We get behind the wheel of the fourth-generation Skoda Very good – and the excellent news is that it’s higher than ever…
Skoda has a popularity for constructing spacious, secure, well-built, reliable vehicles which are nice worth for cash, and if ever a automotive ticked these packing containers, it’s the most recent Very good.
Accessible as a hatchback (simply ‘hatch’ in Skoda communicate) or cavernous property, it’s a improbable household alternative – particularly if SUVs don’t rock your boat.
Numerous engine choices are on provide too, together with a diesel, mild-hybrid petrol, common turbo petrol, and a plug-in hybrid that delivers an all-electric driving vary of greater than 70 miles.
The very first thing you discover concerning the newest iteration of the Very good is its dimension. The hatch is 43mm longer and 12mm taller than its hardly small predecessor.
The property model is 40mm longer than the outgoing mannequin, and at 4.9 metres lengthy, it is rather massive. Simply to place that into context, its footprint is about the identical as a Mercedes-Benz E-Class property.
In fact, the advantage of these greater dimensions is extra inside house. Passengers have at all times been capable of stretch out within the again – now there’s much more room.
Then there’s baggage capability. The property’s 690-litre boot (increasing to 1,920 litres with the rear seats down) is likely one of the largest of any automotive on sale in the present day. The hatch’s 645/1,795 litres dimensions are fairly spectacular too.
However it’s not simply the truth that the Very good has grown. It’s additionally sleeker and varied tweaks have been made to enhance the aerodynamics, which improves gas effectivity.
It’s the Very good hatch that’s the topic of this week’s evaluation. My take a look at automotive was the 1.5 TSI e-Tec 150 PS DSG in SE L trim, which implies it’s one up from the entry-level SE Expertise trim and it’s fitted with a 1.5-litre delicate hybrid petrol engine.
Able to as much as 51.8mpg, CO2 emissions are a low 124 g/km, and it’s paired with a seven-speed automated gearbox, whereas drive is through the entrance wheels. Packing 148bhp and 184lb ft of torque, it’s not blisteringly quick (0-62mph in 9.2 seconds), but it surely appears brisk sufficient off the mark.
The intelligent bit about this engine is that it’s super-efficient, and I discovered as much as 55mpg economic system is feasible on lengthy runs, which may be very spectacular.
With out getting too technical, the delicate hybrid system consists of a 48-volt belt-driven starter-generator and a 48-volt lithium-ion battery (positioned beneath the entrance passenger seat).
Vitality recovered throughout braking offers the engine {an electrical} enhance or permits the automotive to coast with the engine utterly switched off.
There’s additionally Lively Cylinder Expertise which permits the 1.5 TSI to change off two cylinders when their energy isn’t wanted so as to cut back gas consumption.
A stroll by means of the 4 trim ranges demonstrates how well-equipped the Very good is. Priced from £36,995, entry-level SE Expertise comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, a 13-inch central infotainment show with built-in Sat Nav in addition to a ten.25-inch Digital Cockpit.
Expertise features a rear-view digicam (with washer), adaptive cruise management, lane help, site visitors signal recognition, keyless begin/cease, plus wi-fi cell charging with an in-built cooling operate.
Very good SE L provides bigger 18-inch alloy wheels, rear LED lights and LED matrix beam headlights. It additionally has electrical folding and driver aspect auto-dimming door mirrors with reminiscence operate.
SportLine will get intensive gloss black detailing, together with 19-inch polished alloy wheels, therapeutic massage operate for the entrance seats, a decrease journey top, Progressive Steering (it delivers a extra agile, dynamic really feel at velocity) and Dynamic chassis management plus, which permits drivers to customize automobile dealing with to private preferences.
Vary-topping Laurin & Klement (L&Ok) encompasses a darkish chrome grille encompass and rib parts in addition to a rear diffuser strip in the identical darkish chrome materials. Inside, there’s a alternative of both L&Ok Suite Black with black leather-based inside or the luxurious L&Ok Suite Cognac Design Choice.
There’s additionally a Canton sound system and ‘Progressive Dynamic Steering’, which adjustments the steering ratio relying on how far the wheel is turned, enhancing dealing with and agility, particularly in curves and at low speeds.
A particular point out for these LED matrix beam headlights which let you have a excessive beam on always with out dazzling different highway customers.
The clever expertise makes use of the digicam on the windscreen to detect oncoming site visitors, automobiles, individuals and objects, and shapes the beam round them. Very intelligent.
The multi-function push-button ‘Sensible Dials’ beneath the infotainment display screen work effectively too, permitting fast entry to necessities reminiscent of cabin temperature, seat heating, seat air flow, infotainment quantity, fan velocity, air route, good air con and drive modes.
Inside, there’s more room than ever earlier than, although if I’m sincere, I might have most well-liked the choice of a decrease driving place.
Aside from that, it’s comfy, visibility is sweet and the supplies (a lot of them are sustainable) have a high quality feel and look.
On the highway, the Very good continues to impress. It could be mistaken to name it sporty, however it may possibly greater than maintain its personal. My solely gripe is the gearbox which tends to carry on to decrease gears going downhill.
For essentially the most half, it rides effectively, absorbing the worst of the lumps and bumps, although the suspension set-up is likely to be on the stiff aspect for some.
It’s in its component cruising on motorways and A roads, and it’s straightforward to drive on the town too, due to mild, correct steering, a good turning circle and driver help gizmos.
The Very good consists on tougher roads. It stays flat in sooner corners and there’s loads of grip, however in the end, it’s a substantial automotive with an accent on economic system. Consider it that approach and expectations are managed.
It’s refined too, with engine and highway noise solely seeping into the cabin when the automotive is pushed.
Disappointingly, there aren’t any drive modes on the entry-level mannequin – as a substitute there’s simply the choice to change the gear selector stalk to ‘S’.
In order for you extra energy, otherwise you tow a caravan, then perhaps improve to a Very good with a 2.0-litre petrol or diesel engine.
Lastly, Euro NCAP awarded the Skoda Very good a most 5 stars in its security assessments. Named Finest Household Automotive 2025 within the annual UK Automotive of the 12 months Awards, its opponents embody the Volkswagen Passat, Peugeot 508 and BMW 3 Collection.
Verdict: Vastly sensible, intelligent, well-built and secure, the most recent Skoda Very good is a exceptional all-rounder. Whether or not you desire a load-lugger, government categorical or massive household automotive, it ticks all the best packing containers.
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