This is not a criticism of the Yeti but I wonder what other owners or soon to be owners feel about the way the boot opens? I would have quite liked a boot where the bottom third opened downwards and allows you to sit on it whilst changing muddy shoes for examples. As the car is designed for 4 x 4 use that would seem to be quite a good design feature. Bigger 4 x 4's have this as does the new Peugeot 3008.

This was not a deal breaker for me, clearly not as I have ordered a Yeti, but I would be interested to know if there are others who would have liked this. Does this style of design of boot opening cause problems, would it have added extra costs onto the build? Are there reasons why Skoda went for a hatchback style opening rather than a more off road 4 x 4 set up? Any thoughts or comments?

A great idea Harvey. With my weight sitting on the lid extra cost of construction would be inevitable:rofl:

On a more general note design work must stop sometime. Might be an optional extra at first re-vamp.

Can you not sit on the boot sill?

Or buy an old Land Rover?

If you look at the what I consider the main competitors to the Yeti, Freelander, Sportage, Tiguan, they all have a normal one piece hatchback type rear door. I can only think of the Range Rover and Peugeot that have a split dropdown type. Lots more have a side hinged type, eg Defenders and Discovery's.

2 problems with the dropdown type:

people sit or load heavy items on them, so they require much stronger frames and hinges than would normally be required

it is difficult to load small items into them, or get spare wheels out, because of the "reach" needed. This can cause back injuries with heavy items.

1 thing I like about the Sportage, is that the rear window can be opened seperately to put small items/bags into the boot, without opening the whole hatchback.

As Llanigraham says having a split tailgate is not that common and does have it's own problems. I would have liked a seperate opening tailgate window though, I had that on a Peugeot 206 SW and it was more usefule than I thoguht it would be.

I did wonder if the hinges would have problems, they would have to factor in for the "larger person". I can also see that potentially it may add costs, 2 sections are usually more expensive than one.

I do accept that cars can not be designed to each individuals needs, watch the episode of the Simpsons where Homer designs a car to his requirements and sends the previously successful company into bankruptcy, but there is no harm in looking at design aspects on a car that are on other models and talking about their pluses and minuses. This site, so far, is remarkably free of Yeti problems, probably because most people on here are waiting for their Yeti's to arrive, so this gives a chance to talk about different aspects of the car and its design.

This is not a criticism of the Yeti but . . .

That's a wise opening statement given the partisan nature of us Yeti owners on this forum

I would have quite liked a boot where the bottom third opened downwards and allows you to sit on it whilst changing muddy shoes for examples.

That would have been nice, but it would have added to the cost and complexity and Skoda probably felt that the average user probably wouldn't need it.

However the protection that the existing tailgate design provides when open is useful to keep the rain out of the Pimms at the local point to point

That's a wise opening statement given the partisan nature of us Yeti owners on this forum

"I'm not the only one to notice this then? Touchy does not cover it."

That would have been nice, but it would have added to the cost and complexity and Skoda probably felt that the average user probably wouldn't need it.

However the protection that the existing tailgate design provides when open is useful to keep the rain out of the Pimms at the local point to point

I do hate watered down Pimms so I am pleased to hear your findings.

Edited 8 March, 201016 yr by Harvey1512

I tried to add 2 comments there but failed. I seem to have added one of them into your own comment. I'll have to play around and learn more about how to post on this site.

Have to agree with the general consensus here - and add that the opening window of the VW Touareg without opening the whole tailgate was a real bonus. And as a vet who has spent many hours at the tail end of Defenders delivering lambs, I can vouch for the complete inconvenience of the lower half that drops down to give a "platform" - it knackers your back good and proper.

This is not a criticism of the Yeti but I wonder what other owners or soon to be owners feel about the way the boot opens? I would have quite liked a boot where the bottom third opened downwards and allows you to sit on it whilst changing muddy shoes for examples. As the car is designed for 4 x 4 use that would seem to be quite a good design feature. Bigger 4 x 4's have this as does the new Peugeot 3008.

This was not a deal breaker for me, clearly not as I have ordered a Yeti, but I would be interested to know if there are others who would have liked this. Does this style of design of boot opening cause problems, would it have added extra costs onto the build? Are there reasons why Skoda went for a hatchback style opening rather than a more off road 4 x 4 set up? Any thoughts or comments?

Like the Yeti Concept (2005)

You can order the false floor. This raises the floor height to the sill height and allows for easier loading. (thats its selling point) (I also understand that the false floor comes with the spare wheel.)

It would be possible to use the boot as a seat with this fitted.

And as a vet who has spent many hours at the tail end of Defenders delivering lambs, I can vouch for the complete inconvenience of the lower half that drops down to give a "platform" - it knackers your back good and proper.

That's a new one on me. Why is that?

Like the Yeti Concept (2005)

Just like that and can I also have it in that colour. Marvellous.

I assume that if it was there in the concept they must have dropped it for design/cost reasons.

If you need something to sit on, why not add a towbar with the 'toilet' seat option.. Bit like the TopGear guys did on their epic drive to the North Pole .....

