Skoda Roomster S 1.2 12v 69ps 5dr Car Review - March 2012

The three cylinder engine delivers a fairly low amount of power to this large vehicle with a maximum output of just 68 bhp (69 ps) at 5400 rpm. This puts the car’s top speed at just 99 mph and means that it struggles to keep up with the race set by rival models. On top of this, acceleration can feel quite lazy due to the size and weight of the people carrier, with the car taking a slow 15.9 seconds to travel from 0-62 mph.

The handling is good and the car performs well, offering the security and stability expected. However, those looking for excitement in the driving experience will need to look elsewhere.

With it being a large vehicle, fuel consumption levels are likely to be higher than those of smaller family cars. However, the Roomster still performs well within its class and achieves 45.6 mpg on a combine cycle. Carbon emissions are fairly mid-range at 143 g/km, which puts the car into road tax band F resulting in green credentials that are neither strong nor poor.

This basic model comes with a fairly limited selection of standard in-car kit and this means buyers will either have to go without or pay extra for certain luxuries. The exterior design has faced a little criticism.

Standard equipment for this model includes power steering, central locking, electric front windows and an advanced stereo system with both CD and MP3 connectivity.

Stability control costs an additional £365 with air conditioning and cruise control priced at £550 and £175 respectively. Other options such as Bluetooth connectivity, leather seats, rear parking sensors, electric door mirrors and climate control are not available on this model.

The overall quality of the build is high and the fit and finish of a good quality, although some inner materials feel a little cheap. Practicality is high in the people carrier and there is plenty of cabin space for passengers. The driving position offers good visibility and there is plenty of adjustment to help drivers sit in the optimum position.

The boot capacity is also good for a people carrier and there is a 450 litre capacity offered when the seats are in place. Those who require additional storage can expand this to 1,780 litres by folding the seats down, meaning that this car is ideal for large families.

In terms of safety, the car comes fitted with driver, passenger and front side air bags as standard. An immobiliser is also fitted to protect the car from theft, but owners who want the security of an alarm will be expected to pay an additional £285.

Reliability is expected to be strong with this model as well and a three year warranty for 60,000 miles is provided in order to give buyers peace of mind.

Priced at £11,775 this car is more than reasonable for its class. The exceptionally low purchase price makes this a practical option for drivers and there even upgrading to a more advanced trim option means costs will still fall under those of rival cars.

Running costs are manageable too and one of the biggest selling points of this model is its exceptionally low insurance premiums which fall into insurance group 5. On top of this, road tax is in a mid-range band (F) and fuel consumption of 45.6 mpg means that the car is fairly efficient for those looking for long term ownership.