I still remember when long-distance fuel runs felt like a stunt. Now, with the Skoda Superb, that stunt became a verified world record. In early March 2025, rally driver Miko Marczyk drove a fourth-generation Superb for 2,831 km on a single tank, and Guinness World Records certified the feat. In this post, I’ll walk you through how it happened, the real numbers, what the car setup looked like, and why this matters for India now that the Superb is expected to launch here soon.
What exactly was the record?
Let me break it down plainly. The run covered 2,831 km (1,759 mi) on a single fuel fill. Guinness certified the distance, and the average fuel consumption recorded was about 2.61 L/100 km, which translates to roughly 38.3 km/l (about 90 mpg). That is the official average published by Guinness and confirmed by Škoda in their statements.
To make this easy to picture: if you drove from Mumbai to Hyderabad and back a few times, that’s how far the Superb went on one tank. The route started in Łódź, Poland, went through Germany and France to Paris, and returned via Belgium and the Netherlands back to Poland. GPS tracking and fuel logs were used to verify everything.
The car and simple setup used
Here’s the headline: the car was largely standard. It was a fourth-generation Škoda Superb with the 2.0 TDI engine (around 148–150 PS) and a seven-speed DSG gearbox. Škoda says the engine was made in Poland.
They did a few common-sense tweaks to help efficiency, not a full race car conversion. These included:
- Lowering the suspension by about 15 mm
- Fitting low rolling-resistance tyres
- Using Eco mode and hypermiling driving techniques (steady throttle, smooth braking)
So when I say this was a real-world demo, I mean it. It was not an extreme laboratory tune — it was a mostly standard Superb driven very carefully.
Numbers at a glance (table)
| Metric | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Distance driven | 2,831 km | Guinness-certified total distance |
| Average fuel consumption | 2.61 L/100 km (~38.3 km/l) | Calculated from total distance and fuel used; reported by Guinness and Škoda |
| Approximate tank capacity | ~66 L (some sources say 74 L) | Different outlets report slightly different filled litres; Guinness certifies distance and consumption |
| Car | Škoda Superb 4th-gen 2.0 TDI | Largely standard with mild efficiency tweaks |
How the team achieved it: route and technique
If you’re wondering whether this was luck or careful planning, it was the latter. Marczyk followed a long, cross-border route designed for steady, long stretches of highway. The team prioritized:
- Maintaining steady speeds on motorways rather than stop-start city traffic
- Minimizing stops (short refueling checks only at the end) to reduce idling and wasted fuel
- Using precise navigation and GPS logs to prove the path and distance
- Driving with hypermiling practices such as coasting to decelerate, smooth throttle control, and gentle acceleration
These are small changes you and I can try too. When I drive for economy tests, keeping speed steady on an open road and avoiding sudden braking gives the biggest gains.
Why the record matters — and the nuance
On the face of it, the run shows that a diesel Superb can be extremely efficient in real-world, optimized driving. The Guinness certification gives the story weight — it’s not just a press release. But there are a few important nuances:
- Tank volume reports differ: The common spec for the Superb is a ~66-litre tank, yet some reports referenced 74 litres filled. Regardless, Guinness validated the distance and calculated the average consumption.
- Technique matters: The result combined a very efficient car with expert eco-driving. Typical day-to-day driving will not match this number exactly.
- Real-world takeaway: Even if you don’t hit 38.3 km/l, the Superb’s diesel powertrain and aerodynamics do enable impressive range for long highway trips.
What this means for India — launch and availability
Now to the part many of you care about: will we see the Superb in India? Škoda showcased the fourth-gen Superb at India’s Auto Expo and Bharat Mobility events, and the company has said the car is expected to be offered in India soon. Here’s what we know and what you can expect:
- Initial route to market: Likely CBU (completely built unit) imports in limited numbers at first.
- Longer term: Škoda may consider CKD (semi-knocked down) assembly or localized models depending on demand.
- Powertrain mix: Exact details for India aren’t final. The global Superb is offered with diesel, petrol, and plug-in hybrid options. Škoda India will confirm which trims and engines come here.
If you care about fuel efficiency like I do, the diesel Superb’s world record will be a strong selling point — but emissions rules, market demand, and import costs will shape the final lineup in India.
Case example: How this compares to everyday driving
Let me give you a practical example. On a typical Indian highway drive, a modern diesel sedan with steady speeds and good technique can often return 15–22 km/l. The Superb’s record figure of around 38.3 km/l is roughly double that. Why? Because the test minimized stops, used a highly practiced driver, and optimised tyres and suspension for rolling resistance.
That doesn’t mean you can expect those exact numbers on a daily commute. But it does show the car’s potential and the benefit of disciplined driving habits. If you plan a long interstate trip in a diesel Superb, you should expect notably strong range compared to many rivals.
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Final Thoughts
The Guinness-certified 2,831 km run with the Skoda Superb highlights two things: the car’s strong diesel efficiency and the big effect of eco-driving. Škoda used a largely standard Superb with only mild setup changes, and a pro driver used steady highway lanes and smart techniques to set the record. For India, the Superb is coming soon — likely first as a limited CBU offering — and this record will help shape buyer interest, especially among those who value long-range diesel efficiency.
If you want, I can pull the original Guinness certification and Škoda’s press statement into a single PDF or provide a quick comparison to other long-range records. Just tell me which option you want and I’ll put it together.
