Skoda Yeti: Farewell To The Googly Eyes

2023 Author: Eric Donovan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-11-27 05:39

Skoda has subjected the Yeti to a model revision. The compact SUV from the VW subsidiary will then also be offered in a double pack for the second life cycle.

By Frank Mertens

One thing you have to give the Skoda Yeti: it shows edge. While many compact SUVs with their smooth shapes almost disappear in the cityscape, the compact SUV from the VW subsidiary has a striking appearance. The model revision that the Czechs are giving the Yeti to the second half of its life four years after its market launch has not changed that. The Yeti has a special role to play here: it should be a cornerstone of the 2018 growth strategy. By then, Skoda boss Winfried Vahland wants to bring the brand to sales of 1.5 million units. Anyone with such ambitious goals must of course also have an attractive offer in a growth segment like that of the SUV.

And the Yeti, which will now even be available in two design versions from December 7th, is attractive: on the one hand there is the elegant version for the city and on the other hand the one for driving off-road, with the addition of Outdoor in the model name leads. But if you look closely, you will see that only small details make the difference between the two versions: While both bumpers and the side protective strips for the city are painted in the same color as the Yeti, the outdoor version has paneled add-on parts that are used when driving to provide better protection off the road.

Skoda Yeti with bi-xenon light

Otherwise, however, the optical retouching is limited. First of all, there is the refreshed front section, where the two googly eye-shaped fog lights have disappeared. On the new Yeti, they are now rectangular and are no longer located below the main headlights, but have moved into the bumpers. Bi-xenon headlights are also being offered for the first time for the new Yeti. At the rear, triangular elements to the left and right of the license plate ensure a striking appearance.

These are niceties that make the new Yeti look a little fresher. But there is also something new to discover beyond design. In addition to the aforementioned bi-xenon headlights, there is an optionally available reversing camera, a parking assistant and a keyless entry and start-stop system. Modern driver assistance systems such as a lane change assistant or a collision warning system are not included in the surcharge list. It will only be available in the next generation of the Yeti, which will probably be on the market in three years.

But even without these electronic helpers, the Yeti leaves a good impression, as our test with the 1.6 TDI Greenline with 105 PS, which costs 24,990 euros, showed. Well, the unit is no longer one of the most dewy on offer. But it does its job properly. The four-cylinder diesel is a bit rough, sometimes very present, but it brings you reliably from A to B - and with good consumption values. The Yeti consumed an average of 5.9 liters over 100 kilometers. That is 1.3 liters more than stated by the manufacturer. You shouldn't expect too much sportiness from the entry-level diesel, it doesn't have it like that: it takes a leisurely 12.1 seconds to sprint to 100 km / h. The top speed is reached at 176 km / h.

There is little to complain about on the way there. The steering responds directly, the manual five-speed gearbox works precisely, although you miss a sixth gear. And the chassis could be a bit more comfortable.

Seven engines on offer

But if you are looking for more sportiness, you will of course find what you are looking for in the engine range, where you can choose from a total of seven engines with front-wheel and all-wheel drive and also a direct shift gearbox. The fun of driving a Yeti starts at 18,990 euros for the 1.2 TSI with 105 PS. Entry into the diesel world begins with the 2.0 TDI with 110 PS at 21,890 euros. If you are in the mood for the outdoor version, you have to put 200 euros more on the retailer's table.

But apart from the two design variants, which you may or may not like, the Yeti has otherwise remained true to itself. Its interior is still as spacious as it was already known and learned to appreciate. You sit very comfortably at the front and back and can comfortably cover long journeys. And its trunk volume of 405 liters is also reasonable. The quality of the workmanship is decent, as you know it from the Czechs. At the end of the test drives, a positive impression remains and the knowledge that the new Yeti Skoda will also bring positive sales figures again. By mid-2013, more than 260,000 customers had opted for the compact SUV from the Czechs.