Business Car trailblazers Skoda Yeti Martyn Collins
Skoda’s renaissance continued following its acquisition by the Volkswagen Group. The Fabia, Octavia, and Superb, all achieved success in their sectors, but in the noughties, the predicted growth was in family SUVs, and Skoda needed one pronto.
Spin forward to 2009, and Skoda’s result was more distinctive than expected. With the chunky looks, and styling highlights including the circular driving lights at the front, plus blistered arches, raised ride height, large roof rails, and lower body cladding at the side. Then, there was the name ‘Yeti’ which evoked thoughts of the large, hairy, abominable snowman. Inside, because of its wide and tall dimensions, the Yeti offered a generous amount of space for five passengers. With welcome extra practicality provided by the slidable rear seat, that can either give more rear legroom or boot space. Being part of the Volkswagen Group also equalled a comprehensive choice of petrol and diesel engines. Starting with the petrols, there’s a 109hp 1.2, a 158hp 1.8, with the 2.0-litre TDI in various tunes and latterly an even more frugal 1.6 diesel. I tried the pokiest 168hp version of the 2.0-litre TDI diesel not long after the launch and I’ll admit I wasn’t expecting much – thinking the Yeti would be just a rebodied and badge-engineered tall Volkswagen Golf – I was wrong. You could spot the commonality with the Volkswagen Group parts, but the Yeti’s sharp exterior and interior design made it feel different from any other Group cars. More impressive, was the way the Yeti drove. Grip and body control was good – even with two-wheel drive versions. This SUV was unforgettable because it was such surprising fun to
The updated Kamiq makes us think about Skoda’s first family SUV, the quirky Yeti.
drive. Latterly, I got the chance to try a four-wheel drive version, and while it was no off-roader, it impressed when I did some impromptu green laning. In 2011, Skoda released Greenline versions of its range, with the focus on efficiency. The Yeti Greenline boasted low CO2 (119g/km) and impressive fuel consumption (61.4mpg). Yet, despite these Greenline changes, it was still as much fun to drive as the standard Yeti. After some conversations with the press office, a Yeti Greenline II became my first long-termer in 2012. I got to choose its Corrida red paint and upgrades including the excellent upgraded infotainment system. I had to wait a couple of months, as Yetis were
in high customer demand at the time. When it did arrive, I remember that with my son still a newborn, the 416-litre boot was constantly full of baby kit, and that sliding rear seat proved very useful. Despite jokes that with the red paint, it looked like Postman Pat’s van, I continued to enjoy the drive, practicality and the Greenline frugality when it came to filling up at the pumps. Over six months, it averaged over 50 mpg – even more when it was just me driving with no luggage. A Range Rover Evoque three- door replaced it, and was much harder to live with, especially with another child – but that’s another story!
Skoda facelifted the Yeti in 2013, with a smaller engine line-up, and two
core trims – SE Drive and SEL Drive. In my opinion, despite looking more modern, it was now less distinctive. With prototypes of a much more conventional replacement already appearing in the motoring press, plus the launch of the biggest Kodiaq SUV in 2016, it seemed the Yeti’s days were numbered. The Yeti was replaced by the Karoq in 2017, with the new car improving on the Yeti in many areas. However, the Karoq was very much an SUV in the mould of its biggest, the Kodiaq, and although like that car it was highly competent, many like me missed the Yeti’s sense of fun. Today, the Yeti remains popular with secondhand buyers, with the earliest cars starting at around the £3,000 mark.
50 | March 2024 |
www.businesscar.co.uk
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