Rally driver Miko Marczyk has officially set a Guinness World Record by driving a fourth-generation Skoda Superb diesel 2,831 kilometers (1,759 miles) on a single tank of fuel – roughly the distance between New York City and Denver. The journey, completed between March 5 and 7, 2025, took the Polish driver from Łódź in Poland through Germany, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands before returning home without refueling once. Skoda, a Czech automaker owned by the Volkswagen Group, isn’t a household name in North America, but this record cements the automaker’s engineering credibility on a global scale.
A Mostly Stock Skoda Superb
Skoda
Marczyk’s car was a nearly stock 2.0-liter TDI Superb producing 150 hp, paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and front-wheel drive. Its 66-liter (17.4-gallon) tank and average fuel consumption of 2.61 liters per 100 km (90.12 MPG) made the record possible. Apart from low-rolling-resistance tires and slightly lowered Sportline suspension for better aerodynamics, the car remained unmodified. Marczyk spent months preparing, logging over 20,000 kilometers to find the Superb’s ideal efficiency zone – steady at around 80 km/h (50 mph) in Eco mode. Thanks to careful route planning, meticulously monitored tire pressures, and conservative throttle control, the Superb managed to shatter the record.
Diesel vs The Rest
Skoda
Covering 2,831 kilometers on a single tank is unmatched by any production vehicle today. The Chevrolet Silverado EV holds the record for longest distance driven on one charge at just over 1,000 miles, though at a crawling average of under 25 mph. Most EVs still hover around 300 to 350 miles per charge, while plug-in hybrids can stretch to about 1,200 miles when both fuel and battery are used. Brands like Hyundai claim their upcoming extended-range EVs (EREVs) will reach 600 miles, but that’s still far from the Superb’s rolling coal feat. And while modern EVs are blisteringly fast, their long-distance capability remains the trade-off.
Will This Record Ever Be Broken?
Skoda
Breaking this record will be tough. EVs are limited by battery density, petrol engines guzzle too much fuel, and hybrids can’t run long enough on electric power alone. Only another diesel could realistically challenge it, and Marczyk himself believes 3,000 kilometers (1,864 miles) is achievable with premium fuel and milder weather. Still, with the EU’s 2035 combustion ban drawing closer and fresh investigations echoing the shadow of Volkswagen’s Dieselgate scandal, diesel finds itself under heavy scrutiny once again. This may be diesel’s last great triumph.
