Skoda Superb (or just VAG in general) 1.5 TSI (2020 onwards)

MatteRB26

MatteRB26

MatteRB26

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I'm looking at replacing our 2015 Fabia estate with the much bigger Superb, and I was originally looking at a "side-grade" on a cheaper 2015, 2.0 TSI Superb (would only cost us around £2k cash after sale of the Fabia).

I've started expanding the budget horizon and looked at some 2020+ models where we'd be looking at the 1.5 TSI. I know the 1.5 had some real issues before 2019 but VW claimed to have fixed them. Is there anything to be really aware of when looking at the 1.5 TSI, or what to look out for/feel for when test driving?

I'd normally say "manual or bust" but I'm not ruling out a DSG to be honest.
 
Sirrel Squirrel said:
The Superb is a great car but I imagine the 1.5 will feel very underpowered, it's relatively a heavy car and I'd personally want the 2.0. Give a test drive though and see what you think.
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Yeah the 1.5 sounds like it may be a little lacklustre, but we're also coming from a Fabia Estate 1.2 which has a bit of grunt but is by no means "quick".

I'll have to test some out, I just heard about some issues that the 1.5 used to have in general.
 
We have a 68 plate Superb Estate 1.5 TSI DCT pool car at work. It is awful. It has absolutely no power, at all, it is painfully slow and the gearbox is extremely dimwitted and you are often waiting for it to catch up. It takes seconds to react at a roundabout, or switching between reverse and drive, etc. It also hunts. To top it off, it drinks petrol because everyone drives it with their foot planted to the floor.

I would strongly recommend getting a larger engine. My wife had the same engine (but with a manual) in her 67 plate Audi Q3 and it was just about OK in that much smaller car. She had the 2.0 TSI in her previous A5 and it is so, so much better. Responsive, powerful, flexible. Go for that :)
 
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If the 1.5 has a wet belt like most of the other small European engines now. Avoid. Even if it seems more economical on paper.

Small engines are ok in something like a Yaris or Twingo, which are light (or used to be at least). In a larger car it's awful and you end up giving it 100% throttle everywhere.
 
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Okay so it seems the 1.5 is best to avoid. Shame so many of the newer ones (that aren't so expensive) are all 1.5s.

There's a 2.0 TSI that I've eyed up for a while and still available, but it's 2015 (same age as our Fabia, so not newer) and 90k miles (we're at 66k. I know the 2.0 TSI is chain so probably going to look into how much that would cost as the listing doesn't say it's been done so probably will soon as it's near 100k.

If it's still available when I can make my way up to it one weekend, I'm hoping to take a look.
 
In principle the 1.5 is a perfectly "fine" engine if you're just looking for sonething to get the job done and have no expectations of performance. However, once you get beyond Golf/Octavia sort of size what little performance there is is notably blunted.
 
MatteRB26 said:
I know the 2.0 TSI is chain so probably going to look into how much that would cost as the listing doesn't say it's been done so probably will soon as it's near 100k.
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The chains aren't typically a service item, iirc there is an inspection point that shows if there is any stretch in the chain and it's only worth changing if you're at (or beyond) whatever the tolerance level is. No point throwing money down the drain replacing a chain if its not showing any signs of issues. Unless it's been absolutely abused, I wouldn't expect it to be anywhere near needing replacement at 100k.
 
Kenai said:
The chains aren't typically a service item, iirc there is an inspection point that shows if there is any stretch in the chain and it's only worth changing if you're at (or beyond) whatever the tolerance level is. No point throwing money down the drain replacing a chain if its not showing any signs of issues. Unless it's been absolutely abused, I wouldn't expect it to be anywhere near needing replacement at 100k.
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That makes sense. I did speak to a mechanic friend this morning who looks after someone's Passat with the 2.0 that has over 260k miles on with the original chain.

From googling I can't really see much else to necessarily look for in the 2.0 so I guess I'll have to just take it for a spin and see how it goes, see what automatic is like! :eek:
 
The 2021 1.5TSI DSG Karoq Sportline we had for a year was fine, yes it was never going to overtake a line of slow cars on a country road but sat fine on the motorway.

Also I don't recall the 1.5TSI being a wet belt engine.
 
