As under-rated cars go, Skoda's Superb is right up there. Here, you have a German-engineered Executive-sized saloon priced from around £14,000. It sounds hard to believe when you put it like that. Yet the Superb continues to be over-looked by customers searching in the medium range sector in which it's priced to compete. Maybe the most recent facelift will change things.

And maybe it won't. Let's look at the changes first, then take a fresh look again at the car itself. The most striking change to the exterior design is a redesigned radiator grille, updated to give it a more 3-dimensional look. The turn indicators have been integrated into the wing mirrors and the front indicators have been combined with the headlamps. Similar to those of the ?koda Roomster and the Octavia, the tail lights are C-shaped, giving the Superb rear view a more distinct character. In addition, customers can choose from four fresher colours: Cappuccino Beige, Olive Green, Anthracite Grey and Satin Grey. Inside, there's a redesigned dashboard configuration on all trim levels and the instruments clusters are backlit with very gentle white light.

The Classic, Comfort and Elegance trim levels remain, but a new flagship Laurin & Klement level has been added. Named after the company's founders, the Superb L&K includes 17" alloy wheels, dual exhaust and special badging. The vehicle's interior includes leather seats, wood trim and sleek metal-finished frames on ventilation outlets and door handles. These details apart, the Superb remains pretty much unchanged, still offered only in four-door form with a choice of three petrol and three diesel engines.

Apparently, it was Czech President Milos Zeman, embarrassed at having to use a German car for his official duties, who prompted Prague to initiate plans for a top saloon to slot in above the medium range Octavia. Actually, what he originally wanted was a stretched Octavia, revealing his surprisingly limited knowledge of VW's platform-sharing policy. The Octavia does, after all, share the underpinnings of a VW Golf: expecting to create a limousine out of it was asking a bit much.

"For those who give it a try, it's an option that's hard to ignore?."

What could be provided however, was the basis for a stretched MKV VW Passat. Wolfsburg had already created such a thing for the Chinese market, extending the wheelbase by 95mm to 2803mm. All the Czechs then had to do was to Skoda-ise it. This has been done rather more half-heartedly than with other transition models - but then that's all to the buyer's benefit. What Skoda influence there is has been neatly integrated into the Volkswagen cabin.

Move inside and the first thing that strikes you is the wood trim. I remember laughing the first time I saw wood in a Skoda (an after-market package fitted to a Felicia a few years ago) but there's nothing remotely funny about this. Adorning the dashboard and the doors, the dark timber is tasteful and Germanic. Whereas the Octavia's cabin seems to have been kept deliberately drab to preserve Passat sales, this one seems almost as good as anything from the German marque's stable. Which, given that prices lie in the £14,000 to £23,000 bracket, makes this car something of a steal.

AT just over £21,000 for example, the Superb V6 2.8 30v provides most of the same recipe you get in a high-end VW Passat for significantly less. This 193bhp unit develops an impressive 206 Ib/ft of torque and is the largest engine on offer - or at least it will be until someone gets round to sticking the VW Group's V10 5.0-litre lump under the bonnet. But why would you want to when this one makes sixty in 8.0s on the way to 147mph? A bit of a downside is the fuel consumption: you'll struggle to average much more than about 28mpg.

This is one of the reasons why most buyers go for the more realistic engine options. Petrol-wise, these include the Octavia's familiar 115bhp 2.0-litre and 150bhp 1.8 Turbo units as well as the 2.8-litre V6. Diesel buyers meanwhile, get the choice of a 1.9-litre 115bhp TDi unit, a more modern 140bhp 2.0-litre TDI or the 155bhp 2.5-litre V6 TDI. There's no four-wheel drive option but you can specify the excellent 5-speed Tiptronic automatic widely used on up-market Audis.

As with the MKV Passat, you shouldn't expect a particularly involving driving experience. Still, most buyers will find the ride to be truly excellent thanks to Skoda's careful tweaking of the four-link strut and torsion beam suspension. It's certainly difficult to imagine anyone getting out of shape in one, particularly as ESP Electronic Stability Control is standard. Never mind: the inviting cabin makes up for it. As you might expect, most of that extra 95mm has been donated towards the cause of extra legroom - and it makes lots of difference. Sadly, the boot capacity is no different to an ordinary MKV Passat's (462 litres) but you can at least extend it by using the easily-to-operate split-folding rear seats. It's even possible to fold the front passenger's seat flat for particularly long items. If you want to go further, you'll be wanting an estate - but there are no plans for one: yet.

For the drivers it's all very plush, thanks to a multi-function leather-coated steering wheel that adjusts for both rake and reach. All trim levels include electric windows, air conditioning and a trip computer. Go for the Elegance and you can expect to find satellite navigation, xenon headlamps, a premium CD stereo system, rain-sensing wipers, climate-controlled air conditioning, 17" alloy wheels and leather electric seats with a memory function. Plus of course you can order leather seats and satellite navigation should you want it.

In the final analysis, it's difficult to do anything but admire the way that, with VW's help, Skoda has pulled itself up by its bootstraps over the last five years. And yes, the Superb is a fitting way for the marque to reward both itself and its wealthier fans. Will the revised models cause new buyers to re-evaluate this car? We have our doubts. For those who give it a try however, it's an option that's hard to ignore.