What's the difference?
The large passenger car segment, meaning big sedans and wagons, has taken a huge nosedive in terms of sales and available models over the past decade or so.
The Holden Commodore, Chrysler 300, Kia Stinger and even the Volkswagen Passat? All axed locally.
The Toyota Camry remains a strong fleet and private buyer option (hello Uber). But it leans more towards medium than properly large car proportions, as confirmed by industry statistician, VFacts segmentation.
The only vehicle left now before you start considering premium players is the Skoda Superb. It has just launched locally in new, fourth-generation guise.
Sitting alongside the new Kodiaq as a flagship product for the Czech brand, the Superb continues to now only be offered in a single, fully-loaded Sportline trim level. Thankfully, you still get the option of either a liftback or wagon body style.
Skoda has made a wide array of changes to this new-generation Superb, including plenty of new ‘Simply Clever’ touches, but will Australians actually care about this new version of a dying breed?
@carsguide.com.au Simply Clever? The new 2025 Skoda Superb’s ‘Smart Dials’ are a set of three physical dials that are capable of altering the following: Climate control temperature Air direction Fan speed Seat heating, ventilation Drive mode Sat-nav map zoom Volume P.S. these Smart Dials also feature in the new 2025 Skoda Kodiaq SUV#skoda #superb #sedan #wagon #car #carsguide #fyp ♬ original sound - CarsGuide.com.au
Read along to find out.
For many Australians, calling the new ZB a Commodore is tantamount to being forced to call your Mum’s new boyfriend ‘Dad.’
It's not built here, available in rear-wheel drive, there's no sign of a V8 or a sedan body, so why should we accept it as a worthy heir to the badge worn by Holden’s proudest model since 1978?
One big reason is that it was always going to be the next Commodore, even before Holden decided to stop building cars in Australia. Yes, it was even set to be built here.
Once the VE/VF Commodore’s Zeta platform was axed during General Motors’ post-GFC rationalisation, the next best thing was to align with the Opel/Vauxhall Insignia designed primarily for Europe.
Holden was actually involved with the new Insignia’s development from the beginning, which has led to some key details for the Commodore version and Australia, and a whole lot of input from our world-renowned Aussie engineering team.
So it’s a whole lot more Commodore than you may realise. Whether it lives up to its reputation is another matter.
It’s safe to say the Skoda Superb is well… superb.
This car has consistently been one of my favourites, and that’s not something I say lightly. It's a fantastic package that combines all the best parts of comfort, practicality and driving dynamics.
All of those points stand out as key reasons why, despite the fact Australians are no longer buying passenger cars in substantial numbers, you should consider this over a similarly-sized SUV.
Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with travel and meals provided.
So will the new Commodore become Australia's favourite car? I strongly doubt it, but it's not the car's fault, and it wouldn't be any different if it was a rear-wheel drive, V8, Australian-built sedan. Australian buying habits have just moved on, and diversified into a range of SUVs, small hatches and dual-cab utes.
Taken as an all-new entry in Holden's revitalised line-up though, the new Commodore ticks all the important boxes required of a mid-size to large passenger car these days. It may not be anywhere near as exciting as a 6.2-litre Redline sedan, ute or wagon, but it’s objectively a far better car overall, and you should definitely give it a drive before dismissing it.
The pick of the bunch in my eyes is the $39,490 RS Sportwagon with the 2.0-litre petrol engine. Yep, the best new Commodore is now a four-cylinder station wagon.
Be sure to check out what James Cleary thought of the new Commodore in prototype guise here:
On the outside of the new Skoda Superb its design is more of an evolution than revolution. This is no bad thing because I’ve always been a big fan of the Superb’s exterior design, even more so now because it’s the only one of its kind left.
From a lot of angles this new Superb gives major Holden ZB Commodore vibes, especially the wagon from the rear three-quarter.
While I like the sporty looks and glossy black highlights, I wish Skoda still offered a non-Sportline version of the Superb locally. Globally there are premium L&K versions available with chrome accents, and they look properly premium-pushing.
Inside, the Superb is a classic flagship Skoda through and through. It balances having beautifully high-end finishes with TARDIS-like practicality with ease.
