We currently have a Skoda Superb estate dsg 190bhp 65 plate and we're due a new one. OH went to start the talk with dealers today to find that they only make 4x4 190bhps now.It would be the 140bhp or a different make.
Really don't want a 4x4 but love our Superb so much. So, do we go down to a 140 and will it be okay towing our van (miro 1123kg mtplm 1345kg). Have checked towcar matching which says okay but any comments from here very welcome.
Don't want to find we have a underperforming towcar! Will we notice the difference in performance both towing and general day to day use?
------------- 2026
Various weekends, weather and time permitting
April - Yorkshire and Yorkshire
June - Wiltshire and Oxfordshire
Autumn - North and Scotland
We had discos for many yrs. Decided on an estate ( needed because of dogs). Really don’t need 4x4 as fair weather caravaners. OH has very short commute which doesn’t justify it either.
------------- 2026
Various weekends, weather and time permitting
April - Yorkshire and Yorkshire
June - Wiltshire and Oxfordshire
Autumn - North and Scotland
I pull 1,318kg with my 140 Octavia Estate 2.0TDi 4x4 with no problem. Skoda use Haldex traction which is very good, around 90% of the power goes into the front wheels and 10% to rear, when you get front wheel slippage then more power is sent to the rear wheels. Good on muddy fields and very wet hill starts, not forgetting the snow. I get around 33-37mpg when towing depending on road.
Will you notice a difference in performance? I`m sure you would if you currently use all of it.
Having said that, a 140 will be more than adequate for what you want to pull. I had a Passat 140TDI estate many moons ago and it was more than up to pulling a heavier van than you have (the car was a pile of ####, but it towed the van OK).
Personally, I`d always go for the most powerful I could, but the number of times you can actually give it full pedal are so and few and far between nowadays I wouldn`t make it a deal breaker.
New Superbs are 150bhp as the 140 no longer exists. When I was looking to change my Mk II 170 I looked at the Mk III 150 and 190 and I seem to recall that the torque on the 150 was the same as my 170. We have a 1350 MTPLM caravan and I wouldn't have hesitated with picking the 150.
If you really want the 190bhp, which is what I would go for, I also cannot understand what the issue is with having a 4x4. It may never kick in, so you would never know.
Not only that,a 4x4 is not only for “off road” use, it would be sending power to whatever wheel needs it. An absolute boon for towing.
I have got a 190hp 2 wheel drive superb. I don’t tow with it but if I’m honest I think sometimes you can have problems putting all the power down. Actually it is an excellent car but I think for the amount of power 4x4 would be an advantage.
FWIW we tow with an old Landcrusier 160bhp it tows a van with an mptlm of 1900kg and it copes with fine this, so it would of thought at 140 or 150 hp engine would be fine
The current 2.0 diesel engine in the Superb is 150bhp. We use a Passat estate with exactly the same engine to tow a 1250kg caravan and it's absolutely fine. We've been to Switzerland, Scotland and toured around Ireland with it and wouldn't be at all concerned with towing 100kg more.
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Topic: Skoda Superb
