Yeti’s 4x4 mode impresses on and off road

28 June 2012

OUR first encounter with the Yeti left a great impression (FG, January 2010), despite our early test model missing a vital element of specification for some off-road adventure.

This latest 4x4 Elegance version adds the functionality of Skoda’s 4x4 button. Cleverly, it delivers a range of intelligent off-road features, such as downhill assist, hill start, electronic differential lock, plus revised traction and ABS settings.

Hitting the button when you venture off the beaten track allows the Yeti to really impress, even on its road-biased rubber.

With uphill start assist, you can pin the throttle to the floor and revs remain restricted to 2,500rpm, safeguarding driveline components, while downhill assist maintains a stable speed during descents on slippery surfaces.

Downhill assist operates in the first three gears, reverse and most impressively, in neutral. You do not need to press the accelerator or brake pedal, as the electronics take care of speed control, according to the angle of descent.

Electronic diff lock

An electronic diff lock maintains permanent traction and can work diagonally across the axles, while off-road traction control settings built into the 4x4 mode allows a higher level of wheel slip before electronic intervention – just enough to get the wheels spinning and the Yeti moving across difficult surfaces.

With 180mm of ground clearance, a 19-degree approach angle and a 26-degree departure angle, you will be surprised at just how capable the Yeti is.

A recent cross-continent trip to Paris for a machinery event saw our 140TDi Yeti eat up the miles with ease, delivering mpg in the mid-to-high 40s.

It can seat five adults and the Vario-Flex seating means any of the three rear seats can be folded or tipped up. If you crave load space, the rear seats can be removed completely. There is a 2,000kg towing capacity too. What is not to like about the beast?

Need to know

Skoda Yeti Elegance 2.0 TDi 4x4

Price: £22,955 (£25,005 as tested)

Engine: 1,968cc, four-cylinder turbo, 140hp @ 4,200rpm, 320Nm @ 1,750-2,500rpm

Transmission: Six-speed DSG dual-clutch, front-wheel drive

Performance: 9.9 sec 0-62mph, 118 mph, 47.1 mpg combined, 157g/km

Towing capacity: 2,000kg

 

Skoda Yeti

29 May 2009

Edited 1 July, 201214 yr by danbarnes

I don't wish to appear ignorant, but we all know that, as we all have a Yeti ( or two )

I bet farmers don't valet their cars very often

Only their Range Rovers.

Their Range Rovers are only for looking at and posing, if they want to do any work they have a Defender or a Yeti. That is why all the review is interested in is the Yetis off road abilities, not its looks or comfort.

Exactly!!

Around by us the choice seems to be a bling Jap 4x4 Pick-up or a new Discovery, but I suspect that is more to do with the local dealers than anything else.

And I can't see many farmers actually buying a Yeti for themselves, more likely for the "farm manager/wife".

Interestingly, the Royal Welsh Show President this year lives in our tiny village, and as a part of his year of office he hosted the first ever Welsh Grassland Society Event on his farm. It was one heck of an event with machinery worth tens of millions appearing on his fields, and marquees, displays and so on taking over the whole area. The Farmer's Guardian was a main Sponsor, as my neighbour writes a column for them.

Sadly it coincided with that simply dreadful Thursday and Friday when all the flash flooding devastated various locations in Wales, and the conditions on the farm were monsoon-like, reducing any semblance of grass to a quagmire.

My involvement, living 200 yards from the main sheepshed, used for talks and refreshments and so on, was to play in our local rock'n'roll band (all 6 members from this tiny village!!) at the evening pig roast from seven until one in the morning. This necessitated setting up, getting the gear into the shed, and sound-checking - using my trusty Yeti with all back seats removed in order to accommodate all the kit we needed (who needs a Transit van, eh??).

I have never, ever had such sustained interest in the car before! All sorts of sodden, muddy, weather beaten farmers almost queued up to have a gander at it and ask about its capabilities. Comments like "You cud git two yowes in thar!" and "a week's hay fer the pony!" and the like were commonplace as were questions and appreciation of its 2000kg towing ability.

And, of course, I was delighted to be able to provide some limited demos of its various attributes, though what impressed the most was the sheer value for money of the lesser-spec 4*4 versions.

And I'm thinking of planting spuds in the mud they all left behind inside!!

....I'm thinking of planting spuds in the mud they all left behind inside!!

Would this be a first? A Yeti greenhouse?