Skoda Yeti

Skoda Yeti has it all: rugged off-road looks, affordability, impressive dynamics and a spacious cabin

Auto Express Car Reviews

Rating:
Latest deal price: from £14,155 to £22,291
For : Good value, practical, efficient engines
Against : 1.2 TSI noisy, powerful diesels, 4WD only

It was our Car of the Year 2010, and the Skoda Yeti has continued to win praise for its fantastic value for money and grown-up driving dynamics. You can choose between powerful or frugal engines and opt for a basic equipment list or a fully-specced model with all the gadgets you'll ever need. There really is a Yeti for all price ranges.

Our choice: Yeti 2.0 TDI 110 SE

Video: watch CarBuyer's video review of the Skoda Yeti

Styling

The Yeti's styling won't be to everyone's taste, but the trademark Skoda grille and oversized foglights help to create a smart look. The high-riding vehicle manages a good compromise between a stylish family car and rugged off-roader.

Interior

For the majority of people, the Yeti will be spacious enough. The only time the rear can seem a little cramped is with two people over six-feet sat behind each other. The Yeti's interior is well built and pleasingly upmarket. 'E' models are incredibly cheap but still come with an air-conditioining and front electric windows. It's worthwhile upgrading to 'SE' spec though, which adds electric rear windows, cruise control and rear parking sensors.

Driving and Performance

If you do a lot of motorway miles, it might be worth avoiding the 1.2 TSI – for all other occasions though it's a fantastic little engine. There's also a 1.4 TSI and a 1.8 TSI unit with 150bhp and four-wheel drive. The diesels are all refined and available with 104bhp, 109bhp, 138bhp or 168bhp. The last three of these are available with four-wheel drive. The Yeti impresses with its car-like handling and good off-road ability – although the latter applies only to the four-wheel-drive models.

MPG and running costs

The entry-level 1.2 TSI is surprisingly efficient for a petrol engine, returning 44.1mpg. The Yeti is best suited to the more frugal and punchy diesel engines like the 1.6 TDI, which claims 61.4mpg. CO2 emissions are road tax exempt for the first year at 119g/km. The higher-powered diesels are only available with four-wheel drive, which seriously dents fuel economy.

Practicality

The Yeti's boot is marginally larger than that of the Nissan Qashqai – trumping its 410 litre figure by just six litres. This figure can be increased to 1,760 litres though by folding away the rear seats. The clever rear seats also allow you to take out the middle seat and move the outer seats towards the middle to increase shoulder room.

Safety and reliability

Many of the components in the Yeti have proved themselves elsewhere in the Volkswagen Group line-ups with very few problems. In the Euro NCAP crash safety test the Yeti achieved a full five stars.

For an alternative review of the latest Skoda Yeti visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk

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7 Comments

CO2 emissions are road tax exempt at 119g/km

Really, exempt? I could be wrong but I think you need < 100g/km, e.g. my 107 has a rating of 106g/km and isn't exempt (though £20 per annum is fine by me).

By aje21 on 13 July, 2011, 12:48pm

Boot opening is too small, and won't take a mobility scooter. Ended up with a Citroen Nemo.

By dilbert1969 on 13 July, 2011, 4:28pm

Load Space Impracticality

A nice little "Faux" roader, with the benefits of VW build quality a Eastern European value for money.

The problem is, the load space is compromised by the split-fold seats which intrude into the cargo area, an estate shaped car needs estate type carrying capacity and this design just doesn't cut it.

Mind you it does have 100 time the road presence of the dreaded Qashqai. All in all a good try but as my granddaughter would put it, still an "Epic Fail".

By derkdangler on 21 July, 2011, 8:50am

derkdangler: I don't understand your comments about the boot space being compromised?? I have a owned a diesel Yeti for 14 months - problem free, and find the boot to be quite a good size. The 416 litre boot space is actually bigger than the LR Freelanders boot, with the seats in place. It's also won numerous awards for a good reason.

By frenchpress2 on 21 July, 2011, 7:49pm

So many awards.....

I've had mine for almost two months now. Its the top spec 4x4 and whilst Derk mockingly calls it a "Faux" roader, it has serious off road ability - check out Youtube for evidence. I've green-laned and off-roaded already and the Freelander owner watching felt slightly embarrassed by its performance. On road it drives much better than a typical 4x4 and averages over 45mpg too. If I need space I can move or remove the seats around - they slide, tilt and even recline to give more legroom or more luggage area. I've not towed the caravan with it yet but for spirited on road driving, relaxed motorway cruising and commuting and the occasional off road excursion, its everything I need and more.

By nerolab on 22 July, 2011, 12:38pm

CO2 emissions are road tax exempt at 119g/km - Doesn't say that.

Really, exempt? I could be wrong but I think you need < 100g/km, e.g. my 107 has a rating of 106g/km and isn't exempt (though £20 per annum is fine by me).
By aje21 on 13 July, 2011, 12:48pm

If you read the text, it says it's excempt for the first year. Which is true.

As a subscriber I can say that AutoExpress has started to make a number of errors as they don't check facts or proof read very well. But this isn't one of them.

And the Yeti is a great little car at a good price. We like ours and wouldn't change it.

By Top90 on 27 July, 2011, 8:40am

poor man's VW?

off road ability independent test in germany (U tube)
1. Land rover Freelander 2
2 . VW Tiguan
3. ?
4. BMW X1
5. Scoda Yeti

Is a very good 4x4 but it looks more Chinese than a Chinese man... don't like it at all

By liverpool on 14 September, 2011, 9:00pm

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Pictures

Skoda Yeti