The ultimate massive passenger automobile flying the Volkswagen Group flag in Australia has simply entered a brand new era, however it doesn’t put on a Volkswagen badge – enter the brand new Skoda Superb.
Australian gross sales of huge sedans and wagons have dwindled prior to now 10 years, main the Volkswagen Group’s namesake model specifically to tug the plug on its standard Passat and fewer standard Arteon in 2023. The previous remains to be on sale in Germany, however the native departure of each fashions has left a gap on the high of VW’s passenger mannequin vary Down Below.
The Excellent is similar to the Passat, with which it shares its powertrains and plenty of physique panels, and Skoda is now the one mainstream VW Group model promoting massive sedans and wagons in Australia, although Audi nonetheless provides a number of premium fashions at larger costs.
With the small Scala and mid-size Octavia nonetheless on sale after having obtained main updates prior to now 12 months, it was time for Skoda’s flagship passenger automobile to obtain a hefty improve. The fourth-generation Excellent has simply landed domestically, regardless of having been on sale in Europe for greater than a 12 months.
The adjustments over its predecessor aren’t revolutionary, however the brand new Excellent is now up-to-date with the newest Skoda design and multimedia, in addition to the Volkswagen Group’s most superior driving and security applied sciences.
Key revisions embrace a retuned four-cylinder petrol engine, which provides the identical outputs as a number of of its stablemates – most notably the Golf GTI sizzling hatch. It additionally options progressive steering and Volkswagen’s intelligent Dynamic Chassis Management Plus adaptive suspension.
Inside, there are new seats, a bigger infotainment display screen, and Skoda’s good dials – which have already been seen on the new-generation Kodiaq. That every one makes for a automobile that appears nice on paper, however it comes at a value.
The brand new Excellent begins at slightly below $74,000 drive-away, and costs are up by $4000 and $3000 for the sedan and wagon respectively, which is lots to fork over for a distinct segment mannequin from what was as soon as VW’s finances Czech model. Skoda Australia bought simply 278 examples of the earlier Suberb in the course of the entirety of 2023, and simply 153 in 2024.
Provide however, that made it Skoda’s worst-selling mannequin right here final 12 months, excluding the Enyaq electrical SUV that arrived late within the 12 months. Might these upgrades flip issues round, or do the brand new Excellent ‘luxurious’ sedan and wagon fall wanting their high-flying title?
How a lot does the Skoda Excellent value?
The brand new Skoda Excellent begins at $73,990 drive-away for the sedan, whereas the wagon instructions a $1000 premium. Each physique kinds are solely out there in flagship Sportline trim.
| Mannequin | Worth earlier than on-road prices | Drive-away pricing |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 Skoda Excellent Sportline Sedan | $67,990 | $73,990 |
| 2025 Skoda Excellent Sportline Wagon | $69,690 | $74,990 |
Following the demise of Volkswagen’s personal Passat and Arteon sedans and wagons in 2023, the Excellent has no direct rivals in Australia’s mainstream (sub-$70,000) massive automobile section, as categorised by the business. There are nonetheless some fashions classed as medium automobiles that may seemingly be cross-shopped in opposition to the Excellent, however every provides one thing completely different.
There’s the Honda Accord sedan for $64,900 drive-away, however whereas it’s truly barely bigger than the Excellent, it’s solely out there as a front-wheel drive hybrid sedan. The Hyundai Sonata sedan prices $55,500 earlier than on-road prices and lacks hybrid expertise, however it’s additionally bigger than the Excellent and solely out there with front-wheel drive.
Lexus has a beginning worth of $65,540 earlier than on-roads for the hybrid front-drive ES sedan, and Toyota’s associated Camry begins at $39,990 earlier than on-roads, however all the European mid-size luxurious fashions besides the Alfa Romeo Giulia and Volvo S60 begin above $70k.
To see how the Skoda Excellent stacks up in opposition to the competitors, use our comparison tool
What’s the Skoda Excellent like on the within?
If you happen to’re a Skoda fan, you need to be pleasantly stunned by the improve the Excellent inside has obtained. It’s easier and cleaner, however no much less practical than earlier than.
