Skoda Yeti 81TSI Active 2016 Review

Skoda Yeti 81TSI Active 2016
Quick Spin

What’s it all about?
Skoda's Yeti debuted in Australia five years ago. It has since been facelifted and the drivetrains upgraded, but it's no longer fresh and new. Its rivals are catching up – and overtaking. In 2011 there was no CX-3, no HR-V. An altogether new Yeti on the modular MQB platform is still around two years away.

How much will it cost?
It may look high and mighty, but the entry-level Skoda Yeti Active is a front-wheel drive family wagon for the suburbs, rather than an off-roader. The low-cost drivetrain keeps the price down, with the vehicle on test positioned at $26,690 including the optional DSG (dual-clutch) transmission fitted. At the time of writing, the test vehicle's metallic silver finish is free of charge as part of a promotion for the Yeti's Navi Pack option.

Other options include the Tech Pack ($1700 for the Active variants), a contrasting roof at $390, alarm ($400), panoramic sunroof ($1690) and leather upholstery ($2390).

Few cars can touch the Yeti for its intelligent space utilisation in such a compact footprint. Skoda's acknowledged practicality is evident too in the three rear seats that can fold up or be removed altogether. There's adult-level accommodation back there as well, and the Yeti is pretty well equipped. Its latest infotainment system (with Apple CarPlay) is just brilliant.

The Yeti is easy to drive and economical also, both factors due to the efficient 1.2-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine and the smooth-shifting DSG transmission. While family-friendly, the Yeti remains enjoyable to drive, thanks to the tidy handling and direct steering.

While the Yeti has been on sale in Australia since 2011, this test vehicle is a minor power upgrade (from 77kW to 81kW) that has been introduced subsequent to the face-lifted model that arrived last year.

The current model is thus the ultimate evolutionary stage of the first-generation Yeti and is available now. There's a new model due two years from now, based on the modular MQB platform, but there's no need to hold on for that model, when the current car is still relevant and capable.

As is true of many Skoda models, the Yeti is a practical car for left-brain thinkers. Ideally, the Yeti is a sensible choice for a generic nuclear family, comprising two parents and a couple of kids. The drawcard for buyers is the Yeti will never be outgrown by the kids. It's extremely roomy in the rear seat and in the boot, but practicality doesn't mean any lack in comfort or driveability.

Based on an open-road fuel consumption figure as low as 6.2L/100km during the week-long test, this Yeti would be affordable to own – another aspect appealing to families.

Alongside such disparate rivals as the Suzuki Jimny and the Citroen C4 Cactus, the Yeti sells in the small SUV segment of the market. This segment spans a wide spectrum, but the Yeti competes in a narrower band against vehicles like Honda HR-V and Mazda CX-3.

The Yeti is shorter than both those cars, and boot space – at 321 litres – falls somewhere between the two. There's little doubt that buyers in the market for a car like the Yeti will be cross-shopping other small SUVs, and they won't care too much about this variant's lack of 4WD traction, we're tipping.

So, what do we think?
The Yeti shines in that ring of outer suburbs where traffic lights are fewer and the freeways highlight its touring abilities. There are rivals that are priced very keenly and offer more performance.

But in the right context the Yeti is a solid, practical machine for a growing family.

Price: $26,690 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 1.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 81kW/175Nm
Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch
Fuel: 5.7L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 132g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star (ANCAP, 2011)

Also consider:
>> Honda HR-V VTi (from $24,990 plus on-road costs)
>> Mazda CX-3 Neo (from $21,990 plus on-road costs)
>> Mitsubishi ASX LS (from $26,990 plus on-road costs)

Related reading:
>> Skoda Yeti 2014 Review
>> Skoda Yeti II 2014: Video Review
>> Skoda Yeti 103TDI: Mid-sized SUV Test