Skoda Roomster
The powertrain is a three-cylinder petrol engine with a displacement of 1.2 liters
Output - 64 hp, available at 5400 rpm
Peak torque - 112 Nm at 3000 rpm
Top speed - 155 km/h
Sprint from standstill to 100 km/h - 16.9 seconds
Fuel consumption (l/100 km):
in the urban cycle - 8.7
on the highway - 5.5
in combined mode - 6.7
The range is provided by a 55-liter tank
Distance between axles - 2167 mm
Track width front/rear - 1436/1500 mm
Body length - 4205 mm
Width - 1607 mm
Height - 1684 mm
Curb weight - 1150 kg
The Skoda lineage
The history of the brand dates back to June 27, 1925, when the company Laurin&Klement, which initially produced bicycles and then switched to military equipment, merged with the joint-stock company Skoda. Thus, the plant in Mlada Boleslav came under the full control of the Skoda syndicate (100% of shares).
The new enterprise faced the task of creating its own trademark. Interestingly, the appearance of the logo is shrouded in legends, although the company was among the largest and most successful in the country.
One version says that someone suggested using the profile of an Indian as an emblem. Where did an Indian come from in the Czech Republic? Contemporaries claimed that during Emil Skoda's trip to America, he was accompanied by a faithful Indian, and a portrait of this companion hung in the founder's office. It was on the basis of this image that a relief bas-relief with a diameter of 25 cm was created, which adorned the offices of many managers.
But the winged arrow that appeared on Skoda locomotives became a symbol of speed and efficiency. It was on trains that the public first saw the new emblem. The dot in the logo is a symbol of precision.
By 1930, Skoda had taken second place in total vehicle production in the country and third in passenger car output. But management decided not to rest on its laurels. From January 1, 1930, the plant was transformed into the Joint-Stock Company of Automotive Industry (ASAP) with its head office in Prague.
Four years later, the market saw the Skoda-Popular, which won the Monte Carlo rally in 1936. After it came the Favorit and the two-door Skoda 1101 (Spartak). The latter, after five years of refinement, turned into the well-known Octavia.
Following it, the Felicia debuted.
A turning point occurred in 1991 when Skoda became part of the German concern Volkswagen. This led to the appearance of an updated Felicia, and then the Octavia and Fabia.
The flagship of the model range was the revived Skoda Superb, which returned the brand to the executive segment.
Today, about 18 thousand people work at Skoda Auto enterprises, and approximately a third of all jobs in the Czech Republic are directly or indirectly related to the activities of this company.
In 2006, production of the Roomster model started - a car combining dynamics, emotionality, and a sporty character.
With the advent of the Roomster, the world of automotive design was stirred: everything here is non-standard - from the bright sporty exterior to the panoramic roof, practical spacious rear, and wide side windows that give passengers an excellent view.
Inside - space, comfort, and coziness. There is much new in the design of the instrument panel and in the rear part of the cabin. The VarioFlex seat transformation system, modular panel, and spacious trunk make the Roomster an excellent assistant both in business and leisure.
Based on materials from the online magazine DRIVE.RU
Igor. Behind the wheel for 6 years.
The front of the car immediately attracts the eye. The massive Skoda bumper looks even aggressive - especially thanks to the lower part with deflectors for radiator cooling and fog lights. This makes the Roomster noticeably more attractive in the eyes of the buyer.
The driver's seat raises no complaints. There is so much space between the steering wheel and the seat that you can sit behind the wheel without the slightest effort. The driver's seat deserves special mention: it adjusts in three directions, which is convenient for people of any build.
The gearshift lever is positioned ideally - you don't need to reach for it, all gears engage quickly and clearly. The cabin surprises with its spaciousness: from the outside, the car doesn't look so roomy. Even if a tall driver is behind the wheel, a rear passenger won't press their knees into the backrest. The huge glass area of the rear doors gives those sitting in the back an excellent view. Overall, the cabin is a real find for families with a dacha or people involved in sports. The rear sofa consists of three independent sections that can be arranged as desired or completely removed, turning the trunk into a huge cargo compartment. The electric drive of the side mirrors allows you to adjust them in a couple of seconds.
The engine starts instantly, literally with half a turn. The sound of the engine at idle (900 rpm) is especially pleasant. First gear engages softly, but then it becomes clear that under the hood is a small-displacement engine (1.2 l). To get moving, you have to work the gas pedal more actively, only then does the car start moving.
It's better to hold first gear up to 2.5-3 thousand rpm and only then engage second. You can shift earlier, but then the car loses traction and acceleration drags on. It seems the engine likes high revs - you can feel the sporty tuning! At the same time, it's quiet in the cabin: passengers can talk calmly without raising their voices.
The Skoda Roomster easily leaves the asphalt for a dirt road: the 18.5 cm ground clearance allows you not to fear deep ruts. Bumps and potholes are passed softly.
This car will suit young families, small business owners, dacha owners, and simply lovers of auto tourism.
But the version with a 1.6-liter engine and six-speed Tiptronic automatic is an excellent choice for daily city driving, especially in traffic jams.
