Thinking of buying a Yeti (or Octavia Scout) and need some help with other manufacturer equivalents.

The nearest I've seen is the VW Tiguan, but what is their equivalent of the Yeti CR170 Elegance 4x4 with sunroof? (Sunroof, Xenons, 4x4 and Maxidot are in my tick list)

It seems to be the 'Sportline' but am not sure that is a guarantee though. Anyone know?

Also, apart from the Nissan Quasqui, what else is there that matches the above Yeti description (or possibly a CR140 4x4) without being too big?

Kia Sportage looks nice, but is too bulky.

Vauxhall Mocha? Ford Kuga?

How do they stack up against the Yeti?

I'll be buying 3-4 year old vehicle and Tiguan is the most expensive with similar spec followed by Yeti and down to Quasqui at the cheapest end.

Any other vehicles I should consider? I haven't got a Yeti yet, but I'm finding it hard to get the spec I want and finding it hard to see any real equivalents that match up to the Yeti.

VW Tiguan is R line not Sportsline, that is only on Audi models.

Tony

Any other vehicles I should consider? I haven't got a Yeti yet, but I'm finding it hard to get the spec I want and finding it hard to see any real equivalents that match up to the Yeti.

 

Obviously just IMHO, but:

 

If you're happier with a relatively low-power drive and prefer more of a typical crossover look to the more individual but practical styling of the Yeti then the Qashqai is undoubtedly reviewing well.

 

But for more power (eg the CR170) and more character then the Yeti has it beat hands-down. Few people seem to buy a Yeti (at least those with their eyes open) and then regret it. We can argue the toss about what the JD Power driver satisfaction survey really means, but there's no doubt that the Yeti scores consistently well, which means that those who do choose to buy a Yeti are by and large very happy with their decision in the subsequent years of ownership.

 

Re the Tiguan: Just get a brochure and take a look - it should be obvious which is closest to the Yeti in spec. Personally, I'm probably moving on from the Yeti, not in the slightest because I'm unhappy with it after 4 years of ownership, but because it's time for a new drive and the Yeti facelift is cosmetic only - virtually nothing about it would be a step forwards from the pre-FL model (and in L&K form in the UK offers no choice but the dreaded brown seats). I've looked at the Tiguan but it strikes me as neither fish nor fowl - more costly than the Yeti but not really offering much extra in the way of spec (and I really don't like the side profile, but that's just me). I'll probably (but reserve the right to change my mind!) opt for an Audi Q3, which costs another £10K or so, but does offer some real advantages over the Yeti (eg more powerful petrol engine, 7-speed dry DSG, better refinement, better cabin quality (not that the Yeti is bad, but Q3 is better) and definitely better ergonomics.

Edited 5 June, 201412 yr by prodata

@prodata

The Tiguan also gets the 7sp dsg and has a lot better spec for the money than the Q3!

@prodata

The Tiguan also gets the 7sp dsg and has a lot better spec for the money than the Q3!

 

Opinions will vary, of course they will. But the 7speed dry DSG was vs the Yeti, not a comparison with the Tiguan. I've looked at it in some detail and for the spec I'd prefer the Q3 is not hugely more than the Tiguan. But there are other reasons to rule out the Tiguan for me. eg there's no stop-start which pushes the CO2 up by 20 (for the 210PS petrol) - 179 (Q3) is acceptable 199 isn't - just an arbitrary cut-off but there has to be some limit. And AFAIK there are no configurable dampers available for the Tiguan to soften the ride a bit on the 19" wheels. And so on...

 

But this is a Yeti forum, not a Tiguan/Q3 one.

The CSMA magasine recently compared the 1.2 Qasqai with the equivalent Yeti and came down in favour of the Yeti.

 

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/316991-csma-votes-up-the-yeti/

@prodata

The Tiguan also gets the 7sp dsg and has a lot better spec for the money than the Q3!

Wasn't it the dry 7 speed that was problematic as opposed to the wet 6?

Can we get back to the main theme, please?

What are the competitors against the Yeti?

And why did you choose the Yeti over something else?

The Q3 I had forgotten about, but suspect that it's going to be out of my price range by quite a bit!

Theres the Hyundai IX35, which has the same mechanicals as the Sportage without the hideous body.

 

I also looked at the Mazda CX-5 and it was my second choice.

 

But I bought a Subaru Forester as that felt the best for me.

 

Those were my top 3 in order. The Yeti was discounted as soon as I saw the boot with the raised floor for the spare.

I drove the Tiguan - the Yeti won on the drive alone and the value advantage was nice to have (however there are some great deals on the Tiguan currently as it'll be getting replaced in the not to distant future. A personal thing but I also though the dash looked too old school compared to the Yeti and the ride quality was awful on the last one - iirc an R-Line, with 19" alloys!

 

More recently I've most enjoyed drives in the latest CRV (the 1.6 and 2.2 diesels are both superior to the VAG equivalent imo) but the biggest downside is with the sunroof imo - its just a bonded glass panel. The Nissan Qashqai overall is the best thing I've driven in this class now. Very refined, a nice drive, nicely put together with surprisingly nice materials, good kit and should be very cheap to run. Personal thing again but I also like the design of it.

 

As above though id take a look at the CX-5 and Forrester/XV also. Oh, and if you really need boot space, an Octavia 4x4/Scout or Passat 4Motion/Allroad

A personal thing but I also though the dash looked too old school compared to the Yeti...

 

Yes, I'd forgotten about that - it was the final nail in the coffin for the Tiguan for me.