Ahead of the driver there’s a sporty-looking perforated leather steering wheel which has Skoda script written out on the hub, rather than the classic winged arrow Skoda logo.
It’s an interesting look that forms as part of the new corporate design language. I imagine I’ll get used to it after a while, and it's all subjective, but I’m currently not a huge fan.
Looking around the cabin, the interior is dominated by the new 13-inch touchscreen multimedia system that’s high-resolution. It’s mounted high on the dashboard much like an iPad, which mightn’t be to everyone’s taste.
Flanking this new touchscreen is an interesting slotted air vent design that spans the entire dashboard. It’s a really cool look, though it’s finished in glossy black and will likely gather dust easily.
Speaking of black, a lot of the Superb’s interior is finished in black. I wish there were more pops of colour, whether that's with different finishes or textures to create some visual interest.
Aside from the move to a front-drive basis, the other key difference between the new Commodore and those of the past is its shift from a classic three-box sedan shape to a sleek, five-door Liftback. Even the Sportwagon has an elegant arc to its roofline, which is arguably their most appealing design element. There are no Ute or Caprice bodystyles, and there never will be.
The European-designed look is less macho than the bulging wheelarches of the VE and VF, but more in line with its European rivals like the Ford Mondeo, Volkswagen Passat and Skoda Superb.
The best way to identify specific models is by their wheels, with the trim levels split between a more elegant body trim on the entry, Calais, Calais-V and Tourer variants, and sportier body kits with side skirts and a rear spoiler on the RS, RS-V and VXR flagship.
The interior look is also best described as elegant, with fresh shapes that flow cohesively into the door trims and centre console. There’s a general air of quality about it, but it’s let down by some cheap-feeling controls and switches, particularly the climate control knobs.
The ZB’s overall size is bigger than you might think, with most dimensions fitting neatly between the VE/VF and the VT-VZ generation that preceded it.
You might be surprised to learn it’s no lightweight either, with the heaviest Calais-V Tourer actually outweighing the portliest VF by 31kg.
Interior dimensions are comparable with its predecessor, with the most significant differences being a narrower back seat thanks to its 36mm thinner body and 13mm less rear headroom in the Liftback (but 3mm more in the wagon).
Before the decision was made to source the new car from Germany, Holden was planning a longer wheelbase for Australia. One specific requirement that did reach fruition is the availability of a V6 engine, which isn’t fitted to European versions.
Under the skin it rides on GM’s E2XX platform, which is a significant evolution of the chassis that underpinned the previous Insignia and the now-defunct Holden Malibu.
Aside from having a say in every step of its design process, Holden engineers covered more than 200,000 kilometres of testing on Australian roads and at the Lang Lang proving ground.
This has been to fine tune the drivetrain calibrations, the steering, suspension, and even details like the sat nav and radio reception to suit our tastes and unique demands.
Specific suspension tunes have been developed for four cylinder models, the V6 Calais, V6 RS-V and the Tourer, with unique setups between Liftback and Sportwagon bodies.
The only version not to score an Australian suspension tune is the VXR, which was treated to a performance-focused setup at the Nürburgring in Germany.
This is where this car properly shines.
Up front there are deliciously comfortable leather seats that are electrically adjustable, heated, ventilated and have a massage function. The heating was well and truly cranked during our drive loop around chilly Canberra and it kept me nicely warm and toasty.
I also enjoy how adjustable the front seats are. No matter how tall or short you are, you’ll find a comfortable seating position.
As mentioned above there’s a leather steering wheel ahead of the driver which has perforations on it. This is handy if you get clammy hands out on the road. And I like how warm the steering wheel gets when the heating is turned on. In fact, it almost gets too hot.
The 10-inch digital instrument cluster behind the steering wheel is classic Volkswagen Group in terms of layout and design. It offers what feels like limitless configurations, allowing you to tailor the information you want to see.
Moving across, this larger 13-inch touchscreen multimedia system is a breeze to use. It features new software compared to the previous-generation Superb that looks considerably fresher.
The home screen can be configured and there are easily accessible shortcut buttons on the screen for things like the vehicle settings menu, among others.
