Marton Pettendy•7 May 2014

REVIEW

Skoda Yeti 2014 Review

Name: Skoda Yeti 2014 Review
Brand: Skoda

More equipment, lower prices and fresh styling to give small Czech SUV broader appeal

Skoda Yeti 77TSI Active, 90TSI Ambition, 103TDI 4x4 Outdoor

Local Launch

Byron Bay, NSW

Skoda’s second best selling model in Australia behind the Octavia, the Yeti is vitally important for the brand Down Under. Apart from a new, less polarising front-end design, as seen at 2013 year’s Frankfurt show, the midlife facelift for Skoda’s small SUV now arrives as part of a revised 2015 model range that also brings more equipment and lower prices across the line-up.

The cutely named but oddly styled Yeti has been one of the best-value entrants in Australia’s hot-selling compact SUV segment since October 2011. As such it has rapidly become Skoda’s second most popular model behind the Octavia.

That’s not saying much, however, since the Yeti has failed to sell in anywhere near the numbers of key rivals like the Hyundai ix35, Subaru XV, Nissan Dualis, Mitsubishi ASX, Holden Trax or even Volkswagen’s more expensive Tiguan.

The Czech brand hopes to change that with a midlife makeover that brings new front styling, more equipment, keener pricing and a new front-wheel drive 90TSI mid-range model.

The MY15 Yeti line-up continues to open with the entry-level Active 77TSI, powered by a carryover 77kW/175Nm 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine and priced from $23,490 plus on-road costs (six-speed manual) and $25,790 plus ORCs for the seven-speed DSG auto.

Skoda says that’s $2800 less than the same model’s previous manufacturer’s retail list price ($26,290), however, the Yeti 77TSI manual has been available for the run-out price of $21,990 drive-away since mid-2013.

There’s no question all models bring better value, however, with standard MY15 equipment now extending to a reversing camera (the first Skoda to do so), five-inch ‘Amundsen’ colour touch-screen infotainment system and keyless entry and starting.

This is in addition to a new three-spoke multi-function steering wheel, phone and music connectivity via Bluetooth and cable, rear parking sensors, cruise control, front seat height adjustment and power windows.

Standard safety gear includes seven airbags, electronic stability/traction control, anti-lock brakes and an electronic differential lock, helping the Yeti achieve a maximum five-star ANCAP crash safety rating.

The base 77TSI rides on new ‘Scudo’ 17-inch alloy wheels and, like all new Yetis, wears a new bonnet, front quarter guards, headlights, bumpers, tailgate and grille – the latter with Skoda’s new-look emblem.

Inside, the 2015 Yeti impresses with more upmarket market materials, including a soft-touch dashboard and door trims, although a clever height and reach adjustable centre front armrest only comes standard in the new mid-range Ambition 90TSI 2WD auto.

Priced at $28,290 plus ORCs – $700 less than the 1.8-litre petrol 112TSI AWD auto it replaces – the 90TSI comes with the same 90kW/200Nm 1.4-litre turbo-petrol four and seven-speed dual-clutch auto as Volkswagen’s cheapest Golf.

The 90TSI Ambition rides on carryover 17-inch ‘Annapurna’ wheels and adds sliver roof rails, dual-zone climate-control, automatic headlights and wipers, heated wing mirrors, front foglights, front parking sensors and a front armrest.

It also comes with the option of a $2900 Tech Pack comprising 6.5-inch ‘Columbus’ touch-screen multimedia system with navigation, bi-xenon headlights, cornering foglights, LED running lights, LED tail-lights, 360-degree cameras, premium sound system and a second-generation automatic parking system from the new Octavia.

But there are no fuel-saving technologies like idle-stop and regenerative braking, nor VW Group’s advanced driver aids like low-speed emergency braking, drowsy driver alert, radar cruise, blind-spot monitoring or lane departure warning.

While the base 77TSI is surprisingly perky for such a small engine (its 1.2 turbo engine delivers more midrange torque than many of its bigger-engined rivals), the 90TSI is smoother, more flexible and only marginally less fuel-efficient (6.8 versus 6.7L/100km DSG). Much credit must go to its 200Nm of torque from just 1500rpm.

In fact, both front-drive auto models we drove consumed 7.8L/100km (of 95 RON premium unleaded petrol) on a mix of country and highway roads around Byron Bay in northern NSW. However, both seven-speed DSG autos also presented a mild shudder during gentle standing-start take-offs, especially when cold, even if they did feel more refined than the six-speed dual-clutch auto in the top-spec Yeti diesel all-wheel drive.