Thanks guys. Please keep these opinions and alternatives coming.

I'll look at the Hyundai to see what that's like.

Boot space doesn't bother me too much as I plan in getting a small trailer and putting bike/kayak racks on top of the trailer and kit in the trailer.

Having sat in the back of a Qashqui I found it quite small. Certainly smaller than a Yeti.

Like YetiMan I also short-listed the Tiguan but preferred the Yeti's visibility, I needed a smaller petrol engine (lots of short trips so DPF issues to consider) and 1.4 petrol Tiguans were like hens teeth when looking for a demonstrator (and according to the dealers didn't sell in great numbers so my thinking was this could hit future resale values hard). Overall I felt that for me the Elegance+options was better value than the Tiguan. That was all the "head" stuff.

 

The "heart" was that the Tiguan was a good solid and practical drive, the Yeti was fun - and I'd not felt that in my recent cars. One year down the line and so far absolutely no problems with the Yeti, it's still fun to drive and I've never regretted my decision. 

These are some alternatives i posted in the same question thread 

 

Mitsubishi ASX Or  Outlander

Subaru ~XV

Vauxhall - Mokka  Or Antara

Hyundai - Santa Fe Or iX35 ( currently being advertised & seen as a Yeti competitor)

 

Here is a linky to the original thread where this is also being covered

 

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/316399-yeti-alternative/?hl=+yeti%20+alternative

 

Might help or make your choices more difficult.

In Australia the Qashqai is called the Dualis and to be frank I wouldn't know if I was behind one or any other Asian competitor......they all seem the same to me.

What do you use as a comparison?

Is it price or cost?

Size or space?

 

Price is what you pay now; cost is what it costs in the future.

Size is how big it is on the road, space is what there is inside.

 

Using those parameters then affects what you choose. For me there are currently only 3 vehicles available,

 

In price order:

Sportage

Yeti

Freelander

 

From what I can see cost would put them as:

Yeti

Sportage 

Freelander

 

Size:

Yeti

Freelander

Sportage

 

Space:

Yeti

Freelander

Sportage

 

The Ford and Vauxhall models haven't even come into the scheme, as I just don't like them, and reports I have read do not give a good review. Everything else is either out of my price range or doesn't have the towing capability I want. 

Nothing beats a Yeti for its distinctive side profile though.  Even I have trouble distinguishing all the other QQ clones from each other.

 

Looked very seriously indeed at the QashCow and QQ+2 before deciding to buy a 3-year old Yeti last year. After considering and discarding the others as not really in the same league. Interior space (or lack of in the QQ case, compared to exterior footprint and price), was a significant factor.

Haven't regretted a minute of the Yeti decision. Yeti suits my family's needs perfectly.   It's over 100,000 miles now, but not showing any signs of needing replacement. Plan to keep it at least another two years.

 

When it does eventually come up for replacement, on current form, the shortlist for that will be extremely short.  Either another Yeti 110 or a Yeti 140.

 

Bit like when I replaced my previous BMW at 240,000 miles.  The only thing considered to replace a 6-cyl BMW, was another straight six BMW. This one a diesel.   Being so picky means your search can take a little longer, till the right car comes up with proper service history. (And by that, I don't mean one that has simply had maximum recommended oil change intervals and little else. Stamps in a service book aren't enough IMO. Need proper documentation, receipts, job/work lists, the lot!  You can tell I used to live around the fringes of the classic car fraternity!?)

Edited 6 June, 201412 yr by FlintstoneR1

Here is a linky to the original thread where this is also being covered[/font][/color]

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/316399-yeti-alternative/?hl=+yeti%20+alternative

Might help or make your choices more difficult.

I did search but didn't find. Sorry.

 

The Nissan Qashqai overall is the best thing I've driven in this class now. Very refined, a nice drive, nicely put together with surprisingly nice materials, good kit and should be very cheap to run. Personal thing again but I also like the design of it.

 

You see I don't get the rave about the Nissan to drive. I too loved the new design and the cabins is absolutely fantastic for the price! Well above the yeti "feel" wise.

The drive however was not impressive. I found the 1.5 dci engine intrusive and so much tyre/road noise. The gear changes and clutch didn't feel anywhere near as smooth as the yetis. Maybe paying more for the Tekna just reduces comfort I don't know.

The Yeti won anyway. Second place definitly Mazda CX-5 or Hyundai ix35.

.........plus the auto is a CVT which I'm yet to be convinced has good towing lifespan.

.........plus the auto is a CVT which I'm yet to be convinced has good towing lifespan.

 

My Subaru has a CVT and is rated to tow 2 tons with a 100,000 mile warranty. I too was apprehensive of it, but the warranty (5 years) was good enough to give it a go.

I've just read that its a German engineered one like the Audi uses.

Might have to rethink CVTs in terms of durability now.

If I hadn't found the Yeti, I would have put my wife in a Subaru Forester.

Just spotted a Subaru XV for sale.

Anyone actually seen / driven one?

Hadn't thought of the CX-5. Thanks.

I've just read that its a German engineered one like the Audi uses.

Might have to rethink CVTs in terms of durability now.

Yes, I heard about all the problems with Audi ones, too.

 

My XT has the same engine and gearbox as the new Impreza WRX and is rated to 400NM of torque, so they are confident its up to the task.

 

Back to the discussion, I chose the Forester because:

 

Roomy, excellent visibility, great spec, feels solid, proper off road mode, good warranty and a fantastic record for safety and reliability.