Skoda Roomster Reviews

Ewan Kennedy reviews the first and second generation Skoda Roomster from 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 as a used buy

Roomster sounds more like some character from a teen TV show than an innovative compact runabout. The twee title does not do justice to this well thought out Skoda.However, on closer scrutiny, the name is pretty much on the mark, for the car ‘makes room’; room for almost anything anyone could want from a vehicle of this size.VALUEThe Roomster comes onto the market at $22,490, plus on-roads, for the five-speed manual, while the seven-speed DSG auto costs $24,790. The test vehicle, a five-speed manual with pearl effect paint and contrasting roof, sells for $23,370. Standard equipment includes an auxiliary socket allowing MP3 connection, a 12V socket in the boot, black roof rails, four-spoke multi-function leather steering wheel and Bluetooth phone connectivity. Extremely quiet at idle, the engine of the test Roomster made itself known only when accelerating with urgency.TECHNOLOGYThe Roomster first hit Aussie shores in 2007 and has been extensively upgraded with a new, more economical engine and the option of a DSG automatic transmission. The new Roomster enjoys the benefit of a new 1.2-litre 77 kW turbocharged petrol engine producing 175 Nm, 22 Nm more torque than the outgoing 1.6-litre engine. It showcases a 1.1 litre per 100 kilometre improvement in combined fuel consumption and a 34 grams/km reduction in CO2 emissions.The motor can be mated with a five-speed manual gearbox or seven-speed DSG double-clutch automatic transmission, the latter operating in two modes – fully automatic or manual Tiptronic.DESIGNWith one of the most flexible interiors in the segment, Roomster offers as much interior space as a conventional multipurpose vehicle, all within the space of a mere 214 mm more than a Skoda Fabia hatch.It has a modern new look on the outside and top quality interior trim. The Roomster’s cabin has come in for material and equipment upgrades with more soft-touch plastics and higher specification entertainment systems, while maintaining its passenger and load carrying versatility through clever seating.   Again the Roomster has the innovative Varioflex rear seating arrangement. Revisiting the Varioflex rear seating system, it’s easy to see the appeal of such versatility. The theatre-style rear seating, positioned higher than the front seats for a better all-round view, takes three occupants with the centre seat raised. Folded down it becomes an armrest, a drink holder or for storage.This middle section, which weighs just 11 kilograms, can be easily removed giving more shoulder space for the two remaining occupants. Alternatively, they can cosy up by shifting both seats inboard. Leg room is impressive thanks to seat rails offering 150 mm of movement forward and back and an adjustable seat back that reclines by 13.5 degrees.Cargo gets its own characteristic storage features. With five passengers on board, the load area allows up 450 litres of space. Fold the rear seats down and volume increases to 1555 litres on a surface of up to 1022 millimetres. In addition to the removable centre seat, the two outer chairs, each weighing a middleweight 16 kg, can also be removed completely by pulling on the clearly-marked levers.The Roomster thus becomes a two-seater van with a volume of 1780 litres. The almost vertical side walls and low loading edge make it easy to take goods, even up to the roofline. Tie-down points on the floor can secure large and heavy items.All this is packaged in a vehicle measuring only 4214 mm long, yet with a wheelbase of 2608 mm - small car, big help. The extra millimetres also help to give the vehicle a stable ride. By having a slightly wider track at the rear, corners can be taken with confidence, while a low kerb weight also enhances handling.On the outside, the Roomster has taken on a more assertive road presence. With a new, wider radiator grille and headlamp design, plus the wraparound windscreen, the vehicle looks wider and lower than the previous model. Large windows open up the rear of the cabin, while hidden rear door handles emphasise the vehicle’s clean, uncluttered profile which leads to a rear featuring high positioned slim tail lights incorporating Skoda’s typical C-shape when lit.SAFETYThe Roomster has gained a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating, having three-point seat belts on all seats, including the centre rear, and height-adjustable belts in front fitted with pre-tensioners. Additionally, there are six airbags – driver and passenger, side and curtain.DRIVINGWith only 77 kW on tap maximum revs needed to be maintained to shift the five-speed manual smoothly through the gears. Anything less had the motor gasping for air. Expect to get fuel consumption of 5.9 litres per 100 kilometres on the combined urban / highway cycle, while putting out 138g of carbon dioxide every kilometre.Skoda RoomsterPrice: from $22,490 (plus driveaway costs)Warranty: three years/unlimited kmCrash rating: 5-star ANCAPEngine: 1.2-litre 4-cylinder, 77kW/175NmTransmission: 5-speed manual, FWDBody: 4214mm (L); 1684mm (w); 1607mm (h)Weight: 1217kgThirst: 5.9L/100km 138g/km CO2    

