2009 SKODA ROOMSTER reviews

Skoda Roomster Roomster S 1.4 Diesel 2009

Recognisably different, yet stylistically attractive enough to avoid worrying potential purchasers reluctant to try new things, the Roomster deserves to be judged favourably. Presenting the world with a non-utilitarian appearance, it manages to look reasonable from any angle - no mean trick with a vehicle as upright as this one. The competence of its body design shines through in terms of lots of interior space with a variety of passenger/load permutations. The Roomster is really a five-seater MPV that features a most intelligently designed and flexible interior offering as much space as a two-bed roomed semi. At the front is the ’driving room’ which provides a first class environment for the driver with comfy seating and excellent visibility. Further back you’re in the ’living room’ - a big area that is ’spot on’ for keeping passengers safe, entertained and relaxed. Juggle Skodas ’Varioflex’ seating system and in an instant you have the large cargo hold of a deep-sea freighter. This is a ’Captain Sensible’ car if ever there was one. However, I knew from the start that the Roomster was going to irritate cosy suburban sensibilities. "What is it?" Squealed a sententiously skewed neighbour. "It’s... it’s... unusual." But Skoda isn’t after the approbation of people who buy vacuum-packed Granny Smith apples from Marks and Spencer. This is practical non-conformist styling that’s a little bit daring - and I like that a lot. Being different, though, won’t sustain mediocrity, so I’m pleased to be able to report that in the quality stakes, standards are high. Shut the door, run your hands over the tightly woven fabrics which feel as if they have been recycled from expensive gentlemen’s sports jackets, try out the damped action of the controls. It all inspires confidence. This sense of integrity and solidity is detectable on the road too. The Roomster feels like a car you can trust. There’s a choice of engines from three petrol and three diesel and a choice of three specification levels: S, SE and Scout. with prices starting at just £10,445. Testing the S variant with the smallest diesel engine was quite a revelation. Only 1.4 litres and just 70bhp I mused: the starter motor on my ’superbike’ is more powerful than that. ’Better not head north with a load on board’ I said to myself: ’That’s uphill.’ How wrong I was. The torquey little motor ’pulls like a train’ and without cracking the whip, I was travelling, as briskly as any chap should - secure in the knowledge that fuel was being consumed frugally. Never ones to exaggerate, Skoda are surely conservative in their claims. 53.3 mpg overall, might be the figure attained when heading into a force nine gale - but your leaden-booted correspondent got nearer 60mpg. Those who love to swoosh about, cocooned in sterile silence in the latest diesel powered palaces which pretend to be magic carpets, might comment that this variant of Roomster is not as quiet as their usual inert 5 Series BMW diesel. Well it jolly well isn’t - but it is three million pounds cheaper, gets you from A to B as quickly these days and won’t lose as much money. I found that gruff, torquey little engine a total ’living’ delight. Uphill, down dale, loaded or unloaded it serves you well - just about giving enough ’go’ to let you enjoy the unexpected nimbleness on twisty roads. You can tackle serious journeys in a Roomster. Comfortable accommodation, loads of room, excellent visibility and a wonderfully cohesive air of commonsense about the overall design, make it one of the best ’real world’ travel accessories available. So - when the Roomster crows at the break of dawn, it’s time to be up and away!