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Skoda Yeti car review: the go anywhere, do anything company car

The 4WD Outdoor version now has serious towing and offroad ability, while the 2WD has bags of space and versatility at family hatch prices. Take your pick.
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7 February 2014

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The Outdoor version, at least in its 4WD guise, has genuine offroad ability and with the 2-litre diesel can tow 2100kg – enough for most caravans or a trailer with a couple of ponies

What’s hot?

  • Smart new family face lends a premium, if a little bit of a US SUV, image with body coloured bumpers and wing mirrors on the new Yeti while the Yeti Outdoor has rugged appeal including extra plastic undercarriage bash-plates.
  • Interior improvements echo the premium feel with a new three-spoke leather multi-function steering wheel and a selection of optional trims, fabrics, leather and seats combinations.
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    The interior has a more premium feel, and seating is very flexible
  • There’s a nice range of engine choices at launch from the sparky 1.2-litre TSI that provides a lively drive from just 103bhp with a 0-60mph sprint of 11.4secs in the lighter two-wheel drive Yeti crossover, the similarly powered 1.6-litre TDI boasting 119g/kms of CO2 emissions and a claimed 61.4mpg to the range topping 2.0-litre TDI with 137bhp and 167bhp versions.
  • Gearbox options include five and six speed manuals and seven-speed double clutch auto for the 1.2 TSI and a six speed version for the torquey 2.0 TDI.
  •  Fifth generation Haldex rear axle four-wheel-drive system is smaller, simpler and also reduces CO2 emissions on all models while increasing the towing capacity for the 2.0 TDI by 100kgs to 2100kgs – good news for caravan and horse-box owners.
  • Skoda’s Varioflex seating system allows for a multitude of different seat configurations and liberates a class leading 1760-litres of luggage space with the rear seats folded.
  • Semi-serious off-roaders will appreciate the Outdoor’s off-road button which provides several special traction benefits including hill launch assist, downhill decent assist and modified ABS to optimise braking on mud and snow.
  • Prices start from as little as £16,600 for the 1.2 TSI with a 2013/14 company car tax rating of 20% and P11D value of £16,405 rising to £26, 625 for the range-topping Laurin & Klement 2.0 TDI 170PS with company car tax at 24% and a P11D value of £26,430.

 

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In spite of its Offroad ambitions, the Yeti is still geared for the open road

What’s not?

  • Off road, the street-focused gearing is too high for really difficult conditions and will spin wheels/stall the engine too readily if the going gets very challenging.
  • Some may dislike the more corporate ‘grown-up’ face of the new Yeti compared to the out-going model’s quirky individuality.
  • Oversize B-pillars can restrict side vision for some smaller drivers.
  • During the test the claimed fuel economy was nowhere close to ‘real-world’ driving figures which saw 35mpg for the two-wheel drive 1.2 TSI and 47mpg for the 1.6 TDI although this is a common complaint with many manufacturer figures.

 

 

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Matt Morton

Matt Morton

Matt Morton is an automotive content writer for Business Car Manager

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