Full opening hinge boot means you can lean in and only dirty your thigh/knees area.

Part opening window, means even more dirty areas to rub on...

Lower open boot, too far to lean in to reach up to back seats unless you kneel on it..

Perhaps electric extended cargo floor is another option...

My main reason for wanting it is that my son plays rugby on a Sunday morning and most of the pitches and sidelines are very muddy. I change my shoes after watching him and at the moment I sit awkwardly and painfully on the edge of the boot lip. Equally he often gets changed afterwards in the car, 100+ kids and 4 changing rooms make getting changed in the club houses impractical, and it would be better to sit him on a fold out lip and take his muddy boots off there, (he is only small so we are still at that stage). I don't go shooting, fishing or riding etc but I guess people doing those types of pastimes would find it similarly helpful. Basically any hobby where you need to change your shoes in a car park.

It would have been handy to have but then maybe my back would have been jiggered, (according to Freshacre, although I am not sure why)

Look at the pictures of the Concept and try to work out how you would get the spare wheel out of its hole in the boot floor? Not easy??

I agree its a feature that would be of benefit. The tailgate is huge and it means you have to park a long way forward of a wall to be able to open it fully.

I don't think the extra reach to get to the front of the boot would be an issue though - if its something small you wouldn't bother folding the bottom bit out surely?

Not easy but how often would you have to do it? Hopefully never. The equation there would be how often would you use the fold down compared to how often do you need to get to the spare. For the one or two times in its lifetime, perhaps more perhaps less, then it is simple enough to climb in.

I do not dispute however that it is a foolproof design. To fold the Yeti seats at the moment you lift the boot lid and pull a lever. That would be much more difficult to do when the fold down lid is in your way and you would have to lean over it and maybe get yourself dirty. One solution can cause another problem.

It may well be that when Skoda tried out the fold down, as per the concept car, that it created more problems than it solved and that is why they dropped it. I'll have to get around the muddy shoe problem another way.

Not easy but how often would you have to do it? Hopefully never. The equation there would be how often would you use the fold down compared to how often do you need to get to the spare. For the one or two times in its lifetime, perhaps more perhaps less, then it is simple enough to climb in.

I do not dispute however that it is a foolproof design. To fold the Yeti seats at the moment you lift the boot lid and pull a lever. That would be much more difficult to do when the fold down lid is in your way and you would have to lean over it and maybe get yourself dirty. One solution can cause another problem.

It may well be that when Skoda tried out the fold down, as per the concept car, that it created more problems than it solved and that is why they dropped it. I'll have to get around the muddy shoe problem another way.

How about a side opening boot door with integral seperate opening window to pop the little things in and with a full size spare wheel on the boot door and with a level boot floor to sill opening so you can sit down..?

If you answered yes please! :p

- cancel your yeti order and go buy a Honda CRV

How about a side opening boot door with integral seperate opening window to pop the little things in and with a full size spare wheel on the boot door and with a level boot floor to sill opening so you can sit down..?

If you answered yes please! :p

- cancel your yeti order and go buy a Honda CRV

But then I would also be soooooo dull. This is not a bleat/rant about the opening. The more it is discussed the more I see the cons as well as the pros and that makes the discussion a good one

But then I would also be soooooo dull.

Now now Harvey- you cannot be serious...

Someone who graces the point to points... and drinks Pimms :cocktail: (not quite the right glass but...)

cannot possibly be called boring...especially if they have had the good sense to order a YETI!

Personally I have no problem with the current arrangement - I just need to remember not to reverse up close to obstacles on the odd occasion I need to load large things into the boot. I sat on the back bumper to change my boots on Saturday, the only issue being the fact it was a bit dirty - so we will be ordering the "boot foil" which folds over the bumper. And had it been raining, the tailgate would have offered shelter - and it is an ideal place to cook bacon rolls at car shows!

Mark

That's a new one on me. Why is that?

Its to do with the position of the ewe, usually well inside the body of the Land Rover, and in order to reach it, and then guddle inside, you have to adopt a posture akin to a half-shut knife.

Then, because every sinew of your body is concentrating on your fingertips, arms fully extended, in order to correct whatever is wrong inside her with the position of the little lamb, you are completely unaware of how long you have to hold this awkward shape.

It can take a few seconds, or 10 to 20 minutes depending upon the complexity. And you find out all about it when you attempt to straighten up after.

I might have a few pics somewhere, but if you've been watching Kate Humble on BBC2 you'll all be experts now anyway!

But back to the point - the folding tailgate adds an extra 12-18 inches of nuisance. And all this time the farmer is sat inside the back of the Landy hanging on to the top end of the ewe to prevent her from skedaddling off down the road at high speed after she's seen me and my ropes and hot soapy water advancing on her!!

Hope that helps Harvey!

My smart had a split tailgate and it was handy to sit on when changing shoes etc. As others have said, having a tailgate a la Yeti that you can shelter under in inclement weather is even more useful though!