Yeti's Pug choice: the new Peugeot 3008

[900000]

Peugeot have now updated the 3008 to be a Nissan QQ clone and thus can now finally also be considered if you were looking at a Yeti:

 

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/2017-peugeot-3008-reborn-suv

 

Pretty predictable generic SUV styling I'd say.

 

 

 

 

Decent futuristic interior but I've never been able to see the dials properly in ANY Pug with the binnacle ABOVE the steering wheel like that. Utterly daft in my view.

 

 

[Ryeman]

The HUD is a must have for me now.......I couldn't go back to the old ways but for some body shapes I could see there could be problems.

Way back when I was in my late 20s I used to get a fibrositis like pain in the shoulder/neck area but strangely I haven't had any for decades which I put down to the modern and much more supportive seats, and a lower wheel suites me.

[Ryeman]

Another test with a bit more detail

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mellor.nsf/story2/E134C9D3649486D0CA257FBD0000A82E

[ernieb]

What I found in looking at Yeti alternatives was the inability to specify 4WD, and a DSG ( or similar automatic). Lots of 2WD in both petrol and diesel with an automotive but not 4WD. Where they were available the effiency was pretty poor even on the manufactures numbers and the CO2/VED were much higher.

[Agerbundsen]

I dunno? It seems to me that all of the "new" Suv's in the Yeti class fall into the lemming category as far as "design" goes: Lots of unnecessary wrinkles and bumps to look smart, raised rear window sill height, bad outlook behind and sacrifices volumetric capacity for goofy looks - a la Evoke. All in search of significance. The Cashcow actually went a bit the other way and is more sensible and practical now than before.

 

The more I look at all the gee-gaws glued on the competition, the more I like the FL Yeti - No nonsense, clean purposeful lines, largest possible interior volume for the exterior size. The LED DRL's as an unbroken simple line under the Xenon lights is really classic - not like the plethora of weird shapes, purporting to be part of the "design language".

[speedsport]

This looks like yet another car "designed" to have an appalling rear quarter view from inside.

Which is why I love the Yeti. It's one of very few cars left with a decent glass area that allows great all-round vision and only a tiny blind-spot at the D pillar (and I tried out several of the competitors before buying my Yeti No 2).

[Expatman]

This looks like yet another car "designed" to have an appalling rear quarter view from inside.

Which is why I love the Yeti. It's one of very few cars left with a decent glass area that allows great all-round vision and only a tiny blind-spot at the D pillar (and I tried out several of the competitors before buying my Yeti No 2).

What others did you try? I am in a quandary as to whether buy a new Yeti or go for a more modern alternative. I have deferred any decision until late 2016 because I am not sure if it makes sense to buy a 9 year old design while there are newer alternatives with more up-to-date technology coming on to the market this year. However, I do agree about design and I like the large rear window and good visibility of the Yeti.

[VAGCF]

Depends if you think the more up to-date technology is more important than the rest of the package?

 

For me, the practical shape, the layout and quality of the interior and the way it drives etc. are pretty much spot on for what I want. And until the next big tech. i.e. driverless (I don't like cruise-control much so I certainly won't like that!), I don't think there is much lacking that you can't spec?

[speedsport]

What others did you try? I am in a quandary as to whether buy a new Yeti or go for a more modern alternative. I have deferred any decision until late 2016 because I am not sure if it makes sense to buy a 9 year old design while there are newer alternatives with more up-to-date technology coming on to the market this year. However, I do agree about design and I like the large rear window and good visibility of the Yeti.

I tried the new Honda CRV (lovely soft front seats that you realise are unsupportive after about 30 mins!) Fussy dashboard, and quite a big car. Very well spec'd but pricey. Steering a bit vague and too much body roll.

Nissan X-Trail - expensive and seemed even bigger externally than the CRV, though again very well spec'd.

Nissan Qashqai - lots of toys and drove quite well, but I thought the inside was small given its exterior dimensions.

Mazda CX3 & CX5 - both were great to drive, not much to complain about except poor rearward vision. I reckon Yeti is half way between the two on interior space.

Ford Kuga - actually quite good, nice driving position but the fit and finish was way behind the Yeti with lots of bare paintwork on show. I could only look at a basic spec one as the 2 dealers I tried (same group) didn't seem to have any others available, or couldn't be bothered finding one. Didn't like the way the rear seats folded, and the sales staff were totally disinterested. Became quite expensive if I tried to match the L&K spec.

VW Tiguan (the one that's just finished production) - very impressed, it shared a lot of features with the Yeti (as you'd expect) and the slightly bigger boot was attractive. Great sales staff at my local dealer , but to match L&K spec would cost nearly £10k more than the Yeti I eventually bought. But... shortly after I placed the order for my Yeti, VW started offering £3400 off list, plus dealer discounts which would have softened the blow.

LR Disco Sport - an attractive car, but way too expensive, and just a touch too bling for my tastes. Salesman definitely looked down his nose at me for asking practical questions that he couldn't answer - but he knew about every cosmetic option available to make it stand out from other Disco Sports!

Peugeot 3008 - I don't know why, but I just didn't like it, cant put my finger on why as it looked ok, but there was just something about the car that totally failed to grab me!

 

All the above (except the Tuguan & 3008) were wider than a Yeti, some substantially so.  I could have coped with most, but it would have made parking under the carport at the side of my house difficult, ie physically getting out of the car once parked.

