Skoda Dealer Puts a 5-Series against the Superb for Test Drive

Who in the world of car fanatics doesn’t know the BMW 5-Series and the Skoda Superb? The cars lie in a different price bracket and are, therefore, from separate segments. The Superb is available for almost half the money of a 5-Series. So, one usually doesn't compare the Skoda with the Bimmer, right? Well, you just might be wrong. A Skoda dealer in Ireland has kept the 5-Series at their dealership, to encourage prospective buyers to take it for a spin. They certainly believe that the Superb has what it takes to beat the 5-Series. Especially, when the 5-Series has been acclaimed for its brilliant ride and handling dynamics for long. This clearly indicates the level of confidence Skoda has in its flagship car. However, putting the Superb against a car that has been a benchmark of handling is a rather bold move and is sure to grab plenty of attention. After all, it’s all about sending a message!

In India, the base variant of the BMW 5-Series is available at a price tag of INR 48.9 lakh, while the Superb’s base trim can be bought for a humble sum of INR 23.8 lakh (both the prices are ex-showroom, New Delhi). More often than not, the buyers from these segment prefer to be chauffeured around rather than drive the car themselves. For this reason alone, Superb has worked well in the past and is continuing with the same streak today as well. The question remains , will somebody with the money and inclination to buy the 5-Series consider the Superb?

Speaking of the common features, the Superb gets almost as many safety features as the a 5-Series or the Audi A6 or a Mercedes from the same category. To name a few, electronically locking differential (something that restricts the wheel from over-spinning and in turn making the car more driveable around corners), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), eight airbags and tyre pressure monitoring.

Then there are other similar features such as those fancy all-LED headlamps and tail lamps, the panoramic sunroof, independent temperature controls for the two front seats as well as for the rear passenger compartment. The electronic driver seat adjustments, a couple of umbrellas (just can't forget that!), and 360-degree parking sensors add a bit more value to the Superb. Find more details in the Skoda Superb’s road test.

I believe these features enabled Skoda to end its latest Superb advertisement on a great note, by calling it the “Best-In-Next-Class”. However, a dealership pitting it against the 5-Series? No, bad idea.

See the launch story: New Skoda Superb Launched at Rs. 22.68 lakh

Read More on : Skoda Superb price