Hi,

 

I've currently got a Superb Combi Se Business 1.6 120bhp, which I received as a company car in July 2016. The car has been brilliant, in the 19,000 or so miles I've done from new in it, and I am very impressed. It's comfortable, has most of the toys you could think of needing, but could definitely do with a bit more poke.

 

So, now I'm changing jobs, I've been offered a list of cars from the new employer- and despite the fact I wouldn't mind  a change, am struggling to look past the Superb Combi again really, only with more poke.

 

Am tempted by the Sportline 190 manual, but also looked at the 150 SE L, as a lower BIK rate. Volvo's seem the best value from what I've been offered, with some great deals on V60s and a tempting xc60. Anyone else been looking elsewhere lately?

 

 

Have you been offered a polestar V60? :-) Give some numbers and what engines.

I'm also changing my Superb Estate early part of this year (just come up 3 years old) and have been looking at the Volvo's. On the downside the V60 is considerably smaller than the Superb and the XC60 is being run out very soon, there is a completely new XC60 out later this year hence the good deals at the moment trying to get rid of the current version.

I don't like the electronic handbrake on the Volvo's as it's located on the dash and I don't find it easy to use unlike the new Superb, no auto hold either so a bit of a pain. On the up side both are nice to drive, especially with the 190 diesel mated to the auto gearbox, these have hill hold which makes them far easier to drive than the manual versions where you have to keep reaching for the brake on the dash. Both Volvo's are extremely comfortable. Spec wise I prefer the SE Lux as SE doesn't have xenon lights, and even with full leather on the SE Lux heated seats are an option. XC60's can be a bit confusing as the same models are badged D4 indicating they have the same engine, but 2 wheel drive are 2.0L, 4 wheel drive are also badged D4 but are 2.4L. I haven't tried the 2.4 but from what I've read the 2.0 D4 is the better engine as it's a newer design over the older 2.4. both give the same performance but lower emissions on the 2.0L. As both Volvo's are a few years old design now there isn't too much tech in them, the sat nav works ok but seems dated compared to the latest offerings from other manufacturers.

I'm also looking at the Mondeo, and there's a new Insignia out soon, never been keen on either but it doesn't hurt to take a look, plus the new Peugeot 3008, again never liked them but the new model out this month is full of the latest gadgets. I really like the Hyundai Santa Fe but it's out of my budget and the Tucson is a little bit too small for my needs. The hunt goes on. 

On one hand it's good to look at others, the other hand is saying is it good or bad that volvo is seemingly popular choice?

 

The only one I've been in is the xc90 and it's a nice place, even trusting hill descent on 45`+ slopes.

 

If you're after more poke, then the 190 to 150 won't work.. I went from 200 to 75 it's a shock to the system and every now and again I'm taping the steering wheel, knowing I'd be 20 if not 30 miles further up the road if I had the poke to get past the milkfloats. 

 

In 2002 a production consumer normally aspirated GT was 150hp.

Do you need the space of the superb? Would an octavia estate be a change or a downgrade... I do miss my superb. The audio in my wifes focus estate is way better than any of the skoda ones I've heard... not borrowed one with canton yet mind. We borrowed a 3008 when it launched the hybrid, we liked it, other than the auto box was like an elastic band change, real classic auto shifting, and lack of real world economy.

 

This is the risk Skoda now face, with upping the prices under the flag of desirable, other marques are also desirable. It's a nice choice to have.

The cheapest Volvo tax wise that I'd be looking at is the V60 D4 Business ed, which is a higher tax band, but lower vale than my current 1.6 Superb. I'm potentially looking at the Superb SEL 190, which will cost me about £50 a month more than the V60 D4- but will have more toys.

 

 

I'm also looking at the Xc60, in D4 190 2WD, SE spec, which has leathers, Sat Nav etc, and a fair share of toys- but will cost me about £100 a month more than the V60 above, in terms of tax/contribution. My biggest gripe about the Volvos is the ancient looking dash and infotainment system. Coming from the touch screen in my Superb, the screen in the Volvo looks like a calculator.

 

I could also have an A4 2.0 150bhp Sport saloon for about the same money as the Superb SEL.

Stay with Skoda..... my last company car was the D3 (163bhp) AWD XC60. Great car, comfy & reliable but way smaller inside than the Superb. V60 is physically same size as XC60 just lower. Electronic handbrake on Volvos......well you just get used to it. It will auto release but has to be put on manually.

 

I'd love to have the 190 SE-L Superb - I was initially looking at the AWD dsg version but was put off by adblue which the 150 doesn't have.

I'd look at the Lexus IS300h, I've got one and they are great, I'd love to get another but the lease rates are not as competive as last year, hence why going for the cheaper Surperb. With it being a Hybrid you'll find the bik is low, plus you'll get most of the toys as standard, Xenon, full decent leather, keyless start, heated seats etc. Its as very very refined and well built car.

