Skoda Superb 1.6 TDI, what a small diesel can do

Skoda-SuperbUnknown in the US, Skoda is a Czech brand that belongs to the Volkswagen group. The Superb is its flagship, it comes as a sedan or a wagon. A rather large car by European standards, it’s about the same size as a Toyota Camry, but with a larger interior. Taxi drivers love it, their customers too. Besides the spacious interior, the best point of the Superb are its efficient diesel engines, and there’s a new one coming this fall. A very small unit, a 1.6-liter inline four.

Can you imagine a Camry with a 1.6-liter engine? It would be awfully slow by American standards, but in Europe there’s a market for a slow family sedan that gets exceptionally low fuel consumption, and this is precisely what this Superb offers. Skoda-SuperbHow about 47 MPG? That’s the official European average fuel economy for the Skoda Superb 1.6 TDI. It’s better than a Camry hybrid!

The 0 to 62 mph acceleration requires 12.5 seconds, and that is slow, but with 105-hp and 184-lbs/ft (at a low 1500-rpm), you can’t expect the performances of a Corvette. Much cheaper than an hybrid would cost, many people in Europe will find this sufficient for their daily needs, enjoying the roominess of a comfortable family sedan, with the fuel economy of a city car. Would you?