Skoda Superb 2025: In a significant move that reaffirms Skoda’s commitment to the premium sedan market in India, the Czech automaker has reintroduced its flagship model, the Skoda Superb, to Indian shores
. The fourth-generation Superb, unveiled earlier at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025, arrives with a prestigious 5-star Euro NCAP safety rating and a starting price of ₹54 lakh (ex-showroom).
This reentry marks a triumphant return for a model that has developed a loyal following among Indian luxury car enthusiasts despite its previous exit from the market in 2020.
Return of the Flagship: A Premium Comeback
The 2025 Skoda Superb’s return to India comes after a brief hiatus, during which the Indian automotive landscape has shifted significantly toward SUVs.
Despite this trend, Skoda believes there remains a dedicated market for premium sedans that offer exceptional comfort, sophisticated technology, and exemplary safety standards—areas where the new Superb excels.
“In India, Superb is one of the cars that makes Skoda very successful and that a lot of people still remember. A lot of people are asking us to bring it back,” said Petr Janeba, Brand Director, Skoda Auto India, in a recent interview.
The executive acknowledged that while bringing the vehicle as a Completely Built Unit (CBU) will affect sales volumes, the company remains confident in the model’s appeal to discerning Indian buyers.
The fourth-generation Superb represents a significant evolution from its predecessor. While maintaining its signature elegant proportions, the new model adopts a more refined aesthetic with cleaner lines and a sophisticated presence that distinguishes it in the premium sedan segment.
Setting New Safety Benchmarks
At the core of the 2025 Superb’s appeal is its outstanding safety credentials. The sedan has achieved the coveted 5-star rating in the Euro NCAP safety tests—considered among the most stringent automotive safety evaluations globally.
More impressively, the Superb ranks as the second-safest car in the 2024 Euro NCAP rankings, underscoring Skoda’s commitment to passenger protection.
The Superb’s safety performance is particularly notable in adult and child occupant protection. The sedan scored an impressive 93% for adult occupant protection and 87% for child occupant protection.
These results reflect the extensive structural and technological safety measures Skoda has implemented in the vehicle.
“The safety of our customers and all other road users is our top priority,” noted Johannes Neft, Skoda Auto Board Member for Technical Development.
“We are particularly proud of our strong results for Adult and Child Occupant protection. The fact that we have extended our successful record of five-star evaluations for our vehicles even after the more stringent test parameters were introduced in 2023 confirms our clear commitment to the highest safety standards.”
Comprehensive Safety Architecture
The Superb’s safety excellence begins with its sophisticated body structure. The car incorporates hot-formed, high-strength steel components, particularly in crucial areas such as the A- and B-pillars, firewall, and tunnel console.
This advanced construction creates a protective cell around occupants while strategically designed crumple zones absorb impact energy in collision scenarios.
Passive safety features include up to 10 airbags, with a central airbag between the front seats that helps prevent occupant-to-occupant injuries in side impacts.
The Euro NCAP tests revealed that the Superb provides good protection for all critical body areas in both frontal and side impact scenarios, with the car scoring maximum points in side barrier and pole impact tests.
Active safety systems are equally impressive, with the Superb offering a comprehensive suite of driver assistance technologies. These include:
- Collision Avoidance Assist
- Emergency Steering Assist
- Auto Emergency Braking
- Cross-Road Assist
- Adaptive Cruise Control
- Adaptive Lane Assist
- Driver Fatigue Sensor
- Lane Exit Warning
- Park Assist
- Blind Spot Detection
- Traffic Jam Assist
These systems work in concert to prevent accidents or mitigate their severity, reflecting Skoda’s proactive approach to vehicle safety that extends beyond mere crash protection to accident prevention.
Premium Interiors with Advanced Technology
The Superb’s cabin represents a significant leap forward in terms of luxury and technology integration. The interior adopts a clean, modern aesthetic with premium materials and thoughtful ergonomics.
A dual-tone color scheme with silver accents creates an upscale ambiance, complemented by a distinctive two-spoke steering wheel that has become a Skoda design signature.
The technological centerpiece is a free-floating 13-inch touchscreen infotainment system that supports wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity. This is paired with a 10-inch digital driver’s display that presents critical driving information in a clear, customizable format.
Comfort features abound, including:
- Panoramic sunroof
- Ventilated and heated front seats with massage function
- Wireless phone charger with cooling function
- Head-up display
- Ambient lighting
- Automatic climate control
- Powered front seats with memory function
These amenities ensure that long journeys remain comfortable, regardless of external conditions—a crucial consideration for Indian premium car buyers who often employ chauffeurs and experience the vehicle primarily as passengers.
Powertrain Options for Discerning Drivers
While Skoda plans to initially launch the Superb with a petrol engine, the company is also considering introducing a diesel variant later—a strategic move based on market preferences in the premium sedan segment.
“If you look at the premium brands, most of their limousines are being sold as diesel. It is still in demand. It is because of the torque, and because of the comfort,” explained Janeba. “Most of the Superbs we have sold in the past are diesel, and there is a certain legacy.”
