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Yeti hunting. Image by Skoda.

Yeti hunting
Crossover Yeti from Skoda adds a credible 4x4 to the range, but it's more than just an ordinary off-roader.

   



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| First Drive | Ljubljana, Slovenia | Skoda Yeti |

Skoda's addition of the Yeti to its model range gives the Czech firm a credible crossover offering in its showrooms. It has got the Nissan Qashqai firmly in its sights, the new Skoda mixing MPV versatility with a bit of SUV ruggedness and dimensions not far off a family hatchback. It's a convincing combination, so long as you can put up with its rather silly name.

In the Metal

Confident and boxy, with a hint of large Panda 4x4 about its styling, the Yeti looks good. There's a utilitarian edge to its design, with huge space between the wheels and wheelarches suggesting plentiful axle articulation and serious off-road ability. The large grille at the front and massive foglamps give it a distinctive face, while its wide track imbues the Yeti with a tough stance that it lives up to off-road.

Inside there's lots of space and versatility, the Yeti featuring the same folding, sliding and removable seats of the Roomster compact MPV. It's all very nicely finished too, VW-spec plastics working well with Skoda's usual clear and simple instrumentation and fuss-free interior styling. Leg and headroom front and back impresses, and the boot is a decent size.

What you get for your Money

We can't actually say with any conviction what you'll get for your money, as Skoda has yet to reveal pricing details for its new crossover. Figure on a starting price of around £14,000 for the front-wheel drive models and around £1,000-£1,500 more for the four-wheel drive machines. With five engines including two TSI petrol units of 1.2- and 1.8-litres and three turbodiesels of 108, 138 and 168bhp - at 2.0-litres in capacity - the range should reach up to around £18,000 or so at the other end. Add kit like the touch screen navigation and automatic dual-zone climate control and a £20k Yeti is a real possibility.

Driving it

Forget dynamic ability; this is a crossover with its road skills hampered a touch by its ability to romp through the mire. The Yeti's suspension is soft, which might make for a supremely cosseting ride, but does little for its composure in the bends. It's fine if you're not in a hurry, but arrive at a corner a bit briskly and it's an 'interesting' understeer and floaty rear end experience. All with a good degree of body roll. The Yeti clearly isn't a crossover with on-road dynamism in mind.

That's rather honest of Skoda, as rivals all chase flat cornering and hatchback like levels of grip and precision - usually with mixed results - Skoda has delivered a car that excels at being comfortable, which will suit the majority of its buyers. It's also impressive off-road, where its lofty suspension, hill descent control and wheel at each corner stance gives it the ability to go further than most mere crossovers in the wilderness.

It's all very easy too, the Yeti's relaxed nature brought into focus by an engine range that's always willing and refined. Factor in the plentiful space and the Yeti is a very useful and uncomplicated means of shifting people. The middling 138bhp 2.0-litre TDI delivers plenty of urgency, while the six-speed manual transmission shifts well and has nicely judged ratios. The front-drive 1.2 TSI petrol engine can be had with a seven-speed DSG two-pedal transmission, but the revvy performance of the petrol cars only exacerbates the chassis' shortcomings by encouraging you to push the Yeti harder than you should. The diesels, with their ample low-rev torque, suit the Yeti's assured, fuss-free gait the best and give decent economy too - the 138bhp TDI 4x4 returns 46.3mpg on the combined cycle for example.

Worth Noting

With the off-road button pressed the Yeti can scramble down slopes you'd usually need abseiling gear for. All without the aid of engine braking. It'll clamber, scramble, descend and climb like a proper 4x4, making the Yeti a serious proposition as a 'working' vehicle. Front-drive models lose out in ultimate off-road ability, but with the same raised suspension they'll get you places a regular hatchback wouldn't.

Summary

Many will criticise the Skoda Yeti for its less than brilliant dynamic ability on the road, but this crossover isn't and shouldn't be about its aptitude at speed through corners. Instead it should be about its excellence at doing the job for which it was designed. And that is carrying people and kit in comfort - pretty much anywhere - and it does this rather convincingly indeed.

Kyle Fortune - 19 Jun 2009



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2009 Skoda Yeti. Image by Mark Nichol.2009 Skoda Yeti. Image by Mark Nichol.2009 Skoda Yeti. Image by Mark Nichol.2009 Skoda Yeti. Image by Mark Nichol.2009 Skoda Yeti. Image by Mark Nichol.

2009 Skoda Yeti. Image by Mark Nichol.2009 Skoda Yeti. Image by Mark Nichol.2009 Skoda Yeti. Image by Mark Nichol.2009 Skoda Yeti. Image by Mark Nichol.2009 Skoda Yeti. Image by Mark Nichol.



2009 Skoda Yeti. Image by Skoda.
 

2009 Skoda Yeti. Image by Skoda.
 

2009 Skoda Yeti. Image by Skoda.
 

2009 Skoda Yeti. Image by Skoda.
 

2009 Skoda Yeti. Image by Skoda.
 

2009 Skoda Yeti. Image by Skoda.
 

2009 Skoda Yeti. Image by Skoda.
 






 

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