I'd look at the Lexus IS300h, I've got one and they are great, I'd love to get another but the lease rates are not as competive as last year, hence why going for the cheaper Surperb. With it being a Hybrid you'll find the bik is low, plus you'll get most of the toys as standard, Xenon, full decent leather, keyless start, heated seats etc. Its as very very refined and well built car.

 

Not available I'm afraid- I do a fair few miles, and in my new role, I'll be covering Wales and West of England- so expect I'll be pushing 40k miles +; so not sure how suitable a hybrid would be

 

There's a few Toyotas on the list, but I'm not that taken by them to be honest.

Stay with Skoda..... my last company car was the D3 (163bhp) AWD XC60. Great car, comfy & reliable but way smaller inside than the Superb. V60 is physically same size as XC60 just lower. Electronic handbrake on Volvos......well you just get used to it. It will auto release but has to be put on manually.

 

I'd love to have the 190 SE-L Superb - I was initially looking at the AWD dsg version but was put off by adblue which the 150 doesn't have.

 

 

Hadn't thought of the adblue issue- is the 190 really worth the extra hassle/BIK? Or would I be best off sticking to the 150 SEL?

Hadn't thought of the adblue issue- is the 190 really worth the extra hassle/BIK? Or would I be best off sticking to the 150 SEL?

 

Some owners who've test driven the 190 & 150 think the difference between the two engines is minimal, and potentially the 150 is about on par with the old S2 170 engine.

 

I have a 150 DSG SEL and it "feels" considerably quicker than my last 140 engine.

Some owners who've test driven the 190 & 150 think the difference between the two engines is minimal, and potentially the 150 is about on par with the old S2 170 engine.

 

I have a 150 DSG SEL and it "feels" considerably quicker than my last 140 engine.

 

 

Looking through the list, the 190 would cost approx. £40 a month more than the SEL 150....

 

£480 a year for an extra 40hp, I'm unlikely to feel.... That's making me lean to the 150....

Learn how to use the turbo and I doubt you will notice the difference in a manual. If you go for DSG the. Get the paddle shift and learn to preempt the kick down to get the turbo up to speed. At the cost difference in tax. I would be struggling to o justify the extra bourse even with my man maths.

The V60 is a nice car. The D4 is a good engine match and it goes well. The Volvo is much smaller and closer to the Octavia for size inside. Dont be tempted with the D2 to lower the tax band. Then engine must be worked quite hard to get the performance data it claims and you cannot have economy and performance. The D2 engine in my V40 is the only thing I regret.

Get the paddle shift and learn to preempt the kick down to get the turbo up to speed.

FWIW if you get a petrol engine you don't need no damn paddles. Just switch DSG to S and most always it will kick down a gear. It won't if you floored the acceleration, cause it's already in S then.

Skoda are also bringing out the Kodiaq this year and might be worth a look if you want the SUV type car it get good reviews, check out you tube there's a lot of reviews here.

this one is quite in depth.

Looking through the list, the 190 would cost approx. £40 a month more than the SEL 150....

 

£480 a year for an extra 40hp, I'm unlikely to feel.... That's making me lean to the 150....

You would struggle to feel it.  I actually think the 150 engine has a much more usable, smoother torque curve/power delivery. 

You would struggle to feel it.  I actually think the 150 engine has a much more usable, smoother torque curve/power delivery. 

That's the consensus on here for sure.  Those of us that have tested/own a 190 would share the opinion.  I certainly found no notable difference and I tested a couple before settling on the 150.  BTW I find the 150 even more responsive than my last 170, with a better power distribution curve also and that's only after a week of driving it so it should only get better with time.

That's the consensus on here for sure.  Those of us that have tested/own a 190 would share the opinion.  I certainly found no notable difference and I tested a couple before settling on the 150.  BTW I find the 150 even more responsive than my last 170, with a better power distribution curve also and that's only after a week of driving it so it should only get better with time.

Indeed.  I went from a 150 Leon FR to the 184 FR (mainly because that was the only estate available at the time, hatch was too impractical) and I was completely underwhelmed and actually felt disappointed.  The 150 is noticeably smoother too IMO.   It was a nearly new car and I thought the engine would 'loosen up', it's never really improved.  Power is more like an old PD engine, on or off and it's only really on higher up the revs. 

 

Suspecting the same would be true of the 150 vs. 190 in the Superb  I tested both back to back and again, preferred the 150 engine.  

 

I think the 240PS Bi-TDI engine fitted in the Passat would be perfect for the S3. 

In fact, I reckon there is a more noticeable difference between the older 140bhp (320nm) engine and the newer 150 (340nm) which is only 20nm torque extra, compared to the additional 40nm difference between the 150 and 190.  I know its probably down to the power distribution curve and I think (certainly from my own limited testing) that the extra power/torque may be very much loaded at the top-end (e.g. over 60mph) on the 190bhp so just as useable.  Drive an A6, for example, in 150 and 190 guises and the differences are more obvious IMO.

