The Skoda Yeti has a simple but functional external styling but handles beautifully. Picture by Jennifer Burton.
ROADTEST FACTFILE
Car...Skoda Yeti
Model...Elegance 2litre TDI CR 140bhp 4X4
mpg (comb cycle)46.3mpg
CO2 emissions...159 g/km
Price...£21,320
Loaned by FH Winter and Sons
BE prepared for Yeti sightings all over the countryside.
No, I am not talking about a large furry monster but the versatile new Skoda Yeti, which was launched last month.
Recently I drove a Yeti Elegance 2.0 TDI CR 140bhp 4x4, courtesy of Island Skoda dealers F. H. Winter and Sons, and I believe this car will be very popular.
It has simple but functional styling and a shape that screams versatile crossover — yet it handles beautifully on the road and off.
With its choice of two or four-wheel drive, diesel and petrol engines, a massive boot and a flexible rear seating system, the Yeti is perfect for a busy family life.
It has a reassuringly solid feel and the higher ride height means you have a clear view of the road, while there are up to seven airbags as standard.
Yeti seats five but it has Varioflex flexible rear seating, which provides more than 20 combinations, as seats can be moved forward or backwards, reclined, rolled up individually or completely removed.
Even the entry-level Yeti has ABS with electric brakeforce distribution and traction control systems, plus great comfort and convenience features, including an air-conditioned glove compartment, electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors, height adjustable driver and front passenger seats and manual air conditioning.
The top-of-the-range Elegance I drove sported rear parking sensors, cruise control, dual-zone air conditioning, heated front seats, full leather upholstery, daylight running lights, a multi-functional steering wheel with radio and telephone controls and much more.
It is so clever, it even flashed up a little message on the dashboard to tell me when to refuel and it can be fitted with park assist as an optional extra, which actually allows the car to reverse park itself.
To drive, the Yeti is extremely smooth and handles more like a family hatchback than a rugged 4x4-type of vehicle — cornering is much smoother at higher speeds than in my own higher-sided off-roader.
The 2.0-litre Elegance 4x4 I drove has plenty of power and would undoubtedly make a great towing vehicle.
It also has an off-road button for those times when you want to leave the tarmac behind. I took the Yeti into my pony paddocks with no problem but, in more taxing conditions, pressing the 4x4 button helps you maintain control and will ensure the Yeti will maintain a constant speed downhill on a steep slope, maintain traction going uphill, hold the car still on a hill start and prevent the wheels from spinning on loose surfaces or wet, slippery roads. This latest generation 4x4 system senses what is happening on each wheel and quickly transfers power or automatically applies brakes when needed to give more grip or drive to keep you on your chosen route.
The Yeti is much more fuel-efficient than many 4x4s — the 2.0-litre Elegance does 46.3mpg on a combined cycle and produces surprisingly low carbon dioxide emissions of 159g/km. The range starts from £13,725 on the road, rising to £22,120 and the model I drove costs £21,320.
What attracted me most to the Yeti, apart from the quality of build and drive, was the funky, furry keyring which comes with each car.
Take a test-drive to see what I mean …