Comparison of Skoda Superb, BMW 5, and Ford Mondeo

A luxury class car is powerful, beautiful, and expensive. The selection is vast, but it's interesting to see who outperforms the competitors – Skoda Superb vs BMW 5 and Ford Mondeo. Skoda cars were recently affordable and relatively accessible.

Now they aspire to be called premium, although the Superb model can be classified as mid-range. It is slightly more expensive than the Mondeo (but better in terms of specifications). It also surpasses the Bavarian BMW 5 series in many aspects, although the German car is much more expensive. But which of the three cars is ultimately better?

Technical Specifications of Skoda Superb, BMW 5, and Ford Mondeo

All models are equipped with engines of approximately the same capacity – 2 liters. The slight difference in cubic centimeters is insignificant and does not affect the specifications. All cars have a turbocharger, allowing the Bavarian to achieve a power of 190 horsepower at 4000 rpm. The Skoda has the same power but at 3500 rpm, while the Ford has 180 horses at 3750 rpm. The torque is approximately the same – around 400 Nm.

The Ford and Skoda have front-wheel drive, while the Bavarian has rear-wheel drive. However, this is more of an indicator of wealth and status. After all, the rear-wheel-drive car's suspension is more comfortable and efficient. This is largely due to its complex construction. All cars have automatic transmissions, but the Ford and Skoda have 6-speed dual-clutch transmissions, while the BMW has an 8-speed transmission.

All models comply with Euro-6 emissions standards and run on diesel fuel. The body dimensions of the cars are as follows:

All models come in sedan body types and accommodate a driver and four passengers. The BMW accelerates to the first hundred in 8.4 seconds, the Ford in 9.1 seconds, and the Skoda in 8.4 seconds. The difference is in fractions of a second. The Bavarian reaches a top speed of 233 km/h, Ford Mondeo — 223 km/h, Skoda Superb — 234 km/h. When stopping from a speed of 100 km/h, the German car requires a braking distance of 36.8 meters, the Ford 35.5 meters, and the Skoda 38.2 meters. These parameters also differ insignificantly.

Manufacturer's fuel consumption data: BMW — 4.1 liters, Skoda — 4.5 liters, Mondeo — 4.8 liters. In the city, fuel consumption increases to 7.2 liters, 7.0 liters, and 7.3 liters respectively. During aggressive driving, fuel consumption increases even more — 8.7 liters, 8.4 liters, and 8.9 liters respectively. If the tank is filled to the brim, the BMW can travel 985 km, the Skoda — 956 km, and the Ford — 875 km.

BMW 5: Model Specifications

It is necessary to note the high cost of the model — over 3 million rubles. And for this amount, the buyer gets a car with an automatic transmission and an engine generating 190 horsepower. But this is BMW — a high-quality German car that is unlikely to disappoint on the road. Driving it is a pleasure. All the equipment is modern and of high quality — the navigation system display, the Head-Up display on the windshield, active steering, and even night vision are present.

However, there are some downsides — the rear-wheel drive of the car. This affects the cabin space. Firstly, there is a need for space for the driveshaft, which runs from the front of the car to the rear axle.

Secondly, the longitudinal layout of the automatic transmission and the engine also takes up some of the internal space. As a result, the trunk is small, and the cabin is not very spacious. To purchase a car with folding rear seats and a hatch, a significant additional payment is required — this is a major drawback.

Even in the base models, the interior materials are of high quality and durable. One feature worth mentioning is that comfortable driving is achieved by steering even the rear wheels. However, one should not expect supernatural obedience from the car on winding roads. After all, the empty sedan weighs 1739 kg.

All road irregularities are absorbed by the suspension, but the engine produces a not very pleasant sound under load. This is because the fuel injection system operates at very high pressure, and the engine is diesel. However, this downside may go unnoticed when considering the engine's responsiveness, moderate fuel consumption (7.1 liters per 100 km), excellent dynamics, and most importantly — the flawless operation of the hydrotransformer gearbox. The gear changes happen so smoothly that its operation is barely noticeable.

Pragmatic and Affordable Ford Mondeo

The dynamics of the Ford are excellent, despite the car's impressive weight. It holds its own on winding roads, but there is a slight strain felt when taking corners. While driving, it feels like the steering operation is somewhat unfriendly and unnatural. However, the body, swaying slightly, smoothly and confidently overcomes all road irregularities.

Compared to the Skoda Superb, the Mondeo lags behind in terms of comfort. The lack of assistance systems, outdated maps in the navigation system, inconvenient control of the multimedia system, and narrow front seats are all drawbacks of the Mondeo.

But the model also has several advantages — well-functioning brakes, extensive safety features. There is a heated front windshield, sign recognition system, lane control. In the rear row, there are inflatable seat belts.

The interior is spacious, the interior is quite rich and beautiful, excellent visibility, all instruments are easily readable, in general, the quality of the car is at a high level — this can be attributed to the model's advantages. Here you can also add the reasonable cost.

The Mondeo's engine is weaker than that of its competitors, but this is unlikely to be noticeable during tests. 180 horsepower under the hood is energetic and economical — fuel consumption per hundred is about 7.2 liters. The automatic transmission shifts gears a bit roughly during aggressive driving, but during calm and steady movement, its operation is almost imperceptible.

Read more: Specifications and full review of the BMW M3 E36

Skoda Superb — the Best Among Competitors?

The wheelbase and length of the Skoda are slightly smaller than those of its competitors. However, there is a feeling that its cabin is the most spacious, and the trunk is more capacious. The huge legroom for rear seat passengers indicates that the car can be classified into a higher class. There are many pleasant details that create a good impression — umbrellas in the doors, ice scrapers, and even remote folding of the rear seatbacks.

The multimedia system is controlled by a large touchscreen display. There is a separate lever under the steering wheel for switching climate control modes. The driver's and front passenger's seats are voluminous, wide, and densely padded.

Everything needed for comfortable driving even over long distances. However, the suspension is too loud due to the shock absorbers — this is immediately noticeable. But the car behaves calmly even in emergency situations and maintains its trajectory.

The drawbacks can include not very sharp brakes, loud operation of the diesel engine (but it is more economical than that of competitors), and rough gear changes of the automatic transmission under load. Skoda Superb cannot be called perfect, but the designers are still working on the flaws, introducing many useful and convenient options, actively utilizing the developments of the VAG concern.

Skoda Superb vs BMW 5 and Ford Mondeo — in terms of quality and cost, Skoda can be considered the best. It is of higher quality than Ford, which has already fallen far behind the Czechs. And most importantly, it competes closely with the Bavarian, which is much more expensive but offers little difference in functionality.

Summary of Skoda Superb vs BMW 5 and Ford Mondeo Test Drive

Skoda has some drawbacks, but they are so insignificant that they can be overlooked. A spacious cabin, meticulously designed bodywork, relatively low cost, and maximum comfort — this can probably characterize the model.

The Bavarian, despite its age, still claims to be a premium car today. The 5 Series can provide its owner with everything that Skoda can. The only downside is that you have to pay too much for all this — the price difference is around 10,000 euros.

As for the Mondeo, it has several significant advantages — a quality multimedia system, low cost, excellent safety, and a spacious cabin. However, the designers should work on the appearance and equipment of the car. It looks like a car from the early 2000s compared to its competitors.