Karlis_Z

Waze is fine with Android Auto. However Android Auto is limited to Android smartphones if I am right. As I am using iPhone (and will use in the future) then I would be having the setup of SmartLink pairing up with Apple CarPlay if I am not mistaken which causes the issue with Waze as it is not supported by Apple as probably they want to enforce usage of their maps.

Makes sense - as the dog has to just jump up vs. jumping up and then falling down again. Spare gives the extra safety feeling as well.

Unfortunately Waze is still not supported on CarPlay as I am using iPhone at the moment (and plan to use in the future). Hope both companies will settle their argument and think about end-users so Waze can be enabled. I would pay for Waze 100% but without it SmartLink has little importance to me. As apparently I can add the option later then no need to stress at the moment.

Back to the topic about boot - would you suggest default boot or spare wheel (choosing between these 2)? According to comments above it is possible to store pump, first aid kit and other small items hidden away in the default boot option. I am likely to be a dog owner and (not planning to use a cage, just ordering the special rubber mat) so maybe some dog owners can advise on this as well.

If I don't have the spare nor the versatile boot - is there a place to hide away the emergency repair kit and other stuff like safety jacket, first aid kit etc.?

Thanks for your thoughts! Am I right to say that there are only certain apps which are SmartLink/Apple CarPlay compatible? I would assume that not any random application can be shown/operated on Bolero screen. I am especially interested in Waze for which I would pay the extra as I use it constantly for navigation.

Hi! Do you have any experience on using SmartLink and do you think this is an option worth investing when purchasing a Yeti? According to dealers price list it costs 140 EUR. I am using navigation app "Waze" on my smartphone and having it display on the Bolero screen would be great however I am not entirely sure if this is possible at the moment. If it is just about simple functions like music and phone functionality that will be mirrored on infotainment screen then I could live with the basic Bluetooth functionality just as well.

Hello! Wanted to summarize the options available from another perspective - how does these options affect overall load area (how flat it is) with rear seats folded and/or removed. Please comment if my assumptions are incorrect. Rear seats up: 1) Default boot - most spacious boot option with a minus of noticeable load lip 2) Versatile boot floor or spare wheel consume +/- the same amount of boot space; positive aspect is that load lip becomes very minimal but you loose considerable vertical volume Rear seats folded: 1) Default boot - noticeable level difference between boot floor and folded seats (seats are higher); not good for loading heavy long items 2) Versatile boot or Spare wheel option provide more or less flat overall load surface Rear seats removed: 1) Default boot - overall flat surface 2) Versatile boot or Spare wheel - noticeable level difference once again as now boot floor is higher than middle of the car In my opinion when transporting bulky items 90% of people will just fold rear seats down and therefore versatile boot floor or spare wheel will give the flat load surface. In those rare cases when rear seats are completely removed I could take the extra hassle to remove the versatile boot floor or spare wheel setup to get the flat surface I need. I would choose between the default boot and spare wheel option for my new Yeti but knowing that I would transport bulky items occasionally I would go for the extra safety of spare wheel while gaining +/- flat load area when seats are folded (and flat load area being the decisive factor).

Observations from the final test drive Honda HR-V (1.6 diesel, manual) Looks: somewhat like most of new SUVs; I do like the front, but rear not so much. Overall for me probably 2nd best looks after Yeti (as doesn't stand out) Interior: Solid, feels on the premium side. Quite unusual looks as 80% of switches like ventilation, heated seats etc. are operated via touchscreen. Probably the most unique and futuristic interior from tested cars. Quality wise seems the same as Yeti but looks way more techy. Various lights and visual effects do provide a somewhat aggressive and engaging feel which I did like, however doesn't feel so spacious as Yeti for sure. In the rear space is ok and the same goes for boot. 2nd row has magic seats which fold down as all other cars and you can also fold them up to get a very neat and practical storage between the seat rows (so you can almost put a small cupboard between seat rows and still load boot full of other stuff). Because of this and reasonable boot size this is the closest match to Yeti and Toyota Verso in terms of practicality within a small shape. Drive: Nice, feels somewhat in between of small SUV and saloon - you get to sit higher but dynamics and handling is very close to a saloon. Closest match to Yeti but probably more engaging and aggressive. Engine worked well and did deliver when needed nicely. Honda HR-V and Yeti are the only 2 cars which I would like to drive a bit longer as they give a certain level of satisfaction for the person behind the wheel, however Honda because of the interior looks, somewhat odd gear lever and engine performance would be the winner based on the initial test drives. Conclusion: Yeti is probably the best all-rounder and actually one of the most affordable of all tested. Honda might deliver more engaging drive but Yeti wins on practicality and definitely on price as Honda is on the expensive side here. 1. Yeti - best all round performance, good practicality, solid build quality and the cheapest to buy 2. Honda HR-V - best car for driver, overall practical but can't beat Yeti, way more expensive than Škoda and less spacious 3. Nissan Qashqai - reasonable all rounder, with good pricing options, less practical than the 2 above 4. Toyota Verso - practical, rugged, best for family with low ambition towards looks and feel, more expensive than much better looking and driving Toyotas like Avensis which also has a decent boot but much better looks. If the price and looks were better then Qashqai would come 4th and we would have a tough choice between top 3 here. Main drawbacks for me: awful looks, no extra ground clearance, on the expensive side. 5. Mitsubishi ASX - there is nothing outstanding about this car, engine doesn't seem to cope with a car of this size, build quality didn't impress.

