Skoda's renaissance seemingly knows no bounds. It was only a little while ago that it rivalled Lada as the least revered of motor manufacturers.

In fact, Lada had a better name among owners who admired its durability and ruggedness, if not its style and verve.

But while Lada has vanished, Skoda goes from strength to strength as part of the massive Volkswagen empire. The Czech brand is now the cheap and cheerful wing of the conglomerate which includes among others Audi, SEAT and Bentley.

Such is Skoda's new-found confidence that they have moved into fresh territory. We've had the sporty models and the executive Superb. Now here's the Skoda people-carrier with the cheeky name, Roomster.

It competes in a burgeoning affordable people-carrier market alongside similarly cheeky offerings from Fiat, Peugeot, Citroen and others.

It's very much designed to be different, hence an unusual side-design distinction between where the driver and front passenger sit, and the open, airier aspect of the rear.

The overall style is unusual. The rear side windows beginning at a much lower height than those to the fore, is a bold move, and Britain hasn't seen such a quirky people-carrier since the original Fiat Multipla.

The overall styling may divide opinion, certainly, but the interior will unite it: it's wonderfully flexible, full of carry-all promise that is easy to fulfil thanks to flexible seating, which is very comfortable, too.

The ride it delivers will pull in the buyers, too. While large glass areas make the Roomster appear a far larger five-seater, is it essentially a compact car and drives in solid supermini style. That is to say agile, grippy, and confident.

Skoda knows it is on to a winner, and it's a fair bet that taxi ranks, currently served by Octavia hatchbacks, will soon be occupied by row upon row of Roomsters.

Rear seats that can slide forward, or come out completely, to offer a combination of seating for five adults or up to a total of 1,780 litres of luggage area, are a cab driver's dream.

Team all that with the biggest engine, a perky 1.9 litre turbo diesel that outputs the same 105bhp as the top petrol unit, a 1.6 litre, does, and the appeal skyrockets.

The 1896cc oil-burner hasn't the best fuel returns of the Roomster range - that honour goes to the 1.4 litre turbo diesel - but it has the sort of grunt that goes well with a fully loaded vehicle. Some 177lb/ft of torque sees this Skoda rarely stretched.

Combined fuel consumption on the 1.9TDi is 51.4mpg - it's 54.3 in the 1.4TDi - and pace is moderate, but useful, with 11.5 seconds recorded on the 0 to 62mph sprint.

Roomster diesels get the five-speed manual gearbox only, with automatic offered only on the 1.6 litre petrol version. Other petrol choices are 1.2 litre and 1.4 litre, and the range's pricing philosophy is as sound as the construction.

It's structured from £9,920 to £14,050, and trim levels are, simply, 1, 2, and 3.

All Roomster 1 models get a sizeable spec, including anti-lock brakes, a full airbag complement, electric front windows, 12-volt sockets in the boot and centre console, air pollen filter, height-adjustable driver's seat and steering wheel, and the luxuries build up as you move through trims 2, and 3.

PRICE: £13,050: 1.2 £9,920; 1.9TDi £14,050.

ENGINE: 1,896cc, 105bhp four-cylinder engine.

PERFORMANCE: 0 to 62mph in 11.5 seconds.

COSTS: Urban 41.5mpg; extra-urban 60.1mpg; combined 51.4mpg.

EMISSIONS: 149g/km.

WARRANTY: Three years' unlimited miles.

INSURANCE: Group 5.

All T&A road test vehicles are independently selected and assessments are carried out impartially by members of our own staff who base their opinions only on the vehicle supplied for these purposes by the manufacturer.