Although the front cabin is awash with neat storage ideas like elasticated straps running across the top of the door bins to secure maps, the real trickery is to be found behind the driver. After you’ve found the hidden door handles and stepped through the large rear doors, it’s immediately obvious how much higher the rear passengers sit than their companions in the front: you have a clear view of the road ahead, boosting the sense of spaciousness.
Rear accommodation consists of two outer chairs that slide and recline, and a more occasional fixed middle seat, which does fold forward to act as centre arm rest, complete with cupholders. Headroom is capacious, though legroom for adults is merely adequate, the seats’ travel limited by the rear wheel arch. Reclining the seats does improve the situation, so few will complain over moderate journeys.
The load capacity is impressive at 530 litres (just 30 litres less than an Octavia hatch). If you have bigger loads to carry, you can fold down any of the three rear seats. If you need even more room, each unit can be independently pivoted forward and held in position with a bungee cord, which can also secure items in the boot. Still not enough? Each seat unit can be removed completely to give an uninterrupted flat floor, 40cm of extra load length and a total of 1780 litres.
Skoda clearly knows it has struck it right with the Roomster and priced it accordingly. The range starts at £9,920 for the 1.2 Roomster 1 (electric front windows, curtain airbags and CD player) and rises to £14,050 for the 105bhp 1.9 Tdi Roomster 3 (panoramic roof, cruise control and rear parking sensors). Our mid-spec 1.4 Roomster 2 comes costs £11,505 with air-con, 15” alloys and remote locking.
A Citroen Berlingo or Renault Kangoo could be yours for three grand less. So Skoda no longer represents the bargain it once did, but the Roomster is an excellent, versatile and well-made package that justifies its price.
