Škoda’s flagship liftback and estate turns 25 this year, with four generations, almost 1.8 million customers and plug-in hybrids that now cover more than 120km on electric power alone.
What does a brand known for sensible small cars do when it wants to go big? In Škoda’s case, it builds the Superb and keeps building it for a quarter of a century. The modern Superb has now been on sale for 25 years, and almost 1.8 million customers have bought one across four generations.
The car made its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show on 11 September 2001 and went on sale on 1 December that year. It is now in its fourth generation, with more powertrain choices than ever before.
A Big Step for Škoda
The first-generation car was a real departure. It was the first time in Škoda’s modern history that buyers could get a properly large car with a more luxurious feel. The Montreux concept, shown at Geneva in February 2001, had previewed it.
It also brought some firsts. It was the first modern Škoda offered with V6 engines. It also introduced the umbrella stored in the door (the rear door, back then), which later became a brand signature. By the end of production, nearly 137,000 had been sold.
TwinDoor, Estates and All-Wheel Drive
The second generation arrived in March 2008 with a clever fix for the saloon-versus-hatchback question. Škoda’s TwinDoor system let owners open either the boot lid alone or the whole tailgate. A full Combi estate followed in September 2009.
All-wheel drive became available for the first time, and a 3.6-litre V6 topped the range. Sales reached 618,000, more than four times the first generation’s total.
The Estate Takes Over
For the third generation, launched in February 2015, Škoda revealed the liftback and Combi together. That turned out to be a good call. Of the 805,000 third-generation cars sold, 56 per cent were estates.
This generation added new infotainment, connectivity features and modern driver assistance systems. The 2019 facelift brought the Superb’s first plug-in hybrid, along with a Scout version with more off-road ability.
Plug-In Range and Proper Dials
The current car premiered in November 2023, again as a liftback and a Combi at the same time. Alongside petrol and diesel engines, it now offers two plug-in hybrids, each rated for more than 120km of electric range. A 200kW plug-in hybrid joined the liftback in February 2026.
Inside, Škoda’s Smart Dials are rotary controls that mix physical and digital operation. With the industry so keen on putting everything in a touchscreen, having a real knob to turn is welcome. Boot space is 645 litres in the liftback and 690 litres in the Combi, which Škoda says are records for the model. About 240,000 buyers have chosen this generation since sales began in early 2024.
A Name Older Than the Car
The badge goes back well before 2001. Škoda first used it on a flagship built between 1934 and 1949 that could seat up to seven. Production came to 890 civilian cars plus 1,630 military versions, including a unique all-wheel-drive variant.
One of Škoda’s designers describes the Superb as a way to drive a limousine without looking flashy, and that has held true across four generations. The sales figures add up neatly: every generation has sold more than the one before, and estate buyers carried the third.
