Skoda Roomster 1.4 Range : ROOM AT THE TOP

Expert Rating:

Skoda's Roomster doesn't fit into any convenient vehicle category. Best approach with an open mind. By Andy Enright

Well, it's not bland. That much goes without debate. Skoda's Roomster is, in fact, quite unlike any other vehicle on the roads today, yet fulfils a very straightforward brief albeit via unorthodox means. Think of it as a rival to typical van-based MPVs without feeling the least bit commercially sourced and you're getting warm. The 1.4-litre model I tested was shorn of all the baubles; a straight shot of the Roomster brand values.

Roomster ownership is unlikely to prove in any way hazardous. Even this 1.4-litre 16v model is well stuffed with safety equipment. Taking the entry-level S as a baseline, you get twin front, side and curtain airbags and ABS anti-lock brakes. The price isn't going to cause palpitations for your bank manager either. Laudably, Skoda has fitted all of the Roomster's safety gear to the S, so the SE merely adds convenience features. There's also a Scout model with off-roader styling cues and a raised ride height. You might feel that a 1.4-litre engine commanding just 85bhp would struggle to shift the Roomster's bulk with any great alacrity and, by and large, you'd be right. One up, it's a bit of a hoot, the Roomster's taut suspension allowing for plenty of fun as long as you use the five-speed manual box judiciously, rapid cross country progress becoming an exercise in preservation of momentum. I didn't get the chance to load the car up to the gunwales but could envisage this making it a good deal less effervescent. For what it's worth, Skoda quotes a fuel consumption figure of just over 40mpg with the sprint to 60mph being notched off in 12.7 seconds. A top speed of 106mph means things can get a little breathy when charging hard on the motorway but the kerb weight of just 1,155kg means that it pulls harder than you'd expect.

"The Roomster makes a lot of sense but also shows its fun side with some decidedly unconventional styling"

It's a fun little engine, this 16-valve unit with a peak torque of 126Nm. It's also a good deal more refined than expected. At one point, I thought I was noodling along in fifth only to realise that I was in third gear, the rev counter registering over 4,000rpm. In any of the Roomster's erstwhile rivals, over 4,000rpm sounds not unlike a USAF shock and awe campaign but you really have to listen out in the Skoda, especially if you've got your iPod plugged into the auxiliary input and are cranking out some Mongo Santa Maria. The engine spins freely up to around 5,000rpm, after which it merely amplifies the noise level rather than adding any incremental go. It's a lot better than it has any right to be and makes paying the additional £500-odd for the 1.4-litre TDI diesel a questionable decision, especially if your annual mileages are average or below. The Roomster feels nimble around town, the 10.5 metre turning circle making it easy to jink a quick three-point turn if you take a wrong steer. It's also fairly easy to park. Visibility out of the car is excellent and it's a mere 235mm longer than a Fabia supermini. Despite this, it makes a lot of the space inside. All models have the VarioFlex rear seating as standard. Even with five passengers on board, there's still up to 530 litres of luggage space - a good deal better than most compact MPVs. Fold the rear seats down and there's a humungous 1,555 litres available. In addition to the removable centre seat, the two outer chairs can also be completely removed. By pulling on a lever, both chairs can be dismounted and lifted out and you needn't worry about prolapsing a disc either - at just 14kg each they're reassuringly light. With the rear seats stowed in the garage, you've got 1,780 litres of space and it's useable space too, the almost vertical side windows making it easy to load bags right up to the roof if necessary. Just about the only real problem with the Roomster is its sheer pragmatism. Get past its unusual broken back styling and there's not a lot that is really very striking. Well thought out things rarely are. Some of the plastics are a little low rent - the internal door handles for instance - but I'm nitpicking now. As a budget family vehicle, the Roomster rates a solid nine out of ten in my book. It almost seems churlish to ask whether that is enough but a slew of rival manufacturers are rushing to capitalise on the utility MPV market. With the Roomster, Skoda has placed a marker and a very formidable one at that.

Facts At A Glance
CAR: Skoda Roomster 1.4 range
PRICES: £11,020-£12,350 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 4E
CO2 EMISSIONS: 172g/km
PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 12.7s / Max Speed 106mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 40.1mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: ABS, front, side and curtain airbags. WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE ?: Length/Width/Height 4205/1648/1607mm