Skoda – Yeti – Review

Skoda goes off-road with its new Yeti, the Czech firm’s stupidy-named crossover building on the rugged foundations of its Scout models. Mixing SUV with MPV, with a pinch of hatchback, the Yeti isn’t the evolutionary cul-de-sac its name might suggest. It’s actually good enough to ensure that Yetis become a common sight.

On The Outside

On The Inside

The outside might look like Fiat’s Panda but the Skoda Yeti’s interior exhibits a quality of materials and fit and finish that’s a match for its VW parent firm. The dash exhibits little flair, but there’s appeal in its simplicity, the airy cabin feeling vast. There’s plenty of glass and the firm but comfortable seats are positioned high to give a great view out.

The pews in the rear offer all the functionality and flexibility of the Yeti’s Roomster compact MPV relative, which means they slide, tumble, fold and can even be removed. Take the rather hopeless middle seat out and push the two outboard seats into the centre and you’ve got a supremely spacious 4-seater, with a boot that’ll carry plenty too.

On The Road

The Yeti excels in the wilderness – assuming you’ve opted for a four-wheel-drive one rather than the front-driving choices. Do so and it proves remarkably capable in the rough stuff, the off-road

button allowing you to trickle it down tortuous gradients with the engine at idle and electronics fiddling the brakes to keep control. There’s plenty of wheel articulation and any of the five engine choices endow the Yeti with enough grunt for most situations.

Its extensive travel suspension allows the Yeti its impressive off-road ability and translates to seriously impressive ride comfort when you get back onto the tarmac. The trade-off for this is rather wallowy body control in the corners, the Yeti rolling around a good bit if you’re in even a moderate hurry. This is not a tool for an enthusiastic peddler.

The three diesels will be the big sellers, the 2.0-litre common-rail lump offered in 108bhp, 138bhp and 168bhp guises. All come with six-speed manual transmissions except the front-wheel-drive 2.0-litre TDI, which has five forward gears. Opt for the 1.2-litre TSI turbocharged petrol with 104bhp and you can enjoy a seven-speed DSG twin-clutch automatic transmission. Like the other 1.8 TSI petrol option, the 1.2 TSI is super smooth and punchy, but most buyers will still lean towards the diesel.

source: motoring.sky