New Skoda Yeti

The excitement is building, the Yeti has been all over the news and from September 17th you'll be able to spot the new Yeti at Škoda car dealers all over the UK.

Navigating the backstreets. Slipping in and out of tight spots. Taking traffic humps in its stride. For a car called Yeti, it really knows its way around town.

But once in a while, like the rest of us, it enjoys a weekend in the wilderness - or at least the countryside - too.

Skoda Yeti Road Test Report

Legend has it that the high Himalayas are home to a mysterious ape-like creature. These desolate, snowbound mountains have thus far kept their secrets but the folklore of the abominable snowman or Yeti persists among the region’s indigenous peoples. Skoda will wish that the market sector into which it pitches the Yeti’s vehicular namesake was as deserted as a Tibetan mountainside but rather a lot of rival manufacturers got their small crossover 4x4s out there first. Skoda’s Yeti could have rather a harder time getting noticed than the hairy version would if he turned up at Asda.

Skoda had been talking about a compact 4x4 called the Yeti for years. We’d seen show cars (notably at the 2005 Geneva motorshow) dropping big hints about its looks and the Czech brand had even let members of the press loose in a development version. Then there seemed to be some confusion as to whether the Yeti would ever actually put in an appearance at all. Finally, it did and Skoda had its first 4x4.

A good range of engine options is available with the Yeti. There’s a 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol to open proceedings and a 2.0-litre TDI diesel with 110bhp. These units are offered with the front-wheel-drive transmission but if you want a go-anywhere Yeti, you’ll need either that less powerful diesel or one of the meatier engines. 140bhp and 170bhp versions of the 2.0-litre diesel are offered as is a 1.8-litre turbocharged petrol. The 4x4 set-up is a Haldex system similar to that in Skoda’s Octavia 4x4 model. At least some off-road ability is assured by the presence of hill decent control and an off-road driving mode that adjust the ABS and ESP systems to cope with loose surfaces. Ground clearance is measured at 180mm.

"The Yeti may be small but it makes the best use of what it’s got"
The Yeti is predominantly designed for use on the road and even with the 4x4 system fitted, it will operate in front-wheel drive mode until it detects wheel slip. Lots of the elements that drivers have come to appreciate in 4x4 vehicles are evident in the Yeti, such as the elevated seating position with its enhanced visibility but Skoda is pitching it as a crossover, that’s somewhere between a full-blown compact 4x4 and an estate.

This certainly isn’t a huge gas-guzzling off-roader. With its 4,233mm length and 1,793mm width, the Yeti is surprisingly compact. It does have the key 4x4 styling cues sorted, however, from its front spotlights that overlap the main light clusters to its deep front bumper and rear skid plate. It looks pretty purposeful which is half the battle in this style-conscious sector. There are modern Skoda design touches too, such as the unapologetic chrome-topped grille and the blacked out roof pillars.
The interior is roomier than you’d imagine considering the size of the Yeti and Skoda has done a lot of thinking about how to make the most of the space. A trio of tall adults can be accommodated in the rear and there’s a 410-litre boot as well. The seats are of Skoda’s VarioFlex persuasion and can be folded or removed completely to open up further load carrying options. They also slide fore and aft to adjust the amount of legroom and boot space on offer. Lift them all out and there’s 1,760 litres of space in the Yeti which might be enough to persuade buyers against going for a larger vehicle. Quality dashboard materials and neat design top off a very accomplished cabin.

There’s a wide choice of Yeti models, spread across E, S, SE and Elegance trim levels, with 1.2 and 1.8-litre 105 and 160bhp petrol engines, plus 110, 140 and 170bhp versions of the 2.0-litre TDI diesel. Only the 1.2-litre version lacks the option of 4-wheel drive. All Yetis come with roof rails, front electric windows, power mirrors, ABS, driver and passenger front, side and curtain airbags, air conditioning, a height-adjustable driver’s seat and a CD player. Unfortunately, ESP stability control is limited to plusher models.

The task facing this Skoda is to tempt motorists out of their larger compact 4x4s while also putting up a fight in the smaller crossover 4x4 sector which seems lightly to expand further in the future. The likes of the Nissan Qashqai, Fiat Sedici, Daihatsu Terios and Kia Sportage will figure amongst its rivals but there’s no shortage of other models aiming to fulfil a broadly similar remit.

With a relatively wide engine range, fuel economy and emissions will vary but the Yeti’s are efficient and modern units that should give good returns for the power available. The 140bhp 2.0-litre diesel should return close to 50mpg on the combined cycle with 140g/km CO2 emissions.

There are a multitude of compact and sub compact 4x4s out there on the market today but Skoda will hope that its Yeti will become significantly more common than its Himalayan namesake. The manufacturer has good reason for optimism too with the Yeti looking a well resolved and practical little product with a particularly strong line-up of engines.

The Yeti may be small but it makes the best use of what it’s got from an interior space perspective. The passenger accommodation is roomier than expected in a car this size and the VarioFlex seating system adds useful flexibility. The road-biased running gear won’t cope with serious off-road work but it should prove more than capable in the kind of conditions that owners will try to drive.

Contact Us

Complete the simple contact form below and one of our members of staff will be in touch with you soon.

Name (required)

Telephone

Email (required)

Enquiry