Review
Skoda Yeti SUV
Price: £14,830 - £24,090
/5
- Pros:
- Enjoyable to drive
- Versatile seating
- Relatively inexpensive to buy and own
- Cons:
- Removing the seats takes effort
- Body roll in the bends
- Long waiting list to buy new
reviewed by Carbuyer
"A practical, rugged-looking alternative to mainstream family hatchbacks, the Skoda Yeti is seriously impressive, both on and off the road."
At a glance
- The greenest
- 1.6 TDI CR 105 Elegance Greenline 5dr
£20,365 - The cheapest
- 1.2 TSI E 5dr
£14,830 - The fastest
- 1.8 TSI 152PS 4X4 SE Plus 5dr
£20,440 - Top of the range
- 2.0 TDI CR 140 4x4 DSG Elegance 5dr
£24,090
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The Skoda Yeti is a well-priced 'crossover' alternative to conventional family hatchbacks like the Ford Focus. The majority of Yetis are front-wheel drive, but the raised suspension does mean it’ll venture further off road than most regular cars, while speed bumps in town hold absolutely no fear. All the engines are willing - with the small 1.2 TSI petrol engine not trailing the diesel choices too far on economy. Even entry-level 'E-spec' Yetis come with air-conditioning, although S models add alloy wheels and a knee airbag for a few hundred pounds more. Named Best Family Car in our 2011 Car of the Year awards the Yeti is a brilliant all rounder, and an especially good choice for growing families.
Drive
Accurate steering, good engines and a high driving position
Thanks to its upright, easily adjusted driver's seat and large glass area, the view out of the Yeti is good, and the boxy, easy-to-see extremities make parking easy. The controls are all light and easy to use, the steering accurate and gearshift positive. The small 1.2 TSI petrol engine with 105bhp should be ample for most buyers, its fine performance backed up with 44mpg economy. It's good enough to ignore the larger 1.8 TSI petrol or the 2.0 TDI diesel in its various outputs - unless you plan on towing or covering large mileages. Four-wheel-drive models feel little different to drive on the road, though off-road they’re surprisingly capable. A DSG automatic transmission is offered on the entry-level 1.2 TSI petrol and 140bhp 2.0 TDI diesel. It works smoothly and has no effect on the fuel economy of the smaller petrol engine.
Comfort
Supportive seats, quiet at motorway speeds
There's only a slight hint of wind noise at motorway speeds, while road noise is also nicely hushed. The engines are quiet, particularly the petrol options. Only the 2.0 TDI diesel rattles when it starts. Comfort is good, with the firm seats providing plenty of support. Its width does allow three abreast in the rear, even if you’ll feel a bit perched on the middle rear seat.
Reliability
Six-standard airbags and solid build-quality
Skoda is among the top performers in customer satisfaction surveys thanks to its excellent dealer service and reputation for reliability. The Yeti itself doesn’t feature in the 2010 Driver Power survey, but its Octavia and Fabia relatives score excellent third and 17th places respectively. Six standard airbags on all models and a Euro NCAP five-star score underline its safety credentials, although electronic stability control is only offered on more expensive models - as is a knee airbag. The interior fit and finish is impeccable, while the Volkswagen-sourced plastics all feel of good quality.
Practicality
Clever seating and a large boot
The Yeti shares its Varioflex rear seating system with the Skoda Roomster people carrier, which brings individual sliding, folding and removable chairs to create a hugely versatile seating and luggage area. The boot is large, and there are lots of clever touches like hooks to hang shopping bags on, plus a decently sized glovebox and a lidded dash-top compartment.
Value for money
Versatility and space for the price of a hatchback
With pricing on a par with conventional hatchbacks and the sort of versatility more usually offered in compact people carriers, the Yeti looks like a good value proposition. E trim level comes with the basics, including air-conditioning and electric front windows; S adds alloy wheels, electric rear windows and a knee airbag to that; SE gains dual-zone air conditioning, parking sensors and a socket for MP3 players; while Elegance adds leather upholstery, cornering lights and a Bluetooth phone connection to its extensive standard equipment.
Running costs
Decent economy and a bargain price-tag
Inexpensive to buy and own, the Skoda Yeti shouldn’t empty your wallet too quickly. No version qualifies for free Road Tax, but the big-selling 1.2 TSI and 110bhp front-wheel drive 2.0 TDI diesel will cost just £125 and £110 respectively to tax. Economy is decent with over 40mpg achievable in all but the 1.8 TSI petrol model. It's not been on sale for that long so resale values are a relative unknown, although Skodas tend to hold onto their value well.