The newly named 4x4 Outdoor 103TDI flagship – the only AWD Yeti model and the only diesel in the range – is powered by a carryover 103kW/350Nm 2.0-litre turbo-diesel matched to a six-speed DSG.

At $33,590 plus ORCs, Skoda says it’s $4400 less than its previous MRLP – although it’s at least $2600 dearer than its predecessor’s run-out price ($31,990 drive-away).

The 4x4 Outdoor model is differentiated from lesser urban-oriented 2WD models via a different front bumper, grille and foglight treatment, silver lower bumper inserts at both ends, silver roof rails, silver mirrors caps and black body-side mouldings.

Apart from the aforementioned design differences, the top-shelf 4x4 Outdoor 103TDI auto comes with 17-inch ‘Erebus’ wheels and a the fifth-generation Haldex part-time all-wheel drive system as seen in the latest VW Golf R.

The flagship Yeti can also be had with the Tech Pack or an ‘Off Road Assist’ option package, which for a further $500 includes black 17-inch ‘Matterhorn’ wheels, rear privacy glass, a double-side cargo mat, ‘rough road package’ including front underbody engine and suspension protection, and off-road functions like hill ascent/descent control and off-road ABS.

Returning the same 6.7L/100km combined fuel consumption as 77TSI 2WD auto, the 103TDI AWD feels more flexible at all road speeds, courtesy of a generous 350Nm of torque between 1750-2500rpm.

All Yetis continue to come standard with the VarioFlex rear seat system, enabling the three rear seats to be individually folded, slid or removed (offering a claimed 22 seating configurations in total), plus a class-leading 1027mm of headroom, total cargo capacity of 1760 litres and 180mm of ground clearance – but no full-size spare wheel/tyre.

Rear-seat passengers are treated to plenty of legroom and rear air-conditioning outlets, and all occupants get acres of headroom and good outward vision.

Up front, the generous front seats feel firm to begin with but offer good long-distance support and comfort. In Skoda tradition, the instrument dials and centre stack displays are clear and concise and all controls have a feel of quality to them. Indeed, the interior has a general air of solidity and refinement that’s lacking in some rivals.

The new three-spoke leather-clad multi-function steering wheel also feels classy, but lacked enough reach adjustment for us to feel entirely comfortable.

That was soon forgiven when the roads turned twisty and the Yeti reminded us it’s still one of the most polished models in its class, offering decent steering feel that’s devoid of kick and rattle, even in front-drive form.

There’s surprisingly little body-roll despite the raised seating position and this translates to impressive body control over mid-corner undulations, despite ride quality that never feels harsh.

So Skoda has retained the best bits of the Yeti while making it better looking and better value.

Logically, that should put it on the shopping list of anyone in the market for an accomplished sub-$30,000 SUV.

Skoda Yeti 77TSI pricing and specifications:

Price: $23,490 manual, $25,790 auto (plus on-road costs)

Engine: 1.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol

Output: 77kW/175Nm

Transmission: Six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch auto, front-drive

Fuel: 6.0L/100km manual, 6.7L/100km auto (ADR Combined)

CO2: 140g/km manual, 157g/km auto (ADR Combined)

Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP

Skoda Yeti 90TSI Ambition pricing and specifications:

Price: $28,290 (plus on-road costs)

Engine: 1.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol

Output: 90kW/200Nm

Transmission: seven-speed dual-clutch auto, front-drive

Fuel: 6.8L/100km (ADR Combined)

CO2: 159g/km (ADR Combined)

Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP

Skoda Yeti 103TDI 4x4 Outdoor pricing and specifications:

Price: $33,590 (plus on-road costs)

Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel

Output: 103kW/350Nm

Transmission: Six-speed dual-clutch auto, all-wheel drive

Fuel: 6.7L/100km (ADR Combined)

CO2: 174g/km (ADR Combined)

Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP

What we liked:	Not so much:
>> Less polarising styling	>> Some DSG shudder
>> More standard equipment	>> Lack of steering wheel adjustment
>> Lower (launch) pricing	>> Premium unleaded petrol diet

Picture legend: 4-7 Yeti 4x4, 8-11 Yeti Active (white with body-colour rubbing strips/sills), 12-15 Yeti Ambition (silver)

Skoda Yeti 2014 Review

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