Since Volkswagen took over the beleaguered Czech car maker Skoda, its job was really just to take Volkswagen cars and remould them into something at a cheaper price and with a suitably distinctive but still quite conservative body. This it managed with aplomb, producing jelly mould saloons and hatchbacks that were really quite good, but brought nothing new to the table.
All that was upset with the Roomster - suddenly Skoda's success had gone to its head and it had a mind of its own, producing a car that was effectively a land-grab into the burgeoning crossover market. It was a bold move from a company that was already starting to raise eyebrows at its parent firm because of its sheer competency - Seat has never particularly posed a challenge to Volkswagen through its inability to get a handle on its identity, something which Skoda quickly mastered.
The Roomster is a very good car - and quite imaginative too, hoping to create a sort of mini-niche that will bring together people who are shopping for a family hatchback like a Golf or a Ford Focus, an MPV like the Renault Scenic, or even something more upright like a Nissan Qashqai. The styling is certainly distinctive, with a bizarre but quite charming transition between the car-like front and MPV-like rear.
The only problem with the Roomster is that despite its distinctive styling it is actually quite dull - its range of engines offering glacial progress and the whole set-up is geared towards a more 'relaxed' style of motoring. The tall back end puts you in mind of cars like the Renault Kangoo, which were based on vans. There's nothing really very fashionable about the Roomster.
Whilst the Skoda doesn't have any particularly high quality materials on display in the cabin, it is all solidly put together and there is bags of space inside for a family of five. They'll fit quite comfortably inside and there is still a lot of room left over in the boot as well.
The Roomster offers exceptional value for money when you consider what else the money will buy you, and running costs are quite low too, the Skoda being in a low insurance group and tax band depending on which engine you choose. They're all quite lazy, but the 1.9-litre TDI is a frugal option.
The Roomster is a well thought-out vehicle, offering a practical solution for family motoring.