Models · Skoda
Skoda Superb Mk3 buying guide
The third-generation Superb, launched in 2015 as a hatchback and estate with TSI petrol and TDI diesel engines, front or four-wheel drive. It is spacious and comfortable, and the checks centre on servicing items and recall work.
The versions
- 1.6 TDI diesel: 120PS; 2.0 TDI diesel: 150PS or 190PS, with four-wheel drive optional
- 1.4 TSI petrol: 125PS or 150PS (with cylinder deactivation), replaced by the 1.5 TSI in 2018
- 2.0 TSI petrol: 220PS front-wheel drive, or 280PS four-wheel drive, DSG only
- Manual or DSG automatic; the iV plug-in hybrid isn't covered here
- Hatchback and estate
What to check on a Mk3 Superb
3 model-specific things to look at when you view one. They're a starting point, not the full inspection.
The TDI cambelt
What to look for: On a diesel, check the service history for a cambelt change and when it was done. The earliest cars are past the five-year point.
Why it matters: The diesels need a cambelt every five years or 130,000 miles, so many earlier cars are due on age alone. The petrol engines are chain-driven.
DSG and four-wheel-drive fluid changes
What to look for: On a DSG automatic, look for gearbox fluid changes every four years or 40,000 miles. On a four-wheel-drive car, look for the four-wheel-drive fluid change every three years or 30,000 miles. On the drive, check the DSG changes smoothly when pulling away and in slow traffic.
Why it matters: Both are scheduled services that are easy to miss, especially once a car leaves the dealer network. A history showing them done is a sign of a car that's been looked after.
Low-speed pull and electrical faults
What to look for: On the drive, pull away gently from rest and up a slope, and note any lack of pulling power or stalling. Check the electrics and infotainment all work.
Why it matters: Some cars built from late 2018 to mid-2019 may lack pulling power at low speeds, fixed with a dealer software update, and a September 2019 recall fixed software that could make the engine stall. Some 2015 cars had electrical faults from an incorrectly fitted cable clamp in the fusebox, and electrical and infotainment glitches are the most common owner complaints.
Also in the full guide
- Rear wheel bearing housings and other recalls
- The cold start, test drive and paperwork checks for the exact version you're viewing
The full guide to the Mk3 Superb
The CrankSight guide walks you round the car on your phone at the viewing, with every check for the exact version you're looking at: what to look for, where to find it, and what anything you find is likely to cost. As you go it builds an assessment of that car, and if you view more than one, it lines them up side by side.
£29 for the model, used on as many cars as you like, delivered within 72 hours or your money back.
General points for the model, last checked October 2026. Every car is different, so treat this as a guide to what to look at, not a verdict on any car. CrankSight is independent and has no connection with Skoda.