Skoda Yeti 1.8 TSI SE (2009) CAR review

Skoda does a good line in half sizes. The Octavia is a bit bigger than Focus types, but not as chunky as a Mondeo. And so the new Skoda Yeti is larger than its Fiat Panda looky-likey, but not quite as big as the Nissan Qashqai-set soft-roaders it’s aimed at. It’s a handy point of distinction and the Yeti looks pleasingly trim as a result: not as bolshily bulky as some threatening SUVs yet with a whiff of go-anywhere potential in its raised ride height and Blomqvist-spec driving lights.

The Yeti is a reminder that Skoda has come of age - with its democratic pricing, competitive line-ups and inoffensively distinctive designs. Clever product planning or a stroke of luck? Whichever, the Yeti lands in a zeitgeist shying away from the excesses of SUVs and City types, serving up some 4x4 attributes in a more modest, bijou package.

So which Skoda Yeti is CAR reviewing here?

As with many compact crossovers, Skoda offers the Yeti in two- and four-wheel drive. Hardware is pilfered from the Skoda Octavia Scout, so 4wd Yetis - like ours - have the latest Haldex traction system, shuffling torque to the axle with the most traction. It works well on road and we were able to elicit only the briefest of chirrups from the tyres even on full boost. The fourth-gen Haldex system can theoretically turn the Yeti rear-drive, with 90% of drive going to the back tyres.

CAR tested the 1.8 turbo petrol, one of the punchier models in the range. Ours came in £18,910 1.8 TSI SE spec, although we suspect many buyers will plump for one of the diesels starting from £15,565 in 2wd trim. We haven’t driven the starter 1.2 yet, which we suspect may feel slightly breathless despite being turbocharged to 105bhp/129lb ft.

And what’s the new Skoda Yeti 1.8 TSI like?

Bordering on brilliant! I’ve had to pinch myself before writing that about a Skoda, but the Yeti is one of the fantastically judged cars I’ve driven all year. From the very moment I climbed in, the Yeti feels right.

For starters, it’s well built in that solid, Skoda fashion. The VW Group provides its finest parts bin ware and the whole is wrapped in tactile, quality plastics with a no-nonsense design that makes the cabin feel from several rungs higher up the range. The Yeti isn’t on stilts, but still affords a hint of the command driving position so favoured by SUV drivers.

It’s seriously roomy and the rear seats slide back and forth upon request, with enough space to make this qualify as a serious family car. The boot’s generous at 416 litres and bigger than a Focus’s or Qashqai’s loadbay. And those rear seats remove individually to turn the tallboy Yeti into a veritable removal van on the cheap (we managed to move a double mattress in it with ease).

>> Click ‘Next’ to read more of CAR’s Skoda Yeti first drive review