My colleagues going to test driving a few SUV's over the weekend, and next week and a Yeti's one of the cars she's going to try, she does about 8000 miles a year and was thinking of testing the 1.6 greenline, her journeys are usually short runs with the occasional 200 mile plus runs, any idea what model offers the best mix of performance and economy ??..

The 1.2 TSI would seem a good one. Its supposed to be quite economic and nippy.

I'd go for the 1.2 TSI.

With low mileage and short runs she wont recoup the extra money the 1.6 Greenline costs.

On very short runs, from cold, my Greenline will only do low to mid 40s mpg.

I'd have said the 1.2 and/or 1.4 petrol alongside the greenline.

The greenline is a little bit lower so you lose some of the "height" advantage and it has a reduced options list.

If you don't need the 4x4 aspect i don't see the value in the 110bhp diesel and the others are overkill for the mileage.

For driving in and around London (going by your profile?) a 1.2 DSG takes some beating.

Farily economical, warms up fast and a slick shifting 7 speed box. Ideal for short trips amd the odd long one.

She has a 2010 2.0 TDI Touran at the mo and wants to downsize so looks like 1.2 Tsi is the way to go on a Yeti, she's also trying out a Quashqi, some Kia, some Mitsi and a Hyundai something but as her present cars on PCP there are some benefits to getting another car from the VW group..

We both live round Heathrow way and both do a 18-20 mile round trip daily, just not from the same origins..

Much appreciate the input guys..

Yes, 1.2 tsi is perfect for that sort of use.

Yes, don't be put off by the miniscule engine size. The 1.2 is a responsive beastie unless you are after outright poke.

Impressive, not just responsive; we were amazed!!

I have noticed over the past couple of weeks ( we have been looking for a Yeti ) that there are on the market numerous 1.2,tsi manual/automatic for sale , 2nd hand they do not seem to hold there price , we noticed the the diesels were better placed , we in the end bought a 2.0 tdi 110bhp , our mileage is a mixture , we have no set routes as OAP's we come and go as and when , the 110bhp diesel would be a good choice .and better trade in price down the line

For driving in and around London (going by your profile?) a 1.2 DSG takes some beating.

Farily economical, warms up fast and a slick shifting 7 speed box. Ideal for short trips amd the odd long one.

This was pretty much what drove my decision to go for a 1.2 DSG. That, and the fact that I have predisposition towards 1.1/1.2-litre engines.

Does the 1.2 tsi struggle a bit on long motorway inclines etc?

I've tried one with DSG and it felt quite nippy around town. Bit concerned how

it would handle long trips to the Lakes etc loaded up for holidays. Only two people though.

Thanks, I thought that might be the case.

The only other DSG available in the UK is the 140bhp diesel. Much as I

dislike diesels in general it may be worth a look.

Diesels usuall give bags or mid-range torque but apart from that they're noisy,

smelly and they and the diesel fuel cost more! Had a BMW 330d a fews years ago

and was very happy to go back to petrol.

when I was test driving 1.2 TSI it was definitely under powered especially driving up to modest hills.

Flat roads, shop malls driving etc it should be fine but forget about passing uphill.

I have a 1.2 manual with which I journey up from just outside Gloucester to Holyhead a couple of times a year on my fishing trips to Ireland, two up and fully loaded with fishing tackle (not light).

It is a trip of 200 miles each way with several long hill slogs esecially on the A55 coast road ,it usually takes me about 2 half to 3 hours (night driving)

I have never felt the 1.2 engine to be underpowered, but obviously you can't pit it against the larger bhp diesels or the 1.8 petrol.

All in all it is a joy to drive on short journeys but quite capable when asked to do a bit of motorway work.

The fuel economy is quite good just got back from a 50mile round trip and averaged 42.4 and this is in our new Yeti with less than 1000mls on the clock ,even taking into account a poss high maxidot reading this is not bad with a still tight engine.

My 3 year old 1.2 s yeti which had 21000 on the clock is now on a garage forecourt at £13995 which is £500 more than I originaly paid for it, so obviously has held a excellent resale value.

Another vote for the 1.2 manual. I do about 8000 a year so couldn't justify another diesel. I do mainly local trips and a weekly trip to the airport (only about 15 motorway miles) and a couple of trips a year to northern Ireland and maybe an occasional foray into England. Even with two adults and a child plus kit it's never struggled. You cant boot it in sixth the way you would in a diesel to suddenly overtake but if you're driving at legal (ish) speeds and are prepared to drop to fifth or fourth if required then it's more than adequate.

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Does the 1.2 tsi struggle a bit on long motorway inclines etc?

Not really, especially with DSG, which just drops a cog or two or three as needed. It's just a different driving style to the TDI. But it depends what you are after: if you are expecting 90 mph up a steep hill, then go for the 140 bhp diesel DSG.

The 1.2 TSI is economical between 1000 and 2000 rpm, and because of the turbocharger, it has respectable torque at these engine speeds, so you can make adequate progress without drinking lots of 95 RON. However, the power is only generated at higher engine speeds, hence the downchanges.

Having written that, if I was regularly driving long distances with full load, I would choose the TDI because it has so much more torque.

Thanks to everyone for the advice.

My current car is the VW R32 which goes like the clappers and drinks juice accordingly.

Most of my journeys since I retired are local around the Bristol area so the 1.2 TSI sounds perfect.

I'll probably keep the R32 for the occasional blast but the Yeti really appeals in a funny sort of way. Something

completely different but strangely familiar if you know what I mean!

Oh well my colleagues made the 'Leap' and bought herself a 2012 1.4 TSI SE PLUS in the end. She was reluctant to go for the 1.2 as she mentioned to the sales guy that what if she were going up a hill fully loaded and needed to overtake something, would the 1.2 be powerful enough, he mentioned perhaps not so she went for the bigger engine, however when i saw the dealers ad this am he only had 1.4s and TDI's for sale anyway so i can guess why he made the recomendation, she collects it on Thursday so i'll have a good nose around it out of curiosity..

Oh well my colleagues made the 'Leap' and bought herself a 2012 1.4 TSI SE PLUS in the end. She was reluctant to go for the 1.2 as she mentioned to the sales guy that what if she were going up a hill fully loaded and needed to overtake something, would the 1.2 be powerful enough, he mentioned perhaps not so she went for the bigger engine, however when i saw the dealers ad this am he only had 1.4s and TDI's for sale anyway so i can guess why he made the recomendation, she collects it on Thursday so i'll have a good nose around it out of curiosity..

it's also around £800 more expensive so he probably also makes a bit more by selling that.