PHYSICS and common sense dictate that you can't dress the lower half of the female form with an A4-size piece of fabric.

Yet, if you saunter past certain establishments in Havelock Road, for instance, there will be abundant evidence to the contrary.

The automotive world constantly challenges physics in this spatial manner. MPVs are a great example. Many of these monospace vehicles are no larger than mid-size sedans, yet are able to accommodate three rows of seats and ferry seven non-contortionists in reasonable comfort.

Skoda's Roomster, as its name seems to imply, is another spatial oddity. It is a diminutive car, with the general shape and size of a Volkswagen Caddy.

But inside, it is a veritable black hole that will swallow stuff you would not think of squeezing into a bigger car.

The car is not an MPV, although it probably could easily have a third row of seats. What you get though is a very, very generous second row that will seat three.

And behind it, you will find a void so large it looks like Imelda Marcos' shoe cabinet - emptied.

In fact, it is so spacious that Skoda has neglected to include rear door pockets.

You access this area by flipping the car's tailgate, which in itself is a thing to behold. It has so much surface area and swings up so high that it could double as a helicopter pad.

The stowage this car offers is no doubt its main proposition. You can throw the proverbial sink back there and there'd still be space left. Flatten the individually foldable seats and the car will carry a couple of baby hippos.

It is not easy to fathom why anyone would want so much cargo-carrying capability without wanting an actual cargo-carrying vehicle - like a goods van.

Then again, it is never easy to understand what car buyers want, which is why there is now a proliferation of crossovers - cars which are neither here nor there.

The Roomster drives mechanically. By that, I mean it conveys as much emotion as a pair of pliers. It is torquey like any Volkswagen Group product, although you will need to summon up the revs if you want this 105-horse wagon to get ahead of the cyclist at the lights.

Once cruising, however, it hums comfortably along, managing 90kmh on just 2,000rpm or so - thanks to the sixth cog in its autobox.

Oh yes, like most VW products these days, you can drive the Roomster like a manual, although this car hardly puts you in the mood to do so.

The car handles sturdily enough and will negotiate sweeping bends as competently as a well-built sedan, but it is often cold and steely.

You could rev it to elicit some emotional response from its icy Teutonic heart, but all you will get is a hollow drone akin to that of some turbodiesels. Remarkable from a 1.6-litre 16-valve petrol engine.

But like I said, the Roomster's main proposition is its enormous rear space. Otherwise, they might have called it the Vroomster.

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SKODA ROOMSTER 1.6

Price: $69,800 with COE
Engine: 1,598cc 16-valve inline-4
Transmission: Six-speed automatic with quick shift
Power: 105bhp at 5,700rpm
Torque: 155Nm at 3,500rpm
0-100kmh: 12.1 seconds
Top speed: 183kmh
Fuel consumption: 11.5 litres/100km (city)
Agent: Czech Auto