Skoda is hoping its new second generation Skoda Superb will give the brand more leverage in the corporate market.

The pervious generation Superb never quite found fleet favour, but as the new car is bigger, better and classier, SKoda UK bosses are looking to build up to selling around 4000 units a year into the corporate sector.

The interior is a step up, with better quality materials joined by a nice split level dashboard effect and solid feeling controls. The rear is larger that before, with legroom improved compared with its already spacious predecessor. Spec is likely to be generous, too.

Unlike the previous saloon, the new Superb can be operated either as a saloon or hatchback thanks to a double hinged bootlid. In normal circumstances just the saloon part below the rear window opens, but for wider loads the car can become a traditional hatchback at the press of a button, with the boodt opening on the hinges the car will benefit from a 3% uplift in RV’s that a hatchback normally achieves compared to a saloon.

The superb has the edge both in terms of size and price over its Ford Mondeo rival its 60mm longer and expect the top spec 2.0 TDI elegance driven here to cost arround £19,000, compared to the Mondeos £20k plus.

The 2.0 TDI will be the most popular model, and though its refined enough on the motorway, it feels like the 140PS engine is pulling around a lot of weight. There no major problem, but it doesnt feel as capable an engine as when its fitted in other models across the VW Group. We didnt have the chance to try the 170PS version, but that could be better choice if it can be afforded, especially as it falls into the same 22% BIK banding.

The styling is also a little bland. It’s not offensive, but neither is it striking, which is probably a deliberate effort not to polarise opinions of the new drivers Skoda hopes to attract.