Following what was likely Skoda’s longest teaser campaign ever, the 2020 Superb facelift is finally here to once again target those looking for a more affordable and practical VW Passat. Discreet styling updates are the norm for a mid-cycle refresh from VAG, so it doesn’t come as a surprise the flagship from Czech Republic hasn’t changed all that much.

If you know where to look, there are some updates over the pre-facelift model. The most obvious changes have occurred at the back where the corporate logo has been replaced by the “SKODA” lettering on the tailgate to echo the Kamiq and Scala. The full-LED taillights have slightly different graphics than before and come with sequential turn signals that have finally trickled down to the humble brand of the VW empire.

A full-width chrome trim installed at the back bisecting the taillights gives the illusion of a wider car, even though width hasn’t changed. Speaking of size, the restyled front bumper has made the hatchback longer by 8 millimeters (0.3 inches) and the wagon by 6 mm (0.2 inches).

Those headlights you’re seeing might look familiar, but they’re actually entirely new as the bi-xenon + LED daytime running lights setup has been replaced by a far more advanced full-LED matrix arrangement – a first for the Skoda brand. The new tech comes with a little “dance” these headlights do whenever you open or close the Superb, much like on recent Audis. These new front clusters are slightly slimmer than the old ones and meet the wider corporate grille now restyled with double slats to give the car a more imposing look.

Rounding off the changes on the outside are fresh 18- and 19-inch alloy wheels, along with an extended body color palette now including Race Blue and Crystal Black.

Stepping inside the cabin, there are new seat upholsteries for some of the trim levels, as well as chrome and decorative trims for the center console and dashboard. Skoda has also freshened up the colored stitching on the seats wrapped in leather and Alcantara, while the storage compartments below the seats are now illuminated. Go for the range-topping Laurin & Klement and you get an Alcantara headliner finished in beige or black, including for the central pillars.

The list of “Simply Clever” features is being extended with a nifty divided tray underneath the false trunk floor of the Superb Combi, which also gets a flexible organizer with a movable horizontal bar to better arrange your cargo.

Underneath the hood, it’s the usual VAG story, with a choice of three gasoline and diesel engines. There’s the entry-level 1.5 TSI with 150 horsepower (110 kW) linked to a six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, followed by the DSG-only 2.0 TSI with either 190 hp (140 kW) or 272 hp (200 kW). Go for the latter and your Superb will have all-wheel drive.

On the diesel side, the familiar 1.6 TDI pushes out 120 hp (110 kW) exclusively through the DSG, while the larger 2.0 TDI Evo first seen in the facelifted Euro-spec Passat has 150 hp (110 kW) on tap and can work in both a three- or a two-pedal setup. The beefier 190-hp (140-kW) version of the diesel is a DSG-only affair and is optionally offered with AWD.

By far the biggest news regarding the powertrains is the adoption of a plug-in hybrid system – another first for a Skoda production model. It combines a 1.4 TSI developing 156 hp (115 kW) with an electric motor rated at 115 hp (85 kW) and a six-speed DSG as seen in the closely related VW Passat GTE. The hybrid arrangement gives the Superb iV a combined output of 218 hp (160 kW). Thanks to a 13-kWh battery pack inherited from its German cousin, the car will be able to travel for as much as 34 miles (55 kilometers) without sipping any fuel, based on the realistic WLTP cycle. Factor in the gasoline tank, the total range extends to 528 miles (850 km).

Bear in mind that going for the PHEV version will have a negative impact on the available cargo volume, with the hatchback’s dropping from to 625 to 485 liters and the wagon’s from 660 to 510 liters. The loss has to do with the fact the battery pack is positioned in the chassis floor in front of the rear axle.

As it is the case with many other plug-in hybrid models, the Superb iV will boast an artificial sound generator to alert road users about the car when it’s running in electric mode. Speaking of new tech, Skoda is adding support for over-the-air updates and introducing two new assistance systems: Trailer Assist to help you whenever you’re towing a trailer and Area View with four cameras providing a 360-degree view of the car to make your life easier when parking the relatively large car.

Skoda will have the conventionally powered Superb models on sale later this year, while the electrified Superb iV will have its market launch early 2020 in the Ambition, Style, Sportline, and L&K trims.

Source: Skoda

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