Skoda Yeti - the fifth element
Talking about this model, it is impossible not to comment on its name. Car naming is a river theme, and a name like Yeti is a great food for thought.
Some manufacturers take the easy route and call the machines 206, like 6, or 135. I don't mind lazy marketers, although I do prefer accountants to be late for work, but these digital names just lack soul. Fortunately, there are those who prefer to stay at work after hours and offer clients something that, unlike the dry examples above, tells the client something about themselves. This is how great names such as Cobra, Viper, Tigra or Mustang were created, whose meaning and temperament in the automotive approach is beyond doubt. And now comes the Yeti. No doubt - this name has a soul, but what is it? Predatory? Gentle? Sporty or comfortable? It is unknown, because we know quite a bit about the Yeti, a strange creature that is said to exist, but there is no evidence for this. The name Yeti Skoda catches the eye, inviting buyers to see for themselves the presence of the fifth model in their offer and discover its temperament hidden under a mysterious name.
I discovered the character of this model by testing a Yeti with a 2-wheel drive (as opposed to the "original" here is a front-leg drive) and a 1,4 turbocharged heart with 122 horsepower. As already mentioned, the appearance of Yeti expanded Skoda's offer to 5 models, but the brand's entry into a completely new crossover segment is much more important. Who today wants to remember that before the affair with Volkswagen, Skoda was actually one model? And for the VW concern, creating a small crossover is nothing new - the VW Tiguan paved the way, although it was not only the source of the technologies used in the Yeti. To create Yeti, the developments of several VW concern vehicles were used. Engines and off-road solutions are from Tiguan, the modular interior is from Roomster, the platform is from Octavia Scout (also from Golf), and it’s hard to find original styling and a better combination.
Styling is the element that makes the Yeti feel like a Czech Tiguan or even a more elevated Octavia Scout. It is a car with its own character, which is closest to the Roomster in a more elegant, versatile and, thanks to more powerful engines, also dynamic performance. It was the design that made the model very enthusiastically greeted by the public at the Geneva Motor Show in 2005 and, importantly, did not undergo drastic changes on the way from the prototype to the production version. We know it can be different, but thankfully, in the case of the Yeti, the stylists chose not to round the shapes or stretch the headlights to the middle of the mask. Only the details on the grille or body sides have changed, but the idea of the prototype has remained intact. So we have black A-pillars, a flat roof, specially placed fog lights, or vertical shapes at the rear of the car. It may not be the only car on the market with such shapes (and even the Kia Soul represents a similar philosophy), but the only one made up of the well-known and popular Volkswagen living blocks, which, combined in any combination, should always give an interesting effect.
Which? We go in, let's go. First impressions are good noise isolation, an accurate 6-speed gearbox and a smooth ride. Regardless of whether we are driving on asphalt or on a dirt road (can you see the difference after the last thaw?), the car isolates passengers from noise and unnecessary impressions from the surface or the height of speed bumps.
122 TSI turbocharged petrol engine with 1,4 hp has only recently been introduced to the Yeti range and can only be combined with front wheel drive and manual transmission. The power of the engine allows for a dynamic ride, especially at high speeds, sporty accents are felt. The on-board computer, however, suggests a different driving style, talking about changing gears only when the tachometer needle approaches 2000 rpm. Obedient driving can break records for low fuel consumption and even low blood pressure - then driving is boring, like butter tripe. Despite the 18 cm ground clearance, the suspension easily copes with any driving style - when cornering aggressively, the car does not roll to the sides and does not “run away” from them. The stabilization system works traditionally for VW - confidently, but not too fast. However, I would not describe the Yeti as an athlete provoking the driver to press the gas to failure. Rather, it is a teddy bear with trained muscles, but an affectionate disposition.
You can, of course, wake him up with high speeds, but then, to the accompaniment of the on-board computer, advising you to change gear, and the sound of the engine entering the passenger compartment, the gearshift lever immediately switches from 3rd gear to the “six”, returning the driver to stress-free run mode, on-board mode computer, satisfaction with the correct transmission and average fuel consumption readings within reasonable limits. Fuel consumption in the city could reach one time up to 13, and another time up to 8 liters per 100 km - depending on the traffic intensity and the mood of the driver. On the road, fuel consumption fluctuates between 7-10 liters per 100 km.
I didn't mention the interior of the car, but if you happen to sit in any of the VW or Skoda cars, you more or less know what the Yeti looks like from a driver's point of view. Of course, Yeti cares about its identity and unequivocally emphasizes its Czech roots, at times reminiscent of Octavia inside. The build quality is at a good level, everything is predictable and in place. A steering wheel that fits comfortably in your hands, plenty of space inside, comfortable seats with a very wide range of adjustments, good noise isolation, excellent visibility for the driver, and thanks to the raised rear seat and rear passengers, easy transfers modular interior, understandable and recognizable ergonomics - everything works for well-being inside - unless someone is embarrassed by the too repetitive style, which captivates no more than the cubes from an excellent album.
Of the minuses, only not very soft plastic, a dubious imitation of wood in the cabin trim and cunning control of the radio volume and computer readings - instead of the usual buttons, the driver has a rotating knob that gives too little resistance and when turning the steering wheel it is easy to accidentally move it with your hand or even your sleeve. Not bad if the computer display changes, but when the radio starts to screech, the silent questions of passengers focus on the driver at the most inopportune moment - when maneuvering a car, when it is better to focus on driving, not driving, while the child is awake ... two blocks away.
In the trunk, the driver will find good ideas for organizing luggage: hooks and hooks, a large pocket for small items, the possibility of increasing space by independently moving the rear seats - everything is in its place, except for the handle for closing the trunk. a cover that protrudes from the door in the Yeti in the form of a not very comfortable (or aesthetic) rubberized handle. I don't understand what's wrong with making a classic door handle? The volume of the luggage compartment varies from 405 to 1760 liters, depending on the seat configuration, which in the latter case is even more than the Tiguan offers. Skoda has carefully prepared for the exam in the crossover league.
In the 2WD version, Yeti does not hide the fact that the higher suspension and short overhangs are mainly used to overcome urban curbs, and if off-road peak for you is climbing the lift in winter, then you can safely aim for a cheaper and more economical option. In the 4x4 version, Yeti gets closer to the Tiguan — this version will be useful for people who have the notorious summer cottage in the mountains and they go there not only in summer.
Finally, the price: in the cheapest version of the configuration, the 1,4 TSI version costs 66.650 5 zlotys. The Nissan Qashqai is slightly weaker, has a 3-speed gearbox and costs more than a thousand zlotys more. Interestingly, sales of the Japanese crossover are 1,6 times higher. The surprises don’t end there: the related Skoda Roomster in the not-so-cheap Scout version with a 105-liter petrol engine producing 14.000 hp. costs 24.000 zlotys less - in the cheapest version with the same engine the difference is almost zlotys in favor of the Roomster... but what about that? Sales statistics for Roomster and Yeti are very comparable! Well, who said that the market should be predictable and logical? So if you're in the market, don't look at the statistics, don't look at the trends - now you don't have to go to the Himalayas to meet a Yeti, so don't sit at home, just look - maybe you'll make friends with a teddy bear.