I’m a particular fan of the shortcut buttons at the top of the touchscreen that show your favourite settings in the vehicle menu. You’re able to toggle things like auto hold, engine idle start-stop and numerous other features.
Underneath the touchscreen is one my favourite parts of this car. There are three physical rotary dials that initially look like they’re just for adjusting the climate control functions, but can do so much more. They’re called ‘Smart Dials’ and also feature in the new Kodiaq.
The outer two dials are able to adjust things like the temperature, as well as the seat heating and ventilation, whereas the centre dial can change the fan speed, air direction, driving mode, sound system volume and zoom function on the sat-nav map.
They’re incredibly intuitive to use and have fantastic tactical clicks when interacted with. It’s fantastic to see a new car that puts such a big emphasis on still having physical hardware, instead of opting for the minimal look that requires you to use the touchscreen for everything.
Another big change with the Superb is the gear selector has been relocated from the centre console to the steering column. This has been happening to a range of Volkswagen Group vehicles of late.
As a result, the centre console has been redesigned with maximised storage in mind. There are now things like a display cleaner and many generous storage spaces.
Also if you want to securely store items, there are retractable covers on the centre console which also help give it a clean look.
Moving to the second row, it’s an amazing place to sit. There is so much space on offer that it puts every single similarly priced and sized SUV to shame. You can’t beat a large sedan or wagon in terms of practicality.
Second-row amenities include heated outboard seats, retractable sun-blinds, a fold-down armrest with cupholders and a tablet holder, as well as airplane-style head restraints that fold out from either side of the head rest.
Regardless of where you sit in the Superb, you’ll be in proper comfort.
Around the back is the showstopper. As standard there’s a hands-free power tailgate which is handy if you’ve got hands full and need to open the boot.
Once the tailgate opens there’s a generous amount of boot space on offer. Skoda claims the Superb liftback has a 589L capacity with the rear seats upright, expanding to 1795L with them folded.
With the wagon on the other hand, there’s 634L of boot space with the rear seats upright, expanding to a massive 1920L with the second row lowered.
‘Simply Clever’ touches include an electrically retractable luggage cover, a retractable luggage sling, moveable luggage separators, and a vast net system.
Under the boot floor there’s a space-saver spare wheel.
Another traditional Commodore trait to have taken a step backwards is its ability to carry three adults across the back seat. Admittedly only really an issue for taxi use, the ZB will certainly still swallow three, and likely three child seats, but less comfortably and more like the similarly sized Camry.
The Liftback’s reduced headroom didn’t matter for this 172cm tester, but if you were marginal in a VF you’d probably want to avoid spiking your hair.
The cabin ticks all the other important boxes for a modern family car, including twin cupholders front and rear, bottleholders in each door and two ISOFIX child seat mounts in the rear.
All get a good cluster of USB and 12V charge points, while the RS-V models upwards get a big bonus with wireless phone charging.
The Liftback's boot space is only slightly down on before at 490 litres, but the huge opening created by the five-door design is so much more useful in the real world. It also brings a split-fold back seat for the first time in a non-wagon Commodore.
The Sportwagon has lost around 100 litres in capacity though, but is still a very useful 560 litres to seat height or 793 litres to the roof.
Holden’s local team has also developed a range of optional accessories for the Commodore, which includes a bonnet protector, weather shield, towbar, boot liner, floor mats, headlight protectors, sill guards, locking wheel nuts, roof racks and a cargo net, but there’s no sign of a cargo barrier, nudge bar or bullbar at this stage.
The new Skoda Superb continues to only be offered in flagship Sportline trim level in either liftback or wagon body styles.
Pricing starts at $67,990, before on-road costs, for the liftback and extends to $69,690 before on-roads for the wagon.
While this is a circa-$2500 price rise over the outgoing model, Skoda has packaged in a considerable amount of equipment that was previously locked away in option bundles. As a result, this car is fully loaded.
Outside there are slimmer matrix LED headlights, new design 19-inch alloy wheels, gloss black exterior highlights, dynamic indicators and a hands-free power tailgate.
Inside there are new sport seats with integrated head rests that are also electrically adjustable, heated, ventilated and have a massage function.
