Practical caravan have tested the Superb for its towing capabilities:

http://www.practicalcaravan.com/reviews/tow-car/36086-skoda-superb

All seems good. Now just have to wait for my SE-L DSG to be built next week!! Getting excited.

Good review that.

Having now had my Mk3 Superb for over 4 months and towed our caravan on several trips, I can confirm that the Superb is a Superb tow car. 

Whilst the factory towbar is extravagantly expensive, it is neat and has saved me tripping over the towbar a couple of times! 

what weight is your caravan Kev?  We will be towing a van with an MTPLM of 1395kgs so i am hoping the 150bhp superb estate is going to be both powerful and stable enough.

 

Does the rear suspension dip quite a lot with the van on or does it remain relatively flat?

I too will be interested in the stability and power.

I have on order a 150bhp SEL Exec Estate, and collected on Saturday a new to us Bailey caravan with a MTPLM of 1425kg.

I collected this with my 2010 Octavia 2.0Tdi PD (van not loaded), and it was stable and pulled well even though it is 150kg heavier than my old van. I do have spring assisters fitted though - the blue springs that fit inside the standard road spring.

Would be interested to know if similar assisters are available, or would be needed.

Any update on this anyone?

How does the superb MkIII handle towing on the suspension? I had to replace octavia hatchback springs with the estate springs. Getting L&K soon and ordering the integrated towbar. Did the back of the car go down much when towing?

How does the superb MkIII handle towing on the suspension? I had to replace octavia hatchback springs with the estate springs. Getting L&K soon and ordering the integrated towbar. Did the back of the car go down much when towing?

I have asked the same question, but can't be lower than my Octy vRS!

How does the superb MkIII handle towing on the suspension? I had to replace octavia hatchback springs with the estate springs. Getting L&K soon and ordering the integrated towbar. Did the back of the car go down much when towing?

 

Even though the MkIII Superb can run a noseweight of 90Kg (vs. 80 on the MkII) I find that there's less droop when towing even with an 80Kg mobility scooter in the boot (plus the wife, weight unrecorded...)

 

Previously I had a witter detachable which could catch on speed bumps if not careful as the lowest point was fairly close to the road due to the U shape.  The integrated towbar is much better.

 

Mine has the DCC suspension and is a 4x4 so that may have some bearing on the comparison.

Took the trailer for it's first long run on the back of the S3 at the weekend, towed beautifully would not know it was on the back, the car and trailer were fully loaded and the car did not sink on the suspension at all, I was worried about this aspect when I bought the car and could not get self levelling suspension.

Also some nice touches when it is connected,

the traffic sign recogniton system knows you have a trailer on the back and shows the car/trailer limit as well as the car only one.

and I disconnected the trailer when the car was still locked and the car alarm went off.

Rear view camera makes it easy to reverse up onto the hitch, in fact I got it spot on once and the hitch dropped onto the ball and locked in place automaticaly!

I have a Thule towbar bike carrier on my S2 I read somewhere that the hatch can't be opened on the S3 when the electrics are connected.

Can you confirm Phil?

The boot opening button by the gearshift won't open the boot when there's something hooked up but you can still walk around the back and press the button on the boot lid to open it.  Not sure about with the key though I'd imagine it will also be disabled when something's connected to the socket.

Opens from the catch on the lid, not tried any other method while the trailer was connected, trailer now disconnected and its parking place so can't check, will check next time I use it.

Took our caravan down to Anglesey from Halifax with our 190 4x4 DSG Combi on the last bank holiday weekend. We have a Bailey Unicorn 3 Cadiz van, coming in around 1500kg. Car was solid as a rock with the van on the back. It was a bit thirsty on the way down, 24mpg on the Maxidot, but we were towing into a significant headwind all the way. Coming back - it was up at 30mpg, but the impressive bit all round for me was the torque. On the way home up Rhuallt Hill on the A55 and Windy Hill (M62 J21 to J22) I held the car in 5th gear and it pulled up the hill like there was nothing on the back of it - very impressive!! The reversing camera makes hitching up a breeze - love the way you can change the view to guide you onto the towball, just remember to take the autohold off before hitching 

 

 

just remember to take the autohold off before hitching 

 

Why?

You need the finer control that you won't get with autohold as the small jolt may see you hit the tow hitch.

Our 'van has an Alko stabiliser and the gap between it and the bumper doesn't leave much room for error when backing up. The fidelity of the camera doesn't seem to be enough to make out the distance when the hitch is in shadow.

Just to clarify...does the hatch open when the electrics cable is connected or not?

The boot opening button by the gearshift won't open the boot when there's something hooked up but you can still walk around the back and press the button on the boot lid to open it.  Not sure about with the key though I'd imagine it will also be disabled when something's connected to the socket.

I can confirm. Key is also disabled when something is connected. Only pressing the button on the boot lid works.

Just to clarify...does the hatch open when the electrics cable is connected or not?

It will open only by pressing the button on the boot lid. It will not open by pressing the button on the key, and it will not open by pressing the button inside the car.

Just a quick one...it is going to be touch and go if I will receive my new Superb either just before I go away with the caravan or just after I get back. It is probably more likely to be delivered to the dealer while I am away, but if it comes early what is the recommended 'running in' mileage of a new car before towing? I have had a quick look at the online manual but couldn't see anything in the towing section regarding this? I have 1000 miles in my head but modern engines might be a bit different now?

Just a quick one...it is going to be touch and go if I will receive my new Superb either just before I go away with the caravan or just after I get back. It is probably more likely to be delivered to the dealer while I am away, but if it comes early what is the recommended 'running in' mileage of a new car before towing? I have had a quick look at the online manual but couldn't see anything in the towing section regarding this? I have 1000 miles in my head but modern engines might be a bit different now?

Manual suggests no towing for 1000km

From the manual -

Driving in the engine

The engine has to be run in during the first 1 500 kilometres. During this period, the driving style decides on the quality of the driving-in process.

During the first 1 000 km we recommend not driving faster than 3/4 of the maximum permissible engine speed, not to drive at full throttle and to dispense with the trailer.

In the area of 1,000 to 1,500 kilometres the engine load can be increased up to the maximum permitted engine speed.

Great thanks

Anyone found any good deals on aftermarket tow bars? I bought a bar from PF Jones for my last car, and have been happy with it- and the prices seem decent enough this time around- anyone had any better deals?

 

http://www.pfjones.co.uk/skoda-superb-towbar-bosal-detachable-2015-onwards.html

 

The detachable one is rated to a heavier load, but is also a fair bit more expensive with PF Jones.

 

(Factory fit wasn't an option- company car)

 

Thanks

Hi,

We have now had our first "tow"  and have noted the following,-

1) the rear suspension is very soft/"bouncy" ( nose weight 84Kg ) did put it on "sport" coming home better but.......  heaven help a back seat passenger suffering with car sickness !

2) More serious--  In the breakdown cover they state a trailer max of 7 Mtrs . As our caravan is 24 ft.11 inches ( so over the 7 mtr limit ) i rang the AA. Seems that ( suprise ! ) S.U.K. in placing the contract  specified the max length. The person i spoke to did say the patrols dont carry a tape measure........................

3) if ,while towing a trailer the car breaks down then the AA will ( if under 7 Mtrs.... ) recover the trailer as well BUT should the trailer develop a fault you are not covered by the Skoda breakdown cover.