Å KODA is revelling in a double dose of festive cheer after the Yeti was honoured by two respected specialist off-road magazines in their end-of-year awards.

They bring the versatile SUV’s trophy haul to six for the year and, with UK sales up a third on 2010, it caps a remarkable 12 months for the Yeti. Again it has proved its credentials as a genuine mud-plugger that’s more than capable of tackling all that winter can throw at it.

4x4 Magazine

The ŠKODA Yeti secured class honours in 4x4 Magazine’s 4x4 of the Year test. now in its 22nd year. Expert judges got behind the wheel of all the contenders in four categories of off-roader. They ranked the Yeti as number one in the mid-range class.

Editor Nigel Fryatt said the Yeti fully deserved its trophy and had surprised many with its all-round abilities.

“When you consider ‘fit for purpose’ and ‘value for money’, the Yeti is an impressive machine. The version with the full off-road electronic terrain options is more than capable of coping with conditions way in excess of what is likely to be attempted by potential owners – surely the creed of the true off-roader.â€

Total 4x4 Magazine

In 2010 the ŠKODA Yeti won the Crossover category and went on to take the overall ‘4x4 Of The Year’ title. Now it’s beaten all-comers in the same category again, and scooped the magazine’s Special Award for Best Value.

Editor Alan Kidd said the Yeti took the judging panel by surprise last year: “This year we were ready for it – but it still took our breath away. It’s brilliantly conceived and superbly built, good to drive on the road and it’ll do remarkable things in the rough. What’s not to love? There are very few 4x4s, at any price, that I’d be happier to see on my driveway.â€

With two weeks of trading left in 2011, sales of the Å KODA Yeti will hit close to 5,500 units. Following a total of 4,100 last year, this year has seen an increase of around 33 per cent.

Robert Hazelwood, Å KODA brand director, said the Yeti had had an astonishing year by any standards:“These two awards from the specialist 4x4 press are the icing on the cake for 2011. Their experts have put the Yeti through rigorous off-road tests as well as more traditional ones and I’m thrilled they appreciate the car’s strengths. The Yeti is an astonishingly versatile vehicle and there’s plenty more to come from it in 2012.â€

Good news.

Nice to see that they understand a great 4x4 is not the best offroad.

Having had the Defender it's fantastic offroad, but an old clonky thing to use on a daily basis.

The Yeti just gets the balance so right IMO.

Wow! So not just the mumsy press that likes it! The real boys that drive over boulders and grass fields also like it!

Makes me feel proud to be looking after such an awesome machine.

Mucho respect for the Yeti and for Skoda for designing it and making it.

Yet another kick up the *$$ for the Tiguan et al.

I really like mine. She is joining the big boys next week if all goes to plan. I'm sure she will impress them.

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It's great and reassuring to know how capable the Yeti really is in conditions that most of us will probably never need to experience, especially when compared with more overtly off-road orientated cars.

Am glad to hear this piece of feedback. Makes me very pleased with the choice I made. And yes, it is certainly a superb crossover vehicle for the particular road conditions we are faced with in India. To some these conditions may even classify as off-road!

Robert Hazelwood, ŠKODA brand director, said the Yeti had had an astonishing year by any standards:“These two awards from the specialist 4x4 press are the icing on the cake for 2011. Their experts have put the Yeti through rigorous off-road tests as well as more traditional ones and I’m thrilled they appreciate the car’s strengths. The Yeti is an astonishingly versatile vehicle and there’s plenty more to come from it in 2012.”

Interesting the mention of 2012; according to this Car article the Monster is getting a facelift next year before being replaced in 2015; they suggest the replacement will be a similar size to the current one; hope so, fed up with cars getting bigger and bigger, they don't fit that well down country lanes

Looks like their trying to get most of the models on a common modular platform well before the end of this decade to reduce build times and costs.

TP