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our test drives or view them all

Skoda Yeti 2.0 TDI (140) Elegance 4x4

PUT space, traction, style and common sense in one think tank and what do you get? A Skoda Yeti.

The Czech mate of the mighty Volkswagen Group keeps coming up with clever interpretations of the car – but the neat Yeti crossover is its best yet.

You can get it in two-wheel drive or as a full-blown "intelligent" 4x4. Either way you get a sensible family car but when you opt for a 4x4 model there’s the added bonus of surefootedness on snow and mud.

Mind you, there is a provision with that last statement. Little point in expecting your Yeti to climb mountains like a goat if you don’t pay attention to its tyres.

Standard road tyres are perfectly adequate for most conditions and fast cruising on tarmac – but drop this cracking little five-door crossover into the kind of deep snow we had in January and fitting a set of winter tyres will transform its tenacity on the slippery stuff.

Generally though, there’s little to fault here. Skoda is on a roll. The firm recently announced record global sales and headed back into motorsport with a much-heralded entry in this year’s Monte Carlo Rally – and on top of that it is turning out first class family cars.

Yeti is its best yet. Elsewhere in this edition you will note that I have awarded this compact 4x4 star my “Best 4x4 Crossover" title in the annual motorsnorth North of Scotland Car of the Year Awards.

It was richly deserved.

The new Skoda Yeti is a remarkable addition to the Czech car maker’s portfolio that uniquely qualifies for the "crossover" tag because it genuinely can claim to cross from being a practical five-seat family hatchback to an able off-roader.

On the way, this beautifully assembled five-door arrival touches on the executive market with mechanical refinement and a level of overall comfort that confounds the critics who believe no one vehicle can succeed in doing anything well other than its core design brief.

The Yeti is the exception that proves the rule.

Two low points were all I could see – a smooth, quiet and powerful two-litre TDI turbodiesel that was too easy to stall at low revs and front seats where the squab was short on thigh support.

Elsewhere this accomplished Skoda arrival delivered outstanding all-round performance with great chunky looks and a poise that attracted many admiring glances as I drove my two-litre TDI Elegance 4x4 test car model around the snowbound Highlands.

Yeti comes with four trim levels and will be available with either front-wheel-drive or the latest generation Haldex 4x4 system that "thinks" for itself in the traction department. It is also offered with a pair of high-tech multivalve petrol engines in addition to a trio of two-litre TDI turbodiesels in three states of tune.

It’s a dream team combination that will allow Skoda to tailor the Yeti to suit many different buyer profiles.

But my two-litre TDI 4x4 is the star of the family – a perfect choice for a buyer who needs the security of all-wheel-drive now and again but does not want the complication or cost of a permanent 4x4 with complex gearing.

With a ground clearance of 180mm, a wading depth of between 300mm and 400mm depending on speed, a clever single push button control for managing off-road work and optional tough plastic underbody protection plates, this hatchback will excite the "crossover" world.

Target rivals in the sector like the excellent Nissan Qashqai and the new Peugeot 3008 are left wanting when set against this outstanding new Skoda. When it comes to quality it even stands comparison with its slightly longer Volkswagen Tiguan cousin – a two and 4x4 crossover that costs substantially more.

Yeti stands out in many ways. The dash is a lift from the new Superb and is crisp, well finished and good to use. The doors feel satisfyingly heavy, close with a solid clunk and fit perfectly thanks to a triple seal.

But where families will find the car particularly useful is in interior layout. Visibility and comfort is generally good with Skoda’s clever Varioflex seating the icing on the cake. Three separate rear seats tip, tumble and dismount easily. They have individual backrest rake up to 13.5 degrees. The outer rear pair slide backwards and forwards to maximise space and even move in 80mm towards the centre with the middle seat removed to create bags of room when there are just two passengers in the back. Removing the seats takes seconds.

Luggage space is great – 416 litres in the boot or 1760 litres with the rear seats removed which is 250 litres more than the Volkswagen Tiguan will hold. Even with the rears folded the space is excellent.

The Yeti is a brilliant all-rounder. It can mimic MPV, SUV and hatchback opposition – and do the work of a reasonable off-roader. It looks good, has a clear quality build and intelligent design features. It’s refined on the road with low noise, rides high to deliver great views and has all the safety equipment you’d expect from a member of the greater VAG family.

I found only one problem on my well-used test car – an electronic glitch. When I wanted to wash and wipe the rear screen the front screen also got a "scoosh".

It was the same when I simply wanted to clear the windscreen – the rear screen didn’t want to be left out and got a squirt too.

It was down to a switching problem and easily fixed – but irritating when washer water levels were low and keeping the windscreen clean was a priority.

Great to drive, smooth and quiet, it’s a perfect family crossover with a bit of chutzpah. Build quality and finish is every bit as good as you’d expect from a member of the VAG family, even though some plastics are rather hard. But it’s superbly screwed together.

Skoda has been going places for years. Cars like the Yeti simply prove it’s not quite finished yet and has a lot more to give.

This neat 4x4 is a spectacularly good effort from Skoda – a genuine crossover vehicle that’s practical with impressive build quality, great flexibility and excellent off-road ability. At last, a car you can confidently buy that will fill many roles.

One of the best compact 4x4s I’ve driven.

Rating: 9.5/10

FINAL THOUGHT: Just brilliant. Everything you need in a handy 4x4 – grip, ground clearance, refinement, economy, versatility and a quality build. A real stroke of genius from Skoda.

Skoda Yeti 2.0 TDI (140) Elegance 4x4

• Price: £21,370
• Capacity: 1968cc
• Power: 140hp
• 0-62mph: 9.9 seconds
• Maximum speed: 118mph
• Economy: Combined 47.1mpg; Urban 39.8mpg
• CO2 emissions: 157g/km
• ESP: Standard
• Insurance: Group 6