WHAT is it with white cars this year? For it was third week in a row my test car was white.
First the Peugeot 308, then the Hyundai i10 and now the Skoda Yeti comes in dazzling white. I was expecting to pick up the green
‘Outdoor’ version of the Yeti which I drove in the forests of Engelskirchen near Cologne last October, but I got a white Urban version instead.
Skoda has given their funky-looking Yeti a mid-life revamp and we now have a City car along with a
‘green’ Outdoor version for more rugged locations.
Since it was launched in 2009 over 281,000 versions of the Yeti has been sold, so why the mid-life makeover at this stage? I presume Skoda want to attract even more customers by offering a car that will please both city and rural drivers.
It could be said that the Yeti has lost some of its
‘uniqueness’ with the front now featuring single-piece headlamps as opposed to the rather quirky twin set-up that made the original so distinctive.
There are now LED lights at the front, but you do get the feeling that Skoda has toned down the overall look. Where the first one was all bulbous curves and cheeky details, the new version has sharper lines so that it looks more like the other cars in the Skoda range.
It still has a square look to it, thanks to those unusual-shaped windows. But when you sit in it’s very impressive. I enjoyed the high driving position as did all my passengers. Two roof rails add to the rugged look, even though it was an Urban version.
I always like the dash in Skoda cars and the Yeti is no different. The controls for the radio are a decent size and the names of the stations are clearly marked. You may well laugh at my love for the radio controls, but most of us who drive every day find the radio very useful for getting information. And so it’s important that we can easily switch stations. A full length sun roof ensures a bright interior.
On the road this is a comfortable car to travel in. I did find the ride a bit hard, but it is a 4×4 and maybe I should have gone off road more often. It’s a long car and now it’s very easy to reverse as you are provided with reversing cameras for the first time. The boot is a decent size with plenty of nets to prevent items from being thrown about when driving. And best of all, you get a full-size spare wheel.
I enjoyed the Urban version, but I just have a feeling that I might have liked the Outdoor version even more. Maybe I longed for that scary off-road track in Germany where I got to drive a jungle-green Outdoor version over a small stream courtesy of two slippery poles.