I am looking to change my 6 year old diesel Xtrail and a Yeti is top of the list of possibles. I want leather so I would have Elegance spec and would order the sunroof option. Use is mainly short urban trips but also fortnightly 100 mile each way motorway runs and occasional drives to N. Italy. I have tried a 110 diesel 2wd and a 140 4wd but no dealer within range has a 170 to try out. Is the price premium and higher insurance worth it for the 170? Are there any draw backs with the more powerfully mapped version?

I am concerned about relying on a tyre repair kit. Do most buyers go for the space saver?

Also, the satnav option looks expensive and less capable than my Garmin Nuvi. Is it worth it?

BTW, no problems with the Xtrail, and in view of a 0% finance deal, a new Xtrail is also under consideration. (We love the ride and comfort we've had, and all the included extras in an Xtrail Tekna, but no longer need all the space and the inferior MPG and CO2 ratings and higher insurance all work against the Nissan.)

I'd be grateful for advice and opinions.

Edited 9 April, 201016 yr by uptodat

I am looking to change my 6 year old diesel Xtrail and a Yeti is top of the list of possibles. I want leather so I would have Avantage spec and would order the sunroof option. Use is mainly short urban trips but also fortnightly 100 mile each way motorway runs and occasional drives to N. Italy. I have tried a 110 diesel 2wd and a 140 4wd but no dealer within range has a 170 to try out. Is the price premium and higher insurance worth it for the 170? Are there any draw backs with the more powerfully mapped version?

I am concerned about relying on a tyre repair kit. Do most buyers go for the space saver?

Also, the satnav option looks expensive and less capable than my Garmin Nuvi. Is it worth it?

BTW, no problems with the Xtrail, and in view of a 0% finance deal, a new Xtrail is also under consideration. (We love the ride and comfort we've had, and all the included extras in an Xtrail Tekna, but no longer need all the space and the inferior MPG and CO2 ratings and higher insurance all work against the Nissan.)

I'd be grateful for advice and opinions.

You will find the Yeti a joy to drive after the X-Trail. I changed my 2003 X-Trail in December 09 for the 140 TDI 4x4 SE. The fuel consumption is far better than the XT by a good 16 km/gallon. The driving is lighter and more precise. The performance is better overall and the Yeti is as comfortable. My only complaint is that the boot space is so much smaller than the XT and we do miss that extra luggage area.

My use is rural with occasional 120 mile trips to visit family. I have the "off-road" button which proved itself during the recent bad winter in the UK. ( Other UK owners fitted Winter Tyres and found them very useful) The control the "off-road" setting gives handled all the ice and snow in the area where I live.

I my opinion, the SatNav option is not worth it. The spec you describe is called the Elegance in the UK and has the 170 engine option. My SE has the 140 option and I find it more than adequate (especially now it has loosened up after 5000 miles) again, in my opinion, the 170 would give no extra benefit on UK roads but the additional torque may be better for off road work.

Edited 9 April, 201016 yr by Terfyn

140 versus 170. The performance stats must tell you something: 30 Nm of extra torque, 1.5 second faster to 62mph, 7 mph faster. No appreciable difference in fuel consumption.

Not cheap but if you can afford it go for it. You'll never suffer that if only feeling, very few 4x4's will show you the way to go without your permission and as I understand it you won't be able to chip the 140 if you decide later you want a 170 ( because of DPF issues )

The 170 will crack the ton safely and easily in 4th, 5th and 6th.

I'm not a hooligan but knowing you have that sort of potential power available brings a smile to my face every time I drive it.

Now you know what's available it all depends what you want.

The 170CR is hilariously quick but the 140CR is more than enough.

Regarding the spare wheel option, be aware it does take it a fair bit of boot space. I'd be inclinded to order it as an option and then take it out and keep the spare wheel at home just in case you ever need it.

The Columbus satnav is a brilliant system, quite a few members on here have got it and I'm sure they are very happy with it.

Unless you are doing a fair few number of miles, then I'd consider the 1.8TSi with nav is £22,735 where as the 170CR standard Elegance is £22,635. Those 1.8TSi engines are lovely torquey and pretty good on fuel. I've got an SE 1.8TSi as a demo that you can try if you are local. Or I've got a 59 plate 3,500 mile Elegance 1.8TSi in Black with Gobi leather with Columbus arriving next week that might be of interest as you won't have to wait for it.

Or I've got a 59 plate 3,500 mile Elegance 1.8TSi in Black with Gobi leather with Columbus arriving next week that might be of interest as you won't have to wait for it.

