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02/02/2012
REVIEW by MURRAY HUBBARD and EWAN KENNEDY
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Skoda has again hit the mark with its latest offering, the enticingly named Yeti. It’s a compact five-seat SUV with car-like handling, and some off-road ability with the AWD variant. Yeti benefits from being able to use many components from its parent company Volkswagen.
The Yeti has been developed from the same platform as the Skoda Octavia Scout but has shorter overhangs and a taller body deliberately styled with a more SUV-like shape.
Yeti operates in the highly competitive compact SUV segment up against the likes of Holden Captiva, Honda CR-V, Hyundai ix35, Kia Sportage, Mitsubishi ASX, Mitsubishi Outlander, Nissan Dualis, Renault Koleos, Subaru Forester, Toyota RAV4 and its stablemate the VW Tiguan. Talk about crowded…
Skoda has kept the Yeti lineup fairly simple: FWD and AWD, one petrol and one diesel engine, three transmissions – a six-speed manual for both petrol and diesel, seven-speed DSG for the petrol engine and six-speed DSG for the diesel. Petrol variants are front-wheel-drive only.
Our test Skoda Yeti was the top of the line 103TDI at $37,990. Prices start at a very reasonable $26,290 for the 1.2-litre 77TSI petrol six-speed manual.
Yeti uses the chrome-framed grille and V-shaped bonnet similar to that used on other Skoda models. To us it softens the appearance of a vehicle that perhaps should look a little rugged. Its profile is interesting, with black A and C pillars making the vehicle look longer than it really is.
Yeti makes an ideal city runabout. At 4.2 metres long it is easy to park, yet has plenty of luggage space for the weekly shopping.
The dash layout is simple and functional and the steering wheel houses remote audio controls. With the driver’s seat having height adjustment and the steering wheel with reach and height a comfortable driving position is at hand for just about any build of driver. The seats are comfortable and made of long-lasting material.
Yeti’s interior has a multitude of handy, well-placed storage spaces for drink containers, as well a spot for a mobile telephone. There’s a useful hidden drawer under the front passenger seat.
Skoda Yeti gets interesting in the back seats. There are three seats that can act independently of each other which leads to 20 combinations to suit just about any circumstances that may arise. Skoda call the seating system a Varioflex system and it certainly provides more options than the standard 60/40 split most vehicles have.
Rear seat legroom is good as long as the front seats are not all the way back. Head and shoulder room are fine, which is surprising given the rear seats are raised for better visibility for the passengers. When the middle seat is not in use it can be lowered to provide a table with two drink holders for passengers on either side.
Luggage capacity is 310 to 415 litres depend on the rear seats’ position. With all three seats removed cargo area is boosted to 1665 litres.
The Yeti carries a space saver spare that sits under the floor that looks like an afterthought. Around the spare wheel Skoda Yeti has a series of handy storage bins in moulded foam.
The 103TDI turbo-diesel engine is a lively powerplant with plenty of grunt off the mark, as well as in the overtaking range of 80 km/h to 120 km/h. This engine belts out 320 Nm of torque between 1750 and 2500 rpm and we never found it wanting.
The DSG gear changes are like lightning fast. This type of transmission had problems with stop/start traffic in its early form, but has improved greatly and is now a pleasure to drive in all conditions.
Volkswagen claims fuel consumption of 6.7 litres per 100 kilometres from the 2.0-litre turbo-diesel linked to the DSG. In our week’s test we managed 6.5 L/100 km which would bring a smile to the face of most owners.
On the road the Yeti points nicely and handles long sweeping corners and tight bends in a car-like manner with little body roll and insignificant understeer.
An option in our test 103TDI was an advanced off-road technology package that includes hill start assist, hill descent assist and off-road modes for ABS, ASR and EDL.
We took the Yeti off-road to test Skoda’s claim that Yeti is `incredibly capable off-road.’ Unfortunately the 180 millimetre ground clearance is not enough to stop regular underbody thumps. While the Yeti will cover some rough ground, we see it was more of a gravel road cruiser than a rock-hopper or traversing washed-out bush tracks.
In normal dry road use Yeti is 96 per cent in front-wheel-drive but when slippage is detected up to 90 per cent of torque is directed to the rear wheels. This system works well and quickly via the fourth-generation Haldex clutch. Despite the under body knocks the Yeti handled the terrain well and the DSG allowed the vehicle to crawl over deep and difficult washouts. We doubt the six-speed manual would be so accommodating in similar terrain.
Yeti is well endowed with safety gear, active and passive. Stability control plus an impressive suite of electronic systems including ABS brakes, EBD, ASR and hill hold control – the latter handy for learner drivers in the manual variants. Passive safety includes seven airbags including driver’s knee airbag.
AT A GLANCE
MODEL RANGE
Yeti 77TSI 1.2-litre turbo-petrol FWD five-door wagon: $26,290 (manual), $28,590 (DSG)
Yeti 103TDI 2.0-litre turbo-diesel AWD five-door wagon: $35,690 (manual), $37,990 (DSG)
Note: These prices do not include government or dealer charges. Contact any Skoda dealer for driveaway prices.
FEATURES
ABS Brakes: Standard in all models
Automatic Transmission: DSG optional in both models
Cruise Control: Standard in all models
Dual Front Airbags: Standard in all models
Front Side Airbags: Standard in all models
Electronic Stability Program: Standard in all models
Rear Parking Sensors: $640 option in both models
Reversing Camera: Not offered
Auxiliary Audio Inputs: Standard in both models
Bluetooth: Standard in both models
Steering Wheel Mounted Controls: Standard in all models
SPECIFICATIONS (Skoda Yeti 103TDI 2.0-litre turbo-diesel AWD five-door wagon)
ENGINE:
Capacity: 1.968 litres
Configuration: Transverse, four cylinders in line
Head Design: OHC
Compression Ratio: 16.5:1
Bore/Stroke: 81.0 mm x 95.5 mm
Maximum Power: 103 kW @ 4200 rpm
Maximum Torque: 320 Nm @ 1750-2500 rpm
DRIVELINE:
Driven Wheels: 4WD
Manual Transmission: Six-speed
Automatic Transmission: Six-speed DSG
Final Drive Ratio: NA
DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT AND CAPACITIES:
Length: 4223 mm
Wheelbase: 2578 mm
Width: 1793 mm
Height: 1691 mm
Turning Circle: 10.3 metres
Kerb Mass: 1570 kg
Fuel Tank Capacity: 60 litres
Towing Ability: 2000 kg (with braked trailer)
Boot Capacity: 415 litres (1665 litres with rear seatback lowered)
SUSPENSION AND BRAKES:
Front Suspension: MacPherson struts, lower triangular links, torsion stabiliser
Rear Suspension: Multi-element axle, transverse links, torsion stabiliser
Front Brakes: Ventilated disc
Rear Brakes: Disc
PERFORMANCE:
0-100 km/h Acceleration: 9.9 seconds
FUEL CONSUMPTION:
Type: Diesel
Combined Cycle (ADR 81/02): 6.2 L/100km
GREEN VEHICLE GUIDE RATINGS:
Greenhouse Rating: 7/10
Air Pollution Rating: 6/10
STANDARD WARRANTY:
Three years/100,000 km |
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