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

The four cylinder engine delivers 104 bhp of power, with torque figures of 129 lb-ft at 1550-4100 rpm, to this front-wheel drive car. The vehicle has a decent top speed of 109 mph with fairly average acceleration as the car takes 11.8 seconds to travel from 0-62 mph.

The suspension could be improved as the drive can be a little uncomfortable with the car struggling to smooth out any imperfections or bumps within the road, but the handling and steering are responsive within this car.

The car performs fairly well for a petrol engine and achieves 44.1 mpg on a combined cycle. Naturally this is beaten by the diesel models but the petrol performance is still good for its class. Carbon emissions are a little high at 149 g/km but road tax costs remain fairly mid range under insurance bracket F.

Noise disruption is fairly high within the cabin. The majority of this disruption comes from the wind and road, which is worse at high speeds. In terms of engine noise, this petrol model is fairly quiet and a smooth gearstick means that control of the car is fluid.

The Skoda Yeti is an attractive car, but the E model is the most basic trim offering from Skoda and this means that internal equipment is a little sparse.

Fittings which are offered as standard include power steering, central locking, air conditioning, electric door mirrors, electric front windows and an advanced stereo system with CD compatibility.

Whilst this gives a good range of basic equipment to buyers there are many features which are not available on the model, including a built-in sat nav, Bluetooth connectivity, MP3 connectivity, cruise control, rear parking sensors, a leather interior, climate control and stability control.

With large amounts of cabin space for both passengers and luggage, the Skoda Yeti is a practical 4x4. When the seats are in place the boot offers a decent capacity of 416 litres which can be expanded to 1,760 litres when the seats are folded down. The rear seats can also be slid backwards to accommodate passengers with longer legs and there is plenty of headroom thanks to the height of the car.

For the driver, the driving position isn’t as high as in other 4x4s but there is plenty of adjustment within the seat and the steering column so that a comfortable position can be attained. The dashboard is also logically laid out and this makes it easier to operate controls whilst driving.

The advanced safety kit includes driver, passenger and front side airbags as standard features alongside an alarm and immobiliser. Anti-whiplash head restraints are also standard fittings.

Skoda are known for their reliability and this means that maintenance costs should be fairly low for this vehicle. Safety levels are also high and the car achieved a top five star rating for overall safety in the NCAP crash tests.

Attractively priced at £14,830, the strong resale values offered with this car make it a great investment for those looking for long term ownership. In addition to this, running costs are fairly manageable considering the class of car and this is a great advantage.

Fuel economy is fairly good for a petrol model at 44.1 mpg and carbon emissions of 149 g/km put the car under tax band F which is mid-range in price. Insurance premiums are perhaps the most attractive expensive, registering at the bottom of the scale under insurance group 9. For those looking for a budget 4x4 this is therefore an ideal option but those who want more interior comforts would be better off updating the trim level.