SKODA YETI CROSSOVER REVIEW

My car

Bought this car after owning a C-max. Did look at Ford Kuga which looks fantastic on the outside but was like sitting in a C-max - the wife couldn't tell the difference. Also VW Tiguan - too expensive and the Freelander - too big. The Yeti is just about perfect in size, its not too big to be branded a full blown, fuel burning 4x4. The outside is a little bit boxy (postman pat style) but you drive the car from the inside. Its got all the latest mod-cons, although I would have liked a sunroof. Driving it is a pleasure and I don't get tired on long journeys. My only complaint if any, is that the bonnet is a little light and because you can see it from the cockpit you can see it vibrate, I kept thinking the latch was up for the first month or so. It might just be the shiny colour and the reflections cos the bonnet certainly feels sturdy when stood still. The engine is strong, and feels even better after its first 18k mile service. Long journey MPG can reach high 50's if cruising. Average 48mpg to work and back on A roads at 40-50mph. Total average with some town driving is 44mpg. I tend to stick between 1000 and 2500rpm but every month or so I drive home in a low gear the clear the soot out. Cetainly feels better after. Problems encounterd:- Xenon lights not working together - control unit change Bluetooth unit changed TWICE ??? Skoda dealer very slow to respond, weeks to get a booking slot. Summer tyres shocking in the snow, trying all-season tyres this

My car

Disappointing, costly and over-rated, sold after only 10 months due to continuous problems resulting from poor build quality, bad design and complacent unhelpful dealers.

Failed five times and needed to be towed in to dealers twice. Two breakdowns caused by defective immobiliser. Diesel pump failed after only 200 miles, supplying dealer tried to blame me for misfuelling (they filled the car). During ownership engine consumed a litre of oil every 1000 miles, that adds about £8 to the cost of each tank of fuel. Vast numbers of niggly faults, especially with electrics, we had five door mirror switches. I became resigned to the headlamp washers never working.

Very poor ride, rear seat passengers complained of nausea after about 10 miles, car bounces and wallows on all but smoothest of road surfaces. Engine delivers luke-warm performance but is rough and noisy, especially at normal dual carriageway speeds, add this to too much wind and tyre noise to make this car especially tiresome on journeys.

Practicality no better than OK, strange seat arrangement just adds to the cabin rattles and the reality is that with four passengers the boot is too small for their luggage, especially if you have the (essential) spare wheel.

Dealers unable to comprehend real costs to business of unreliability and the constant failure to fix things first time. Half a day labour to replace a bulb is plain madness!

I must place the Yeti down there with the worst and most costly cars I have eve

My car

Have a 3 year lease with this car. Owned for 7 months now, only 1 minor problem on day 1 - a faulty electric window. This is my first VAG car, and I am very impressed by it's solid build, the fact you can use an SD card to play music, the way the car handles, and can acelerate rapidly with the added bonus of high mpg. In the winter months the mpg has dropped a bit to 42.2mpg, but have averaged 48mpg in the warmer months. Skoda have some neat touches like 3 shopping hooks either side of the boot, which get used a lot. The high driving positon is invaluable along with the high ground clearance, as we do tend to drive to some remote locations. The Yeti can accomadate easily 2 adults, 3 children abd 2 large dogs (in the boot). A roof 'bag', is used when we have been on holiday, and the 2 litre engine copes well with the extra weight. I would seriously consider another diesel Yeti when this lease comes to an end, as I am so impressed by this car.

My car

I replaced my Octavia L&K estate with an ex-demo Yeti...best thing I ever did. Went for a test drive in Scout & Yeti, same powertrain but the Scout felt claustrophobic after the Yeti, so no contest there!! I can't find the road/wind noise problems other owners are experiencing, certainly mine is very quiet & comfortable at all speeds, possibly down to the tyres, I know some have Contis, mine has Dunlop Sports, no complaints at all. They also have reasonable off-road capability, I've had mine into many forests for rally marshalling & also been through some pretty deep water, after checking that air intake was high enough !! Coped with everything I could throw at it without a hitch, can't even feel the diffs switching into the 4x4 mode. All in all, a fantastic bit of kit, but my only gripe is the restricted visibility of the b-pillar, stylish it certainly is, but limits over-the-shoulder view a fair bit. Nothing I can't get used to 'though. Still getting loosened up, consumption will improve as the miles roll under the wheels. My son has borrowed it this weekend, due to the weather conditions around Edinburgh, looks like it's going to be pressed into use as the wedding car for his partner's sister's wedding....good luck!!