Superb Estate refines its winning formula

Early drive of new family car, Mild-hybrid tech is coming

- Alastair Crooks

THE Skoda Superb is one of our favourite family cars, especially in load-lugging Estate guise. The Czech firm has really nailed the current version with solid build quality, a tried and tested selection of powertrains and, of course, class-leading cabin space. An all-new Superb Estate will be unveiled in November, and we've been given early access to see if Skoda is on the right track.

The Superb's powertrain line-up has been missing a mild-hybrid option, but the new car will get an electrically assisted 148bhp 1.5 TSI petrol. More petrol offerings come in the form of a 2.0 TSI four-cylinder with either 204bhp or 265bhp, and a 1.5 TSI plug-in hybrid offering a total of 204bhp (only available in Estate form). The PHEV features a 25.7kWh battery (compared with a 12.7kWh battery in the outgoing PHEV), which increases electric-only range from a claimed 44 miles to more than 62.

We're trying the 148bhp 2.0-litre diesel, although a 192bhp version will also be available. As with all powertrains, it uses a seven-speed DSG automatic transmission.