 

I've not mentioned diesel/petrol, manual/auto nor 2wd vs 4wd as that's down to the individual's preference.

I'm not disappointed that I've bought my 2nd Yeti, but in the next Yeti, Skoda does need to address the amount of road noise that enters the cabin when driving on today's worn road surfaces, as I thought each of the above was quieter.

 

In the end, for me, the Yeti simply ticked all the boxes. It might not be stylish, but it is practical and is a great drive, though I wish they did the DSG box with the 1.4 petrol engine.

John H

Edited 25 May, 2016 by speedsport

[Llanigraham]

I was parked up between a Freelander and a new Discovery Sport over the weekend (in Hafren) and the Yeti is surprisingly smaller and narrower than the both of them.

[ernieb]

I was parked up between a Freelander and a new Discovery Sport over the weekend (in Hafren) and the Yeti is surprisingly smaller and narrower than the both of them.

And yet the internal dimensions are very similar as far as I can see.

[Llanigraham]

Discovery Sport is a lot bigger!

[ernieb]

Discovery Sport is a lot bigger!

I'd not looked at a new one only the older version and I've previously owned a Freelander which was relatively small in the back. (Nice enough car etc. but so unreliable breaking down repeatably when I critically needed a reliable car)

I'll have a look at the new Sport when I'm next passing a dealer.

[Ryeman]

Land Rover stand aloof on pricing out here and have no intention to lower themselves to competing on price.

The Sport is twice the price of the top spec Yeti and with a reputation for less than stellar reliability it just shows you how desirably trendy it must be regarded by the loaded.

[Sad555]

SPEEDSPORT. Thanks for an interesting post it was good to read your reviews they appear very fair and unbiased which is all most people need,just wondered if you had considered or looked at the Hyundai/Kia options which are a similar option?

[Expatman]

Anyone looked at the Suzuki Vitara S?

Honest John praises it and as it has a 1.4 turbo petrol engine and can be had with an auto box it could be appealing. Prices look good as well.

[RapidPaul]

I think there's a thread about the Vitara in the general car chat section. It does look good.

[Expatman]

I think there's a thread about the Vitara in the general car chat section. It does look good.

Hmmm, looks good but no heated seats. For my wife that's a deal breaker!

[Ryeman]

Hmmm, looks good but no heated seats. For my wife that's a deal breaker!

Suzuki have a good record for reliability out here but I guess that's in part down to NOT having heated seats and they do try to keep thing as simple as they can get away with.

The majority want toys over simplicity and that impacts sales.

[Ryeman]

I just wish the Discovery Sport was this price out here

http://www.thecarconnection.com/overview/land-rover_discovery-sport_2016

[g6zru]

Anyone looked at the Suzuki Vitara S?

Honest John praises it and as it has a 1.4 turbo petrol engine and can be had with an auto box it could be appealing. Prices look good as well.

Checked this out 3 months ago. It's a pricey for what it is but if you are considering the Yeti 1.4 L&K it could be an option, I preferred the Vitara , more options and engine choices. I'll go back and look again when I'm closer to the end of the PCP.

 

Fred

[Expatman]

Suzuki have a good record for reliability out here but I guess that's in part down to NOT having heated seats and they do try to keep thing as simple as they can get away with.

The majority want toys over simplicity and that impacts sales.

I agree about the toys but I remember the time when a car heater and windscreen washer were luxury extras! My wife has a back condition and finds heated seats a great help to ease any discomfort. 

 

Checked this out 3 months ago. It's a pricey for what it is but if you are considering the Yeti 1.4 L&K it could be an option, I preferred the Vitara , more options and engine choices. I'll go back and look again when I'm closer to the end of the PCP.

 

Fred

Looked at a Vitara today and while it was initially attractive it did seem to be much bigger than the Yeti outside but about the same size inside. I didn't think the interior was as nice as the Yeti either, at first look impressive but everything seemed a bit "hard" - particularly the dashboard, and dark with too much black plastic. Anyway the lack of heated seats rules it out (see above). 

[speedsport]

SPEEDSPORT. Thanks for an interesting post it was good to read your reviews they appear very fair and unbiased which is all most people need,just wondered if you had considered or looked at the Hyundai/Kia options which are a similar option?

Back in late December when I was looking, dealers were telling me that the Kia (and the Hyundai whose underpinnings they share) were due to be replaced but couldn't tell me when. I stopped looking at them at that point. Having said that I thought both of the cars I looked at (sorry, I've not kept a note of the model designations) were rather "scratchy plasticy" inside and the fit and finish generally wasn't brilliant. I didn't test drive either manufacturers' vehicles. I know they get good press and can be very well equipped, but a bit like the Peugeot 3008, they didn't excite me.  Maybe I've never recovered from driving an early model Sportage, which I thought was absolutely dreadful, though you still see plenty on the roads, so someone must like 'em.

[VAGCF]

I see they've ruined the looks of the Dacia Duster now.

 

It used to look fairly plain and honest looking which was fine but have now tried to update the looks in line with other SUV's and have fitted the most hideous of grilles and headlights - like some sort of throw back to the 80's.

 

I've seen a couple recently and they look awful.

[Merlin's Friend]

Thanks for your views SPEEDSPORT, I have recently taken delivery of the same model as you and will look again in three years.