James, I appreciate that you may not wish to say, but where is this 1.8TSi coming from? Are Skoda like a number of other makers in running a fleet of 'management' cars that are changed every 6-12 months and so provide a supply of nearly new vehicles to the market? So since the 6 months or so is now up since the first batch of Yeti's might have been delivered to their first users, then could one conclude that there might be a crop of other 'nearly new' Yeti's about to appear on the market?

I sold it very recently but the chap who bought has encountered some unforseen circumstances and thought it would be most sensible to get something cheaper to run. :(

You probably won't find the ex-Skoda cars actually appear on the market, most will already be pre-sold before they even arrive at the dealers. Because of the shortage of Yetis available in the UK not many of the people at Skoda UK have got them, I had 2 chaps down yesterday who both asked for Yetis but ended up with a fancy Passat estate and a billy basic Audi A1 Cabriolet simply because there isn't the stock available to dish these cars out to management when there are retail customers trying to buy Yetis.

Edited 10 April, 201016 yr by Allams Skoda

The 170CR is hilariously quick but the 140CR is more than enough.

Regarding the spare wheel option, be aware it does take it a fair bit of boot space. I'd be inclinded to order it as an option and then take it out and keep the spare wheel at home just in case you ever need it.

The Columbus satnav is a brilliant system, quite a few members on here have got it and I'm sure they are very happy with it.

Unless you are doing a fair few number of miles, then I'd consider the 1.8TSi with nav is £22,735 where as the 170CR standard Elegance is £22,635. Those 1.8TSi engines are lovely torquey and pretty good on fuel. I've got an SE 1.8TSi as a demo that you can try if you are local. Or I've got a 59 plate 3,500 mile Elegance 1.8TSi in Black with Gobi leather with Columbus arriving next week that might be of interest as you won't have to wait for it.

Can concur....

Test drove the 140bhp diesel - plenty of oooomph. Not tried the 170 but unless you want the extra power then go for it.

The 1.8TSi was our choice and is excellent, still loosening up but can tell she's gonna be a real flier!

Thanks for the replies all. I don't do so many miles but regard the TSI as too thirsty. I'm pretty set on a diesel Elegance with sunroof and think the 140 would be the one but want to find a 170 to try first. Is there no SUK central database of available demos? I don't get down to Surrey from Northants too often, but please let me know James if you get a used 140 or 170 Eleg + sunroof in. The wife has instructed on colour to order but I'd be happy to avoid the wait and get another shade if the price was right.

I guess the Columbus may be nice, but so it should for that amount! Still windy about the spare issue but can't see the point of getting one to leave in the garage. Haven't had the need to use a spare in the last 15 years at 12000 odd per year but just fear landing up stuck in the worst case scenario....Tempted to have bigger boot and carry less weight. and hope for available rescue if it comes to it but Sod's Law etc...

I my opinion, the SatNav option is not worth it...

I think this is very much an individual choice and depends in part on how much you're used to having a factory-fit satnav. Personally, the last 3 cars I've driven have had built-in satnav and I wouldn't now contemplate buying a new car without it. The screen is twice (or more) the area of a typical portable satnav, the fact that the satnav is rigidly in place and with large buttons means that you easily use the touchscreen, no wires etc draped around the place, don't have to worry about hiding the satnav when leaving the car and so on.

But yes it is an expensive option - what annoys me more than the actual amount of money is that it obviously represents a very high margin accessory for the maker - you know that it probably only costs say £200 (if that) to fit but they want to charge £1400. It's the feeling of being totally ripped off by the maker that really grates.

I do think in general that this is a slippery slope with toys. Once you've had and got used to a toy then it's very difficult to do without.

..and dont forget about the entertainment part of the unit.

You can keep your "entire" music collection on it , play DVD, extremely good radio reception and verey simple to use. High WAF.

Haven't had the need to use a spare in the last 15 years at 12000 odd per year but just fear landing up stuck in the worst case scenario....Tempted to have bigger boot and carry less weight. and hope for available rescue if it comes to it but Sod's Law etc...

I've had three punctures in the A2 over 106000 miles and near nine years. Once was inside the car park at Heathrow T3. Audi could not source a new tyre (it's a very weird size) and car had to go on a flatbed and they rented me a car. But can you fit a flatbed and car in a multistory car park? No. So I was only able to drive to the car rental place because I had a space saver and the flatbed came to collect the car there.

