Skoda Yeti auto 2011 review

A TOUGH little SUV with distinctive styling is just what Skoda needs to expand its Australian audience. Skoda Australia boss Matthew Wiesner says the Yeti - officially launched this week - will overtake the Octavia models to become the brand’s volume seller here. The company is confident about success.

This week, getting dusty and dirty in territory that  would bring sweat to the bonnet brow of a Prado, Skoda’s hopeful shows it has promise as an adventurous off-road wagon and even more potential as a very versatile, well built and comprehensively kitted out family wagon.

Features such as the Varioflex seating - which at the flick of a few levers reconfigures the roomy cabin from a five-seater to a van and everything in between - holds appeal with Mums and surfers, cyclists and advanced shoppers. But the Volkswagen Tiguan-based wagon from VW’s subsidiary in the Czech Republic possibly isn’t the discount buy for which Skoda has been renown.

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Explore the 2011 Skoda Yeti Range

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VALUE

There are two models at launch - a $26,290 two-wheel drive petrol version that will find happy homes in the suburbs and the $35,690 all-wheel drive that takes on the Korean SUVs, the Subaru Forester and a couple of others. The AWD costs only $1000 less than the Volkswagen Tiguan and though it has more features, may become second choice given VW’s name and the Tiguan’s less arresting styling.

But there are no doubts about the 2WD model that - for its price - has a hell of a lot of appeal and is likely to even take big sales from conventional hatchbacks and sedans. A 1.8-litre turbo-petrol joins the Yeti range early in 2012.

DESIGN

The guy who penned the awkward Roomster - off the market now but back early next year - obviously had some input into styling the Yeti but was clearly told to tone it down. The Yeti is distinctive - a good thing given the cookie-cutter parade of many SUVs today - but functional. Its vertical tail promises loads of cabin space - true - and the short bonnet aims at improving driver visibility and making parking easier. Also true. The seating is excellent and the ability to rearrange the cabin so quickly and easily makes it very flexible for different motoring tasks. The dashboard is heavily influenced by Volkswagen - notably Golf and Polo - which is a good thing. Options include a different colour paint for the roof (add $390).

TECHNOLOGY

Most components are borrowed from Volkswagen, including the 77kW 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine in the 2WD. The 103kW/320Nm 2-litre turbo-diesel is common to most Audi and VW models and has a strong reputation for durability. The DSG auto is a $2300 option, with the 2WD getting a seven-speed unit and the 4WD gets the six-speed version. The Haldex drivetrain system on the AWD is a fourth generation unit and is a top-notch device that quickly moves torque to the required wheel. The system goes under the name of 4Motion by Volkswagen. The Yeti is a simple car with no radical engineering and so should be easy and hopefully inexpensive to service and repair.

SAFETY

Skoda announces a five-star crash rating. The Yeti comes standard with loads of safety it as standard, including seven airbags, electronic stability control, brake assist and hill start assist. The AWD gets an “off road package’’ with specially tuned ABS brakes and ESC for dirt roads, plus hill descent and a refined hill holder system.

DRIVING

Skoda launched the Yeti rage AWD version with a brisk bitumen run followed by a difficult 30km drive along the Northern Territory’s Finke River which, fortunately, was mostly dry. This is a mix of riverstones and soft white sand and not the place for an AWD with no low-range gearing, low-profile road tyres and a measly 180mm of ground clearance. A few became bogged due to a loss of momentum but most kindled respect for the compact wagon for its strength during the pounding over the rocks and the ability of the 2-litre turbo-diesel engine to keep the torque on stream. The uneven terrain also proved the rigidity of the body.

There’s more respect for its on-road manners. The car is impressively quiet on the open road - despite the coarse bitumen - and is devoid of any wind noise that normally is the bugbear of SUVs. The compliant ride was also a surprise, as was the road handling and the pep of the engine when mated to the six-speed DSG auto (a $2300 option). Though borrowing a lot of gear from the VW Tiguan, the Yeti has a less firm ride and may better suit seekers of comfort rather than performance handling.

VERDICT

It’s an excellent effort from Skoda and one worth a solid look. More dealers means better choices and deals. The 2WD version was unavailable this week but will be tested soon.