When Skoda returned to Australia in 2007 it did so with two models, the mainstream Octavia sedan and a quirky, boxy little city car called the Roomster. While the Octavia has been successful, the Roomster didn’t appeal to local buyers, partly because of its relatively high price and partly because of its awkward looks, and was dropped from the Czech carmaker’s Australian range in 2010.VALUEThe past couple of years have seen a marked change in Australian car buying habits with smaller cars growing in popularity so Skoda has decided to give Roomster a second chance. While the styling remains much as before, the price has been cut by over $4000 from the 2007 model.The 2012 Skoda Roomster sells for $22,490 with five-speed manual and $24,790 with seven-speed DSG automatic transmission. Government and dealer charges need to be added to these prices.Equipment levels are modest with standard features that include front, side and curtain airbags, ABS brakes, electronic stability control, cruise control, air conditioning, black roof rails, protective side mouldings and Bluetooth phone connectivity. The options list contains a panoramic sun roof $1690), rear parking sensors ($390), climate control air conditioning $390), front fog lights ($340), and leather trim ($1190).DESIGNStyling of the Roomster is distinctly different and likely to polarise opinions. But it will gain a tick of approval from those who bemoan the sameness of contemporary cars. We were able to talk with Skoda’s chief designer back in the 2007 and he explained the design philosophy: “We wanted to make our Roomster look like an aircraft at the front and a house at the back.” His logic being that it was possible to produce a vehicle that looked sleek at the front but which also functional.Despite its compact exterior dimensions (4214 mm long and 1684 mm wide) Roomster provides plenty of interior space. Leg and head room will only provide problems for the tallest of occupants, most contact will between shoulders and elbows.As always check it out with the broadest of potential testers on your road test before making your final decision – but make sure to check out the options provided by the clever rear seating system first.The Roomster’s rear seats are raised above the level of the front seats to allow better vision and the rear windows are large, two big plusses for young passengers. Likewise, visibility from the driver’s seat is also very good with the exception of the front side where the A-pillars are bulkier than we prefer.There are numerous interior features such as storage drawers beneath the front seats and stowage areas for sunglasses, mobile phones, diaries and suchlike. We did try it out with five adults on board for a short trip and they just managed to squeeze in. Certainly not a long distance cruiser – but it’s not intended to be one.Skoda calls this seating system Varioflex and we’ve seen it previously in the Yeti compact SUV. It offers a number of different seating and cargo variations including the ability to easily remove one or more of the rear seats and gain up to 1780 litres of storage space, effectively turning this versatile little hatch into a light commercial van. Even with all seats in place the maximum boot space is an amazing 530 litres – that’s more than many a family sedan. There are also some useful storage areas within the boot to prevent small items from rolling around.When carrying four passengers the centre rear seat (it comes with a 40/20/40 split) can be removed allowing the two remaining seats to slide towards the centre of the car and spread the available space. Alternatively the centre rear seatback can be folded down to create a small table with built-in padded armrests and holders for drink containers.TECHNOLOGYThe original Roomster came with the choice of 1.6-litre petrol or 1.9-litre turbo-diesel engines. This time around there’s just one, an all-new turbocharged 1.2-litre petrol engine with an official fuel consumption reading of just 5.9 litres per hundred kilometres. The previous diesel engine returned 5.5 L/100 km so the decision to not import it does make sense given our relatively low petrol prices.DRIVINGOn the road Skoda Roomster handles surprisingly well for such a tall, boxy vehicle with little body roll at normal cornering speeds. Steering is neutral at normal to higher-than-average cornering speeds. Even at freeway speeds, despite the small engine, it cruises comfortably.VERDICTSkoda’s decision to give Roomster a second chance in Australia is much more likely to succeed than before. While the unusual styling will polarise opinions the mini MPV’s functionality and versatility, together with a much better price, could make it a valuable addition to the Czech carmaker’s range.

