It's one of the quicker versions of the Superb (0-62mph takes 7.7sec) and has an official electric-only range of just under 40 miles. That's not far off the BMW 3 Series 330e's EV capability.

While the Superb doesn't join the Audi A4 among the best-riding cars in the class, it’s as supple as the Volkswagen Passat and softer than the 3 Series.

As it's a hatchback, it's easier to judge the proximity of the rear bumper to objects than in its Audi A4, BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C-Class rivals. Unlike with those rivals, you can specify a free-of-charge rear windscreen wiper.

There’s more room in the front of the Skoda Superb than you'll find in many premium execs, including the Audi A4 and Mercedes C-Class. It's on a par with the capacious Volkswagen Passat, so head and leg room won't be an issue unless you're humongous.

Not many cars this side of a Mercedes S-Class offer you as much rear leg or head room as the Superb can offer.

Not many cars this side of a Mercedes S-Class offer you as much rear leg or head room as the Superb can offer.

Skoda claims the largest luggage compartment in the class, at 660 litres, which is 85 litres more than before with the rear seats up, more than offered by Ford Mondeo Estate and BMW 5 Series Touring, and just bigger than the equally cavernous Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate.

Although previous Superbs have been long but disproportionately narrow cars, our tape measure confirms the presence here of a wider interior across the second row of seats than either a Ford Mondeo or a Volkswagen Passat

The Superb wipes the floor with the Ford on back-row leg and head room, to the tune of 50mm in both cases.

It's truly cavernous inside - feeling far airier than even a Vauxhall Insignia

You'll discover (in higher-spec Superbs at least) an umbrella cunningly stowed within each of the front door, a feature only otherwise found on Rolls-Royces. Because this is, um, the Rolls-Royce of supersized family saloons.