Both the petrol and diesel models, true to Skoda's recently established tradition, will be the identically priced which makes the diesel an attractive option and in many ways more practical as well because of its more driveable nature in city traffic.

Extending a car's wheelbase is of real benefit to the ride quality and it's no surprise to learn that Skoda's engineers have tried to tune the multi-link front end and rear torsion beam to make the Superb a supremely comfortable car to ride in.

Ride comfort is exceptional, the long wheelbase reducing the nose-up nose-down pitching movement. The way the Superb works its way over uneven roads absorbing everything from the smallest imperfection to the fiercest bumps promises to make the Skoda the best riding car in India, this side of the S-class.

A relaxed driving experience is more of a priority than sporting finess and the Superb feels too big to be hustled on any winding road. It lurches from corner to corner with loads of body roll. However, despite showing a dislike for sudden direction changes and spirited cornering, it grips well and steers faithfully, never losing its composure.

In line with its role as a ride-friendly express, the Superb's spring and damper settings have been deliberately chosen for comfort. For Indian conditions, these might prove too soft and Skoda may need to beef up the suspension. Also, the 225/45 tyres on 17-inch wheels (standard on the Elegance model) may be too low a profile for our roads. Skoda would be well advised to stick to the standard 16-inch wheels shod with 205/55R rubber.

Skoda's plan is to introduce the petrol and diesel models both with two trim levels. The base Classic variant will be priced a shade below Rs 19 lakh whilst the fully-loaded Elegance will cross the Rs 20 lakh barrier. This is not cheap but considering the car you get, it is yet again, unbeatable value.

More importantly, in the Superb, Skoda have a car that will suit the needs of the Indian motorist better than most of its rivals. Favouring comfort over driving pleasure, the Superb is the way to go as luxury car owners will be sitting in the back most of the time. It is a car that does, in most ways, live up to its name.