Skoda Roomster isn’t for everyone, its unusual styling is the result of very practical interior design. Australia is a rather conservative market so the Roomster failed to find many buyers when sold here between 2007 and 2010. Now Roomster has been reintroduced and the importer of the Czech marque hopes it will be more successful this time around.PRICEFor starters Skoda is using the best sales incentive of all to get back into the market. It’s slashing the price to just $22,490 or about $4000 less than previously. Add $2300 for the seven-speed DSG automatic transmission over that of the standard five-speed manual. These prices don’t include on-road costs.ENGINEAs well as the big price drop the Roomster adds appeal by having a new-design turbocharged 1.2-litre petrol engine with an official fuel consumption reading of just 5.5 litres per hundred kilometres. Diesels are no longer being imported, but couldn't have beaten the new petrol unit by much.DESIGNRoomster has also benefited from a facelift, though this does nothing to the challenging shape of side profile. These days Skoda is controlled by Volkswagen but still has a fair degree of independence, particularly in the styling department. Anyone who complains that all cars look the same should immediately add Roomster to their short list.The chief designer tells us, “We wanted to make our Roomster look like an aircraft at the front and a house at the back.”DRIVEHandling of the Roomster is good, the steering is neutral at normal to higher-than-average cornering speeds. The added height of the Skoda over that of a conventional hatchback is noticeable if you push hard, but this is a people mover not a sports hatch.Skoda Roomster is only 4.2 metres long yet provides stretch out space for four big adults. It’s relatively narrow, so three grownups in the rear will be uncomfortable. But, three children have room to move. The back seat has a 40/20/40 per cent arrangement so one of the junior travellers should ideally be smaller than the others.The window line is significantly lower at the rear seats than the front, resulting in huge side windows that let even small children get an excellent view of outside. This is a major factor in boredom reduction so parents who cringe at the thought of hearing “Are we nearly there?” should also be adding Roomster to the aforementioned short list.The boot is huge and a pair of large suitcases can be carried with ease. The rear seats can be folded down to further increase cargo space. They can be folded individually, either in a single motion, or double folded. The three seats can be removed individually in a matter of seconds to give an almost van-like space.A popular option is to remove the centre-rear seat. Then you have the choice of a good sized gap between the two rear seats, or you can slide them closer together. A further option is to fold down the backrest of the centre-rear seat to create a small table with built-in padded armrests and holders for drink containers. There are numerous interior features such as storage drawers beneath the front seats and stowage areas for sunglasses, mobile phones, diaries and suchlike.