As with the brand new Kodiaq that launched just a few months in the past, the Excellent’s most important change inside entails its local weather system. As a substitute of the normal buttons and dials of the earlier era, you get Skoda’s new ‘good dials’ and, belief us, that’s a superb factor.
In an period of haptic controls in different Volkswagen merchandise, the purely bodily operation of the good dials is refreshing. All three might be spun or pushed, to regulate temperature or air route within the case of the outermost dials.
Identical goes for the central dial, besides it’s used to regulate fan velocity, quantity, or toggle between drive modes. They’re configurable too, permitting you to swap between as many as six capabilities.
We like how intuitive they’re in follow, and so they’re a superb center level between digital and bodily interfaces. Above them is the Excellent’s new 13-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which is 4 inches bigger than earlier than and headlined by sharp new graphics.
It’s straightforward to navigate and appears good in a typical Skoda means. And, just like the good dials, it provides configurable shortcuts. Wi-fi smartphone mirroring is normal, although there are a selection of USB-C ports to utilize too.
Maintained from the older mannequin is a 10-inch digital instrument show, which works properly however doesn’t look fairly as premium because the infotainment system. Its integration into the dashboard appears haphazard, just like the digital portion is simply too small for the area supplied.
Nonetheless, you’ll be able to scroll by means of a handful of various menus and shows utilizing buttons on the steering wheel, in typical Volkswagen Group vogue. This makes for straightforward entry to maps and key data.
The steering wheel’s buttons all really feel stable, and their clear labelling ought to make it straightforward to determine every part out. Fortunately, there’s little shiny plastic right here, and no haptic controls both.
The rim is wrapped in perforated leather-based and feels good within the arms. Its flat backside provides some sporty aptitude, whereas the silver highlights and matching new Skoda wordmark on the centre pad look stylish.
Sadly there’s a good bit of shiny plastic on the centre console, however storage right here is intelligent because of the twin sliding covers. Beneath is a ventilated wi-fi charging pad and cupholders, whereas Skoda has carried out segmented storage within the centre field, which homes the considerate display screen cleaner, as an example.
You additionally get high quality leather-based upholstery, and the entrance seats boast powered adjustment, in addition to heating, air flow, and a therapeutic massage perform. They’re appropriately supportive, and it’s straightforward to discover a snug place because of the vary of motion within the steering wheel.
Topping all of it off is a cohesive design that includes easy shapes and curves that span the width of the cabin. The vertical slats on the dashboard additionally mirror Skoda’s iconic entrance grille design, and so they’re one thing you don’t typically see in automobile interiors.
The Excellent’s second row provides loads of area. In contrast to its smaller Octavia sibling, we don’t count on there to be any points with legroom, whereas the wagon provides notably beneficiant headroom.
From right here again is the place the 2 physique kinds deviate, for apparent causes. That mentioned, rear passengers gained’t discover an excessive amount of of a distinction between the 2, as there are a lot of frequent facilities like a fold-down armrest with cupholders, a pill holder, heated outboard seats, and twin USB-C ports.
Modifications for the wagon are minimal, restricted to the addition of a tri-zone local weather system and the elimination of the sedan’s panoramic sunroof. The latter was normal on the earlier Excellent, however is now non-compulsory in response to buyer suggestions.
In any other case, each our bodies get a sequence of ISOFIX anchors and three top-tether factors for securing little one seats. There are additionally pockets on the entrance seatbacks for storing telephones.
The Excellent provides a sizeable boot whatever the physique type, although the wagon wins on outright quantity. Each additionally get a useful suite of intelligent storage options to raised organise cargo and area, reinforcing the give attention to practicality that Skoda is understood for.
There are nets, hooks, hammock-like moveable covers, an adjustable organiser on the ground, and varied nooks and crannies all over. These all preserve objects neatly stowed, and assist to maintain bigger containers and containers from sliding round.
Making it simpler to entry is a powered tailgate for each physique kinds, which additionally options hands-free opening. There’s additionally a space-saver spare wheel fitted as normal for further peace of thoughts (however nonetheless no full-size spare).
