When i ordered the Yeti, i knew it was a compact SUV - but my boys are a bit bigger (6 and 8 yrs old) so don't need fixed car seats (just booster seats).

However, my wife has just announced were expecting a baby again - which obviously we were not planning for!!! This concerns in terms of size of the Yeti.

My Yeti was ordered well before said announcement. I have spoken to our lease company and there is no penalty for cancellation - but i would possibly have to wait another 3 months for another vehicle.

Will it be big enough??? i'm really really concerned - any advice from current owners MUCH APPRECIATED!!!

Edited 18 April, 201016 yr by Krooked

Get an s-max instead !

I cant get 3 child seats in the back of my superb, and a yeti is smaller.

Probably not, looks snug for 3 with just a booster seat. Think twice about getting an S-Max the build quality of the cabin is atrocious but it is a great drive.

Edited 18 April, 201016 yr by mhjonesuk

firstly - congratulations!!

Such agonising decisions are a sort of bittersweet reward - the YETI should have enough room and facility to cope, but seeing how much clobber my grandson has to accommodate him. and he is the only one, it does make you question it.

Good luck to the krooked family!

Probably not, looks snug for 3 with just a booster seat. Think twice about getting an S-Max the build quality of the cabin is atrocious but it is a great drive.

I think "atrocious" is a bit strong !

It;'s true some of the plastics could be better the further you go back in the cabin.

Loads better "quality" than the Touran we had previously.

Congratulations. Answer=Depends how often the 5 of you will travel together as it will be tight with the boosters. The other 2 should be on boosters til 135cm - your eldest might be there by the time the baby arrives. The middle seatbelt in the Yeti really rubs against kid's necks so it would need some adjustment - one of those straps off dragons' den. If it's usually going to be children + 1 adult, the eldest could always sit in the front to make him feel important! The height of the Yeti is good cos it is easier to strap in the car seat (without too much bending over!) and the kids can see more. Down side is they have to clamber up and down in and out and a toddler would struggle = muddy footprints everywhere. If you do go for it get a cheap 'umbrella folding' maclaren buggy (you will probably already know this) as it will fit in the boot easily with room for shopping. Most 1st timers (we did too) buy expensive cumbersome buggys that would take up the whole boot.

I have kids similar age to your 2 and was going for the Octavia 1.8Tsi but, with the eldest on a booster, they were putting the seatbelt over their arm as the seatbelt was so high on them it cut into their neck. Stupid design meant a lost sale. Also they were carsick in the back of an Octavia but not a Yeti (bizarrely). Would definately go with an Octavia if you could overcome these problems because of the inverse relationship with child size and the amount you have to carry. The other one I looked at was a Volvo that has 'built in' booster seats V50 I think. Very handy and doesn't take up as much room.

I have to say everyone I know with 3 kids has ended up with a people carrier type car. Especially useful for when kids want friends over from school.

Edited 18 April, 201016 yr by CharlieB72

Again Congratulations. But the Yeti is a definite NO. I have a 9 year, 4 year and a 1.5 year set of grandkids. (the eldest is a half brother so rarely with us) I could just fit the three of them into my X-Trail but it was tight. The Yeti is narrower than the X-Trail and the centre seat too narrow for comfort. Plus the Yeti boot is far too small for everything you would need for a new baby plus your current luggage load.

My son copes with the largest Vauxhall for the three youngsters - but its still tight. A good MPV is the answer.

Edited 19 April, 201016 yr by Terfyn

Congratulations

When my family and I went to test drive our yeti we put the two car seats in the back and my wife whilst myself and the salesman went up front , our car seats are a bit bulky against others I suppose and it left a tight centre seat for the wife which was just about ok but tight (lucky she's only 8.5 stone).

I think you may be more suited to something bigger sadly as the yeti is a great car but will be on it's limits with your needs

Hope this helps

Peter

Congratualtions!

I'm sorry to say the Snow-monster isn't the wagon for you now that you have another bamino on the way, in my not so humble opinion.

A buddy of mine who has 4 bambinos swears by his Espace if that's any help

I've been through the young kids phase and I would say no to the Yeti as the others have done. I would put my choice in a C4 Picasso. I had one when mine were very young and it was fantastic. Can it do 130mph around a race track, no. Can it transport young kids + pushchairs, bags , travel cots etc in comfort and with plenty of space. Definitely. I had one as a company car for 3 years and I would not fault it. A friend of mine had a VW Touran and that saw him through the early years of two young children with ease.

Having young children in a car is all about space. Seat space to fit child seats, the Yeti could not fit 3 in the back, and ample boot space. Again the Yeti can not do that. The height of the Yeti is ideal but it just does not offer the width or boot space for 3 kids, one a baby.

Can it do 130mph around a race track, no.

My 2.2 diesel S-Max can.

Not that I would.

My 2.2 diesel S-Max can.

Not that I would.