Vadim Sadykov. Behind the wheel for 10 years.
The Skoda Roomster at first acquaintance seems like an incomprehensible car. In its market position, it neighbors the Fiat Doblo and Renault Kangoo, although it is slightly smaller in dimensions. The design is very unusual, distinctive. Therefore, the first impression was wary. But that's exactly what test drives are for - to check a superficial opinion in practice.
Before getting behind the wheel, I managed to sit both in the front and in the back. Honestly, it's very comfortable and spacious. An analogy with the Renault Logan comes to mind: compact on the outside, but plenty of space inside. In the Roomster, I would without hesitation set off on a long journey. And when the manager of the Sapsan Line dealership demonstrated to us the possibilities of transforming the cabin, it looked like a real show: the seats are individually removed, rearranged into different positions, folded. This just needs to be seen. By the way, the passenger-cargo bias in the Roomster is not accidental: the front has a suspension from the Skoda Fabia, and the rear from the previous Octavia, because it is the rear axle that bears the main load. Another detail: the rear track is wider than the front. On the one hand, this solution provides excellent handling (which was confirmed in the test), and on the other hand, it's a hint: load it up, there's enough space for everything.
When it came to off-road capability, I for the first time wanted to publicly thank the manager of the Sapsan showroom, Artem. I already talked about how nimbly the cabin of this car transforms. But it was Artem who didn't object when we turned off the asphalt towards the village in this frankly passenger car. First our path lay to the cowshed, and then - straight into the forest. True, the word "road" is hardly appropriate here: in front of us was a continuous deep rut, broken by tractors, with inclusions of smaller rings. How the Roomster managed to drive there - don't even ask, I don't understand myself. Later we tested it on a regular dirt road and even tried to climb a slope. The conclusion is one: small, but surprisingly hardworking "off-roader" - that's what this Roomster is.
Now about what you feel behind the wheel. It's clear that the 1.2 12V engine - an inline "three-cylinder" with 64 hp - won't give racing emotions. But if you remember that there were four people in the cabin and the air conditioner was working, then after 3000 rpm the car drives quite confidently.
If we sum up, we get the following picture:
non-standard appearance; excellent build quality, galvanized body and Volkswagen filling; efficiency - all this largely justifies the price, which is higher than competitors. And a comfortable fit for the driver and passengers, a cabin that is easily rearranged and has a semi-cargo character, reinforced rear suspension, large ground clearance and excellent off-road capability make the car extremely interesting for a wide variety of buyers.
Alfred. Driving experience - 12 years.
I first saw this car about eight months ago, and the introduction was purely visual — the doors were locked, and I could only peek inside through the glass. Honestly, the design left me puzzled then. They say first impressions are the strongest and most accurate, and I haven't snapped out of that stupor to this day. And I still can't decide whether I like the car's looks. Most likely, I'll never give a definitive answer. That it's unusual is beyond doubt. But whether it qualifies as original is an open question. I'd put it this way: what might be forgiven of the French or Italians, the Czechs may not get away with. Though, in the end, appearance is a matter of taste. Let's look inside. Inside, everything is quite decent, but due to the dark trim, the cabin looks somewhat gloomy.
The manager said there are five interior trim options, so you can pick something to your taste. Another plus is that the cabin is very bright. Even despite the high beltline of the front doors, daylight freely enters through the windshield and the huge rear door windows. On a sunny day, it lifts your spirits, as if a happiness hormone is produced. Sitting behind the wheel is very comfortable, the adjustment ranges pleasantly surprised me, and, to jump ahead, the rear seats also move back and forth, and the backrest angle changes. I remember Vadim settled in the back and flatly refused to get out — he was that comfortable. You won't get tired on a long trip, and if you also get the version with a panoramic roof, it'll be a special delight.
By the way, credit must be given to the car itself — it provided many pleasant moments, and even more were added by the manager, who willingly talked about the car and answered all our, sometimes tricky, questions.
If you asked me what engine is here, I'd say 1.4 liters. But in reality, it's only 1.2! It pulls well, but you need to keep the revs up, otherwise it's easy to stall. How such a little thing can accelerate a car with four adults on board and the air conditioning on is beyond comprehension. It seems the Germans specifically tuned the engine so that in the city you have to keep revs above 3500. The manager explained that the secret is in the high torque, for which this engine was named the best in 2004. At the same time, the engine emits a pleasant soft rumble that doesn't interfere with acoustic comfort at all. And the car is indeed very comfortable and well-balanced. This applies to almost everything: chassis settings, steering, brakes, and gearbox operation. Everything is somewhat averaged, nothing stands out. The suspension protects passenger comfort: it doesn't harshly handle bumps, but it also doesn't let the car, even such a tall one, lean much in corners.
The trick is that the rear track is wider than the front — this adds stability. In traffic, you can change lanes briskly. You can, but you don't want to! The brakes aren't "fierce," rather a bit soft. And the high ground clearance seems made for countryside trips. In the end, the image emerges of a car for a practical owner who thinks about passenger comfort and likes something unusual. They need a spacious cabin with extra loading options, an economical engine, and good ground clearance.