Skoda Superb Plug-in Hybrid takes the tightly connected Volkswagen Passat GTE rivals in a real car showdown
After years of hearing the news about Skoda Superb's upcoming plug-in hybrid, the Czech brand eventually brought the car to the market — and it was time, as an increase in the number of buyers began making the switch to electric cars.
At 2020, even more, riders will be trading gasoline or diesel hybrid car. This incredible plug-in (PHEV) like this new iV, but this newcomer is not the only one.
The Volkswagen brothers also made plug-ins from the big family car: GTE Passat.
Both models combine a small gasoline engine with an electric motor, plus a battery that can be stopped by any electric car charging point (or at home) to let the owner drive on electrical power only.
Skoda Superb iV
Against: Expensive next to the conventional version of Superb, it could be more fun to push
The Skoda Superb is based on the VW MQB group platform, so stock stocks with many other models, including the Passat – and both cars here feature the same set-up: 1.4 Liters of gasoline engines, electric motors, and batteries.
Skoda uses MacPherson struts on the front and back multi-link, and the Dynamic chassis Control (DCC) is standard on all iV models, which is excellent.
This adaptive reducer can be set for comfort, regular or sports, softening, or tightening in the appropriate mode. This makes a significant difference, tightening body control in sport mode and softens it in comfort.
The SE L carries 18-inch Alloy Wheels, LED Matrix lamps, heated seats, blind-spot detection, Keyless entry, adaptive Cruise, and dual-zone climate control. An eight-inch touchscreen is also included, or the £965 technology package adds a larger 9.2-inch touch screen and built-in Wi-Fi.
It integrates into a neat cab that has a dull and unoffensive look, like a Volkswagen rival here. Both use the right quality materials in some places but have harder plastic in other areas.
The Superb rides smoothly, and the suspension continues to move the body in the cheque while still preventing the sharp bump of the pounding into the cab. It also means the interior remains calm, without vibrating-again like in Passat.
Two cars could do with more banding racers, however. The Superb name iV is not suggesting it is sporty, as GTE does, but there is very little feedback through the steering wheel. Skoda is quite agile to be fun to drive, but the extra weight of the battery means the car version is not as sharp as the standard model.
Superb is a little softer in all the driving modes of PASSAT, but the control of his body is not entirely effective.
In Sport mode, it is quite good, but in the comfort of a massive iV high of 1, 677kg Kerbweight is very clear as lurking around the body when making steering inputs faster.
However, as a daily car, Superb performs very well. In the softest mode, this relates to a significant bump in the road very smoothly, and the steering quite right means it meets for the drive.
In our testing, we found very little difference between the performance of two cars, which was unexpected because they shared the powertrain.
The Skoda took 7.1 seconds to go from 0-60mph, while Passat took 7.0 seconds; This is a small difference and not noticeable without a timer.
This means that they are surprisingly fast to their size, which also adds to the driving experience.
Testers Notes
- Infotainment: Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are both standards in Skoda, and they work very well on responsive, glossy screens. Fast load system too.
- Steering wheel: Our cars are equipped with heated steering wheels, but this is the £240 option, which also includes the shift paddle.
- Material: Plastic Inside the Skoda is mostly good but also has some cheap-looking ones in place, such as VW.
Volkswagen Passat GTE
Against: More expensive than Skoda, and impractical
The Passat and Superb plug-in hybrids are very similar from behind the wheel – and that's not surprising, as they both use the same MQB platform, as well as the same engine and electric motors.
There are some differences, but the fact that the underlying components are identical means not much to separate the two when it comes to the driving experience.
So as in Skoda, the VW powertrain means you can run in electric mode only, so it is very relaxing to drive with low speed around the city.
Then when the gasoline engine is not starting-almost smooth-it is still quiet and quiet, and the acceleration is smooth because the electric motor can fill the gaps in the delivery of torque engineers. The Passat is punchy as a result if it's not quite as sporty as the GTE name might suggest.
This is the same story when it comes to the chassis set-up because it is much more relaxing than you might think is given a badge.
The steering is quite precise, and there are many handles, but the GTE is no sharper to drive than standard Passat. It's quite satisfying, but not the most attractive car; Heavy battery pack extra weight scrape ordinary quality of Passat on both fronts.
Performance is okay in our test paths, and GTE iV matches where it matters. Both cars went from 30-50mph in four gears at 4.1 seconds, and from 30-70mph through gear at 5.8 seconds.
In all our other tests, including 0-60mph and 50-70mph, the GTE is in 0.1 seconds of iV, so they are mostly the same for performance.
The VW Suspension provides a smooth ride, and the two competitors here are fairly evenly suited for convenience.
At Passat, with a giant wheel, the journey starts to get a little choppy, especially above the holes at a lower speed, but on the base of the GTE, you get a set of 17-inch alloys with enough tire walls to absorb Worst of the bumps.
Our test cars are equipped with an adaptive silencer, but with them, in their most gentle settings, VW is still uncomfortable like Skoda. The big holes are thud into the cab, but Superb can keep them at bay.
Build interior and excellent material quality in Passat, just like they are at Superb; Similarly, the cab design is plain and seamless.
It's either boring or classy, depending on how you look at it, but it's not possible to temper anyone.
The standard Kit on the GTE model includes an eight-inch infotainment system with Sat-NAV and an online service, a heated leather seat, an adaptive Cruise Control, and an electric charging cable for wall boxes and three-pin plugs, such as in Skoda.
Testers Notes
- Infotainment: Set-up in the car can be done with more physical buttons, but it is possible to perform the most common tasks using the buttons on the steering wheel.
- Storage: There is a closet behind the gear lever and a small telephone holder in the front, plus Cubby between the seats.
- Chairs: The heated leather seats come as standard and are comfortable to sit at, but VW's driving position could be better.
Verdict
First place: Skoda Superb iV
The Superb iV is very similar to GTE'S Passat in many ways; It has the same powertrain, and it brings many of the same benefits.However, Skoda is better equipped and cheaper to buy than the Volkswagen rivals. It's still expensive, but the car buyer of the company will love it.
Second place: Volkswagen Passat GTE
The Passat has almost all the same good points as rivals: It's quiet, enjoyable to drive, and it has all the kits you want, coupled with a seamless hybrid powertrain with a meager operational potential cost. However, it's not comfortable enough as rivals and more expensive, so it's second here.Related Posts