There’s only one other “true” competitor around.
The Fiat Qubo demonstrated clearly the fact that one could afford slightly more space and efficiency than a normal car, along with the related flexibility, thus turning a normal 5-seater into something vaster.
But this is better.
Acrobatics
While we’re not going to touch much on the exterior, save for its beautiful, creamy blue paintjob.
Take for instance that it has to deal with a rather restrictive 4205 x 1684 x 1607 (length, breadth, height) of cabin space.
That’s where we’ll explicitly state that it has more driver and passenger room than a Mark 5 Volkswagen Golf.
Leather seats are an option, supportive as they come by. However, working the reclinable knob on the pair proved to be as easy as working a rusty fire-hydrant with your bare hands.
Our complaints end as we transcend the rear - take for instance, the three-way split rear seats that do a double-fold just like in the Qubo.
The Fiat Qubo demonstrated clearly the fact that one could afford slightly more space and efficiency than a normal car, along with the related flexibility, thus turning a normal 5-seater into something vaster.
But this is better.
Acrobatics
While we’re not going to touch much on the exterior, save for its beautiful, creamy blue paintjob.
Take for instance that it has to deal with a rather restrictive 4205 x 1684 x 1607 (length, breadth, height) of cabin space.
That’s where we’ll explicitly state that it has more driver and passenger room than a Mark 5 Volkswagen Golf.
Leather seats are an option, supportive as they come by. However, working the reclinable knob on the pair proved to be as easy as working a rusty fire-hydrant with your bare hands.
Our complaints end as we transcend the rear - take for instance, the three-way split rear seats that do a double-fold just like in the Qubo.
 |
We took less than a minute to figure out how it works, as opposed to the headache caused by a few Japanese and Korean-made family dragsters currently in existence.
This is more effective. The Roomster, by eyesight alone, is the roomier of the two.
You have enough space to fit a racing bicycle in without removing the wheels.
So what do you do with a van-like, 1780 litres of space? Couples, we don’t want to know!
Furthering the timeline ahead to times of post-marriage, the Roomster does seem like the perfect tool for a family of five. Space wise, that is.
 |
Old school tech
The engine comes straight out of (again) a Mark 5 Volkswagen Golf 1.6-litre hatch. Yes, we know it’s not the newest gizmo around, what with your 1.4-litre turbocharged and twin-charged warm-hatches running around these days.
But the 1.6-litre workhorse still is of significant value in the reliability and efficiency stakes.
Take for instance, its 10.5:1 compression ratio and a healthy (by today’s standards) 153Nm worth of torque at 3800rpm.
A power rating of 105bhp at 5600rpm might be a little lacking, but we’ll see how that goes in a bit.
Our time with the car in the driver’s seat got off to an unexpectedly satisfactory start. Immediately, you’ll find that this is no van, and vans do not have great driving positions.
The engine comes straight out of (again) a Mark 5 Volkswagen Golf 1.6-litre hatch. Yes, we know it’s not the newest gizmo around, what with your 1.4-litre turbocharged and twin-charged warm-hatches running around these days.
But the 1.6-litre workhorse still is of significant value in the reliability and efficiency stakes.
Take for instance, its 10.5:1 compression ratio and a healthy (by today’s standards) 153Nm worth of torque at 3800rpm.
A power rating of 105bhp at 5600rpm might be a little lacking, but we’ll see how that goes in a bit.
Our time with the car in the driver’s seat got off to an unexpectedly satisfactory start. Immediately, you’ll find that this is no van, and vans do not have great driving positions.
You’re seated in the cockpit pretty much like in a bigger car – perhaps a Volkswagen Touareg, for example.
Those leather seats are a little firm, but they’re not uncomfortable to be in, per se. We’d like to compare it with drinking Vodka.
It doesn’t hit you as fast as a pint of Erdinger, but give it a while, and you’ll probably feel its effects.
The throttle pedal is great for light-footed driving, as it isn’t very sensitive to driver inputs. We probably failed to mention that this car gets the VW group’s 6-speed torque converter automatic.
First gear was delightfully short – it gets the car off a loathsome set of red lights the way you want it to – nothing short of the original Mark V Golf, if not slightly better.
Second and third gets you to 100km/h in more or less its paper-specified time, but most importantly was its good spread of torque in the higher gears.
Those leather seats are a little firm, but they’re not uncomfortable to be in, per se. We’d like to compare it with drinking Vodka.
It doesn’t hit you as fast as a pint of Erdinger, but give it a while, and you’ll probably feel its effects.
The throttle pedal is great for light-footed driving, as it isn’t very sensitive to driver inputs. We probably failed to mention that this car gets the VW group’s 6-speed torque converter automatic.
First gear was delightfully short – it gets the car off a loathsome set of red lights the way you want it to – nothing short of the original Mark V Golf, if not slightly better.
Second and third gets you to 100km/h in more or less its paper-specified time, but most importantly was its good spread of torque in the higher gears.
 |
When driven leisurely at around the speed limit in fifth, one doesn’t need to mash his right foot into the ground excessively just to overtake someone.
Never once did we feel the need to slot it into tiptronic mode – Sport satisfies the angry dad, while the self-shifter is best reserved for coasting down Genting Highlands at year’s end.
Again, unlike most vans, there is a certain high quality level present in every aspect of its ride, from cabin to road noise, vibration and harshness levels – they’re all on par with cars like the Renault Megane, Volkswagen Polo and Korean sedans such as the Hyundai Sonata.
Its abilities through corners aren’t lacking either – those front struts and multi-linked rear arms are as good as the Skoda Octavia in practice.
There’s understeer at the limit of course, but there isn’t much body-roll or any lack of compliancy.
Never once did we feel the need to slot it into tiptronic mode – Sport satisfies the angry dad, while the self-shifter is best reserved for coasting down Genting Highlands at year’s end.
Again, unlike most vans, there is a certain high quality level present in every aspect of its ride, from cabin to road noise, vibration and harshness levels – they’re all on par with cars like the Renault Megane, Volkswagen Polo and Korean sedans such as the Hyundai Sonata.
Its abilities through corners aren’t lacking either – those front struts and multi-linked rear arms are as good as the Skoda Octavia in practice.
There’s understeer at the limit of course, but there isn’t much body-roll or any lack of compliancy.
Why the Roomster?
Skoda’s Roomster’s nearest competitor is the $72,900 Fiat Qubo. For $7,900 more, one gets a striking green paintjob, much less driver space and comfort up front, a less powerful and sophisticated 1.4-litre engine, and rear windows that do not wind down.
What Skoda’s offering then, is a car-like apparatus that offers car-like levels of ‘relaxedness’, space for everything imaginable, great versatility and ease of use without the excessive price tag.
For $65,000, it might not be your typical Toyota Corolla, Mitsubishi Lancer or Nissan Latio. But you know what? It’ll do your bidding in the most gentlemanly manner that might be otherwise unimaginable, thanks to the stigma of Van-like owners.
We beg to differ.
Skoda’s Roomster’s nearest competitor is the $72,900 Fiat Qubo. For $7,900 more, one gets a striking green paintjob, much less driver space and comfort up front, a less powerful and sophisticated 1.4-litre engine, and rear windows that do not wind down.
What Skoda’s offering then, is a car-like apparatus that offers car-like levels of ‘relaxedness’, space for everything imaginable, great versatility and ease of use without the excessive price tag.
For $65,000, it might not be your typical Toyota Corolla, Mitsubishi Lancer or Nissan Latio. But you know what? It’ll do your bidding in the most gentlemanly manner that might be otherwise unimaginable, thanks to the stigma of Van-like owners.
We beg to differ.
