Skoda Yeti S 1.2 TSI 5dr Car Review - March 2012

The car has a gutsy1.2-litre, 4-cylinder 8v 1197cc turbocharged petrol engine, which produces 104bhp and a torque of 129 lb-ft. The engine is lively on all road surfaces. It is also considerably fast given its size, and has a 0-62mph time of just 11.8 seconds. A top speed of 109mph gives the car good pace on the motorway.

Handling, like with most Skoda models, is excellent. The car grips well on the road and the steering is sharp and accurate, which makes driving on twisty roads fun. Off-road abilities can be attributed to the raised suspension, which also soaks bumps well. A six-speed manual gearbox keeps the gearshifts and front-wheel drive transmissions smooth. Its biggest disappointment is the unsettled ride it gives on rough roads.

The engine is quiet but disturbing levels of wind and road noise make their way into the cabin. Huge glass and small pillars ensure good visibility.

The Yeti is a medium 4x4 made in hatchback styling. It has a mature box shape and is sturdily built. With measurements of 4223mm x1793mm x 1691mm, it is a big car, though not the largest 4x4. A five-door, five-seat design makes it ideal for medium families.

Most of the materials used on the Yeti cabin are spongy and smooth. The dashboard looks and feels classy, with its dense, dark-colour plastics. Large windows allow plenty of light in to make the car bright and airy.

The car comes with some good standard equipment. Power steering, central control, alloy wheel, air con, electric door mirrors, electric front windows, driver airbags, passenger airbags, front side airbags, alarm, immobiliser, front fog lights and CD player are all included.

Cost options are not many. Only stability control, which goes for £410, is available and metallic paint for £440.

Access to the car is made easy by the five doors, all of which have a large opening. The cabin is spacious and can accommodate five adults with ease. Head and legroom is in good supply so tall passengers are well-catered for.

Steering wheel adjustments for reach and rake, and height adjustments for the driver’s seat ensure that you get a good driving position. The dash is neat and all controls are easy to use.

There is a big glove box and compartment where you can store personal items, as well as useful door pockets at both the front and rear. The boot is a good size and offers 416 litres of space. Rear seats can be slid, folded or fully removed to increase space to 1760 litres.

The car scored the top most rating (five stars) in the Euro NCAP crash test and it is easy to see why. There is tons of safety equipment in the car, from seven airbags, including a special knee bag for the driver, engine immobiliser, anti-whiplash head restraints and alarm among others.

Skoda has a strong reliability record, and this should instil confidence in the car. Furthermore, it has maintained a good reliability record over the years and is a respected car maker. The Skoda Yeti comes with a three-year/60,000 mile warranty that should give you peace of mind.

The Skoda Yeti’s £15,430 price tag is a steal compared to rivals. Resale values are likely to be good, and this adds to the car’s appeal. 4x4s are fuel thirsty and most tend to give between 20-35mpg. But the Skoda Yeti returns an impressive 44.1mpg in combined cycle.

Emissions average 149g/km, which is remarkable for this class. You will pay the tax rate for road band F, which is £130 annually. The car sits in insurance group 3 so your insurance costs will be low.

Servicing is done every 10,000 miles. Thanks to Skoda’s low service rates, you won’t feel the weight of car maintenance.