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Dangerous Dave said:
I'd give the 1.5 a test drive first if you feel your 1.2 Fabia has grunt. On paper at least the Superb is faster than a 1.2T Fabia estate.
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I agree. For someone who is happy with a 1.2, the 1.5 might be ok. Its worth a test drive to confirm either way.

Kenai said:
The chains aren't typically a service item, iirc there is an inspection point that shows if there is any stretch in the chain and it's only worth changing if you're at (or beyond) whatever the tolerance level is. No point throwing money down the drain replacing a chain if its not showing any signs of issues. Unless it's been absolutely abused, I wouldn't expect it to be anywhere near needing replacement at 100k.
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Not sure on model years but there is a period where the 2.0TSI had chain tensioner issues. Have they been resolved now?
 
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MatteRB26 said:
That makes sense. I did speak to a mechanic friend this morning who looks after someone's Passat with the 2.0 that has over 260k miles on with the original chain.

From googling I can't really see much else to necessarily look for in the 2.0 so I guess I'll have to just take it for a spin and see how it goes, see what automatic is like! :eek:
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I've never had to replace a chain. But I've had mostly Japanese engines which are actually built properly :P

Some of the VW engines with chains had fatal issues with them, so homework is needed. They thought using soft plastic chain guides was a good idea.
 
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Nasher said:
I've never had to replace a chain. But I've had mostly Japanese engines which are actually built properly :P

Some of the VW engines with chains had fatal issues with them, so homework is needed. They thought using soft plastic chain guides was a good idea.
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Yeah I remember that when we bought the Fabia - the ones just before ours had chains and they were problematic, so went back to belts (ours is belt). From what I've seen the Superb is a proper metal chain and I've heard good things about the chains themselves.

My next thing is looking into DSG, had a mechanic friend say to avoid DSG as it's terrible, but also seen good things about it with a disclaimer of *so long as it's well maintained*.
 
The DSG you'd get on a 1.5 tsi is the low torque dry clutch version which has a less stellar reputation (for reliability and driving behaviour), a 2.0 tsi will be a higher torque wet clutch variant and these are generally OK as long as they're serviced.
 
I view auto (wet&dry) also as a maintenance liability&cost like belt, and would remove what little fun remains on Cambs roads, manual control/mpg is essential -
& marketting men can prise the gearstick out of my dead hands, until I get an ev.

if you have the power at your control that makes a less powerful 1.4/1.5 lighter engine more viable versus 2.0 - they still have some 250NM 2-5K, vs 320;
manuals are becoming rare - but the 55mpg I'm getting out of A4 3up boot full has been welcome, vs 6 cylinder bmw/rip

I'd check that the size of the superb won't be a pain if you have to do any urban parallel parking.
 
jpaul said:
I view auto (wet&dry) also as a maintenance liability&cost like belt, and would remove what little fun remains on Cambs roads, manual control/mpg is essential -
& marketting men can prise the gearstick out of my dead hands, until I get an ev.

if you have the power at your control that makes a less powerful 1.4/1.5 lighter engine more viable versus 2.0 - they still have some 250NM 2-5K, vs 320;
manuals are becoming rare - but the 55mpg I'm getting out of A4 3up boot full has been welcome, vs 6 cylinder bmw/rip

I'd check that the size of the superb won't be a pain if you have to do any urban parallel parking.
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I'll never fail to understand how having an auto is less control. The vast majority also have manual modes so you can control to your heart's content.
 
squerble said:
I'll never fail to understand how having an auto is less control. The vast majority also have manual modes so you can control to your heart's content.
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An automatic has many advantages over a manual but you can't argue that there is less control over what the gearbox is doing.

A manual by it's nature gives a direct response to the driver both in terms of the gear selection and how the power is fed in from the engine via the clutch. In an automatic at best you can request a gear selection and the car responds how it feels is appropriate.

I do the lions share of my driving in an auto now but I still appreciate the direct responsiveness of a manual in the right scenario.

Just up the road from work is a garage that has recently rebranded itself as a DSG specialist. They certainly seem to have plenty of machinery, some of it not that old, to work on.
 
Seems the 2015 2.0 is a bust anyway. Did some digging and discovered that it's got docked mileage from over 124k reported in 2020 via insurance to 87k in a 2022 MOT.
 
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