Skoda details New Zealand-bound Superb iV plug-in hybrid
Tuesday, 1 June 2021
Skoda New Zealand has released details of its incoming plug-in hybrid, the Superb iV, due here in July 2021.
The Superb iV is the first PHEV from Skoda, and the first of the iV family to arrive in the country, preceding the Octavia iV PHEV and the Enyac iV electric SUV.
It arrives as part of Skoda’s goal to increase electrified vehicle sales to 25 per cent by 2025, along with dropping its fleet CO2 emissions by 30 per cent compared to 2015.
The electric-only range of the plug-in Superb is rated at up to 62km thanks to a 13kWh battery, with a combined range of as much as 930km. Combined consumption is rated at 1.5L/100km and 14.0 to 14.5kWh/100km, which corresponds to CO2 emissions of 33 to 35g/km.
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Drive can be sourced from either the electric motor or combustion engine – the motor provides 85kW of power while the 1.4-litre four-cylinder makes 115kW. Combined, the two offer 160kW.
Hitting 100kmh takes 7.7 seconds, before topping out at 224kmh. If you select ‘E-mode’, the petrol engine is disconnected entirely and the car can accelerate from 0-60kmh in five seconds. Running in electric mode also generates a unique sound at low speeds to ensure pedestrians and cyclists can hear the Superb iV.
If the battery is flat, it can be fully charged in between five and seven hours using the ‘Mode 2’ charging cable and a conventional 230v household plug socket. Whilst in motion, the Superb iV can charge its battery or maintain the battery level using the petrol engine.
This means the desired electric range, which can be set to one of several levels using the central display, is always available to cover the ‘last mile’. Energy is also recovered while braking thanks to recuperation.
If the driver moves the drive selector backwards from D, drive mode B is activated, which ups the amount of off-throttle energy regeneration. As a result, a particularly large amount of energy is recovered. This also happens to a lesser extent when the car is in D mode, the driver takes their foot off the accelerator and the car ‘coasts’ on downhill stretches.
The sharp pricing is typical of Skoda, with the Superb iV Wagon Style starting at $75,990 and the upspecced Sportline kicking off at $79,990. The same trim levels in Sedan form cost $72,990 and $76,990 respectively.
Whether it makes it to the NZ Police fleet is yet to be seen.