Impressions from my next test drive Toyota Verso (1.8 petrol, automatic) Looks: one would definitely look a few yers older while driving this as it looks like a people carrier van, if you have a surfboard or mountain bike then everyone will probably think you are just helping out relatives to move the stuff around rather than using the equipment yourself Interior: Clear, a lot of plastics, not the best place to indulge yourself - feel is closer to a commercial car than a family saloon. At the same time I do like the solid Toyota build quality and practical elements. Probably the most reasonable fit for a family with kids as the interior is likely to withstand a lot of torture. Massive boot in 5 seat version with a practical shape. Drive: reasonable, feels solid and safe. Steering might feel too light and "electric", definitely not a drivers car. I did like that most of the extras/equipment is focused towards safety rather than sound systems or glossy screens. Seats seemed quite comfy and solid, no transmission tunnel in the back so can accommodate 3 in the back better than competitors. As this is not a small SUV then you need to forget about offroading at all. Overall: probably a very good fit for a large family if you are mainly focused on practicality and robust interior. Meanwhile it definitely has no character and by interior/exterior design is the most dull car of all I tested, you won't be noticed even if you paint it yellow.

Went on 3 test drives today so wanted to share some observations, hope this might be handy info for someone else looking within this segment Mitsubishi ASX (1.6 petrol, 5 speed manual) Looks: Looks like every other new car but no eye-catching elements that would make it stand out Interior: nothing to be excited about, overall trim quality seems flimsy. Apparently car is made in Japan but most of the elements didn't feel long lasting, I would expect rattling some time later. Only upside for a lot of plastics is that any dirt can be easily removed by a damp cloth. Drive: average, engine noise noticeable when accelerating hard, engine didn't seem to deliver the output required for the car this size and with just 2 passengers in. Bodyroll was noticeable. Nissan Qashqai (1.2 petrol, 6 speed manual) Looks: also looks like every other new car but with some character Interior: Overall nice place to be, however doesn't deliver supreme build quality feeling. Especially in low specs fabric cover on door and mid arm-rests feel cheap, also seats have very flimsy side supports and overall material feel. Hi-end models feel really ok. Hi-end trim packages with discounts are competitive and the way to go. Really liked the versatile boot floor. Drive: nothing special but satisfying, performance was ok from the small engine. No doubt many are tempted by the modern looks, reasonable performance and attractive overall pricing. However I wouldn't definitely call this a drivers car. While waiting had a look at Nissan X-trail - personally I think it looks better than Qashqai, base models have more quality trim and is far more spacious. One again very versatile boot organizers. Škoda Yeti (1.4 TSI, DSG) Looks: not to everyone's taste but definitely stands out from the crowd. In my opinion Outdoor version fits the Yeti more than the standard version. Interior: Overall good quality feeling, nothing exciting but practical. Boot is definitely on the small size but the versatile transformations of rear seats beats all competitors in terms of practicality. Only drawback for me would be where to put he parcel shelf when boot is fully loaded. Drive: Satisfying, engine did deliver when needed and is completely enough for daily usage. Only for DSG the initial kick-down seemed to have a slightly noticeable pause before accelerating but I am going for manual anyway. Ride did feel a bit less SUV than in Qashqai or ASX but probably thats a bonus as it does feel like a compact daily car which is far more practical and rugged. So far Yeti delivers the best drive and beats everyone on practicality. Qashqai without doubt has 2nd place and is far ahead of ASX. Honda HR-V and Toyota Verso yet to be tested.

I plan to make a test drive in all closest competitors and hopefully this will prove that Yeti is the way to go because of the practicality and somewhat odd shape (like it). Apart from standard gadgets Yeti really seems to stand out and is the most practical and rugged car overall. About SEAT - yes, they are VW group now but historically this brand has never been well accepted here therefore I would rather go for Škoda as resale value would be much higher. The same goes for Italian and French cars around here, however percentage of German and old Swedes like Volvo and Saabs is very high.

Thanks for good insight! I will definitely do a back to back test. Completely agree on new gadgets failing to deliver in bad weather conditions, just had Toyota Avensis 2016 and most of the time sensors didn't work in rain/snow which in fact is quite common from September till March around here. Same goes for rear camera which basically became useless in rainy days as it was constantly dirty.

Thanks @VAGCF, I am looking forward to get 1.4 TSI for a test drive.

Those brands are available, however very few people choose them and therefore 2nd hand market almost doesn't exist. I once had quite a rare car model and getting spare parts was a hassle unless going via official dealership and paying unreasonable price. Choosing Yeti which shares VW group parts is definitely a plus for me.