It’s a snug, visually pleasing inside, which must be anticipated from a flagship Skoda, and it may be bathed in high-quality sound from its Canton audio system. Typically, the cabin is an effective match for its price ticket, even when a lot of it’s shared with its extra budget-priced stablemates.
| Dimensions | Skoda Excellent Sedan | Skoda Excellent Wagon |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 4912mm | 4902mm |
| Width | 1849mm | 1849mm |
| Peak | 1481mm | 1482mm |
| Wheelbase | 2841mm | 2841mm |
| Cargo capability (rear seats up) | 589L | 634L |
| Cargo capability (rear seats folded) | 1795L | 1920L |
To see how the Skoda Excellent stacks up in opposition to the competitors, use our comparison tool
What’s beneath the bonnet?
Just one powertrain is obtainable with the Excellent in Australia: Volkswagen’s ubiquitous EA888 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine, this time producing 195kW of energy and 400Nm of torque. This tune is shared with the Volkswagen Golf GTI and Tiguan R-Line in Australia, in addition to the Passat bought abroad.
| Specs | Skoda Excellent |
|---|---|
| Engine | 2.0L 4cyl turbo-petrol |
| Energy | 195kW @ 5000-6500rpm |
| Torque | 400Nm @ 1650-4350rpm |
| Transmission | 7-speed dual-clutch auto |
| Drive kind | All-wheel drive |
| Tare mass | 1780kg – Sedan 1825kg – Wagon |
| 0-100km/h (claimed) | 5.6s – Sedan 5.7s – Wagon |
| Gasoline economic system (claimed) | 7.7L/100km – Sedan 7.8L/100km – Wagon |
| Gasoline tank capability | 66L |
| Gasoline requirement | 95 octane premium unleaded |
| CO2 emissions | 175g/km – Sedan 177g/km – Wagon |
| Emissions normal | Euro 6 |
| Braked tow capability | 2200kg |
We didn’t get sufficient time in anyone automobile at Skoda’s native launch to file a consultant real-world gas economic system determine.
To see how the Skoda Excellent stacks up in opposition to the competitors, use our comparison tool
How does the Skoda Excellent drive?
Skoda Australia’s media launch drive took us by means of Canberra’s internal metropolis and alongside the highways and backroads of the Australian Capital Territory, and the Excellent’s efficiency in all these environments left us pleasantly stunned.
The headline function right here is the brand new Dynamic Chassis Management Plus (DCC Plus) adaptive suspension, which permits for 15 ranges of damping firmness, permitting the Excellent to morph from plush government automobile to sharp grand tourer.
These ranges are tied to every drive mode, and modify the best way the automobile rides and steers accordingly. The driving force also can finetune the Excellent’s sportiness in customized mode, which provides ranges past and between what’s supplied with the preset drive modes.
Mix this with the Excellent’s upgraded Progressive Steering system and you find yourself with a assured, succesful automobile. On the town it’s snug sufficient with out being too floaty or bouncy, whereas providing direct and light-weight steering to navigate city streets.
The steering turns into considerably heavier in Sport mode, and the suspension stiffens as much as comply with swimsuit. This makes for satisfying corner-carving, permitting you to hold extra velocity by means of turns than many Excellent house owners ever will.
Nevertheless, doing so exposes limitations with the usual Pirelli tyres, which start to provide understeer on tighter bends as soon as the velocity picks up. This isn’t a dealbreaker, because the Excellent has comparatively slim wheels and isn’t a sports activities automobile, as a substitute providing protected front-end push on the restrict of adhesion relatively than snap oversteer, because it ought to.
This extra impartial chassis stability is accompanied by quietness and compliance, each of which Skoda has nailed even with the Sportline’s larger-than-average alloys and low-profile rubber. That makes it snug to drive in each day commuting and in addition an ideal candidate for long-distance cruising.
As a result of there’s just one powertrain out there in Australia, consumers can relaxation assured realizing what they’ll get. The two.0-litre engine beneath the bonnet might produce much less peak energy, however its torque bump means the brand new Excellent has no points getting off the road.
