S WA - E01-S3


F r i d a y, October 21, 2011


FRF


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Yeti has big charm T


HE Yeti has been a huge success for Skoda, mopping


up family car awards left right and centre. In GreenLine guise, it offers low emissions and impressive fuel economy. It may not be quick but it offers strong value for money and might just be the most fashionable car in


its class. Howthings change. Ifmy dad


had arrived at school to pick me upin a Skoda of any variety, social death would have descended quicker than being outed as a member of the Bucks Fizz fan


club. I’d have become an outcast, the sort of socially stunted, embittered person who grows up to become a special constable. Back in the 1980s, aBMW 3 Series was just about the coolest thing a parent could arrive at the school gates in. These days a 3 Series will have school kids think you’re a photocopier salesman whereas a Skoda Yeti projects a more active, modern image. Of course, choosing a vehicle


on how much it impresses school children is probably not the metric Skoda was aiming at with the Yeti but as a marker for its image rehabilitation it’s as good as any. The GreenLine diesel versions add some solid economy and emissions credentialsto the lifestyle orientated image.


The 104bhp under the bonnet


is never going to setthe pulse racing as it needs to haul about a fairly sizeable car, but Skoda has done well keeping the Yeti Greenline’s kerb weight down to a manageable 1,335kg. This means 0-60mph in 11.8 seconds which is quick enough notto feel nerve-jangling on motorways. And a decent torquefigure of 184lb/ft means that the Yeti won’t instantlyrun out of puff when you’re five-up. Thereissome wind and road


noise at speed, and if you give the YetiGreenLine the fullmeasure of gas pedal out of tighter corners, it won’t grip and go like the four-wheel drive models, instead treating you to a demonstration of the traction control atwork as


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the front tyresscrabble for grip. The ride is firm,and while this makesthe Yeti great fun todrive, it also means that scabby city tarmac makes its presence felt throughout the cabin. The manual transmission is firm and precise but the electrically- assisted power steering isn’t quite as tactile. The Yeti’sstyling looks a good


deal cleaner thanits broken- backed Roomstersibling. There are modern Skoda design touches too, such asthe unapologetic chrome-topped grille and the blacked out roof pillars. The driving position isreasonably high and gives a good view of the road ahead and a smart colour touch-screen dominatesthe central dash. The broad windows


anddeep windscreen aid visibility while quality materials


dashboard and friendly


ergonomics top off a very accomplished cabin. There are onlytwo ways the


SkodaYeti GreenLine can conceivably disappoint. It’s not quick and it doesn’t have four-wheeldrive.Get accustomed to thosefacts and it’s hard not to fall for the Yeti.


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