These turn out to be quirks for everyday driving, for the wrap-around front windscreen, the low belt line and big, big rear windows make the Roomster an easy, cheerful mode of transport.The design allows occupants a grand view of cities and countryside, allows a driver to place the wagon in traffic or in the car park with little fuss.But there is more to the Skoda wagon than smart style — the 101 ways to arrange the back-seat accommodation for one — but it remains rare to have a machine with such distinctive body language that works so well.The style becomes the vehicle, and for such a practical machine the Roomster attracts a good deal of attention on city streets — helped, no doubt, by a range of bright colour options.People are taken with the styling (if not always by the price for the diesel version, just a little too high, say some).This Roomster is a multi-purpose European machine with personality, whether out for a day's touring, carting children to school or picking up another load of whitegoods in these days of decadence.Built in the Czech Republic by a company these days owned by Volkswagen, the Roomster comes from Skoda's own engineering and design crowd rather than via the re-engineering of a German machine.It may be considered part-wagon/part-van but it is designed and built as an everyday family car, albeit one that's hard to match with any particular rival.The Skoda Roomster has a little niche of its own. (Just don't tell Toyota, ever keen to fill niches — real or imagined. Not sure why but it sent us searching for photographs of the Matra-Simca Rancho from the late 1970s, a valiant effort to create a faux four-wheel-drive wagon of difference).For all the differences today, the Skoda is backed by a five-star crash rating plus a three-year, unlimited kilometre warranty that includes roadside assist.These attributes should quell some fears about a marque that's not had a big run in this country.The differences on the outside continue through to a welcoming interior.The Skoda Roomster's cabin is light and cheery and inherently practical.The roof is tall and the seating arrangements clever to keep four big adults in comfort.The rear seat can be split 40:20:20 and the middle part removed if necessary. There are any number of arrangements for people and cargo; Skoda's VarioFlex rear seating system allows eight interior layout options, with the three separate seats able to be moved forward, back, sideways or right out of the Roomster.Up front, the driver sits tall with good visibility in all directions. Controls are neat, tidy and pretty ergonomic, although the stereo system can need some initial study.Also up here the squared-off centre console can annoy the driver's left knee and this Roomster had one minor issue with a bit of fit and finish around the dashboard.But there are no complaints about the drive.The little diesel has plenty of torque, even if the driving style needs to be adjusted a touch to spin that turbo up and get off the line with the traffic.Once on the move, the Roomster's diesel is smart and flexible. It will lug around without complaint, rolls on with the lazy driver and with few gear changes.The front-drive machine handles and rides fine, although here and there those 15-inch wheels feel a bit small on some lumps and through some holes.At the end of the day the Skoda Roomster is a fine European machine with enough differences to stand out from the crowd while offering a deal of practicality.Perhaps the only question is the pricing on this diesel version.At about $30,000 on the road it is being sold against more conventional, and very competitive, vehicles with more established trading history in this country. SnapshotSkoda RoomsterPrice: $28,990Body: 5-door wagonEngine: 1.9 litre, turbocharged dieselPower: 77kW@4000rpmTorque: 240Nm@1800rpmTransmission: Five-speed manualDimensions (MM): 4205 (l), 1684 (w), 1607 (h)Weight: 1260kgPayload: 515kgTowing: 1200kg 

With its oversized rear windows, bread van rear end, high stance and mini wheels on a gawky body it certainly won't win any design awards.

The two cars driving Skoda back into Australia could not be more different.One is the Czech company's new pride and joy, and the other is just a rework of a Volkswagen.They are called Octavia and Roomster and each have starting prices in the high-$20,000 range.They will lead a new-model onslaught that will eventually include the baby Fabia, luxury Superb and a compact four-wheel drive called the Yeti.Skoda Australia plans to build a solid base for the brand, and is more concerned about getting the basics right than shooting for big numbers. It will be the starter brand in the Volkswagen Group.The Skoda position is below Volkswagen and has a slightly more youthful and sporty slant to the model line-up. That means the cars need sharp pricing and something different to pitch them against Japanese rivals, while steering clear of any conflict with the VW badge.It took nearly two years for Volkswagen Group Australia to reach a distribution deal with Skoda, after failed talks with Seat. The Spanish company is another price-driven brand in the Volkswagen camp, but it was too difficult to get a commitment to Australia.