Globally, the Superb is available with multiple powertrain options, including:
- A 1.5-liter turbo-petrol engine with mild-hybrid technology (150 PS)
- A 2.0-liter turbo-petrol engine (265 PS)
- A 1.5-liter turbo-petrol plug-in hybrid system (204 PS)
- A 2.0-liter diesel engine (193 PS)
For the Indian market, the 2.0-liter turbo-petrol engine is expected to be offered initially. This unit, available in international markets in tunes of 201 bhp/320 Nm and 261 bhp/400 Nm, provides a compelling blend of performance and refinement appropriate for a premium sedan.
Transmission duties are likely to be handled by Skoda’s sophisticated 7-speed DSG (Direct Shift Gearbox) that delivers rapid yet smooth gear changes. This powertrain configuration promises responsive acceleration and effortless cruising—attributes valued in the luxury sedan segment.
Dimensions and Practicality
The new Superb retains the model’s reputation for exceptional space efficiency. With a length of 4,912 mm, a wheelbase of 2,841 mm, a height of 1,481 mm, and a width of 2,090 mm, the sedan offers generous interior space for both front and rear occupants.
Practicality has always been a Superb hallmark, and the new generation continues this tradition with thoughtful storage solutions and a capacious boot. The sedan’s liftback design enhances cargo-loading flexibility, making it suitable for both business and leisure use—a versatility that distinguishes it from traditional three-box sedan designs.
Market Positioning and Competition
At its price point of ₹54 lakh, the Skoda Superb positions itself in an interesting segment of the Indian market. It competes primarily with the Toyota Camry, which has established itself as a reliable luxury hybrid option. The Superb’s European heritage, advanced technology, and safety credentials present a compelling alternative for buyers seeking something different from Japanese or German premium offerings.
The CBU import strategy places the Superb at a price disadvantage compared to locally assembled competitors. However, Skoda appears confident that the model’s unique combination of safety, technology, and European design sophistication will attract buyers willing to pay a premium for these attributes.
Production and Availability
Unlike the new Kodiaq SUV, which will be assembled in India, the Superb will be imported as a Completely Built Unit (CBU) from Skoda’s European production facilities.
This approach allows Skoda to maintain the exacting quality standards of its flagship sedan but results in higher pricing due to import duties.
The 2025 Skoda Superb is expected to be available at Skoda dealerships across India by September 2025. While the initial allocation may be limited due to the CBU import strategy, Skoda is likely to adjust supply based on market response.
The Broader Skoda Strategy in India
The reintroduction of the Superb aligns with Skoda’s multi-faceted approach to the Indian market. While the brand has recently focused on more affordable models like the Kushaq and Slavia under its “India 2.0” strategy, the Superb’s return signals Skoda’s intention to maintain a presence in the premium segment as well.
This balanced portfolio strategy allows Skoda to cater to different customer segments while reinforcing its brand values of safety, technology, and European design across price points. The Superb, as the flagship sedan, serves as a technological showcase that elevates the entire brand’s perception in the market.
Building on a Legacy of Safety
The 2025 Superb’s 5-star Euro NCAP rating continues Skoda’s impressive safety record. Since 2008, every new Skoda model has achieved a five-star rating in Euro NCAP tests—a remarkable consistency that few manufacturers can match.
This achievement is particularly noteworthy given that the Euro NCAP testing protocols have become increasingly stringent over the years.
The current protocols, updated in 2023, include more demanding crash scenarios and evaluation criteria that better reflect real-world accident conditions.
The Superb’s ability to maintain a five-star rating under these enhanced protocols demonstrates Skoda’s ongoing commitment to safety innovation and the integration of advanced protection technologies in its vehicles.
A Future-Focused Premium Sedan
As the automotive industry undergoes a fundamental transformation toward electrification, the 2025 Superb represents an interesting intersection of traditional premium values and forward-looking technology.
While not fully electric, the model’s available plug-in hybrid option (potentially coming to India later) offers a transitional solution for buyers not yet ready to embrace full electrification.
The sedan’s comprehensive ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) package also aligns with the industry’s move toward increased automation. Features like adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assistance represent early steps on the path to autonomous driving capabilities, ensuring the Superb remains relevant as these technologies become more prevalent.
A Sophisticated European Alternative
The return of the Skoda Superb to Indian shores at ₹54 lakh with its 5-star safety rating represents more than just another product launch. It’s a statement of confidence from Skoda in both the continued relevance of the premium sedan segment and in Indian consumers’ appreciation for European automotive values.
With its blend of sophisticated design, advanced safety technology, premium interior appointments, and capable powertrain options, the 2025 Superb offers a distinctive alternative in a market increasingly dominated by SUVs and crossovers.
For buyers who prioritize the refined driving experience, passenger comfort, and understated elegance that only a well-engineered sedan can provide, the new Superb presents a compelling proposition.
As the automotive landscape continues to evolve, the Superb’s combination of traditional virtues and forward-looking technologies ensures it remains not merely relevant but genuinely desirable—a flagship worthy of representing Skoda’s century-plus automotive heritage in one of the world’s most dynamic car markets.