2020 Skoda Superb Sportline vs Laurin and Klement: What's different?

Tuhin Guha Updated: August 04, 2020, 09:54 AM IST

We recently drove the Skoda Superb Sportline facelift, and came away quite impressed with the new 2.0-litre TSI engine. But more than just that, it is also quite interesting to note that Skoda has decided to not make the sportiest Superb the range-topper. In fact, the Sportline can't exactly be called a 'base' trim either. It comes with a few headling features that the higher-priced Laurin and Klement version doesn't get. Read on to know how exactly the two variants of the 2020 Skoda Superb differ and how they are alike.

Engine

Both variants of the Superb now come with a single BSVI-compliant petrol engine. This is a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol unit and is the next generation of Volkswagen's EA888 family of engines. This four-cylinder motor makes 1,984cc at 190PS at 4,200-6,000 rpm and 320Nm at 1,450-4,200 rpm. This engine continues to be paired with a seven-speed DCT, although now it has been improved to not limit torque to 250 Nm. Our testing showed us that the new petrol as quick as the diesel and a half a second faster than the old 1.8-litre petrol, with a 0 to 100 kmph time of 8.1s. We also found that in-gear acceleration times were all sub-2s in the 30-50 kmph, 50-70 kmph and 60-80 kmph. Our fuel efficiency tests got us 8.98kmpl in the city, 12.12kmpl in the highway and 9.76kmpl overall.

Exterior

Both the Superb Sportline and Laurin and Klement have received minor exterior changes. There are new LED headlamps, a larger grille, and a new front bumper with wide LED fog-lamps, a wider air-dam and new air curtains. At the rear, there are new details in the taillamps, wide Skoda lettering, and slightly different bumpers. The difference between the two come in how these bits are finished. In the Sportline, the grille is finished in gloss-black, there are dark inserts on the bumper and air curtain. The mirrors and roof are in black, while the badging and connected strip between the taillamps get a matte-grey finish.

In the Laurin and Klement, these are replaced by chrome. There is a chrome bezel around the grille, and near the air curtains. The window lining is done in chrome too as is all the ornamentation at the rear. The L and K also gets different dual-tone alloys, compared to the gunmetal finish ones in the Sportline. Finally, both versions get different colour pallets. The L and K come in business grey, moon white, magnetic brown, magic black and lava blue. For the Sportline, there is race blue, steel grey and moon white.

Interiors and features

The insides of the 2020 Superb have remained much the same with this facelift. Here, the Sportline gets an all grey theme with faux carbon trim and Alcantara on the seats and doors. Unique to this sporty version is the digital instrument cluster and body-hugging single-piece front seats with passenger memory function. Conversely, the Laurin and Klement has a dual-tone interior, finished in beige, grey and faux wood inserts. This luxury-themed version loses the sports seats and digital cockpit but adds amenities like a 12-speaker Canton audio system, heated/cooled front seats, rear-seat access to the front passenger seat controls, foot-operated boot release, drive modes, 360-degree cameras, power-nap package and umbrellas in the front doors and TPMS.

Features common to both versions are three-zone AC, panoramic sunroof, an eight-inch touchscreen with Android Auto/Apple Carplay, auto headlamps and wipers, keyless entry and go, powered tailgate and eight airbags.

Pricing and ownership

The Superb Sportline is priced at Rs 29.99 lakh ex-showroom. The Laurin and Klement charges a Rs 3 lakh premium at Rs 32.99 lakh, ex-showroom. Both variants can be optioned with a transferable four-year/1,00,000 km warranty package. Also available is a 24x7 non-stop assistance service for 4 years and unlimited km all over the country. Lastly, the Superb comes with a buyback plan with which up to 57 per cent of the value can be returned after three years. A maintenance package is also available for four years/60,000 km. This brings four services at 15,000 km intervals and is transferable post resale.