Skoda Superb review: Reliable and spacious motor gets a facelift – but you'd never guess

One of my favourite motors, the Skoda Superb, has been facelifted – a worrying word for anyone perfectly happy with the look of the car they love.

But fear not, fellow Superb admirers – I suspect only a dealer or current owner could spot the subtle design changes they’ve made to the 2019 version.

There’s a new front bumper that incorporates a new foglight, day running light and a slightly different grille design, plus a bit more chrome.

The changes have added a further 8mm to the car’s length. That might only be a quarter of an inch but adding length for no practical gain is pointless, it just makes parking that more challenging.

I suspect only a dealer or current owner could spot the subtle design changes they’ve made to the 2019 version

You’ll be able to spot the new Superb easily from the rear, not by the new LED tail lamps but because the old round Skoda badge has been junked and replaced by old-fashioned and attractive, chrome lettering.

Not a lot has changed inside, either. Just a mild spring clean with a bit more chrome added.

The biggest addition is a new digital instrument display. Looks modern but doesn’t change the game at all. Volkswagen’s usual selection of petrol and diesel engines are available.

We’ve tried both of them. The first is a 2.0-litre TDI 148bhp diesel engine and the other a 1.5-litre petrol with the same power output. Skoda tells us this diesel engine is likely to be the most popular choice so we’ll focus on that one and drive it in the estate body because that’s my favourite. In sales it’s about 50/50 estate to saloon.

A rather more interesting powertrain will arrive in the UK early in 2020, and that’s a plug-in hybrid.

It’s the first electrified Skoda and although it’s unlikely to be cheap (the current flagship model costs £40,695 which is a lot for a Skoda) it should find buyers.

Skoda is keeping its current trim level hierarchy for the new Superb which means the S is the entry-level model, then SE, SE L, Sportline Plus and finally Laurin & Klement at the top.

We’re testing an SE L version which traditionally gives you a long list of standard equipment yet a still reasonable price. Go too posh with these cars and they stop being such good value.

More to the point, their price starts to creep towards those of more prestigious rivals.

Not a lot has changed inside – Just a mild spring clean with a bit more chrome added

But remember when comparing the Superb to, say, the new BMW 3-Series Touring, that the Skoda is a very spacious car. You should be comparing it to the Volvo V90 and Mercedes-Benz E-Class estate – and neither of those comes cheap.

The saloon’s boot is a huge 625 litres and is not much smaller than the estate’s whopping 660 litre luggage area.

The new 2.0 diesel engine pulls well and is refined. It’s been tuned for long distance work and hours behind the wheel so sophistication is more important than performance.

An automatic DSG gearbox is standard (no manual gearbox is available in the UK) and it works predictably well. There is a Sport driving mode but you’ll want to keep the suspension in its Normal setting because then you’ll be experiencing the new Superb at its most comfortable.

If there’s a car that didn’t need a facelift it’s the Skoda Superb. Fortunately, the tweaks to this one have done nothing to spoil an already fantastic package.

I’ll continue to keep recommending them to friends, two of whom have bought them and are more than happy with them.

And to readers, of course.