Long story short: each of the three times I would have been stranded just with the gunk since each time it was a huge gash that ruined the tyre completely. So always a spare for me.

I sold it very recently but the chap who bought has encountered some unforseen circumstances and thought it would be most sensible to get something cheaper to run. :(

You probably won't find the ex-Skoda cars actually appear on the market, most will already be pre-sold before they even arrive at the dealers. Because of the shortage of Yetis available in the UK not many of the people at Skoda UK have got them, I had 2 chaps down yesterday who both asked for Yetis but ended up with a fancy Passat estate and a billy basic Audi A1 Cabriolet simply because there isn't the stock available to dish these cars out to management when there are retail customers trying to buy Yetis.

They used up about 10 demonstrators as course and management cars on Rally Scotland last November. These cars will NOT have been run in gently. Barry Clark drove one as course car at speed and rated it highly.

I already have a load of music on my Garmin. I agree with the benefits of fitted satnav, and now I know what WAF means, I can concur with that, but I too think there is an element of rip-off.

Still vexed about the spare issue.

Brow even more furrowed after Nissan upped their p/x offer by 1k on an Xtrail (inc satnav, sun roof and all the gizmos I could ask for.) if I decide fast.. Research shows that DPFs an issue on them too.

Since I tend to keep motors for 5+ years, I'm wondering about long term economy v DPF replacement etc. I've been a diesel fan for 30 years but perhaps I should think about the 1.8TSI after all. I don't want to worry about sooting up and limping if I can't fit a blast in often enough, but I've read so much DPF stuff of late I'm completely confused as to whether It really is a concern or not.

I do get good vibes from this forum, the Skoda UK site, and what I've experienced in Skoda showrooms and test-drives but can't quite commit yet.

Road signs are now appearing all over my area warning that certain roads are not suitable for large vehicles following SatNav instructions.

I would not pay £1400 for a bit of kit when my brain and a £7 map book do a better job. Sat Navs are not dicriminatory and need to be updated regularly to be of any real use.

Ask the driver of a Dutch Flower lorry plus trailer who jammed solid against the walls on the corner outside our house. Or a member of my family who followed his SN and got lost on the trip from Lleyn to Manchester. He phoned me, told me where he was and it was a matter of seconds to give him the correct route!

I buy a new road atlas every year. (about £7-£10) This country is blessed with proper road numbering and good road signs but people are so busy looking at their SN screens, they never notice them!

Sat Navs are "Toys for the Boys"!!! Real men can read maps!

Now wait for the "flak". LOL

Road signs are now appearing all over my area warning that certain roads are not suitable for large vehicles following SatNav instructions.

I would not pay £1400 for a bit of kit when my brain and a £7 map book do a better job. Sat Navs are not dicriminatory and need to be updated regularly to be of any real use.

Ask the driver of a Dutch Flower lorry plus trailer who jammed solid against the walls on the corner outside our house. Or a member of my family who followed his SN and got lost on the trip from Lleyn to Manchester. He phoned me, told me where he was and it was a matter of seconds to give him the correct route!

I buy a new road atlas every year. (about £7-£10) This country is blessed with proper road numbering and good road signs but people are so busy looking at their SN screens, they never notice them!

Sat Navs are "Toys for the Boys"!!! Real men can read maps!

Now wait for the "flak". LOL

Disagree with this completely.

When there is a road closure the sat nav comes to its own giving you alternative routes to avoid the problem.

Thanks Garmin ib a return journey from the Midlands you took us around a closure of part of the M1 due to an accident and then around the congestion on the M25.

It is not really safe to try and map read and drive at the same time!!

No mistakes yet !!!!

I have been told that all manufacturer fitted sat nav systems lack the speed limit reminder and fixed radar location warnings that are given out by Garmin and other add on sat navs.

Real men need this information to avoid costly speeding fines.

Disagree with this completely.

When there is a road closure the sat nav comes to its own giving you alternative routes to avoid the problem.

Thanks Garmin ib a return journey from the Midlands you took us around a closure of part of the M1 due to an accident and then around the congestion on the M25.

It is not really safe to try and map read and drive at the same time!!

No mistakes yet !!!!

I have been told that all manufacturer fitted sat nav systems lack the speed limit reminder and fixed radar location warnings that are given out by Garmin and other add on sat navs.

Real men need this information to avoid costly speeding fines.

Real men know how to drive and control their car to avoid speeding. Only "hot heads" speed.

