Skoda Roomster 1.6
Terrible name, weird looks, surprisingly good car
There are are two reasons why you’re reading about the Roomster in evo. And neither is that there’ll be a vRS version, even though Skoda is using the Roomster as a car to ‘sharpen and emotionalise the Skoda brand’. Reason one is that the Roomster represents the evolution of the car. Sales of regular saloons and hatches are sliding because people want more useful cars to fit their changing ‘lifestyles’. The Roomster is extremely useful, with three sliding/foldable/removable seats in the back, lots of legroom, stratospheric headroom and an ample boot. It’s also very well finished and equipped. Reason two is that the Roomster is unexpectedly good fun to drive. The wide rear track keeps roll low and turn-in quick, and the choice of springs and dampers should be perfect for our desperate British roads. Gutsiest is a 1.9-litre turbodiesel with just 105bhp, the same power as the more engaging petrol 1.6.
Specifications
| Engine | 4-cyl, 1598cc, 16v |
| Max power | 105bhp @ 5700rpm |
| Max torque | 114lb ft @ 3500rpm |
| 0-60 | 10.9sec (claimed) |
| Top speed | 114mph (claimed) |
| On sale | September 2006 |
