Here’s a little known fact about the old Skoda Superb. It can still be bought, with a VW chrome nose unconvincingly grafted on, in China as the VW Passat Lingyu. Oh and don't come to me saying that it's a well-known fact because 1.3 billion Chinese might have known. The original Superb wasn't sold there, so why should they give a stuff?

Anyway, the new Superb is also related to a Passat - the current one. The platform, powertrain, suspension and transmission are largely the same, but the wheelbase is longer. The Superb is deliberately styled to emphasise the hugeness of its back seat space. While other cars in the class have a tapered rear window line in a largely vain attempt to pass themselves off as sporty coupes, the Superb makes no such pretensions. The roof is flat and the window-line stays level. It looks formal, comfy and boxy.

Further back, we stumble into the Superb's chief innovation - the boot-lid. Oh blimey, are boot-lids going to be the next battlefield of emblematic innovation, following cup-holders, transmission selectors and seat-fold mechanisms? Anyway, here's the trick. Press the central button, and the Superb's lid swings up like any old regular boot. This is a saloon. Now shut it again. And press a second button. Wait a few sees while the high-mounted brake light flashes and some motors quietly whirr. Then press the centre button. The boot and rear window come up, and the Superb perfectly impersonates a hatchback.

Why bother with such elaborate complication? Well, for a start, the fleet and taxi trade in mainland Europe demands saloons. Also, when you get a hatch as big as it is on the Superb, then it gets heavy and cumbersome to close.

The inside of the Superb isn't only roomy, it's well-made. The dash and controls and entertainment are pretty much as per the Passat CC, but because the price is lower, you feel more delighted by the quality.

So it rides well, steers naturally but not eagerly, and cruises quiedy. Star engine is the new 170bhp diesel, available with FWD or 4WD. But most will buy the 140bhp version, or even the old 105bhp 1.9. Petrols are a 1.4 turbo with 125bhp that's smooth and not embarrassingly slow because there's plenty of torque, and the fine 1.8 turbo FSI. Plus there's the 4WD 3.6 V6, tuned for slightly less power than in the Passat CC V6.

Because, as Skoda is refreshingly keen to admit, this isn't a sporty car. It's respectable and useful. Think where Volvo's brand was 15 years ago. All other car makers are vacating that territory, but when it's done honestly and well, the customers will be satisfied.