Diesel is making a comeback at Skoda India. The brand showcased the upcoming Superb TDI at the Slavia facelift launch, confirming that its big executive sedan will return to India with an oil-burner engine. The Superb Diesel will come to India in limited numbers as a CBU, with bookings now open and deliveries slated for early 2027. Skoda India hasn’t revealed the price yet, but expect it to command around Rs 55 to 60 lakh (ex-showroom), given its CBU status and limited availability.
And the timing is rather interesting. India’s move to E20 petrol has created plenty of uncertainty among car buyers. With E20 now the standard petrol blend, concerns around fuel efficiency, compatibility and long-term running costs have made some buyers look more closely at alternatives. That doesn’t mean diesel is suddenly about to take over again, but it does make Skoda’s decision particularly interesting. Buyers who want long-distance efficiency, strong highway performance and plenty of low-end torque will once again have a diesel option in the entry-level luxury sedan space.
The car being brought here is the fourth-generation Superb, which made its global debut in 2023. It is a significantly larger and more sophisticated car than the previous-generation Superb sold in India, and globally it is available with petrol, mild-hybrid, plug-in hybrid and diesel powertrains. For India, the star of the show is the 2-litre four-cylinder TDI diesel. The Indian-specification car gets the 148 bhp version, producing 360 Nm of torque. Power is sent to the front wheels through a seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox.
This Superb is 4,912mm long and 1,849mm wide, with a 2,841mm wheelbase. It gets a long, low-slung profile and is offered globally as both a hatchback and an estate, although the Indian car is the hatch-a-loon. It has slim LED headlights, a wide grille, and sharp tail-lamps, while the interior follows Skoda’s ‘minimalist’ design language. Inside, there’s a 12.9-inch central infotainment screen, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and Skoda’s now-familiar Smart Dials, which combine physical controls with small displays. The Indian car also gets three-zone climate control, a 13-speaker Canton sound system, wireless charging and powered, heated, ventilated and massaging front seats, and a big 645-litre boot.
The other big talking point will be the price. The Superb will come to India as a CBU, or completely built-up unit, and in limited numbers. Skoda has previously used the CBU route for the Superb, with the last-generation car priced at Rs 54 lakh when it returned to India in 2024. This new-generation diesel is expected to sit in a similar premium bracket, with current estimates putting it at around Rs 55 to 60 lakh (ex-showroom). The final price will, of course, be announced closer to its launch.
So why bring a diesel back now, after Skoda dropped diesel engines from its India line-up? The answer is partly about giving buyers more choice at a time when the fuel landscape is changing. E20 has become a contentious subject, and the debate around ethanol blending has prompted buyers and manufacturers alike to take a closer look at alternative powertrains.
For those covering big annual mileage, the diesel’s combination of strong low-end torque and highway efficiency remains difficult to replace with a conventional petrol engine. The Superb TDI therefore arrives at an interesting moment for the Indian car market.