Other interior highlights include a heated steering wheel, 10-inch digital instrument cluster, 13-inch touchscreen multimedia system, 12-speaker Canton premium sound system, wireless charging with ventilation, roll-up rear sunshades and heated outboard rear seats.
On the dynamics front, the new Superb picks up 'Dynamic Chassis Control Plus', which is essentially Skoda-speak for adaptive dampers. It’s an updated version which features two independently controlled valves, and allows for 15 stages of configurability. There’s now also progressive steering.
Aligning with the Insignia’s European platform has bumped the Commodore right up to speed with the current status quo of features expected in such a family car.
Available Commodore firsts include standard auto emergency braking (AEB) on all models, adaptive cruise control, 360-degree / surround-view cameras, massage and ventilated seats, heated rear seats, wireless phone charging, LED headlights and a power tailgate on the wagons. Like most new cars, there’s no more CD player or DVD player with the radio and other multimedia options.
The broad model range is split into LT, RS, RS-V, Calais, Calais-V, VXR trim levels, while the off-road flavoured Tourer is split into Calais and Calais-V versions.
All bar the Tourer and VXR are available with either Liftback or Sportwagon ($2200 extra) bodystyles, while the 2.0-litre turbo engine is standard in the LT, RS and Calais. The V6 with all-wheel drive is available in the RS, RS-V, Calais-V, VXR and both Tourer trims, while the diesel engine is limited to the LT and Calais.
The base LT Liftback drops the Commodore entry point by $1800 with a list price of $33,690. The diesel engine is available in either bodystyle for an extra $3000.
Standard features include the aforementioned AEB, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in addition to Bluetooth connectivity with a 7.0-inch multimedia screen, reversing camera, auto parking, a leather steering wheel, an eight-way power driver’s seat, proximity keys, auto headlights and wipers, air conditioning and 17-inch alloy rims.
The RS kicks off at $37,290, or $40,790 in V6 AWD guise, and brings sports front seats, steering wheel and body kit, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and bigger 18-inch alloys, while the Sportwagon version gets a power tailgate.
The V6 AWD RS-V commands $46,990, and adds leather seats, heated front seats, paddle shifters a larger 8.0-inch multimedia screen with built-in GPS navigation system and DAB+ digital radio, a colour head-up display, wireless phone charger, interior ambient lighting, upgraded Hi Per strut suspension and a sportier rear bumper.
The $40,990 Calais is also available with the diesel engine for an extra $3000, or as the V6 AWD Tourer wagon for $45,990.
The Calais sits closer to the LT on features, but adds leather trim, front seat heaters, 8-inch multimedia screen with built-in GPS navigation system and DAB+ digital radio, wireless phone charging, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and 18-inch alloys.
The Calais Tourer scores a ride height lift (overall height up 42mm) and off-road styled unpainted wheel-arch moulds and bumper caps.
The $51,990 Calais-V adds a Bose premium sound system, ventilated front seats, a massage function and powered side bolsters for the driver’s seat, heated rear seats, a sports steering wheel with paddle shifters, 360 degree cameras, colour head-up display, adaptive LED headlights and 20-inch alloys. The Liftback version gets an electronic sunroof, while the Tourer version gets a panoramic glass roof.
The top-spec VXR is closest to the RS-V in terms of features, but for $55,990 it adds VXR-specific sports seats with power adjustable bolsters and ventilation up front, heated rear seats, Bose premium audio, adaptive suspension, adaptive cruise control, Brembo brakes, VXR floor mats and sill plates, active LED headlights, 360-degree camera, electric sunroof, and 20-inch alloy wheels.
From launch, Holden is offering drive-away pricing across several models, with on-road costs included. The LT petrol Liftback is available for $35,990, while the RS Liftaback is being offered for $38,990 with the 2.0-litre turbo and $42,490 with the V6. The Calais Tourer is also being offered for $47,990 drive away.
MORE: Check out our ZB Holden Commodore price guide and price list here.
The available colours are spread across two whites, two reds, silver, grey, black and blue, with some only available on certain models. All bar the non-metallic white and red will cost you an extra $550, but there’s no sign of the green, purple, orange, or yellow we’ve seen over the past decade.
The new-generation Skoda Superb is still powered by a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder petrol engine, but it has been upgraded.
