Civic duties

I don’t know what we could tell you about the Superb other than just doing the same sums as you might on the back of a different envelope. More power, more torque (what units are you using?) but more weight too.

You can get pretty close with those three data points to an idea of how lively or otherwise the car will feel, especially with the same type of motor. My CLS had about 30 percent more power than the 325d that preceded it, but also weighed 30 percent more, so it felt very similar. The iX40 has another 20 percent more power, and is more like 30 percent heavier — but compensates with the delivery characteristics of an electric drivetrain. (It also doesn’t have to play silly Verbrenner Top Trumps, so it can be geared for a modest top speed and strong acceleration at normal speeds.)

So your figures suggest that the Honda engine is designed to rev higher to extract more power from limited (non-turbo?) torque, whereas the Škoda’s turbo gives it more low-down pull and hence hill-climbing ability.

What I do know is that the Superb is one of the very few non-limousines that allow me to waggle my legs in the back. There’ll be no complaints about space, if the mechanicals work for you. Although it will take more parking than the Civic, if that’s a concern.

My Leaf is my smaller, nippier vehicle for 95% of my driving. Remember, we don't operate his'n'hers model of use here.  We just take whichever is the most suitable vehicle for any given journey, and we're rarely out at the same time.  Therefore our larger ICE car does hardly any local journeys, so that isn't part of the picture.

If your decision is based on want, fill yer boots and have whatever you like. If it’s about need, you probably already have that.

I want, and perhaps need, to keep as new a fleet of 2 cars as possible (reliability, convenience, sudden needs to go to Wales, like happened on Monday this week - I had to go down there Monday evening and back first thing Tuesday - I'm not faffing with rental cars for things like that).

I have a monthly payment budget for around £150-200 to achieve that. I have an agreement ending in a few weeks, which I need to make a decision on. There is no decision I can make which will save me that £150-200. So, the question is, how is that £150-200 best spent, taking into account needs, wants and practicialities.

The Corolla is irrelevant. It's for the kids to learn to drive in, I'm not relying on a 24 year old snotter for anything else.

So I think deploying that £150-200 on a 2 year old car with 7k miles on the clock is a tempting upgrade on the 2106 Civic with admittedly quite low, but building miles on it. It feels like a better use of the funds than financing the Leaf, as I can pay that down with the trade-in money from the Civic. I also don't feel inclined to upgrade or modernise the Leaf - it's the local runabout, doesn't need any more range, and a newer car will just get bumped and bashed in Tesco. I accept I am kicking the can down the road, but I don't see that as an argument which trumps all the above. I am comfortable doing that and having another decision to make in 4 years.

Good God no to the Jogger. Just no. And in my eyes the Superb I'm going to look at is a significant upgrade in many ways - I really don't give a stuff about pano roofs and I hate leather seats. I also don't like heated seats - I had them in my SAAB 9-5, couldn't stand them. Equipment and toys come a long way down my priority list.

Also, in 2027, this Superb would be 5 years old and probably still under 30k miles.  The Civic would be 11 years old and on about 70k miles.  I'd be willing to bet there would be more maintenance costs and reliability issues with the latter.

No, it’s what normal people like is all.
😉

In 2027 that Honda, with regular servicing, will still be sewing machine smooth.

That 1.5 TSi on the otherhand has well documented issues, kangarooing, oil consumption, timing chain failure, AVT failure. I can see the interior space improvement, struggling with the reliability side of the argument I must admit. That Skoda will be out of warranty in October 2025.