You’ll hear a good bit of noise if you plant the throttle, and it isn’t notably sonorous. Regardless of tightening emissions legal guidelines and the gas economic system advantages of this specific engine tune, we nonetheless dream of a contemporary Excellent with a clean six-cylinder – like what was supplied with earlier iterations.
Nonetheless, now we have no actual complaints with its turbo 4. Paired with the automobile’s new seven-speed – up from six within the earlier era – dual-clutch (DSG) automated, you’ve gotten a predictable driving expertise with little or no of the DCT clunking and stuttering of outdated.
The engine can really feel slightly overworked when it’s requested to maneuver the near-two-tonne mass of the Excellent shortly, however it’s excellent for light-footed trundling round, and there’s loads of low-end torque for overtaking. And the brakes supply a equally sturdy and constant really feel.
That is the principle distinction between the 2 physique kinds on the street. The wagon is sort of 50kg heavier than the sedan, and whereas that doesn’t sound like lots on paper, the additional weight over the rear axle is noticeable on the transfer.
The sedan feels a contact extra nimble throughout extra spirited driving, whereas additionally having a slight edge by way of each 0-100km/h acceleration and gas economic system. In most driving conditions, the distinction is negligible, and the wagon’s better cargo area and adaptability is a trade-off many will gladly make.
Discover out extra
Discover out extra in regards to the automobile
Visibility out the rear of each mannequin derivatives is nice, although head checks might take an additional second given the automobile’s size. There’s a complete suite of security gear as normal, and every perform is greater than able to compensating for any of the motive force’s organic shortfalls.
New security tech consists of site visitors signal recognition and protected exit warning, whereas different techniques like adaptive cruise management and the surround-view digicam have been upgraded and enhanced.
Journey Help has been improved with predictive performance, utilizing navigation and site visitors signal data to adapt to the environment autonomously. In follow, we felt in a position to belief the automobile’s security techniques to information us alongside – even when the roads obtained bendier.
There’s additionally a crisp and clear head-up show that may present all this related data at a look. In truth, every part feels fairly intelligent, with all the Excellent’s capabilities behaving appropriately and reliably throughout our two-hour take a look at drive.
To see how the Skoda Excellent stacks up in opposition to the competitors, use our comparison tool
What do you get?
The brand new Excellent is obtainable in just one top-shelf Sportline tools grade, supplied in each sedan (liftback) and wagon physique kinds.
2025 Skoda Excellent Sportline tools highlights:
- 19-inch ‘Torcular’ alloy wheels
- House-saver spare wheel
- Dynamic Chassis Management Plus (DCC Plus)
- 15-stage suspension damping
- Progressive steering
- Automated Matrix LED headlights
- LED tail-lights
- LED entrance and rear fog lights
- Shiny black exterior trim
- Black roof rails (wagon solely)
- Rain-sensing wipers
- Auto-dimming, heated, power-folding aspect mirrors
- Leather-based-accented upholstery
- Perforated leather-based steering wheel
- Heated steering wheel
- Column-mounted gear selector
- Powered entrance seat adjustment with reminiscence
- Heated and ventilated entrance seats with therapeutic massage
- Configurable good dials
- 10-inch digital instrument show
- 13-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Wi-fi Apple CarPlay
- Wi-fi Android Auto
- 12-speaker Canton sound system
- DAB+ digital radio
- Ventilated wi-fi cellphone charger
- Head-up show
- Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
- Aluminium pedals
- Tri-zone local weather management
- Energy tailgate
A panoramic sunroof was normal on the earlier Excellent, however is now a $1900 choice for the wagon solely.
To see how the Skoda Excellent stacks up in opposition to the competitors, use our comparison tool
Is the Skoda Excellent protected?
Whereas the outgoing Excellent boasted a five-star ANCAP security score, the brand new mannequin has but to be independently crash examined and is due to this fact unrated. It does, nevertheless, have a five-star Euro NCAP score primarily based on testing performed on its Passat fraternal twin in 2024.
