None of the seats offers some form of lateral support and every occupant enjoys about the same the upright position. The rear seat cushions are particularly uncomfortable and you can just forget about squeezing someone between the two outboard passengers. Having said that, four adults will find more than enough room. I was actually quite surprised by the spaciousness of this relatively small wagon. The cargo area isn't really deep, though it stretches high for accommodating tall objects.
The list of features is reasonable and even includes Bluetooth connectivity. With a bit more time behind the wheel, I could have gotten that much more comfortable with this user-friendly system. Ergonomics and functionality are commendable, except for the cupholders which are inaccessible while driving... unless you're willing to crouch low enough and lose sight of the road! The climate control system does a good job for the most part; however, it takes quite some time to warm the entire cabin. The audio unit delivers mediocre sound quality; in fact, only two of the four speakers were working in my tester.
The lack of sound-deadening materials is mind-boggling: every road noise can be heard from inside... and you're lucky if the engine isn't louder. Under acceleration, expect to raise your voice to keep up a conversation.
Lawnmower engine
My tester was motivated by the biggest engine available with the Roomster, a 1.6L 4-cylinder mill producing 105 horsepower. The car struggles to move with any kind of authority and the loss of momentum when going uphill is catastrophic. The engine's potential is very limited as soon as you step on the highway or a high-speed boulevard. Passing maneuvers are nearly impossible. But that may not even be the worst thing: the Roomster requires premium gasoline and nothing else! At least the chassis is impressively rigid.
Ride quality is good on immaculate roads, but as soon as you hit the slightest bump or pothole, you end up paying for it. Equipped with low-profile tires, this car really feels like it has no suspension travel at all. This harshness makes the driving experience unpleasant, unless you like getting tossed around. The Roomster fails to meet even the lowest expectations on the road, expect for handling (good) and the turning radius (very short).
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| The rear seat cushions are particularly uncomfortable. |
The list of features is reasonable and even includes Bluetooth connectivity. With a bit more time behind the wheel, I could have gotten that much more comfortable with this user-friendly system. Ergonomics and functionality are commendable, except for the cupholders which are inaccessible while driving... unless you're willing to crouch low enough and lose sight of the road! The climate control system does a good job for the most part; however, it takes quite some time to warm the entire cabin. The audio unit delivers mediocre sound quality; in fact, only two of the four speakers were working in my tester.
The lack of sound-deadening materials is mind-boggling: every road noise can be heard from inside... and you're lucky if the engine isn't louder. Under acceleration, expect to raise your voice to keep up a conversation.
Lawnmower engine
My tester was motivated by the biggest engine available with the Roomster, a 1.6L 4-cylinder mill producing 105 horsepower. The car struggles to move with any kind of authority and the loss of momentum when going uphill is catastrophic. The engine's potential is very limited as soon as you step on the highway or a high-speed boulevard. Passing maneuvers are nearly impossible. But that may not even be the worst thing: the Roomster requires premium gasoline and nothing else! At least the chassis is impressively rigid.
Ride quality is good on immaculate roads, but as soon as you hit the slightest bump or pothole, you end up paying for it. Equipped with low-profile tires, this car really feels like it has no suspension travel at all. This harshness makes the driving experience unpleasant, unless you like getting tossed around. The Roomster fails to meet even the lowest expectations on the road, expect for handling (good) and the turning radius (very short).
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| As soon as you hit the slightest bump or pothole, you end up paying for it. |