Who said anything about driving and reading a map at the same time? Not me. I plan my route ahead of my journey and most maps have the cameras marked on them anyway. Perhaps the Sat Nav can give alternative routes BUT so can the Radio Traffic broadcasts plus a good map.

Your Garmin could be a lot better value than the OEM £1400 fitted Sat Nav.

I would also say a sat nav is the best thing I've ever added to my car - albeit always a TomTom and never a built in one. And the reason for that is their cost when built in AND then the cost of getting updated CDs or DVD from the maker once they go out of date. TomTom maps are cheap to update and you can use your device in a rental car in Spain, lend it to a friend and get a lot more use out of it.

But the best thing for me is how relaxed it makes my journeys. If I'm driving and my co-pilot is not good with maps I get stressed. If someone else is driving and I need to follow the map I don't enjoy the scenery since I have my head in the map book.

I remember being in the car with mum and dad as kids in a big unfamiliar city with (new to all of us) huge motorway junctions. Coming up to a junction dad would ask mum: "Is this the junction to take?". Mum would look at the map. Say nothing, Dad would ask again: "Is this the junction?". Mum would turn the map around and around and just as it was too late dad would see the sign that yes that was the junction and we missed it. Next question now would be "OK, what is the next junction, which exit do I take to get back?". More map turning and before you know it an "atmosphere" in the car. A sat nav quietly just re-routes and goes on as if nothing has happened. Sat navs are marriage savers in my book.

Following route numbers are fine and well if they are consistently numbered. And if you were following the sign for Birmingham and then miss the very last sign, how is one to know that the sign for Walsall will send you north and Redditch south if one does not know where these places are relative to Birmingham?

But in saying all that one should always have a map book in the car to check where the computer is sending you. It sometimes have very weird ideas about the best routes. I once drove from a camp site in the Peak District to another camp site in Wales. And instead of just sending me directly west it took me north via Stockport and then down to Wales... Grrr. Nothing scenic about being stuck in Stockport traffic. My fault for trusting the TomTom. Lesson leant and the use of the "Via" function quickly learnt to properly plan sat nav journeys.

Sat navs are really good especially around cities but you do need some common sense when using them, when I first had mine I checked it out on roads that I knew well to see how reliable it was. I still check out long journeys on a map, either online or paper just to get an idea of the roads but I have to admit I only bought mine as it has a speed camera database.

Sounds like James sold me a similar spec Yeti to which you refer!

CR170 motor is great as others have said. Now averaging low 40s mpg, brilliant fun, incredible on the twisty bits.

I have a spare being a wuss and not wanting to sit waiting for a man with a wheel to turn up if I have a non-gunge repairable hole in a tyre. To me that is more important than ultimate boot space.

Sunroof is brill. Wonderful light in the cabin. Contrary to other thoughts it doesn't creak - well it sometimes did in sub-zero temps for about two minutes before the car warmed up - small price to pay.

Columbus is very clever and in the Yeti does so much more than provide satnav - traffic system works well, Bluetooth works well and I have all my music loaded into it so no CD cases rattling around the car.

The whole package isn't cheap but it makes for a really, really greta motor!

Sounds like James sold me a similar spec Yeti to which you refer!

CR170 motor is great as others have said. Now averaging low 40s mpg, brilliant fun, incredible on the twisty bits.

I have a spare being a wuss and not wanting to sit waiting for a man with a wheel to turn up if I have a non-gunge repairable hole in a tyre. To me that is more important than ultimate boot space.

Sunroof is brill. Wonderful light in the cabin. Contrary to other thoughts it doesn't creak - well it sometimes did in sub-zero temps for about two minutes before the car warmed up - small price to pay.

Columbus is very clever and in the Yeti does so much more than provide satnav - traffic system works well, Bluetooth works well and I have all my music loaded into it so no CD cases rattling around the car.

The whole package isn't cheap but it makes for a really, really greta motor!

I agree with all of this. Also, I do not use the Columbus at home, but away, I could not do without. Trying to navigate around Milano with a map is damn near impossible. With it it's a breeze. You still have to use your head, though, and not just blindly follow the directions. New roundabouts often are not on the maps and some one way streets are not marked as such on the maps.

I am looking to change my 6 year old diesel Xtrail and a Yeti is top of the list of possibles. I want leather so I would have Elegance spec and would order the sunroof option. Use is mainly short urban trips but also fortnightly 100 mile each way motorway runs and occasional drives to N. Italy. I have tried a 110 diesel 2wd and a 140 4wd but no dealer within range has a 170 to try out. Is the price premium and higher insurance worth it for the 170? Are there any draw backs with the more powerfully mapped version?

