Skoda Auto a.s., more commonly referred to as Skoda, is headquartered in the Czech Republic. The founders of Škoda, Václav Laurin and Václav Klement were initially involved with the manufacturing of bicycles and motorcycles. In due course they progressed to trucks and eventually to cars, establishing Skoda in 1925.
From 1948 the company was state owned. In 1991, the company began partial privatisation and become part of the German automotive group, Volkswagen AG in 1994. The company became a wholly owned Volkswagen subsidiary in 2000. The Skoda brand has come a long way since then. Skoda vehicles are now sold in over 100 countries with over 1.25 million annual units sold globally.
Skoda is committed to an electrification strategy. The Citigo-e IV was the first all-electric vehicle from Skoda. Order books for this BEV opened in December 2019. The sales of the Citigo-e IV EV was terminated in 2020. Since then, Skoda has launched a number of EVs. The company currently has the following battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs):
For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we recommend a read of the following articles:
The Skoda Superb family car has been manufactured since 2001. The model is currently on its third generation. The Superb received a facelift in 2019 and the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) variant was also introduced.
The Skoda PHEV is worth considering for those keen on a more affordable entry into plug-in hybrid electric driving. The Superb EV has much to offer in terms of practicality and financial savings. The Skoda plug-in electric car competes in a very competitive segment i.e. mid-sized family cars. Despite the intense competition, the PHEV is well placed relative to the competition.
The plug-in electric car has a 13 kWh onboard EV battery with a 37 miles certified WLTP range. Though the real-world EV range will be lower, possibly closer to 32 miles (emission-free), the EV still has much to offer those keen to save money by driving on pure electric mode. Depending on the cost of charging, driving an electric car will cost between 5 pence and 10 pence per mile i.e. far cheaper compared to calling on the internal combustion engine (ICE).
The PHEV is not DC charging compatible (most PHEVs are not) and has a 3.6 kW onboard charger. Quite typical for a PHEV in this price segment. We discourage the use of a 3-PIN domestic plug for charging and encourage charging via a dedicated home EV charger. The PHEV can be fully charged in 3.5 hours.
Though the zero-emission electric range is limited to 37 miles, most of us would not require much more for our daily needs. In fact, in the UK, the majority of motorists drive at an average 30 miles per day. So for all the shorter commutes to the school, high street, grocery store etc, driving on e-mode is a perfect fit!
Even, for those that drive to work, driving on electric mode works well, as the electric car can be charged at home and at work (workplace EV charging)! For those weekend getaways, the petrol engine can be utilised for the longer drives.
Bottom-line, if you are not driving electric, you are not saving money. Moreover, driving in e-mode also further improves the efficiency of the electric vehicle. Skoda claims the PHEV has a fuel economy up to 276.3 mpg. Real-world economy will certainly be lower, but substantially better compared to the conventional internal combustion (ICE) variant (42.8 mpg).
In terms of performance, the Skoda Superb EV delivers a decent experience. The 1.4-litre TSI iV petrol engine (4-cylinders) is paired with an electric motor. The plug-in electric car can achieve 0-62 mph in 7.7 seconds. The top speed of the EV is 140 mph. The total system performance is 218 PS and 250 Nm torque. Certainly suitable for city and motorway driving. Of course, do keep in mind that the EV also benefits from instant torque.
Though the boot space has been reduced in size to accommodate the onboard EV battery, the PHEV is family-friendly in terms of practicality, offering adequate interior space, legroom, headroom and cargo volume (485 L).
The EV has a good level of equipment and depending on the trim, the following come as standard: keyless start/stop, adaptive cruise control, driver fatigue sensor, light assist with high beam control, blind spot detection, Apple Car Play, Amundsen satellite navigation with 8″ touchscreen display and more. The interior quality is in line with the price tag.
The exterior styling is well suited for those keen on ‘familiarity’ i.e. not keen on a futuristic styling. Of course, for some, the more traditional stying of the electric car may not appeal.
Due to its lower tailpipe emissions (28g CO2/km), company-car drivers can take advantage of the lower Benefit-in-Kind (BiK-12%) tax rate. The conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) Skoda Superb has tailpipe emissions as high as 150g CO2/km. Bottom-line, driving a PHEV improves local air quality.
The EV does not qualify for the UK government plug-in car grant (PiCG). Bottom-line, electric driving is good for the environment and the wallet. You can lease electric vehicles (EVs) via e-zoomed at very competitive prices!
The Skoda Superb Plug-In Hybrid Hatch (credit: Skoda)
While e-zoomed uses reasonable efforts to provide accurate and up-to-date information, some of the information provided is gathered from third parties and has not been independently verified by e-zoomed. While the information from the third party sources is believed to be reliable, no warranty, express or implied, is made by e-zoomed regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of any information. This disclaimer applies to both isolated and aggregate uses of this information.
