Skoda has relabelled the Superb model as a Hatchback, but it remains the exact quality vehicle it was in its previous guises. Jeremy and Isaac took the car across the South East of England, covering all types of roads, from motorways to the twisties of the Kent countryside.

The Skoda Superb Hatchback is available in two petrol and one diesel engine versions. The petrol option is a 148bhp 1.5-litre unit badged TSI 150 with mild-hybrid to boost performance and efficiency. Although you must push it harder to deliver top performance, it doesn’t lack power. The 0-62mph time of 9.2 seconds for a family-orientated vehicle doesn’t feel laboured.

The engine is linked to a seven-speed DSG auto gearbox, which doesn’t allow you to pull away with any rapidness, which Isaac disliked. But once you start motoring, it goes through the gears smoothly, and when you put your foot down, the box will drop down the gear to accelerate you at a reasonable rate.

The standard passive suspension set-up means the Skoda Superb rides extraordinarily well, suppressing the harshest battering from potholes and drain covers before passengers can feel it. The optional Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC) active suspension system improves things at both ends of the spectrum. In its softest setting, the Superb’s ride is even more plush than with the regular suspension, and in its firmest setting, lean in corners is noticeably reduced.

The Skoda Superb is a quiet car for occupants; some wind noise can be detected, and the suspension can be heard hard at work over the tyres, although the noises are not intrusive.

The Skoda Superb Hatchback offers extensive steering wheel and seat adjustment, providing a comfortable driving position. Opt for the Mid-range SE L models; you will get a 14-way electric adjustment for both front seats. An extendable seat base and four-way adjustable lumbar support help maintain a comfortable posture on long journeys.

Large windows allow decent all-around visibility, and front and rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera help with manoeuvring. Bright LED headlights are standard, and SE L trim adds matrix LED headlights that shape their beam to avoid dazzling oncoming drivers.

The 13-inch infotainment touchscreen is high on the dashboard, so you don’t have to take your eyes off the road to use it. The large icons are clear, and the voice control system doesn’t require you to remember specific commands. Wireless Apple CarPlay smartphone and Android compatibility are standard. Rotary dials control the climate control temperature and double for the heated front seats (standard on all models). A Smart Dial controls the Fan speed, which can be tuned to hold four functions, including map zoom and audio volume.

Every Skoda Superb has a 10.25-inch Virtual Cockpit digital driver’s display, which can be prioritised with various pre-set data combinations. I would opt for the colour head-up display, which projects driving information, including speed and navigation directions, onto the windscreen.

There can’t be a significantly more spacious executive car on the market yet; the Skoda Superb is a hatchback. Its internal volume allows cavernous room for all occupants except the middle seat user. All our testers could relax comfortably in the rear, allowing them to stretch their legs. If you don’t have five people in the vehicle, there is a fold-down armrest with two cup holders and a niche for your technology or treats. for the driver and front passenger, there is plenty of room for them not to nudge each other, and they can use the generous door pockets holding a 1.5-litre bottle and a front centre storage compartment that can swallow loads.

Functionality and practicality are high on the agenda for family cars, and the Skoda Superb Hatchback offers them abundance. It has a cavernous boot with 645 litres; it’s 20 litres bigger than the previous Superb Hatchback. The only limitation is that the boot floor drops slightly from the loading lip, and the folded rear seat backs form a sizeable step up to the extended load platform. There’s no option for an adjustable boot floor like the Skoda Superb Estate version.

A key draw for the Skoda Superb Hatchback is its value for money. It substantially undercuts its premium executive car competitors, such as the BMW 3 series, the Peugeot 508, and the Audi A4. The Hatchback is also less expensive than the Superb Estate without losing much if any, practicality.

As Isaac found out, the 148bhp 1.5 TSI petrol impresses with 54.1mpg, and you will have low running costs with rock-solid, reliable engines and transmissions.

The Skoda Superb has up to ten airbags fitted (eight of them as standard), driver assistance tech designed to prevent you from pulling out or reversing into the path of oncoming traffic, an exit warning to stop you from stepping out of the car into the path of a vehicle and Swerve Support, which automatically increases the steering angle to avoid a collision.

All versions of the Superb are well-equipped. The entry-level SE Technology trim is stacked with technology with adaptive cruise control, luxury heated and massaging front seats, keyless start, and a wireless phone-charging dock with built-in cooling to prevent your smartphone from overheating. The SE L trim adds ventilation and electric adjustment to the front seats, ambient lighting, and bigger 18-inch wheels. The top trim versions have a more luxurious interior with a more attractive design, and rear passengers get heated seats.

Isaac got behind the wheel and was impressed with the Superb but had minor criticisms. He found it slightly dull and bland, but he agrees it is a perfectly functional vehicle for the buyer it is aimed at. The front-wheel drive provides confident cornering, and the performance of the 1.5L engine does what it needs to do. As he found on long journeys, the economy is superb, as the car’s name relates. Overall, he says it is an exceptional and practical family car that any owner would be happy to have.

Our reviewers described it as practical, functional, and impressive, so it makes sense to have a drive-in one if you are looking for a family car that can perform all the required duties and still feel like an executive car. Passengers will feel like they are going to the Opera and not Ocado.

£32000 starting price.