After making an exclusive North American debut at the World Hockey Championship, Czech automaker Skoda gave us the opportunity to put its Roomster Scout compact car to the test.
In terms of styling, this model is a complete success. The body configuration is quite distinctive... at least for now -- Ford plans on launching a similar car called the Transit Connect. Overall, this traditional compact wagon offers a raised cabin and generous interior room.
The Roomster (!) is largely based on the Fabia sedan, which is sold in Europe. The front fascia is identical and particularly well executed with almond-shaped headlights stretching toward the fenders. The grille is all chrome, as with every other member of the Skoda family.
Beyond the A-pillars, the Roomster is unique; the rising beltline creates a fairly tall stance. As a result, the car is highly affected by crosswinds, which forces the driver to constantly adjust the steering wheel. The rear hatch offers a large opening flanked by a pair of vertical, attractively-styled taillights. What's more, the middle side windows are beautifully integrated to those of the cargo area. The front side windows also seem to flow into the rear ones.
The interior is typically Volkswagen. Fit and finish is almost flawless, while the all-black color scheme creates a dark, sporty feel. A few silver plastic accents manage to brighten up the atmosphere a little. The instrument panel is clear, although not really original.
The interior layout is interesting but not spectacular. The seats are very high, providing an excellent view of the road ahead, especially with the large windshield. However, the B-pillars are oddly designed, reducing visibility on each side. As for rearward visibility, I found it quite good thanks to the expansive tailgate window. The outside mirrors are decent at best.
In terms of styling, this model is a complete success. The body configuration is quite distinctive... at least for now -- Ford plans on launching a similar car called the Transit Connect. Overall, this traditional compact wagon offers a raised cabin and generous interior room.
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| In terms of styling, this model is a complete success. |
The Roomster (!) is largely based on the Fabia sedan, which is sold in Europe. The front fascia is identical and particularly well executed with almond-shaped headlights stretching toward the fenders. The grille is all chrome, as with every other member of the Skoda family.
Beyond the A-pillars, the Roomster is unique; the rising beltline creates a fairly tall stance. As a result, the car is highly affected by crosswinds, which forces the driver to constantly adjust the steering wheel. The rear hatch offers a large opening flanked by a pair of vertical, attractively-styled taillights. What's more, the middle side windows are beautifully integrated to those of the cargo area. The front side windows also seem to flow into the rear ones.
The interior is typically Volkswagen. Fit and finish is almost flawless, while the all-black color scheme creates a dark, sporty feel. A few silver plastic accents manage to brighten up the atmosphere a little. The instrument panel is clear, although not really original.
The interior layout is interesting but not spectacular. The seats are very high, providing an excellent view of the road ahead, especially with the large windshield. However, the B-pillars are oddly designed, reducing visibility on each side. As for rearward visibility, I found it quite good thanks to the expansive tailgate window. The outside mirrors are decent at best.
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| The interior layout is interesting but not spectacular. |