Skoda Yeti

The Skoda Yeti was an unusual car when it was launched - and not just in the way that it looks. The high SUV-like driving position and ultra-practical design belied strong performance and decent handling, making it hard to pigeonhole. However, reviews are generally excellent and critics praise it highly.

Interior

The quality of the interior is easily on a par with those of its siblings from Audi and Volkswagen. It’s huge, comfortable and just about indestructible.

The seats fold down making the already huge boot absolutely enormous! There's plenty of room in the back, with ample leg and head room for rear passengers. Few cars are more practical than the Yeti.

Driving

The Yeti is a satisfying car to own rather than an exciting one to drive. Most commentators rate it as a decent drive though, and it’s competent in all the key areas. The high driving position and huge glass area give excellent visibility. There are a couple of complaints that the ride is too firm though. It's not just on-road that the Yeti is good to drive, it's reportedly decent off-road too.

Engines

The 1.2 petrol engine is fun and reasonably economical, although you are restricted to the two-wheel-drive chassis. The 2.0 TDI 140 diesel engine turns the Yeti into a quick car that is expensive to buy but reasonably cheap to run. All other engines are a variation on a theme, trading economy for performance.

The pick of the bunch, though, is the 1.6 TDI Greenline II that gives over 60mpg and is surprisingly sprightly, although it is only available with a manual gearbox. It also costs just £35 a year in tax.

Value for money

The Skoda Yeti range is competitively priced and has strong residual values, making it one of the most economical cars of its type to own. Every model comes with plenty of kit as standard, so you shouldn't have to spend too much on options.

Worth noting

The Yeti is a decent towing car too, and in 2.0 TDI four-wheel-drive specification can pull up to 2,000kgs. The Skoda is quite a light car though, so smaller caravans will handle better.

Conclusion

The Yeti is an unusual and versatile family car that does everything very well, even if it doesn’t do anything brilliantly. It’s an intelligent car that you will find is satisfying to own – if you can get past the quirky looks.