WHEN kids like me were making jokes in the school playground 20-odd years ago about Skoda, we could never have known that things would change so radically.

The butt of many a jibe, old Skoda was a laughing stock, frankly.

In 2015, it is anything but.

Now, of course, that has a lot to do with Volkswagen taking it over, but, as turnarounds in image go, there can be few that have achieved what Skoda has.

And the new Superb is the best car it’s ever made.

We should probably start on the inside for this one, as Skoda’s flagship model is very much about travelling in comfort.

And comfort is something that the Superb has in spades. The now-renowned acres of rear legroom are still there, ensuring that even the loftiest of people could while away the hours in the back and walk out refreshed at the other end.

Quality in the cabin is top notch as well, with the feel and materials up there now with that of parent company VW. You get the feeling that VW has gone for it as regards letting its ‘value’ brand have the good stuff.

That goes for the touch screen system as well, which is top-notch, with hi-res graphics, an excellent sat nav and some great new features, not least Apple CarPlay, which makes pairing an iPhone an absolute doddle.

Load space is huge, too, particularly on the estate version that I drove.

There’s a host of standard kit, with all cars getting alloys, air con, 12v sockets, electric windows all round, electric door mirrors, loads of safety features, Bluetooth, digital radio, auto-braking, stop-start and a five-inch touch screen.

It’s an enviable list and it’s where VW has chosen to keep Skoda value-packed.

There are two diesels – a 1.6 with 120ps and a 2.0 with either 150 or 190ps – as well as a 1.4 (probably best avoided in a car this big) and a 2.0 petrol.

VW’s excellent diesel engines make the most sense here anyway – with CO2 as low as 95g/km and consumption figures up to 70mpg.

I had a go in the top-end diesel and it’s very good indeed, with lots of smooth power and plenty in reserve for when you need it.

The Superb’s handling is excellent for such a big car – there’s no wallow at all and it’s completely on point.

But, as excellent as the new Superb is, with my tester costing north of £32,000 it’s up against some serious competition – in fact, you can spend as much as £35,000.

Don’t worry, though, you don’t have to spend that much – you can drive away with base spec, which has plenty going for it, for £18,640.

MUST BLOB

Find out more at westovergroup.co.uk/skoda