The Škoda Roomster (Typ 5J) is a five-door five-seat multi-purpose vehicle-styled leisure activity vehicle, produced by the Czech automaker Škoda Auto. It was revealed as a production model in March 2006 at the Geneva Auto Show, with sales starting in June 2006. It is built at the Škoda factory in Kvasiny, Rychnov nad Kněžnou District.
A two-door two-seat panel van version named the Škoda Praktik has been on sale since March 2007.
The Roomster is Škoda's first car since the Volkswagen Group's take over of the brand that is not based entirely on an existing Volkswagen Group platform - although it is fundamentally based on the A4 (PQ34) platform, but with some unique additions. It shares components with the previous Škoda Octavia and the current Škoda Fabia. The name is reportedly a conscious combination of the words 'Room' and 'Roadster', and the split personality theme is played out in the design with a carefully honed 'driving room' ahead of the B-pillars, and a generous 'living room' to the rear. The Roomster therefore competes both in the mini MPV and leisure activity vehicle markets, which it will be sharing with the Fiat Idea, Nissan Note, Opel Meriva, Citroën C3 Picasso and Volkswagen Golf Plus.
The Roomster has also appeared on an episode of the BBC 2 series Top Gear as one of the few inexpensive cars that Jeremy Clarkson liked.
Read more about Škoda Roomster: Prototype, Cabin, Panel Van, Powertrain, Safety, References