Skoda Roomster Review Covering 2006 To Date

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Quick Summary of the Skoda Roomster

OVERALL

The Roomster has always looked a really well thought-out product. It is what it is and if you’re after a stylish way to move the family about, Skoda’s offering may not appeal. If, on the other hand, you want to maximise practicality and space while retaining a decent driving experience, the Roomster is a very capable and affordable option.

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There’s a lot of extraneous baggage tied up with modern motorcars. Manufacturers spend billions massaging the public’s perception of their products with glossy advertising and clever marketing devices. Many of the vehicles themselves display at least an element of style over substance. Skoda’s Roomster serves a refreshing break from the norm in that it’s an unassuming vehicle designed to fill a role, the role of affordable family transport. There are no gimmicks and buyers seeking a cheap, practical way of getting the kids and a bit of luggage from A to B should like it.
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History of the Roomster

Skoda’s model range immediately prior to the arrival of the Roomster MPV played things very much by the book. The products were good but there wasn’t very much out of the ordinary going on. When news surfaced that a supermini-based MPV was to be added, the expectation was of another competent but formulaic effort. The Roomster took a different tack. Van-based MPVs had been popularised through the 90s by manufacturers sticking windows and seats in their small commercial vehicles to create utilitarian but cheap and hugely spacious MPVs. The Roomster followed on in this tradition except that it lacked too many obvious commercial vehicle origins and that, for many used buyers, will be deemed a considerable plus.The Roomster made its debut in the summer of 2006 riding on Fabia supermini underpinnings which are also common across the Volkswagen Group’s other supermini products of around the same time. The engine range was chosen very much to provide economy rather than performance and includes 1.2, 1.4 and 1.6-litre petrol units with 1.4 and 1.9-litre diesels. Trim levels were imaginatively titled Roomster 1, Roomster 2 and Roomster 3.The Roomster Scout was introduced in early 2007. It brought a more rugged appearance to the Roomster’s exterior with side body mouldings, a raised ride height, front fog lights and roof rails but always looked to be fighting a losing battle against the quirky lines of the standard car.
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Skoda Roomster Road Test

Skoda laid-on six engines for Roomster buyers to choose from and these are equally split between petrol and diesel. The petrol range opens with a 70bhp 1.2-litre unit, then there’s an 85bhp 1.4 and a 105bhp 1.6. The three-cylinder 1.2-litre is more capable than you would expect given its size and will be quite adequate for many family buyers. If you plan on undertaking longer journeys, the 1.4 may be a better option with its 132Nm torque output at 3,800rpm. The 1.6 feels more muscular still with 155Nm produced at the same engine speed. The diesels with their superior fuel economy are where a lot of the smart money will go but, as always, they’re priced at a sizable premium, so make sure you’re going to cover enough mileage to recoup this extra outlay at the pumps. Many will also prefer the more relaxed driving characteristics of the oil-burners, however, with the 70 and 80bhp 1.4-litre three-cylinder options producing torque figures of 155Nm and 195Nm respectively. The 80bhp model can also manage a superb 54.3mpg average fuel economy return. The range-topping engine is the 1.9-litre TDI and here you get 105bhp and a sizable 240Nm torque rating. All the engines get a 5-speed gearbox with an optional six-speed auto ‘box available for the more powerful petrol versions.To go with its car-like driving position, the Roomster also delivers impressively car-like handling. Despite the high roofline at the rear, it resists body roll admirably and the general ride quality is far superior to van-based MPV rivals. It stays nice and quiet when you’re on the move as well, with only limited wind and road noise finding its way inside.
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Buying a Skoda Roomster

The Roomster is a largely straightforward sort of car without the flashy trim finishes or gimmicky design features that don’t tend to stand the test of time too well. Check the interior for signs of heavy use, stains on the upholstery or bits of broken trim. Mechanically, the car should be sound with its range of tried and tested engines but make the usual checks to ensure that yours isn’t hiding any guilty secrets.
Used Skoda Roomster for sale

Skoda Roomster Typical Pricing

A 1.4-litre petrol-powered Roomster is the most popular choice and will be the most common model on the used market. Prices start at £7,000 for an ‘06-plate model rising to just under £10,000 for one of the latest cars in Roomster 3 trim. The 1.4-litre TDI diesel can be had in 70 or 80bhp form and starts from £7,400 on an ‘06-plate. Go for the 1.9-litre TDI model and you’ll be looking at £8,800 for a Roomster 2 variant or £11,000 if it’s a Roomster 3 you’re after. The Roomster Scout opens on a ‘56-plate and costs from £9,100 for the 1.6-litre petrol engine, which is roughly equivalent to the price of a Roomster 3 model.
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Skoda Roomster Parts

(Estimated prices, based on a 2006 Roomster 1.6) An alternator is a big ticket item at around £400, while a clutch assembly is around £200. Front brake pads are a reassuring £40 a pair, whilst somebody must have employed a pre-VW Skoda accountant when radiators were priced at £90. A starter motor is around £135, whilst a replacement headlamp is just over £100.
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Skoda Roomster Rated

Performance Performance 3 out of 5

Comfort

Handling

Economy

Styling

Equipment

Build

Depreciation Depreciation 3.5 out of 5

Insurance

Value

Skoda Roomster Review2006 To Date