For a big family I would pick the S-Max. Big, good looking, capable and it does not scream "fertility symbol" like some other MPVs do. There is still something Golf GTI about it and that you do like driving and just happen to have kids. Perversely though, I also like the new Peugeot 5008 - its a very handsome device to my eyes. But as a long term ownership prospective I'd shy away and get the S-Max.

I think "atrocious" is a bit strong !

It;'s true some of the plastics could be better the further you go back in the cabin.

Loads better "quality" than the Touran we had previously.

I had a Galaxy which has a lot of the same parts and the silvering was peeling off the buttons on the fascia, the handbrake which looks amazing looses its end caps when it is knocked eg a child putting their school bag over the console and catching it, the chrome on the reverse lifter on the gear stick flaked off and the power steering needed reprogramming. I have a friend who has an S Max and they have the same problems with the buttons. It was however brilliant to drive and had loads of space if you do get one go for the 2 litre diesel its a gem.

Thanks for the responses fo far. My wife will agrue that won't be travelling altogether all off the time. I catch the train to work for example. But as a weekend vehicle and other occassions it will be too small. I am gutted as it will cost me more money £ to have a lower spec MPV than what the Yeti cost.

It looks like a C4 Grand Picasso or Toyota Verso?>

S-MAX are not good value for money new, and are too expensive to lease compared to the other 2 vehicles (combination of retail price + depreciation). Which is a shame, if i were buying instead of leasing i would choose an S-Max.

The Toyota Verso is a little hard and you tend to feel the bumps whilst the Picasso is a little more forgiving. Of course if you prefer hard then the Toyota is the one. I would also suggest the Picasso is a little cleverer at this type of thing than the Toyota so again I would plump for that. Both are sound choices though. If only the Yeti was available in a long wheel base form................ mischievous chuckle from this end. (no need for angry replies)

hmmm Qashqai+2???

i mean it's closer to a Yeti than a MPV - but then again!

hmmm Qashqai+2???

Forget it!!!!!

would you rather have a Picasso or Verso than a Qashqai +2???

The Qashqai is a good shout. I know a number of people on this site are anti them, Terfyn for one clearly, but I see big numbers of them around me. The reason I did not get one was visibility out of the back window but otherwise I like them. They would give a Yeti style of car but with the extra size you need. Go to a dealer and try one. If you don't like it then walk away.

The new facelifted Cashcow is a handsome beast to my eyes - albeit a far too common sight on the roads. Pity the fishbowl sunroof can't open, nor can you leave the seats at home or move them about quite as much as you can in the Yeti. But if those things don't bother you it is as British a car as you can ever get (completely designed in the Nissan Design Centre in Paddington, London and built in Sunderland).

:-johann

After reading this thread I measured my Mazda MPV's rear seats width - 139cm across just 1cm more than the Yeti I believe? All 5 rear seats are individual and removable.

My 3 girls - 7,10 and 12 sit side by side with no problems, 2 of which have booster seats. Driven a few hundred miles with 7 adults on board on a few occasions too.

Your best bet is to visit your nearest Skoda showroom, with kids in tow and check out the rear seats of a Yeti to give you peace of mind before cancelling your order?

Congratulations on the new addition to your family

Edited 19 April, 201016 yr by BigHusky

Well my Mrs is adamant she does not want to cancel the order and get an MPV. I can't say i blame her - they are souless.

The middle bench is slim on the Yeti - but as she pointed out so is our 8 yr old and he is tall enough not to sit with a booster seat. The only car i suggested that she likes is a Volvo XC90 - but this is an extra £240 per month to lease over the Yeti's £330. Now according to some rough maths on a 36 month contract the Yeti will save us £8,640.00 - she's rightly pointed out that on the rare w/e's away to visit relatives in Kent and Scotland(maybe 3-4 times a year) we could hire an MPV if we neeeded to.

So apart from the XC90 gas guzzler, I can't think of any other cars apart from a pig ugly Peugeot 3008 or Mazda 5 that have 3 decent rear seats. I was considering making a serious case for a Skoda Superb Estate Elegance DSG (£370 pm) - as i've heard they are very room in the back? not sure if about the width of the middle seat. BUT I THINK THE FACTORY DELAYS ARE WORSE ON THOSE!!!

Edited 19 April, 201016 yr by Krooked

So apart from the XC90 gas guzzler, I can't think of any other cars apart from a pig ugly Peugeot 3008 or Mazda 5 that have 3 decent rear seats. I was considering making a serious case for a Skoda Superb Estate - as i've heard they are very room in the back? not sure if about the width of the middle seat.

The Mazda 5 also has a funny middle rear seat if I am not mistaken? It folds out when required and is more for occasional use with the car really being billed as a 6 seater (with 3 rows of two seats) plus this additional 7th.

:-j

And also remember that the Mazda MPV and the Mazda 5 are totally different cars... MPV was the actual name of that car and it does not refer to a generic mpv.