Skoda Superb 2026 News

Plug-in hybrids are here to stay. That’s the opinion of Skoda Australia director Lucie Kuhn, who believes that while plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) may be a so-called ‘bridging technology’ towards fully-electric cars, the ‘bridge’ could last at least a decade.PHEV sales have risen sharply in recent years, making a comeback after many brands that previously offered the technology abandoned it in favour of a focus on fully-electric vehicles (EVs). But PHEVs, which use an internal combustion engine to support an electric powertrain, have been given a second chance thanks to longer electric-only driving range and a push from Chinese brands, such as BYD and Chery, that have made them more affordable.Under Kuhn’s leadership, Skoda Australia has introduced the Kodiaq PHEV with plans for the Superb PHEV wagon to follow soon. She believes this is the right time to introduce PHEV options, primarily because of the slow uptake of EVs in Australia.“Yes, I think so, and we actually had this observation also from Europe, where time has shown that the transformation hasn’t proceeded as fast as we all expected. And it's actually the same situation we observe here also in Australia,” Kuhn said.“Especially in a country with some relatively high geographical distances, I think we still will have a relatively big portion of customers still not being fully ready to go on their fully electric journey and rather go for some interim solution, a kind of solution that provides them a confidence that they can drive the car on a daily basis, on an electric mode, and when they go a little bit more further for some holidays or longer trips, then they can simply switch on the combustion engine and keep going.”Skoda has managed to, unintentionally, coincide the launch of the Kodiaq PHEV perfectly with a sudden spike in fuel prices, further enhancing the appeal of the large SUV that can drive up to 110km on battery and return a claimed fuel economy of just 1.9L/100km.But Kuhn still believes there is a barrier for buyers to overcome with EVs, and the introduction of more PHEVs will help bridge the gap between pure internal combustion engine options and the electric future. Exactly how long the bridge will be is unclear, but Kuhn is confident it won’t be a short-term solution. Instead she said it could last a decade or longer, assuming the Federal Government remains supportive of the technology.“ I think it's first a mental barrier, to overcome this and change this way of thinking and go fully electric. But it might also be driven legally. So the legislation is also something what will decide finally if the PHEV will be a long term technology,” Kuhn said.“Right now we consider it as a bridging technology, but we are speaking a long bridge, like 10 years at least. This is how long it will be minimally. But of course if at some point the government says I don't know, like Europe said, from 2035, no more combustion engines at all, or actually nothing that produces some pollution, then of course it's logically the end of the PHEV technology as well. But currently we don't have this, let's say, kind of global statement, it's currently only in Europe, but also Europe might reconsider, this kind of decision and maybe even bring it a little bit more forward there. The time will show, but the bridge in Australia is really long, at least 10 years.”Currently PHEV models generate credits for car makers under the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard and will continue to do so for another five years. Whether the government chooses to extend that stance will ultimately determine the viability of PHEVs in the Australian market.

The future for this standout small car doesn't look so promising.Skoda Australia director Lucie Kuhn admitted sales of the Scala are not enough to keep the Mazda3 rival in stock. In 2025 Skoda Australia sold just 249 Scala, which ironically was more than the Superb (199) but well-short of even the second worst-selling small car, the out-going Kia Cerato, which still managed to find 1094 buyers. The overall small car market was down more than 20 per cent.Instead, the Scala is now an ‘order only’ option for customers and dealers who really want one of the small cars, with Kuhn admitting its long-term future is uncertain. “ Scala is currently a model that we are running some analysis on it,” she said. “Because you are exactly right, the segment is very small here in Australia. We will probably keep the car going, probably just being available in a factory order. Just because you might always have customers that might be interested in having the car, but the volume is relatively small, I would say.”Skoda is committing to another slow seller, though.Where once the mighty Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon fought for sales supremacy, now a single, unlikely, survivor remains. And it has no plans on giving up the fight.The Skoda Superb is the only ‘large car under $70,000’ still on sale in 2026. Even the medium sedan segment is a shadow of its former glory days, with the Skoda Octavia competing against the Toyota Camry, BYD Seal, Hyundai Sonata and Honda Accord.But Skoda has no plans to give up on its sedans and wagons anytime soon. Speaking to CarsGuide at the launch of the new plug-in hybrid Kodiaq SUV, Kuhn said the brand remains committed to its sedans and wagons.“I  think this is something that the customers say,” Kuhn said. “The market is obviously going in more and more in the direction of SUVs year-by-year, this share is growing. But if you have a look in the car parks or on the streets, you still see plenty of sedans and plenty of wagons. So this is where we feel and see our opportunity that, in spite of the new car sales trend is growing and getting more into the SUV direction, there is still a massive car park of the sedan and wagon drivers. And this, we feel is an opportunity because as you said, we are one of the best brands who offer this kind of choice.”Skoda is so determined to give Australian buyers who shun SUVs choice so much so that it will actually expand the Superb line-up in 2026. The Czech brand is adding the new Select plug-in hybrid (PHEV) wagon variant alongside the existing Sportline sedan and wagon.This new option shares the same 110kW/350Nm PHEV powertrain as the Kodiaq and will be priced from $66,990 drive-away.

The Skoda Superb is now available with a plug-in hybrid set-up, adding a new option to the wagon segment.