ABOVE: 2024 Volkswagen Passat Wagon Euro NCAP crash take a look at.
| Class | Skoda Excellent (Euro NCAP) |
|---|---|
| Grownup occupant safety | 93 per cent |
| Little one occupant safety | 87 per cent |
| Weak street consumer safety | 82 per cent |
| Security help | 80 per cent |
Customary security tools consists of:
- 10 airbags
- Entrance
- Driver’s knee
- Centre
- Facet thorax
- Entrance and rear curtain
- Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
- Junction help
- Pedestrian detection
- Bicycle owner detection
- Adaptive cruise management
- Predictive, navigation-based
- Cease/go
- Driver consideration monitoring
- Emergency steering help
- Entrance and rear cross-traffic alert
- Entrance and rear parking sensors
- Clever park help
- Lane-keep help
- Lane centring
- Predictive velocity limiter
- Secure exit help
- Encompass-view digicam
- Site visitors jam help
- Site visitors signal recognition
- Journey Help
- Tyre stress monitoring
To see how the Skoda Excellent stacks up in opposition to the competitors, use our comparison tool
How a lot does the Skoda Excellent value to run?
Skoda Australia backs its automobiles with a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee, together with the brand new Excellent. Servicing is required each 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first.
| Servicing and Guarantee | Skoda Excellent |
|---|---|
| Guarantee | 7 years, limitless kilometres |
| Roadside help | 12 months free, then service-activated |
| Service intervals | 12 months, 15,000km |
| Capped-price servicing | 7 years |
| Common annual service value over 7 years | $724.14 |
| Complete capped-price service value | $5069 |
Skoda provides capped worth service prices for the primary seven scheduled companies, as detailed beneath:
| Service | Worth |
|---|---|
| 12 months, 15,000km | $473 |
| 24 months, 30,000km | $932 |
| 36 months, 45,000km | $473 |
| 48 months, 60,000km | $1313 |
| 60 months, 75,000km | $473 |
| 72 months, 90,000km | $932 |
| 84 months, 105,000km | $473 |
Alternatively, prospects should buy a $3000 five-year service pack, which might be prolonged by two years for an extra $700.
To see how the Skoda Excellent stacks up in opposition to the competitors, use our comparison tool
CarExpert’s Tackle the Skoda Excellent
Skoda’s new Excellent might do its haughty title justice, however it doesn’t change the truth that most Australians simply aren’t hungry for giant government sedans or wagons anymore.
The brand new mannequin’s many upgrades are all significant and well-considered, which suggests it presents properly, is extra ergonomic than ever and drives brilliantly. Each physique kinds look sharp, however our eyes see the wagon sporting its fourth-generation pores and skin higher than the sedan.
There could also be one or two small hiccups, like the best way the instrument show is built-in into its housing, or the not-so-sticky tyres, however they don’t bitter the expertise a lot.
What does detract is the upfront worth, which is lots for a Skoda – even when it’s a reskinned Passat – and choosing the extra sensible wagon will set you again much more. Nevertheless it’s not much more and it’s unlikely to dent the cult following European wagons can appeal to.
There’s additionally the service pricing if you don’t go for a service pack, which is hard to swallow even by European requirements.
Then there’s the truth that the Excellent has been, and can seemingly proceed to be, Skoda’s least standard mannequin in Australia, according to dwindling demand for giant automobiles Down Below.
Nonetheless, these out there for a Excellent know what they’re after, and so they’ll get a really stable car in the event that they select this over any of its few ‘rivals’, together with the much less highly effective and front-drive solely Accord and Sonata.
The Excellent’s hardest competitor stands out as the Lexus ES, which does deliver hybrid effectivity good points but in addition stays front-drive, so it would come down as to whether you worth refined Japanese luxurious greater than a bit extra grunt, sportier dealing with and all-wheel drive.
To us, the relative exclusivity of the Excellent is a profit in and of itself, and its efficiency, tech and security gear make it value a glance should you’re after an enormous, near-premium European automobile. If you happen to do purchase one, do your self a favour and get the wagon.
Serious about shopping for a Skoda Excellent? Let CarExpert discover you one of the best deal here
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