127 MOTORING ROAD TESTS BY NICK FLETCHER
OuR MOTORING COLuMN, BY THe eXPeRIeNCeD AND AWARD WINNING MOTORING JOuRNALIsT NICK FLETCHER HELPS OUR READERS CHOOSE THE BEST OF THE LATEST CARS.
SKODAYETI SE L OUTDOOR
SKODA’S YETI WAS INTRODUCED IN 2009 AND WAS ONE OF THE PIONEERS OF THE COMPACT FAMILY SUV MODELS. WHILE THE SECTOR HAS EXPANDED RAPIDLY SINCE THEN, THE YETI HAS BEEN EXTENSIVELY UPDATED AND CAN STILL COMPETE WITH ITS YOUNGER RIVALS AND IS FURTHER BOLSTERED BY VOLKSWAGEN’S OUTSTANDING BUILD QUALITY AND RANGE OF WELL-PROVEN ENGINES. Recent rivals include the Peugeot 3008, suzuki
Vitara, re-vamped Nissan Qashqai and – from VW’s own stable – the SEAT Ateca and while the boxy Yeti isn’t as sleekly styled as the newcomers, it still scores highly for family practicality and its easy everyday driving feel. Most buyers will opt for the Yeti in two-wheel-drive
form, though there is a 4x4 version, and there are various petrol and diesel engine options. Prices start at £17,770 for well-kitted entry models though better equipped mid and top range versions climb rapidly in price. My SE L Outdoor spec diesel test model with 4X4 costs £26,100. The 2.0 litre diesel unit provides a punchy 148 hp, with a
nippy 0-60 mph time of 9.1 seconds. Top speed is 121 mph and the fuel economy figure is 55.4 mpg combined. Underway, the car drives nicely
in urban areas, smooth, quiet and responsive, though at higher speeds, wind and road noise do intrude slightly. On country roads, the Yeti handles well, taking bends with great poise thanks to precise steering and a firm suspension set-up. Ride quality is very good unless the surface is quite rough, when it can thump a little. The Yeti’s cabin is a pleasant place to be, with decent
room for five adults, plenty of oddment- stowage space and a spacious 416 litre boot, boosted to 1580 litres by folding down the rear seats, and to 1760 litres if you remove the rear seats entirely. The rear seats also slide and recline for more comfort and flexibility. The driving postion is very good, with excellent all-
IMPRESSES WITH ITS
STURDY CHARACTER AND AIR OF DEPENDABILITY
AND ITS FAMILY-FRIENDLY VERSATILITY
round visibility and the dashboard has a neat practical layout. Trim materials and switchgear look very durable – as on all VW group models. Standard equipment on the SE L test model includes 17-inch alloy wheels, sat-nav and DAB radio, cruise control, du l-zone air-conditioning, all-round power windows, front and rear parking sensors, leather upholstery, roof- rails and LED lights with cornering function. Overall the Yeti impresses with
its sturdy character and air of dependability and its family-friendly
versatility. The compact SUV sector is now quite crowded but the Yeti can still take on the pack leaders.
VOLVOV40 D2 R Design
VOLVO’S V40 HATCHBACK IS THE COMPANY’S BIGGEST SELLING MODEL IN A CROWDED SECTOR WHICH INCLUDES THE LEGENDARY VW GOLF, SO THE SWEDISH CONTENDER HAS TO BE VERY GOOD TO RUN WITH THE PACK LEADERS. The V40 plus-points are its strong suite of safety
features, a revised range of economical engines and a classy interior, so it certainly deserves to be on the short list of any family hatchback buyer. Launched in 2012 it was mildly re-vamped last year and comes with a choice of petrol and diesel engines of
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