, and the car finished at the top of the pile in the influential 2013 JD Power customer satisfaction survey. Positive owner responses saw the Superb achieve an unbeatable 83% in the survey. Practicality is impressive too, with acres of space in the cabin meaning five fully-grown adults can be accommodated with plenty of head and legroom. There is 595 litres of luggage capacity, rising to a voluminous 1700 litres once the rear seats have been lowered, with a clever split-opening tailgate also adding to the flexibility of the boot area.

At £32,125, the top-of-the-range Superb Laurin & Klement V6 3.6 4x4 DSG is not cheap to buy, and won’t be cheap to run either. Combined fuel economy figures for the car come in at just 28 mpg, and with CO2 emissions of 235g/km it falls into Road Tax Band A. It also by far the most expensive model in the Superb range to insure, falling into insurance group 31. Let’s be clear, the Superb Laurin & Klement V6 is a good car, a very good car. Powerful, quick, comfortable, and spacious, but those running costs will prove to be a serious handicap to resale values, so you can expect the model to suffer from greater depreciation than any other in the Superb range.