“We are the fastest-growing company in the Volkswagen group. Since 2005 we have been working on a growth strategy,” Skoda sales and marketing board member Fred Kappler says.Skoda is more than 100 years old, after starting as a bicycle maker under its founders Vaclav Klement and Vaclav Laurin. It built some of Europe's costliest and more luxurious cars before World War II.The company slumped under communist rule, but after what the locals call the “Velvet Revolution,” then a buy-in and eventual takeover by Volkswagen it has been going forward rapidly.Its factories at Mlada Boleslav have been renovated. There is a new technical centre, production is more than 300,000 vehicles, overseas factories include India, China and Kazakhstan, and there are more than 1500 people on the research-and-development side of the business.“Skoda is a traditional brand with a big future. The company started again with only one model line and one engine, 15 years ago. Skoda has a long history and a lot of clever engineers,” research and development boss Eckhard Schultz says.The Czechs are keen for success in Australia, not just to boost export sales. They want to learn about selling into another country in the Asian region. It has done well in Britain and hopes to repeat the deal.It has deliberately held back its newest and best car, the baby Fabia (which will sell 100,000 cars in 2008), to get going with the Octavia and Roomster.The Octavia is a mid-sized sedan and wagon that picks up the mechanical package from Volkswagen's Jetta, though it is closer in cabin space to the Passat and even has with a sporty RS package, which has been a huge hit in Europe.The approach for the Octavia is typically Volkswagen. It has only two body styles but a range of engines and three levels of equipment. The four-door sedan is actually a liftback, and a conventional five-door wagon called the combi.The motors are 1.9 and 2.0-litre turbodiesels, and 1.8-litre and 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol units. The outputs are 77kw/250Nm and 103kW/320Nm for the diesels and the petrol motors make 100kW/200Nm and 118kw/250Nm.Gearbox choices, depending on models, are five-speed manuals, a six-speed automatic and VW's excellent six-speed DSG manu-matic.The Octavia RS has the same 2.0-litre turbo used in the Golf GTI with a six-speed manual until the DSG lands next year. That will set the tone with lowered sports suspension, 18-inch alloy wheels, sports seats and a mild body kit.Final prices and specifications will be revealed in October.The Roomster deal is simpler. There is only one model, though a giant moonroof and satellite navigation will be optional and buyers will have a choice of 1.9-litre turbodiesel and 1.6-litre petrol engines. The diesel has only a five-speed manual gearbox. On the roadFirst impressions of the new-age Skodas are good. The Octavia is solid and gets a bit of an edge with the RS package. The Roomster is a genuinely innovative baby wagon that could be a sleeper for the brand.Once the Roomster hits the road in Australia, and people see something genuinely different, sales could zoom.But everything depends on price and value, particularly against the Japanese cars that Skoda Australia has set as the brand's targets.It was hard to know what to expect from the cars. The brand is virtually unknown in Australia.The last Skodas sold here were primitive in every way, so even the strength of Volkswagen as a big brother might not have been enough to work a motoring revolution.But two days of varied driving in the Czech republic, a gorgeous country with roads not totally foreign to Australians showed the basics are good. Skoda has put enough of a Czech twist into the cars to create a point of difference.The Octavia is based on the VW Jetta sedan but has a roomier cabin and the giant liftback tail of the sedan. This provides good luggage space and excellent flexibility.It gets along best with the turbodiesel engine, though the sporty RS is a sharp drive with taut suspension and the Golf GTI turbo petrol motor.There were some minor quality niggles, with fitting errors and some cabin squeaks and rattles, but a range of cars drove nicely.The Roomster is an innovative baby, from its giant windscreen to the step-down side glass making it a better vision for youngsters. The back-row seats can be lifted out.The 1.6 Roomster is a drowsy drive but the turbodiesel gets along well and should tap the growing interest in diesel.It will be good to get the cars on home territory in October, but early signs look promising.This is despite the prospect of another start-up brand trying to find space in showrooms that are as congested as any in the world. Inside viewSkoda OctaviaOn sale: October 11Price: Estimate high $20,000s to low $40,000sBody: Five-door liftback, five-door wagonEngines: 1.9-litre turbodiesel, 2.0-litre diesel, 2.0-litre petrol, 2.0-litre petrol turboTransmissions: Five and six-speed manuals, six-speed DSG autoModels: Ambiente, Elegance, RS Skoda RoomsterOn sale: October 11Price: Estimate high $20,000sBody: Five-door wagonEngines: 1.9-litre diesel, 1.6-litre petrolTransmission: Five-speed manual, six-speed auto