First drive: Skoda’s Yeti SUV makes a splash
BY HAITHAM RAZAGUI | 26th Oct 2011
Earlier this month VW undercut the starting price Skoda announced for its Yeti at July’s Australian International Motor Show in Melbourne by adding a $28,490 entry-level front-drive variant to its facelifted Tiguan range – powered by a more powerful (118kW) petrol engine than the Skoda’s 77kW unit.
Coincidence or not, Skoda has since reduced the front-drive Yeti variant's entry price to $26,290 plus on-road costs - even before it hits showrooms - putting a $2200 gap between it and the mechanically similar Tiguan.
At the same time, the Yeti now focusses a crosshair on similarly value-priced, front-drive Asian SUV competitors including the Mitsubishi ASX (from $25,990), Hyundai ix35 (from $26,990), Kia Sportage (from $26,720) and SsangYong Korando (from $27,990 drive-away).
In SUV-obsessed Australia, the quirky yet versatile Yeti is a sure-fire way for Skoda to increase sales volume – and presence – Down Under ahead of the introduction of more new models including a Focus-fighting small car expected to revive the Rapid nameplate and possibly the Volkswagen Up-based CitiGo sub-light hatch.
All Yetis come with seven airbags and an alphabet soup of safety acronyms – and a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating – plus alloy wheels, air-conditioning, cruise control, height-adjustable driver’s seat, electric front and rear windows, electric mirror adjustment and a cooled glove compartment.
Customers can specify a panoramic sunroof ($1490), parking sensors ($640 rear or $990 front and rear), rear privacy glass ($250), bi-Xenon headlights ($1490) and automatic parking ($1390 including front and rear parking sensors).
The Yeti is available in 13 colours (metallic costs $490 extra) and like the new-to-Australia Fabia light car, it can also be had with a number of combinations of contrasting paint finishes for the roof ($390).
Versatility is a selling point for the Yeti, which features Skoda’s Varioflex seating system that enables the rear seating to be easily folded flat, tilted forwards, removed completely or re-configured from a three-seat bench to spacious separate chairs.
The top-spec Yeti in the two-variant launch line-up has VW Group’s fourth-generation Haldex clutch-actuated part-time all-wheel drive system and a 103kW turbo-diesel engine under the bonnet.
It costs $35,690 with a six-speed manual or $37,990 with a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (the base petrol is available with a seven-speed self-shifter for $28,590).
A (arguably more aspirational) Tiguan fitted with a similar drivetrain costs $300 more than the Czech-branded vehicle, but the flagship Yeti comes with extras missing from the VW like dual-zone climate-control air-conditioning, 17-inch alloy wheels (versus 16-inch) and front foglights.
Including the aforementioned Tiguan-beating extras, over and above the petrol base model, the more off-road oriented diesel Yeti gains under-body protection, warning lights in the front doors, chrome brightwork in the gearlever/handbrake area, automatic headlights and wipers, plus silver (as opposed to black) roof-rails.
Options exclusive to the diesel are a cornering function for the front foglights ($240), satellite-navigation ($2890) and leather upholstery ($2830).
While the diesel Yeti and Tiguan share a 2.0-litre 103kW/320Nm engine, the Volkswagen gets BlueMotion technologies like idle-stop.
As a result, the Yeti consumes slightly more fuel than its larger VW cousin, returning 6.2 litres per 100 kilometres in manual form and 6.7L/100km with the optional automatic transmission (Tiguan: 6.0L/100km and 6.2L/100km).
The diesel Yeti’s fuel consumption figures translate into CO2 outputs of 162 grams per kilometre for the manual or 174g/km for the automatic. Skoda also supplies a marginally smaller 60-litre fuel tank against the Tiguan’s 64-litre capacity.
However, the Yeti fights back with a sprightlier 0-100km/h acceleration figure of 9.9 seconds for the manual and 10.2 for the automatic, compared with an equal 10.2 second time with either transmission choice in the Tiguan – which gains an extra ratio in automatic guise compared with the Yeti.
The less powerful 77kW/175Nm 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine manages 0-100km/h in 11.8 seconds (12.0 in automatic guise) while fuel consumption is slightly up on the diesel at 6.6L/100km for the manual or 7.0L/100km for the automatic, equating to respective CO2 emissions of 154g/km and 165g/km.
Braked towing capacity for the petrol 1200kg – 800kg less than with the gruntier, all-paw diesel’s commendable two-tonne hauling ability.
The Yeti will no doubt ice the cake of what has so far been a very good year for Skoda, which has enjoyed a 54.7 per cent sales increase to the end of September, led by its mid-sized Octavia fastback and wagon range.
With jacked-up, all-wheel drive Scout sales included, the Octavia line-up has accounted for 1162 of Skoda’s 1839 sales for the first three quarters.
Helped by the addition of a dual-clutch automatic transmission in April, Scout sales have rocketed 186.4 per cent, while the Superb luxury sedan is also up 145.1 per cent.
| Skoda Yeti pricing(plus on-road costs): | |
| 77TSI 2WD | $26,290 |
| 77TSI 2WD (DSG) | $28,590 |
| 103TDI 4WD | $35,690 |
| 103TDI 4WD(DSG) | $37,990 |
