I'M lucky to live in the middle of a city but have marvellous driver's roads within easy reach in most directions.

It doesn't get much better and I make the most of those roads with almost every car.

So with an afternoon free and the Skoda Superb to put through its paces, I headed off on one of my favourite routes, taking in a stop for a walk at at a large swathe of mature oak woodland that was planted around the year 1800 to make ships for Nelson's navy.

The biggest Skoda has long been one of my favourites because it does everything so well and the latest turbo diesel 4x4 only added to that view.

Here's a car based on the same floorpan as the VW Passat but with masses more interior space and a bigger boot.

It's the only car in this class - or even two higher - where rear seat passengers can cross their legs with ease.

And that huge boot would be big enough to take the luggage for five people to travel in leather cosseting comfort.

The model I drove was the SEL TDI with the higher powered 190bhp 2.0-litre diesel engine and for me, it's one of the top executive cars.

The level of comfort is wonderful over every surface and at any speed, soaking up undulations, much-repaired tarmac, lumps, bumps and potholes with amazing ease.

The leather seats are sumptuous, with decent side support in the corners, and there is little of the bump-thump that often comes with large alloy wheels and low profile tyres.

The handling is excellent through every type of corner and it holds the road surface like a limpet despite soft suspension. The four wheel drive helps somewhat but these cars also handle beautifully in front wheel drive form.

This handling prowess is helped tremendously by the superb VW group steering, which feeds road information through the drivers hands.

The powerful engine is smooth and quiet even when pressed and, in this model, drove through the seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox.

The combination is brilliant because the gearbox rings almost instant changes just when you would do it yourself with a manual and it makes life so easy.

There are Normal, Sport and Manual settings but no steering wheel paddles to make the changes in Manual.

Sport sharpens up the whole feel of the car, holding to lower gears longer and changing down sooner but, of course, this will have an effect on economy.

As a whole, the Superb is wonderful to drive in every way and it comes with a wide array of electronic devices to help keep you safe.

Also in the kit list are such helpful items as stop/start, sat nav, leather covered multi-function steering wheel, adaptive cruise control, xenon headlights and parking sensors front and rear.

It also comes with Bluetooth, trip computer, aux-in, USB, two SD card slots, DAB radio, climate control, electric seat adjustment, an electric hatch and a very good electric parking brake that comes on and goes off automatically when you stop or start off again.