It produces 195kW of power, which is technically 9.0kW less than the previous-generation version, and 400Nm of torque, which is 50Nm more.
It’s worth noting this engine also features in the new Skoda Octavia RS, as well as the Volkswagen Golf GTI and Tiguan R-Line.
The engine is mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission with drive sent through an all-wheel drive system.
No, there’s no more V8, manual transmission or rear wheel drive, but the ZB’s options are more in sync with its newer rivals.
For the first time since the VH, or 1984, the base engine is a four-cylinder petrol unit, but uses modern tech like direct injection and a turbo to boost power statistics to more than triple that of the infamous Starfire engine. Also seen in the Equinox, the new turbo motor’s 191kW is also notably 6kW more than the 5.0-litre V8 in the VL Group A SS (Walkinshaw), and 1kW more than the 3.6-litre V6 was making in top-spec VZ Commodores – so pretty good horsepower for its engine size.
The real story is its healthy 350Nm of torque, which is also more than what the same VZs were making, but on tap from a useful 3000-4000rpm.
The latest version of the 3.6-litre Alloytec V6 that’s seen duty in VZ, VE and VF models makes a reappearance as the new performance leader, but mounted sideways and turning all four wheels this time. In ZB trim, it produces 235kW and 381Nm, the latter from 5200rpm.
MORE: Find all ZB Commodore specifications here.
For the first time, you can also choose a diesel option with LT and Calais trims, which is a version of the engine used in the previous Opel Insignia. You’ll also find it under the bonnet of the Jeep Cherokee and Compass, and its applications spread as wide as the Alfa Romeo 159 that ended production in 2011. In Commodore guise, the turbo 2.0-litre engine specs are 125kW and 400Nm (available from 1750-2500rpm), and therefore taking out the torque trophy for the ZB range.
Both petrol engines are paired with a nine-speed torque converter automatic transmission, while the diesel has an eight-speed gearbox. Both four-cylinder engines are front-wheel drive, while all V6 variants are all-wheel drive.
MORE: What’s the difference between 4X4, 4WD and AWD
The all-wheel drive system is actually quite clever, using what’s called a Twinster twin-clutch rear differential for finite torque vectoring, or sending the just the right amount of power to each wheel. The system varies torque distribution between 100 per cent front and a 50/50 split.
If you think the Commodore has gone soft, its towing capacity ratings also suggest otherwise, with a 2100kg maximum braked rating for V6 models matching the best offered previously. The four cylinder models are rated at 1800kg, which is 200kg better than what the previous 3.0-litre V6 and LPG models carried.
While the new Superb is claimed to be faster, it’s also claimed to be more fuel efficient. In liftback guise claimed combined cycle (urban/extra-urban) fuel consumption is 7.7L/100km, while in wagon guise the official figure is 7.8L/100km.
The entire range comes with a 66-litre fuel tank and it requires a minimum of 95 RON premium unleaded.
With this claimed fuel consumption you could theoretically travel up to 850km on a full tank of petrol. In our test cars however, they were displaying 900km of range when we started off the drive loop.
Unfortunately the Superb doesn't come with any form of electrification, whether that be a mild-hybrid or plug-in hybrid powertrain. Skoda Australia is currently evaluating and testing the Superb PHEV, but if it does launch locally, it won’t be until 2026 at the earliest.
As you’d hope, the ZB sets a new Commodore benchmark for fuel consumption, with the diesel models managing a best official combined figure of 5.6L/100km. The petrol four-cylinder models also pip the VF’s best combined fuel economy figure of 8.3L/100km with 7.4 and 7.6L/100km for the LT, RS and Calais Liftbacks respectively. The Sportwagon versions wear 7.7 and 7.9L/100km figures, while V6 versions span 8.9-9.3L/100km combined ratings.
It’s worth noting that the petrol four-cylinder engine needs premium 95RON unleaded to do its best, while the V6 is happy to run on regular 91RON unleaded. All versions have a 61.7-litre fuel tank.
Starting up the Skoda Superb Sportline you hear the familiar sound of this 2.0L engine, variations of which are used in numerous VW Group models. It’s fairly muted and smooth, which makes the cabin a serene place to be.
