The Skoda Yeti sits an increasingly growing segment that’s full of small crossovers. The Yeti is up against some excellent competition and rivals the likes of the Fiat 500x, the Jeep Renegade, the Mazda CX-3, the Nissan Juke and much more. To many the Yeti looks like a box on wheels, but some say that the moment you sit inside one is the moment you want one. European customers only started really taking the Yeti seriously when Top Gear gave it a rave review for its versatility, space and off-road capabilities. All round, the Yeti is a real contender for the best in class.
Skoda offers a large range of both diesel and petrol engines with the Skoda Yeti. The petrol line-up includes a 1.2 TSI engine that offers 103 bhp and maximum torque of 175Nm at 1,550 to 4,100rpm. Next up is a 1.4 litre TSI engine that offers 120 bhp. This offers a maximum torque of 200Nm at between 1,500 and 4,000rpm. This engine will accelerate between 0-100 km/h in 10.6 seconds. The largest petrol offering comes with the 4x4 Yeti. This is a 1.8 TSI engine with maximum power of 158 bhp. This will bring you from 0-100 km/h in 8.4 seconds. The diesel line-up starts with a 1.6 litre TDI that offers maximum power of 103 bhp. The 2.0 litre TDI engine offers between 108 and 167 bhp. The quickest off the mark in this line-up is the 4x4, it gives 0-100 km/h in 8.4 seconds.
The Yeti is surprisingly good off road. On road it’s pleasing to drive too. The ride can be a bit jumpy but the steering is very well weighted and it is very precise. This crossover is very good on corners and bends too, but if you drive over-eagerly you will notice the body rolling a bit.
The diesel engines can be noisy especially when building speed on the motorway. However, any TSI engine that we have tested has proven to be quiet and very refined. Unfortunately, the cabin is subject to wind and road noise. This could be down to the boxy shape of the Yeti.
The Yeti is very appealing inside and like most other Skoda vehicles it is very well specced from the entry level up. If you do get a touchscreen it is very intuitive and easy to use. The Yeti also comes with USB and Bluetooth connectivity. The materials in use within the material seem to be of a high standard. The seats are comfortable and the driver’s seat and the steering wheel are easily adjusted.
The Yeti comes with a range of safety options like Bi-Xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights – this also has what’s called dynamic angle control that re-angels the lights as you are driving around a bend or a corner and allows the driver to see the sides of the road. The Yeti has a five star Euro NCAP rating and received 92 % for Adult occupancy. For child occupancy the crossover scored 78%. It didn’t score too highly for pedestrian safety and they picked up just 46% as a result.
The Yeti is about as practical as you can get in a small crossover. Its four-wheel drive abilities are excellent for the segment that it sits in. Apart from being able to go off road, the Yeti is a spacious car with room for five adults – four would fit more comfortably. There is no problems with head, should and leg room because the Yeti feels tall on the inside and the rear seats can be moved to offer more space.
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