Revamped Škoda Yeti is a solid 4x4

The Škoda Yeti has been a favourite of mine for some time. I believe that it provides a practical approach to 4x4 driving for many farm families. The compact size and solid features, backed by a Volkswagen engine and gearbox technology, means that it’s founded on solid background.

Now Škoda has given the Yeti an upgrade with more modern styling inside and out, while still retaining the compact 4x4 look. There are a number of features around this new look that attract me.

The Yeti is not too high off the ground and it has a solid upright driving position that’s easy to get in and out of. The headroom is adequate for an average sized person like myself and with my driver’s seat position, there is plenty of legroom in the back. The seats are solid and practical and the driver gets plenty of options to adjust seat height for comfort and road visibility.

Then there are the practical bits, like engine power, economy and ease of driving. I drove over 600km in the Yeti and I remain impressed by the solid driving feel and good road holding of the car. The entry level 110bhp 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine is well-established and tested.

The engine is fitted to lots of Škoda and Volkswagen models and was the same unit used to power the Škoda Octavia 4x4 that I wrote about recently. In the Yeti, it can accelerate with ease.

There are two more powerful versions of this engine, but this new one gives a more competitive entry price for the Yeti.

The six-speed gearbox gives smooth cruising speed and the lower gears, coupled with good engine torque of 280Nm, allow for minimal gear changing on the smaller roads.

I was a little surprised that the 110bhp-engine needed to rev over the 2,000rpm figure to reach the legal limit of 120km/hr on the motorway. This contributed to the fact that the economy figure was a little poorer than I had expected.

I achieved an economy figure that was about 15% lower than the rated figure of 16.9km/litre (5.9 litres/100km or 48 mpg) and that surprised me. It means that with a mix of driving you should get close to 800km from a full 60-litre tank of diesel. I had expected a little better because the Yeti weighs just 1,525kg.

That economy level pushes this Yeti into road tax class C and this means an annual road tax cost of €380. That’s a bit expensive, but probably average for a 4x4 of this size.

This Yeti has modest acceleration, at 12.2 seconds in a 0km/hr to 100km/hr race. The towing rating at 1,800kg is not the highest in the sector, but I didn’t expect it to be.

Ford Kuga, Land Rover Freelander, Toyota RAV and Volkswagen Tiguan are all at 2,000kg, so the Yeti is a little light in that respect.

I didn’t attempt anything too adventurous off-road as the land is simply too wet, but I took it across some gravel roads where the 4x4 system could kick in.

Škoda uses what is called a fifth-generation Haldex all-wheel drive system that is electronically engaged by a multidisc clutch in the gearbox.

In normal driving situations, the car’s front axle is driving it and the drive to the rear axle is engaged automatically to prevent the wheels from entering off-road mode during quick starts and rapid acceleration.

This system is very adequate in off-road conditions. I had previously tested it in tougher conditions in Irish fields, where the ground was not as soft, and it’s impressive.

There’s a large safety kit on the new Yeti and this extends as you go up the line from the entry Active grade. The car does not have a recent Euro NCAP crash test rating but it did come with a five-star rating for the previous model before the upgrade, so expect a good level of safety features, including Isofix seat attachments in the rear.

The Yeti Outdoor version that I drove is the latest addition to Škoda’s 4x4 family. A full-length sunroof and changes to the side mouldings and paintwork add a little over €1,500 to the price.

This Yeti does give you the opportunity to get into an effective 4x4 at a more modest cost, with the entry price of €28,520, or £17,940 in N. Ireland, before delivery charges.

There’s a lot of new 4x4 competition in this sector now and there’s value to be got too, including the new 4x4 Nissan Qashqai coming in at a very affordable price.

So, do your dealing with Škoda as the Yeti is good, solid and performs well on and off the road. But remember that there are a lot more 4x4s on the scene, so use your bargaining skills to get a good deal.

Škoda Yeti 2.0 TDI

Engine 2.0-litre