Škoda Superb History
Škoda's flagship — a prewar luxury nameplate revived in 2001 as a spacious, premium-value executive saloon now in its fourth modern generation.
Photo: “1936 Skoda Superb - Flickr - jns001.jpg” by János Tamás / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0
History
The Superb name first graced a Škoda in 1934 — a large, luxurious saloon with engines up to a 3,990 cc V8 that served as the brand's flagship through 1949. Approximately 2,500 units were built across all pre-war variants.
The nameplate was revived in 2001 for the first modern Superb, a long-wheelbase saloon on the Volkswagen B5 platform, offering more rear-seat room than the Golf-based Octavia. The second generation (2008–2015) moved to a transverse layout, gained a Combi estate variant, and earned a five-star Euro NCAP rating. The third generation (2015–2024) adopted the MQB platform and added a plug-in hybrid (iV) during its mid-cycle refresh.
The fourth-generation Superb, unveiled in November 2023 on the stretched MQB Evo platform, shares body panels with the VW Passat B9 and is offered with petrol, diesel, and plug-in hybrid powertrains — cementing the Superb's reputation as the benchmark for value in the D-segment.
Generations
Prewar Superb · Superb 640 / 913 / 919
Photo: “1936 Skoda Superb - Flickr - jns001.jpg” by János Tamás / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0
Škoda's interwar luxury flagship; approximately 2,500 built across multiple types, topped by a 4.0-litre V8.
1936 Photo: “1936 Skoda Superb - Flickr - jns001.jpg” by János Tamás / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0
1939 Photo: “1939 Skoda Superb OHV IMG 0107 - Flickr - nemor2.jpg” by nemor2 from Stuttgart, Germany / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0
1940 Photo: “2014 Škoda Museum, Škoda Superb 4000 typ 919, 1940 01.JPG” by Cherubino / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
1948 Photo: “Škoda Superb OHV (1948) (52874136727).jpg” by Charles from Port Chester, New York / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0
First modern generation (B5) · B5
VW B5 platform; long-wheelbase saloon with generous rear space; ~137,000 sold.
Second modern generation (B6) · B6
Transverse layout; Combi estate added 2009; 5-star Euro NCAP; ~618,000 sold.
Third modern generation (B8) · B8
Photo: “Škoda Superb Combi III 1.6 TDI (2020) (52094812941).jpg” by Charles from Port Chester, New York / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0
MQB platform; plug-in hybrid (iV) added at facelift; ~805,000 sold.
2020 Photo: “Škoda Superb Combi III 1.6 TDI (2020) (52094812941).jpg” by Charles from Port Chester, New York / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0
Fourth modern generation (B9) · B9
MQB Evo; shares panels with VW Passat B9; petrol, diesel, and PHEV.
Body styles
- Saloon (liftback)
- Estate (Combi)
Related models
Collect the nameplate
Find a scale model of the Škoda Superb
Search Amazon across available years, colors, and scales. Exact releases vary, so confirm the listing before ordering.