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One of the greatest success stories in the car world of recent decades is Skoda’s rise to become a hugely credible mainstream maker of good-value, good-sense cars.

Central to that success has been its place within the VW Group, alongside the Volkswagen brand itself, plus the likes of Seat and Audi. That has given it access to exactly the same underpinnings for its cars as the other brands, and it has complemented this by adding its own developments, from the way the cars drive and ride through to the features they have and the pricing.

The result is a range that extends from a city car to a large executive saloon, with family and large seven-seat SUVs too. There’s a wide variety of petrol and diesel engines, all of which are competitive for the class.

As a result, Skoda has a range of cars that is almost entirely class-leading or among the class leaders, and it has enjoyed long-time success at the What Car? Awards as a result.

SKODA

ROOMSTER

A different kind of MPV: not suitable for all, but good value on the used market.

Used Skoda Roomster MPV 2005 - 2010

Officially the 1.2-litre petrol model manages 42.2mpg on average, the 1.4-litre 41.5mpg and the 1.6-litre 40.4mpg. The lower-powered diesel manages 53.3mpg with the higher powered at 55.4mpg. The 1.9-litre comes in at 53.3mpg.

Servicing a Roomster isn't particularly expensive, and Skoda dealers have a very good reputation for customer satisfaction and service.

The diesel Roomsters are greenest, because all models emits under 140g/km of C02. The petrol models range from 159g/km to 185g/km. Insurance is cheap, with the least powerful model starting at group 2 rising to group 5 for the 1.9-litre diesel.

Depreciation will be your biggest cost while owning a Roomster, so make sure you don't pay over the odds in the first place. Car supermarkets are a good place to track down cut-price cars.

A different kind of MPV: not suitable for all, but good value on the used market.

The Roomster's engine options are a mixed bag. The 1.2-litre petrol unit (68bhp) is really too small for this type of car, the 1.4 petrol (85bhp) makes the most sense, but even then it's sluggish, needs to be worked hard and can boom at motorway speeds. The 1.6-litre petrol engine with 105bhp is quicker, but will cost you more to run, and isn't that common on the used market.

The diesel options aren't necessarily better. The 1.4-litre comes with either 69bhp or 79bhp, and a 1.9-litre with 103bhp - best if you intend to load your Roomster up to the gunwales.

Originally, Roomster trims were designated 1, 2, 3 and Scout, but in early 2009 the range was overhauled so that only three models remained: S, SE and Scout.

All Roomsters come with front electric windows, a CD player and MP3 player input, but mid-spec 2 or S cars have alloys and air-con and 3/SE trim has cruise control and parking sensors. The Scout comes with a different body kit, making it look like a baby off-roader, but is equipped similarly to an SE.

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Plenty of space for all the family and their paraphernalia</li> <li>Comfortable ride for everyone inside</li> <li>Seats with plenty of adjustment and versatility of layout</li> <li>Engine that can cope with a full load of people and luggage</li> <li>Excellent efficiency to avoid big fuel bills</li></ul>

Practicality is king in the MPV market, which has taken a hit as buyers have turned towards trendier SUVs. There are still plenty of decent offerings to suit most budgets, though, with Citroën fielding a particularly strong line-up. The French manufacturer’s Berlingo offers bags of space for not much money and you can easily haggle off thousands of extra pounds in discounts, too.

Citroën also scores with the larger Grand C4 Spacetourer, which offers seven seats, lots of oddment space and appealing running costs for something so large. A similarly priced and even better option is the Volkswagen Touran. Meanwhile, if you prefer a premium badge, there's always the BMW 2 Series Active and Gran Tourers or Mercedes B-Class and V-Class.

But for something sizeable that's still decent to drive, we’d recommend you check out the Ford Galaxy, which can offer three rows of seats and decent luggage space at the same time. It’s not that much pricier than the smaller S-Max.

Skodas are famous for their durability and the Roomster appears no different so far.

Leaky sunroofs and been reported, but this only covers early models, and some clutches can give problems. Some owners complain about noisy air-con systems, but this seems to be characteristic of the system and not a fault.

Make sure a Roomster has been maintained properly, and that the cambelt change has been carried out every four years/60,000 miles (except on the 1.2-litre engine which doesn't use a belt). There has been a recall for the Skoda concerning a problem with the curtain airbags.

The quirky Roomster is an unusual reworking of the MPV formula, but it's best thought of as a spacious small family car. It has two full size seats in the back, with a slimmer seat in the middle. All three can be reclined, folded forward or removed completely to turn the Roomster into a quasi-van. The middle seat can also be removed separately to give more shoulder-room for those in the back. In addition, the boot is a decent size and shape,

The Roomster is quite good to drive, with light steering and a tight turning circle - making it ideal for urban streets. On faster roads the ride can be a little wallowy, but it absorbs bumps well and doesn't lean excessively through corners. Wind and road noise are kept in check most of the time, but can be heard at higher speeds.

Skoda have worked hard to build a reputation for quality, and the Roomster feels part of the family. The cabin has a solid finish with a durable feel.

Used Skoda Roomster MPV 2005 - 2010 reliability

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Used Skoda Roomster MPV 2005 - 2010 review

Skodas are famous for their durability and the Roomster appears no different so far.,Leaky sunroofs and been reported, but this only covers early models, and some clutches can give problems. Some owners complain about noisy air-con systems, but this seems to be characteristic of the system and not a fault.,Make sure a Roomster has been maintained properly, and that the cambelt change has been carried out every four years/60,000 miles (except on the 1.2-litre engine which doesn't use a belt). There has been a recall for the Skoda concerning a problem with the curtain airbags.

What to look for when buying a Skoda Roomster 2005 - 2010, covering common problems to check for and overall vehicle reliability.

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Used Skoda Roomster MPV 2005 - 2010 reliability

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