Setting off you use the column-mounted gear selector to change gears. It takes a little bit to get used to the new placement, but after a few uses it feels normal. This relocation has also allowed for so much more storage on the centre console.
Around town the Superb’s 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine barely makes itself known. The full 400Nm of torque comes on tap from as little as 1650rpm, making this car effortless to drive and almost turbo-diesel-like in practice.
Skoda claims the new Superb can do the 0-100km/h sprint in 5.6 seconds in liftback guise and 5.7 seconds in wagon guise. This is 0.3 seconds faster than the old version.
It barely requires any thought driving in the typical urban sprawl. The car does all the heavy lifting for you.
When it comes to parking, however, there’s no way around the fact this is a long car. You may find yourself needing to do three-point turns in order to navigate tighter urban car parks.
It doesn’t help that the surround-view camera system is surprisingly low-resolution, which is disappointing given the Superb is a flagship vehicle for Skoda. It’s more noticeable because the central touchscreen is incredibly high-resolution.
As standard there’s a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission which has one more ratio than the previous-generation Superb. Though this isn’t necessarily obvious in everyday driving, the dual-clutch is still a classic Volkswagen Group unit, meaning it’s snappy and intuitive.
This car comes with a progressive ratio steering system which increases the amount the wheels physically turn as you feed on more lock with the steering wheel. It helps make the car feel more agile and sporty, while also requiring less effort.
With the updated adaptive dampers you can now configure the system in 15 different ways, which is wild. This spans all the way from beyond ‘Comfort’ through to ‘Sport’.
In ‘Normal’ mode the Superb still errs on the sportier side, which makes sense because the Sportline package is standard. This also brings a 15mm ride height reduction.
Despite feeling sporty as standard, the Superb is never uncomfortable. This is really surprising because there are sizeable 19-inch alloy wheels and low-profile tyres.
Dialling the car through to ‘Comfort’ mode makes the drive pretty much effortless. It’s incredibly comfortable and supple, ironing out virtually any road imperfection you can throw at it.
Unlike other Skoda vehicles with adaptive dampers, this Superb doesn’t get that bouncy cloud-like feeling in ‘Comfort’ mode. Instead, it still feels grounded.
There’s an ‘Eco’ drive mode which unsurprisingly prioritises fuel economy. It makes upshifts happen low down in the rev range, and also shifts the car into neutral when coasting.
Although the car is in ‘Eco’ mode, it doesn’t feel like you’re lacking any oomph. You’ll still be keeping up with urban traffic easily.
Slotting the Superb into ‘Sport’ mode immediately sharpens the throttle response and makes the car feel like it’s hunkering down, ready to attack. The suspension and adaptive dampers noticeably become stiffer, making you jiggle about in the driver’s seat more than in other drive modes.
It’s surprising how Sport makes this huge sedan and wagon feel much smaller than it is. This is likely credit to how dynamic the Volkswagen Group has made its 'MQB Evo' platform.
Thanks in part to the all-wheel drive system, this car is an absolute beast out in the twisties. You can take corners with a lot of heat and still feel incredibly in control.
Once again, the car does a lot of the heavy lifting, allowing you to focus on what’s going on with the road ahead. It’s very smile-inducing.
While this car is dynamic and thrilling to drive, it’s worth noting it’s no full-fat RS model. You reach a ceiling with the turbo-petrol’s outputs when accelerating hard, but there’s still plenty to play with. Only proper performance car nerds will care about this.
Out on the open road, the Superb becomes a great long-distance tourer. It feels like I could drive from Melbourne to Adelaide in one hit without stopping.
At higher speeds, however, there is a bit of road and tyre noise. This is common in European vehicles, but still ruins the ambience of the cabin if you don’t like listening to music behind the wheel.
More concerning, though, is the virtually brand-new Superbs we sampled at this media launch were already starting to develop noticeable rattles in the door cards. Underwhelming in a circa $70K car.
The Commodore we know and most of us love is just as famous for its quality driving experience as its local production and motorsport successes. So, the ZB has some big shoes to fill in this area.
At the ZB’s media launch, we drove everything aside from the base LT or any diesel variant, over several hundred kilometres of pretty much every road condition.
