Skoda Roomster (2006 - 2015) 1.2 TSI (105bhp) SE 5d Owner Review

How reliable do you find the car?

I bought the car off my Father-in-Law (who owned it for 2 years). Have to say it is ugly (so who’s going to steal it?!!) but if you’ve owned anything in the VW range then the dash is very much like the older polo/golf/Passat. It’s comfortable to drive (changed from a Honda Jazz) so getting used to the smaller windscreen and chunky A pillars but the load space is brilliant (had to read the manual about the electric rear windows. (There’s a “safety switch on the drivers door that disables the rear window switches - but you can still open them from the front!) The cubby holes are ok (the jazz’s were great and the dashboard cup holders too … but hey ho!!) This has more pull in acceleration and suspension is lots more forgiving than the jazz but still handles like a car (as opposed to a converted van) and the steering lock is really good for tight corners…. Or turning on a small roundabout. Mine’s a 1.2 Tsi so there’s loads of space under the bonnet for access and there’s a spare tyre in the boot!! (Not that I’ve had a flat in years but I’d rather change a flat tyre than try and use a tyre repair kit. Dash layout is pretty easy to navigate and the fuse box under the steering column is easy to access and there’s a fuse puller on the flap (making life a bit easier!) Bags of space and light in the rear (mine has the panoramic glass roof) and although the car is a bit odd in the design…. the big rear doors mean getting in and out is a doddle! The boot is large, high and the massive boot lid has a rubber pull handle (so you can pull it closed fairly easily). I’m 6ft 3 and there’s no way you can catch your head! All in all if you want a car for moving people comfortably and /or lots of stuff then this is for you. It really isn’t a good looking car but if you aren’t bothered by that (and lots of people aren’t judging by the prices these fetch currently on the 2nd hand car market!) and don’t want to go the route of the MPV then you might like it.

Does the car do everything you expected it to do?

The rear windows “safety switch” I mentioned earlier…. nice touch! Along with the alarm disable button on the drivers door (handy if you have a dog and don’t want to set the alarm off!!) The room in the back is massive! The folding/removable seats gives you a van if you need it!