Skoda is expanding the Superb hatch (it looks like a saloon but actually it's a vast hatchback fastback) lineup with a new plug-in hybrid model boasting a slightly longer electric-only range.
What was the range before?
Well, so far only the Superb Combi estate has been available as a PHEV, combining the 1.5-litre TSI turbo petrol engine with a 40KW electric motor, and a 25.7kWh battery giving it a total claimed EV range of 134km (and we've found that you should be able to extract between 90-100km of that in real-world driving, with decent 5.5-6.0 litres per 100km fuel economy on a long run).
So what kind of range are we looking at now?
Thanks to the Superb hatch being slightly lighter and a fraction more aerodynamically efficient, that maximum EV range now climbs to 140km, which, if not a huge amount better, is at least a nice round number.
What other changes have there been?
This new Superb hatch PHEV also gets more power, now producing a combined 268hp, making it the most powerful model in the lineup, while the Combi estate will stick with the existing 204hp PHEV setup. The battery can be charged up at 11kW on AC power or at up to 50kW on fast-charging DC power, allowing for a 10-80 per cent charge in around 26 minutes in ideal conditions.
How much will all this cost me?
Ah, this is the really good part. The Superb hatch PHEV, with its more powerful engine, has a starting price of €50,685. That makes it only €1,200 pricier than the basic Superb hatch 1.5 TSI petrol model, with its humble 150hp power output. More importantly, the Superb hatch PHEV only comes in high-spec Sportline and Laurin + Klement form, which means you're getting a massive spec boost as well as a power boost, thanks to PHEVs qualifying for a lower rate of VRT taxation. To get a basic 1.5 TSI petrol in Sportline spec would cost you €56,040, and the PHEV also benefits from DCC adaptive suspension dampers, as well as an uprated braking system.