AN unshakeable confidence in the Skoda Superb nameplate has never wavered for the Czech manufacturer with more than 1.6 million cars built since 2001.

You certainly need the right product to risk in the first place, then stick with a name like Superb - and the latest iteration of the brand's flagship model line is everything its title suggests.

It is attractive-looking, comfortable, practical and refined, whether that be for business use or for an expanding family with a shedload of stuff to shift.

Now into its fourth generation, the Superb is even more spacious than the previous model, feels pretty premium and is half the price of the, admittedly outstanding, Mercedes-Benz estate we tested recently. Value for money - bet your bottom dollar it is.

The Superb estate range includes petrol and diesel as well as plug-in hybrid and mild hybrid powertrains plus several trim grades and while the line-up starts with the SE Technology variant from £37,225 the latest addition is the SportLine trim of our tested model.

Not to lose sight of the reason people embrace estate cars in the first place, the Superb boasts a whopping 690 litres of boot space, which rises to 1,920 litres with the rear seats folded.

That's kitchen sink territory and there's also a ski hatch for longer items as well as stowage bays on either side of the load area, plus a height-adjustable floor.

Move inside and space up front is sufficient for the tallest of occupants while the rear provides ample head and legroom for all.

In fact the only drawback is a common one in that a centre rear passenger will find themselves perched on a narrow raised section that doesn't really qualify as a seat.

Otherwise the passenger experience is top notch in a car that offers plenty of stowage options, made all the more favourable by Skoda's decision to switch the gear selector onto the steering column, so freeing up extra space in the central area.

And apart from Skoda's time-honoured Simply Clever features - like a fold-down front passenger seat, ticket holder in the windscreen and umbrella in the front doors - the Superb Sportline also benefits from a raft of extra design and safety kit too.

So the likes of gloss black detailing on the bodywork, roof rails and 19-inch polished black alloy wheels make an entrance, along with electrically operated heated front sports seats with massage function, alloy pedals and ambient lighting.

You also get a 13.0-inch infotainment touchscreen that's easy to use, there are some proper rotary controls, parking sensors, a 360-degree camera, voice control and built-in sat nav, while there's a raft of safety features.

Of the six different engine and transmission options, our 2.0 TSI was the more powerful of the two petrol units, developing 265PS, and came with a seven-speed DSG gearbox as standard and 4x4 all-wheel drive.

Out on the road it's a cracker, bridging the gap between a truly family friendly estate and one with serious sporting credentials.

For instance, styling apart, it also features a special sports chassis that delivers a 15mm reduction in ride height when compared to other models in the range.

Progressive steering, which delivers a more agile, dynamic feel at speed, is also fitted as standard to all SportLine models, along with DCC dynamic chassis control plus.

The end result is a car that's comfortable yet engaging to drive in everyday conditions, is perfect for long journeys and offers mountains of space in a low-slung stylish package.