Skoda Superb TDI 4x4 and Volvo V60 D5 AWD: Skiers spoilt for choice

The Volvo V60 D5 AWD and Skoda Superb TDI 4x4 have come along just in time. Photo / Supplied

This is typical: you wait ages for a premium, all-wheel drive turbo-diesel wagon that's left-of-centre enough to intrigue and impress at the skifield ... and suddenly two come along at once.

The Skoda Superb TDI 4x4 and Volvo V60 D5 AWD are hardly head-to-head rivals, but they are conceptually very close: smooth and thrifty diesel estates, with luxury-car cabin ambience/comfort to see you through those long hours to the snow, all-wheel-drive traction to get you up the mountain - and a shared mission to provide an intelligent alternative to the predictable AWD choices like the Audi A4 quattro Avant or Subaru Legacy/Outback.

Neither are what you'd call crossover vehicles: both are very comfortable in their station-wagon skins, looking pseudo-sporty with the advantage of drive to all four wheels when you need it.

The Skoda has size and price on its side. The Superb TDI 4x4 wagon is a large and practical device: 4838mm long, with luggage capacity of 633/1865 litres (rear seats up/down) and priced at $63,000. The Volvo is more compact at 4628mm, carrying 557/1241 litres, yet is priced at $75,990.

That's because after decades of building sensible, boxy wagons, Volvo now believes that sex sells. The V60 is an unashamedly premium offering that trades off ultimate practicality and space for svelte styling.

It packs more punch than the Skoda, too. The V60's 2.4-litre five-cylinder engine makes 151kW/420Nm and achieves a 0-100km/h time of 8.3 seconds. The Superb gets a lower-powered version of the Volkswagen Group's 2.0-litre engine with 103kW/320Nm, and requires 10.8 seconds for the benchmark 100km/h sprint. Not to any great benefit in fuel economy, it would have to be said: the Skoda returns 7.8 litres per 100km in the Combined cycle, while the Volvo consumes just 6.9 litres.

The Volvo is more fun to drive, with a distinctive aural character from the five-pot engine and a sportier chassis. However, it's also hard to get away from that D5 soundtrack if you're not in the mood: the V60's engine note is ever-present and downright clattery at low speed.

The Skoda's TDI powerplant is smoother, more refined and with the assistance of a dual-clutch Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) it gives away less than you'd think to the Volvo in real-world driveability.

The Volvo's cabin environment is gorgeous, full of high-quality materials and superbly comfortable. The Skoda's interior is more sparse in appearance but the fit and finish in the Superb is hard to fault and it does have a few nice touches that the V60 lacks: xenon lights, parking sensors and heated seats (the two latter are options on the Volvo). However, the Volvo serves up some clever stuff like the City Safety system (which will brake and stop the car automatically at low speed to avoid a nose-to-tail accident) and integrated booster cushions for children in the back seat.

There's a world of extra safety equipment available for the Volvo if you want to go that way, but it comes at a price.

The bottom line: Does the Volvo V60's character, quality and dynamic verve justify an extra $13,000? Tempting to say yes, because the V60 D5 is such an engaging car. But then you consider the Superb's superior refinement, ride quality and space. Sporty the Skoda is not: but on all-round talent and value it's a win for the Superb TDI 4x4.

For the less demanding driver...

Don't need/want all-wheel drive or diesel power? The V60 can be bought in entry-level T5 front-drive petrol-turbo form for $67,990, while the top T6 AWD is $83,9990.

The Superb wagon is available in no less than six versions, ranging from a $48,500 TSI 118 petrol to the flagship V6 4x4 at $69,000.

We often recommend Skoda product over equivalent models from parent company Volkswagen, but this time we feel obliged to point out that you can have a Passat Variant TDI 4Motion for $62,000.

The VW is not as interesting as the Skoda and has a bit less equipment - but you do get the uprated 125kW turbo diesel engine.

Alternatives

* Audi A4 Avant 2.0 TFSI quattro: $90,900
* BMW X3 xDrive 20d: $87,900
* Ford Territory Titanium TDCi: $69,990
* Subaru Outback 2.0D Euro Spec: $54,490
* Volkswagen Passat Variant TDI 125 4Motion: $62,000