I’ll cut to the chase. There’s a genuine quality to the way they handle Australian road conditions. We drove them back to back with a UK-spec model at Lang Lang, and while you’d expect the local car to excel at its own test facility, the rear and front suspension work in harmony to handle mid-corner bumps with far greater stability than the alternative. The electric power steering weighting was also lighter, but it didn’t seem to lose any precision.
You probably wouldn’t notice it driving to the shops every day or cruising on the highway, but this on-limit controllability could easily be the difference between life and death in an emergency.
The turbo four is a surprisingly capable and refined package, and would honestly be my pick if I were in the market. It’s smoother and more tractable than the V6, so feels like it would deliver speed more readily than the bigger engine unless you were going flat out.
Holden isn’t quoting official 0-100km/h acceleration figures, but we hear the petrol four is good for a 7.0 second-ish time, and the V6 will manage just over 6.0sec. So there’s really not much in it outright.
Therefore it’s a shame you can’t get the Tourer with the petrol four, but because the combination is available in Europe, Holden could shift the line-up if there’s enough demand.
The nine-speed auto does a pretty good job with either engine, and its electronic brain does a slick job of seamlessly adjusting its shift behaviour to your driving style.
Holden isn’t quoting ground clearance figures, but all have enough to handle dirt roads, and while the 17-inch wheel equipped models match the VF II’s 11.4m turning circle, be aware that the 18-inch wheel variants blow out to 11.7m, the 19s are 12.7m, and Holden doesn’t quote a figure for the 20-inch equipped Calais-V Liftback and VXR.
The only other surprise among the group we drove is the Calais-V Liftback, which is likely to be a bit too sharp in its ride for some luxury buyers on its big 20-inch alloy wheels. The Calais or one of the Tourers would be your best bet for comfort.
The VXR performance flagship is a completely different personality to the SS models of the past. It’s nowhere near as fast, but is more of a grownup package that’s easier to get the best out of.
Its more demure than the brash final VF IIs, and the V6 does make a pretty sweet note, even if half of it is coming from the speakers.
Nothing was ever going to replicate the romance and pride of the last SS, but all is not lost for fans of fast Holdens.
The new-generation Skoda Superb hasn’t been tested by ANCAP just yet, though Euro NCAP gave the car a maximum five-star rating. The two safety authorities have harmonised testing protocols so it’s likely the rating will eventually be carried across.
In terms of standard equipment, the Superb has 10 airbags, an upgraded autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system, blind-spot monitoring, front and rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, lane centering, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, driver fatigue detection, a surround-view camera, front and rear parking sensors and a semi-autonomous park assist.
There are ISOFIX points on the outboard rear seats, as well as top-tether child seat anchorages on all three rear seats.
All versions of the new Commodore come with a maximum five star ANCAP safety rating, which has been measured against 2017 standards. The VF’s five star rating was based on 2013 standards.
As mentioned above, all versions get standard AEB and ISOFIX child seat mounts, plus features like lane keep assist and departure warning, auto parking, a reversing camera with front and rear sensors and six airbags covering both rows of seats.
All versions also get a novel following distance indicator to help you gauge a safe distance from the car in front. This could serve as excellent driver training, and worth having a go with on a test drive.
RS variants upwards get blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, while only the Calais-V and VXR get 360-degree /surround-view camera setups.
The new Superb, like all other current Skoda models, is covered by a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.
This warranty length is slowly but certainly becoming the standard in Australia.
At this stage Skoda hasn’t detailed service intervals or service pricing. It has said it’ll offer pre-paid service packages, however.
Holden is currently offering a seven-year, unlimited kilometre warranty with roadside assistance to help boost sales, but be on the lookout for the return of this deal if you miss out this time. Normally, the Commodore carries the standard three year/100,000km warranty.
Service intervals are now 12month/12,000km, which have shifted from the previous 9month/15,000km terms.
Service costs are capped for the first seven trips to the workshop, with petrol models costing $259, $299, $259, $359, $359, $359 and $259, or a total of $2153 over seven years or 84,000km. The diesel is actually slightly better value at $259, $359, $259, $399, $359 and $399, or $2134 over the same period.