Audi A5 vs Skoda Superb vs VW Arteon

[_Rob]

I seem to have settled on a choice of three cars for my next car, but they are all basically the same. I've love to hear the thoughts of anybody who has directly compared these three, or have experience of owning some combination of the three.

Specifically, I'm looking at the 4WD versions with 250-280bhp, so the Superb Sportline 272/280, the Arteon 272 R-Line, and the A5 252 S-Line.

I've had a Skoda Sportline 200bhp version before so I know that car well, but I have never owned the others.

I think the Skoda is the odd one out in terms of its gearbox (6-speed DSG vs 7-speed in the other two), and the Audi is slightly less powerful, but neither of those two things are deal breakers.

They're all available for similar-ish money, I'm looking mainly in the £20-22k bracket. That seems to get a 2017 Audi or VW, or a slightly newer Skoda.
The Audi interior will be better no doubt, and it certainly looks nicer, but the Skoda was perfectly fine when I had one before.

So... what is there to know and decide on? Or is this just about getting the right spec car and the right deal, rather than worrying about the differences between them?

[Jamescrs]

My first thought on this would be that the Skoda will offer a fair bit more in terms of interior space over the other two options, especially in terms of rear seating space if thats a consideration?

[_Rob]

That is definitely a consideration and the reason I ended up with a Superb before. I had, perhaps incorrectly, assumed they'd all be pretty similar in that regard?

[SydneyBridge]

VW would be a bit different and rare, Skoda obviously bigger
Audi does nothing for me

[AyBee]

Assume you're looking at the saloon versions given the budget? I'm fairly sure the Skoda got the 7-speed DSG when it went to the 272 version. No experience of the other 2, but I've got a 2017 Superb 280 estate and am a big fan.

[_Rob]

That's interesting, thanks, I'll do some digging on Briskoda. That's one less thing difference to consider then!

[Silvanus]

When you say they are all the same, the Audi is on a different unrelated platform to the Skoda and VW.

[_Rob]

Silvanus said:

When you say they are all the same, the Audi is on a different unrelated platform to the Skoda and VW.

All the same, in that they look similar, are a similar size, have largely the same running gear, are equally spec'd (more or less), use common VAG components... I appreciate your point though. Do you know what the real-world difference is between the platforms?

[What The Deuces]

The reason the Skoda doesnt have the 7 spd box is the same reason they dont make a petrol 4x4 octavia VRS........nobody would buy the other equivalent VAG products if they did.

Superb for me is still the better car despite the 6 speeder

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd go for the Arteon as they have better NVH than the Superb & you get the slightly better box too:

[dfen5]

Make sure you test drive. The A5 got right on my nerves as the roof line comes in and I cracked my head a number of times as a passenger and driver.

[_Rob]

The shape of the A5 does worry me, partly for when I have adults in the back, but also for getting young kids in and out of their car seats.

Starting to feel like it’s the Skoda or Arteon. I really need to find an Arteon to drive and see how it compares to what I know of the Skoda, which is the safe choice.

[AyBee]

What The Deuces said:

The reason the Skoda doesnt have the 7 spd box is the same reason they dont make a petrol 4x4 octavia VRS........nobody would buy the other equivalent VAG products if they did.

Superb for me is still the better car despite the 6 speeder

The 272 does have the 7-speed DSG though The 280 has the 6-speed.