I am concerned about relying on a tyre repair kit. Do most buyers go for the space saver?

Also, the satnav option looks expensive and less capable than my Garmin Nuvi. Is it worth it?

BTW, no problems with the Xtrail, and in view of a 0% finance deal, a new Xtrail is also under consideration. (We love the ride and comfort we've had, and all the included extras in an Xtrail Tekna, but no longer need all the space and the inferior MPG and CO2 ratings and higher insurance all work against the Nissan.)

I'd be grateful for advice and opinions.

Hi uptodat,

We have had a 140 diesel Yeti since March 1st with sunroof but without a Spare Wheel or Columbus and are very pleased with it.

MPG- to give you some examples:

On Saturday we spent the morning in sunny Brum and the Black Country around Quarry Bank looking at trailers and bike racks for our beloved Hettie...now for those who don't know the area it is actually very hilly as well as being very urban as in lots of stop starts, mini roundabouts etc...Well the MPG was truly shocking it was averaging around 30 -35ish!

BUT contrast this with the next day...

On Sunday we went off across The Marches ...

and onto the Black and White village trail, wonderful sunshine, glorious countryside, historical villages and buildings why be anywhere but the UK?

http://www.blackandwhitehouses.co.uk/blackandwhitetrail.php

I had to stop to take this photo of the MPG what a contrast and our best so far!! And it stayed above 50 for the whole day-wahhooh

I digress now with an unashamed plug for Herefordshire Tourism...

Stopped in Pembridge, fantastic Craft Gallery, interesting church with the bell tower as a seperate building- very old handmade giant ladder - looks like made for Hagrid

http://www.mediaeval-pembridge.com/history.php

Had a superb roast lunch (as usual! ) the meaty mustrad gravy is a must have! at The New Inn - but if you go please be aware that it is a tiny pub :yes: the bar is really in the hall entrance with Jane the landlady on her own serving behind it!....(and she doesn't suffer fools... but a real lady!) so you have to get up from the lounge or back room to order/get your drinks at the bar and there will be a wait for food when busy as only 2 people cooking and serving!! Give them a big tip- they deserve it :sun:

It is full of character- in the back room there is a huge open fire with 16th century grate, enormous slate slabs cover the floor, 1 huge long table with a higgledy piggledy assortment of chairs along one side with a huge curved settle on the other and 2 other small tables- a 2 seater by the fire and a 2 settle 4 seater by the window- all the settles have lots of cushions, although they and the tables have a habit of lurching, leaning and creaking unless you jam your foot against them There is usually a cat wandering around and outside is a rusting pashleys bike with a basket on in which a little real! dog normally surveys all (I think he is checking customers out for who looks the meatiest!) as on his basket is a sign which says... he bites!!! Love it!

Below is what The Telegraph thought of it:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/pubs/3334135/Pint-to-pint-The-New-Inn-Pembridge.html

Up the road is Dunkertons Cider farm where you can go a'scrumping

http://www.dunkertons.co.uk/

or down the road is a little water garden with a charming eccentric owner...

http://www.westonburymillwatergardens.com/

Enjoy!

Edited 13 April, 201016 yr by Lady Penelope

53.9!!!!! What were you doing? Driving backwards? LOL

Mine is now doing 43 on the (fastish) drive back to Manchester. Just over 5000 miles on the clock.

I Know! You were driving at 35 mph (maybe wearing flat caps!!) Admiring the view. A 3 mile tail back of angry Volvo drivers, towing caravans, behind you.

Agree about the UK - Snowdon, with a last trace of snow near the top, is just glowing in the setting sun. As for pubs, a trip to Cheshire covers that. One, near Northwich, has a pet parrot that can whistle like an old "trim phone".

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3135/2743900377_f00d990c14.jpg

Stopped in Pembridge, fantastic Craft Gallery, interesting church with the bell tower as a seperate building- very old handmade giant ladder - looks like made for Hagrid

Pembridge is indeed a beautiful village Lady P. I was there a while back having traced the Herefordshire side of my family tree back to the 1750's in Pembridge. Must take the Yeti for a trip out that way soon.......

Pembridge is indeed a beautiful village Lady P. I was there a while back having traced the Herefordshire side of my family tree back to the 1750's in Pembridge. Must take the Yeti for a trip out that way soon.......

Another Ancestor Hunter ehh!!