Edited 11 January, 20179 yr by Superb170

In fact, I reckon there is a more noticeable difference between the older 140bhp (320nm) engine and the newer 150 (340nm) which is only 20nm torque extra, compared to the additional 40nm difference between the 150 and 190.  I know its probably down to the power distribution curve and I think (certainly from my own limited testing) that the extra power/torque may be very much loaded at the top-end (e.g. over 60mph) on the 190bhp so just as useable.  Drive an A6, for example, in 150 and 190 guises and the differences are more obvious IMO.

You have a point.  I went from the Passat CC 140 CR to the 150 Leon and whilst I appreciate the CC is a bigger, heavier car the Leon felt so much quicker.  

Drive an A6, for example, in 150 and 190 guises and the differences are more obvious IMO.

If the 190 on A6 is anything like the one of A4 (which I did a testdrive on) then it's not better than the 190 on the superb. The A4 190 had noticeably less torque and was slower. Something's wrong with power-delivery on that A4 engine - it was smooth, sure, but slower overall and not fun.

Hadn't thought of the adblue issue- is the 190 really worth the extra hassle/BIK? Or would I be best off sticking to the 150 SEL?

 

Add Blue is not an issue, but as you say its a company car thats not hitting your pocket if the car had issues... its just the refilling the adblue every 7k miles... (which can be done at some fuel stations)

Skoda are also bringing out the Kodiaq this year and might be worth a look if you want the SUV type car it get good reviews, check out you tube there's a lot of reviews here.

this one is quite in depth.

 

Would be just up my street to be honest, although I don't need seven seats. My job involves visiting farms, so it would be ideal for bad roads etc, but I've been told because all the variants come in above 130gCo2 it won't be listed as an option for the firm I work for.

Would be just up my street to be honest, although I don't need seven seats. My job involves visiting farms, so it would be ideal for bad roads etc, but I've been told because all the variants come in above 130gCo2 it won't be listed as an option for the firm I work for.

Im not sure on what the CO2 levels are going to be but from the video I think they talk about the 1.4 TSI 150bhp petrol engine thats in my own superb (which is a great engine plenty of power and quite brisk when you ask it to be) being used for this car, and they also planning it in a 5 seater version, I suppose we will have to wait for the relseae to find out the CO2 for all versions.

I must admit if I hadnt got my Superb in Jan this year this would have been in the running for me, But I must say I have no regrets with the superb (sorry for the pun) but it is a "Superb" car, as good as the A6, 5 series BMW and Mercedes E class and a whole lot cheaper.

Good luck with you choice

Im not sure on what the CO2 levels are going to be but from the video I think they talk about the 1.4 TSI 150bhp petrol engine thats in my own superb (which is a great engine plenty of power and quite brisk when you ask it to be) being used for this car, and they also planning it in a 5 seater version, I suppose we will have to wait for the relseae to find out the CO2 for all versions.

I must admit if I hadnt got my Superb in Jan this year this would have been in the running for me, But I must say I have no regrets with the superb (sorry for the pun) but it is a "Superb" car, as good as the A6, 5 series BMW and Mercedes E class and a whole lot cheaper.

Good luck with you choice

 

 

The fleet manager for the firm I'm joining told me that's where they expected the CO2 to be, which ruled them out- which is a pity as it would without a doubt be top of the list for me.

 

I've narrowed the search down to a Superb estate SEL 150 4X4 and the XC60 D4 SE. I'm probably leaning to the Superb, on the basis of how great my current one is, and how much more the XC60 is likely to cost me, for an old fashioned car (at least inside)

The fleet manager for the firm I'm joining told me that's where they expected the CO2 to be, which ruled them out- which is a pity as it would without a doubt be top of the list for me.

I've narrowed the search down to a Superb estate SEL 150 4X4 and the XC60 D4 SE. I'm probably leaning to the Superb, on the basis of how great my current one is, and how much more the XC60 is likely to cost me, for an old fashioned car (at least inside)

I must admit to having a dirty little secret "I have always liked Volvos" (and Im not that old either) but having drove a few of them recently as hire cars (mainly in Germany and Italy) I have been very impressed with how they drive and the feel on the road (esspecially the T% V40 I had in December in Germany, it was very quick and a lot of fun) but the equipment inside and the layout of the dashboard is awful, really complicated and doesnt make much sense to where the buttons are placed not always easy to use. Admittedly I only had the cars for a few days may be a week at a time so didnt play much with them but I was just not impressed but thats just my opinion. Im sure once you get use to them Im sure they are perfectly fine.

Its just that the Skoda is so simple to use it makes a lot of other cars look over complex.

Edited 12 January, 20179 yr by woody3537