In an arena of fashion-friendly compact upstarts like the MINI One, the Skoda Roomster represents an invigorating breath of fresh air, particularly in light of its working class, anti-establishment credentials.
Skoda has kept a rather low profile in Singapore of late and its return with the Roomster gives the brand a much welcome break into a segment that it may have an opportunity to define.
Not quite a hatchback nor a van, the Roomster combines the best of all worlds with its dynamic profile that is only vaugely van-like, yet MPV-style mechanics that really let one exploit the cabin space.
there's an intriguing blue-collar, workman-chic appeal to the car that you either get or you don't. In 'White Candy' and metallic window tints and its accompanying bonnet bulges, the Roomster certainly attracted its share of attention as it trawled the streets.
It can get rather confusing as one attempts to come to grips with the Roomster's identity. Is it a hatch-back, MPV or van?
Well, the rear seats can be slid, folded and flipped in more configurations than a Cirque de Soleil chinese acrobat, or in extreme cargo-carrying mode, removed completely.
The front boasts multiple cubby-holes for your stowage needs.
It's also the little thoughtful touches that really set the Roomster apart from its run-of-the-mill cross-segment rivals. Little hooks at the base of the rear seats can be anchored to the front seat head-rests for better stability when the seats are flipped forward.
There are even pictorial depictions giving precise instructions for the orgiami-challenged owners of the car to maximise its carrying potential.
Although there's quite a fair bit of plastic in the car, the overall material quality is high and hardy enough to resist use and abuse. The sense of solidity is almost agricultural in nature, like the earlier VW cars.
The ergonomics are simple and the level of kit is far from basic, but then some may feel that the level of equipment is overly high.
ESP, manual climate control and a comprehensive trip computer are just some of the highlights.
A 6-speed automatic mated to a peppy 1.6L lets you zip the car around at a decent pace. The ratios are closely spaced for brisk progress and while the engine revs smoothly, there's a slightly gruff note during acceleration.
For me, the kitschy, radioactive green illumination is a big plus and a welcome change from the overused blues and whites that its VW stable-mates seem to enjoy using.
Now the downer, at just under $70k, it's not exactly a cheap proposition, especially in Singapore where Skoda doesn't have that same reputation for offering VW-quality-at-value pricing as Europe, which is a real pity, as far as we're concerned.
Fast Facts : Skoda Roomster 1.6 (A)
Engine: 1598cc, 16-valves in-line 4
Maximum power: 105bhp at 5700rpm
Maximum torque: 153Nm at 3500rpm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
0-100km/h: 12.1 seconds
Top speed: 183km/h
LxBxH: 4205 x 1684 x 1607mm
Wheelbase: 2617mm
Kerb-weight: 1215kg
Price: S$68,000
Agent: Harvest Automobiles (Group Exklusiv)
