SUPERB by name and superb by nature - that's the latest model to be released by the Czech-based company Skoda.

Over the years Skoda, which is part of the VW Group, has well and truly ditched a rather shoddy reputation and in its place has developed a status for building good looking, well-equipped, feature-rich, economical and reliable cars.

In fact, if you have any doubt just how good the cars are these days then check out the number of cabbies driving round the cities in Superb or Octavia models.

The latest Superb really looks the business and has a true presence on the road thanks to its sweeping lines, neat light clusters, chunky grille, sculpted bonnet, 17-inch alloys, LED tail lights and lots more besides.

Move inside and there is a sense of premium quality about the Superb with plenty of soft-touch materials and a whole wealth of techno treats to be explored. Features include a 6.5-inch colour touchscreen with sat nav, Bluetooth connectivity, DAB radio, an electrically-adjustable driver's seat with memory function, dual zone climate control and SmartLink which connects the car to a smartphone and mirrors functions such as playlists, contact numbers and navigation apps.

This car had a few additional extras such as heated front and rear seats (£400 extra), SmartGate to evaluate driving data (£100), light and lane assist with blind spot warning (£950) and an electrically operated boot (£400). These add-ons bumped the asking price up from £22,090 to £26,700.

It has to be said the new Superb offers exceptional levels of comfort with ample room for three adults to stretch out in the back. And like all Skoda models, plenty of attention has been given to clever storage options.

The boot can accommodate 625 litres of luggage and this capacity can be increased to 1,760 litres with the rear seats dropped flat. Elsewhere there are numerous trays, door pockets, umbrella pouches, drinks holders plus a glovebox that can be cooled.

The SE Business Hatch model tested can reach from 0-62mph in 8.8 seconds and tops out at 137mph. According to official figures, it can deliver combined fuel economy of 68.9mpg with carbon emissions of 108g/km.

And when it comes to performance, the latest Superb feels much livelier than its predecessor and the 2.0-litre 150ps diesel engine delivered plenty of power as it accelerated through the six-speed manual gearbox.

The road-holding was sure-footed and the steering nicely precise which meant tight bends could be attacked with confidence.

There was a little road surface noise when pushed particularly hard, but that aside the cabin remained beautifully quiet as the car's efficient suspension system succeeded in ironing out the many bumps and dips along the way.

All-round visibility is good and as one would expect, the car is kitted out with a comprehensive range of safety features.