Introducing Skoda Yeti at length is like explaining to a Moravian what Slivovice tastes like . The car concept was shown for the first time in 2005 at the Geneva Motor Show, where it left no one cold in its two versions. After four years of development, we received the production version at the same place, which is still with us today.
I have become very fond of the Skoda Yeti over the past few years. The diesel version with all-wheel drive even serves as an internal editorial car. However, we were also provided with a version from the opposite side of the offer for testing. With front-wheel drive and a TSI four-cylinder petrol engine , it seems like the right choice for a large part of our population. I was really looking forward to testing the Yeti.
A design that never gets old
Skoda Yeti has been driving on our roads for the fourth year. During the interim era of the historically first SUV of the Mladá Boleslav car company, there was no rejuvenation, which speaks of the timelessness of the body design. But no car is immune to changes, so the Yeti will soon receive a rejuvenation treatment.
The front part of the 1793 millimeter wide SUV consists of a pair of main headlights and the same number of round fog lights. These also represent daytime running lights and are equipped with the Corner function . There is also a typical radiator grille with vertical ribs and silver plating of the lower part of the bumper. Why not – the Yeti does not resist the terrain, where even the most careful driver cannot avoid a slight hesitation from time to time.
I like the profile and the rear of the car the most. The total length of 4,223 millimeters and the height of 1,691 millimeters are here in such a ratio that, even in the box-like concept, conjured up a dynamic and purposeful looking car. In addition, the black design of the front and rear pillars of the body remained from the original concept, which, in combination with the black roof and light paint, creates an interesting color contrast. I also praise the choice of 17" Annapurna alloy wheels , which fit the car perfectly and at the same time do not detract from driving comfort.
Interior – Hit the black
Last year, a lot of competing cars passed through my hands, which, under certain circumstances, the Skoda Yeti should be afraid of. These were mainly Korean, Japanese and French car manufacturers. Design fads, a huge spectrum of instrument coloring and ubiquitous beeping, however, after a while, one wishes and longs for a simple, but honest and high-quality piece of Czech car.
It may sound unbelievable, but Yeti made the end of last year really pleasant for me. The simple concept of the instrument panel abounds in exemplary ergonomics and production quality and does not distract the driver from driving in any way. In contrast to the mentioned competition, here I encounter a number of practical little things that every user will definitely appreciate. I am referring to the rubber lining of all storage spaces, flexible cables in the door compartments or the height and longitudinal adjustment of the armrest.
I have to praise the excellent sports seats with more pronounced lateral guidance and the perfect three-spoke steering wheel. Both named elements are known to me from the second generation Skoda Fabia RS , where you can only find them in a different textile and leather version.
During two weeks of testing, I got used to the AMUNDSEN+ navigation system . In addition to navigation, the information unit with a TFT display contains all the options for setting up the car (air conditioning, radio, indication of the distance from obstacles when parking) and is cleverly connected to the MAXI DOT on-board computer display. Thanks to this, you can also control the functions of the system using the buttons on the steering wheel, which is a comfortable matter that contributes to increased safety. Of course, the menu is completely in the Czech language. If I were to consider additional extra equipment when buying a car, my eyes would definitely be directed here.
The interior space is a highly watched point. From the beginning, Skoda Yeti aimed at the senses of Czech motorists, who use their cars for moving, trips to the cottage, family trips and, last but not least, also for representation. I am happy to say that the Yeti passed with flying colors in all the mentioned activities!
Inside the car, you sit in an almost ideal position, which is accessible to almost all height categories thanks to the wide range of seat and steering wheel settings. Thanks to the overall width of the car, valuable centimeters are not missing even in the longitudinal direction. Up to three adult passengers can comfortably sit in the back, and they will also not lack elbow, knee or head space.
More than once I have met people who immediately asked me a question about the size and variability of the luggage compartment. Yeti can do wonders in this direction! The rear seats are divided in a ratio of 40/20/40 and allow sliding, classic folding of the backrests, folding of individual parts to the back of the front seats or complete removal. Even here, you will discover a pleasant detail in the form of flexible cables, which firmly secure the seat bodies against movement if the individual parts are overturned. In summary, in the basic configuration you have 416 liters available for luggage, but if you fold down the seats, you get up to 1,580 liters (up to 1,760 liters after removal). The overall layout of the luggage compartment also guarantees perfect harmony.
Engine
At the beginning of the test, I indicated that today we will not deal with diesel, but gasoline. Under the hood of the tested Skoda Yeti is a turbocharged four-cylinder TSI with a volume of 1.4 liters and a maximum output of 90 kW at 5,000 revolutions per minute. However, I myself was surprised by the course of the torque. 200 Nm is available in the range from 1500 to 4000 rpm, which guarantees an almost linear characteristic during acceleration.
The tested engine is the second weakest in the range for the Yeti model and comes only with front-wheel drive and a six-speed manual transmission. She is, in my opinion, the best thing I came across last year. The shift lever gives a pleasant resistance and you only need to move your wrist to switch between the individual gears.
When taking over the car, I was a little worried about the higher fuel consumption. It is not so much about the engine itself, but about its connection with the high structure of the body, which is responsible for the higher coefficient of air resistance. In the end, I was quite surprised. At 100 km/h on the highway, the revs hover around 3,000 per minute, and the engine claims 7.8 l/100 km at that moment. However, a bit of foresight is required in denser highway traffic. 90 kW is just right for the Yeti, and any power reserve is quite difficult to find on climbs.
It's different after the exit to the county road. Here, with a light foot, the consumption can be reduced to 5.8 l/100 km , but in most cases I drove for 6.7. Given the speed limits here, the engine can cope with any road profile and more than once allows itself to be tempted by a slightly sportier driving style. In addition, as the engine revs increase, deep notes will start to sound from the exhaust, which will support the overall atmosphere even more.
Drive
It's been a long time since I've had the opportunity to go for a ride with one of the press cars. Not for the sake of gaining new knowledge, but purely for pleasure. I rode the Yeti often. During 14 days, I drove about 600 kilometers in the Moravian districts, which completely convinced me of the car's qualities.
In this type of car, only one thing is important to me – comfort behind the wheel. Nothing must disturb me or the crew during the journey, and I must still feel safe during sharper driving. Skoda Yeti meets these requirements. Even on heavily damaged roads, it maintains a natural ride comfort, dampens unevenness well, leans surprisingly little in corners and is also excellent in handling. I soon got used to the sense of security that the steering, brakes and predictable behavior at the limit constantly instilled in me. The only thing missing from perfection is a longer shift lever, which is a little drowned in the case of the maximum height adjustment of the armrest.
Resume
Although the first ever SUV of the Mladá Boleslav car company is due for an extensive modernization in the near future, you will certainly not be fooled by buying the current version. Skoda Yeti meets all the needs that a potential buyer of an SUV may require. It does not disappoint when transporting larger loads, it comfortably transports a family of five with equipment for the weekend, it perfectly represents and can even encourage its owner to go for a drive without an obvious destination. The question remains, however, whether it is better not to reach for a two-liter diesel with an output of 81 kW, which would reduce the announced fuel consumption. However, I will save the answer for the comparison test.
Basic price of the car: CZK 491,900
Price of a specific car: CZK 550,400
Pros:
– timeless design
– pleasant and high-quality materials
– lots of space
– manual transmission
– interior variability
– great control
– universality of use
Cons:
– low shift lever
– power reserve on the highway
– the price of some additional equipment elements
