I spent some time earlier in the year as a passenger in a brother in law's Tiguan and was entirely underwhelmed by the build quality and finish it was no better than and maybe worse than my Yeti.

No complaints at all about the Yeti build quality. But leaving price/value considerations aside, the key frustration for me in Tiguan vs Yeti is that - presumably because the Tiguan is higher in the VW pecking order - it does get a significantly better choice of engines and other options. If I want a powerful (eg GTi type) compact 4x4 with DSG and a full set of toys then I can get that with Tiguan but not with Yeti.

Edited 13 August, 201114 yr by prodata

I onto my third skoda now had two fabia vrs's one was a limited edition took the.plunge and now just took delivery of a yeti se plus I totally love it I can honestly say it would be very difficult to buy any other make good build quality good after sales service and overall good all round setvice

On my 3rd Skoda:

1) was a 05 VRS 1.8T

2) was a 09 CR170 VRS LE Estate

3) Yeti 11 CR170 4x4 Elegance

The marque has slowly ramped up the level of its cars to be a class leader to many, I always equate VFM/performance/Quality in my cars, Skoda seemed to have hit the right combo for me, when it comes time to upgrade or change the LE, another VRS Estate or the Superb Elegance 4x4 CR170 is on the cards. Love these cars.

It's a shame that people can't readily remember when the BMW product was a 3 wheeler with a motorcycle engine and Audis were just re badged VWs. That's the power of marketing for you.

I had an Ocatavia Combi 2.0 140PD for 4 years before the Yeti. Except from a broken bonnet release cable, reo´placed the first week of wnershio, the was nithing even wring with that car. 120,000 km - 75,000 miles. I wanted to stay with a 4 valves/cylinder engine, which was not offered in the Octavia at the time they went to CR, so the Yeti was the obvious choice.

Never looked back. It's the most harmoniously designed car I have ever owned.

Our previous Passat Estates were nice to drive, had bags of space and did almost everything we wanted them to do (1x 2001 2.0T petrol, 1x 2008 2.0PD TDi). The first suffered brake problems, the second was fine, but smoked a lot. A new 2011 one was going to be another ~£7k on top of the Yeti and the styling looked a bit "dull".

The Yeti ride/handling really surprised me, the 170 engine felt great after the PD 140 in the Passat and the 4x4 was going to be a useful addition. I has just to convince myself the interior space was OK and I could overcome my residual prejudice of the badge. Much research (Autocar/What Car/Evo/Briskoda) convinced me (thanks guys!) and the Top Gear segment put the icing on the cake (aired after I had ordered ).

I now think this is the best combo car I have driven (ride/handling/grip/off-road capability/all-weather suitability/design). I am slowly convincing friends/neighbours of the same.

The biggest issue will be limiting the mileage :p