Fire the Yeti up, and the diesel clatter is there, though muted. I slotted the gear lever into first and moved off – well, attempted to, because the car, like its older avatar, is prone to stalling at low speeds, and took some getting used to. Please note that in the older version this problem did not exist in the 4X2 variant and during the drive we had access only to the 4X4 variant. So we would hold our judgement on this problem.
The turbo kicks in at around 2,000 RPM, which is when the Yeti really gets going. Mid-range performance is excellent, with the car comfortably picking up speed. The hilly roads of Srinagar did not afford us a chance to test top-end performance, but it should be at par with the previous Yeti.
Ground clearance is just 180 mm, a little higher than some hatchbacks and sedans. It is sufficient for most terrain that the Yeti is likely to traverse, though some more ground clearance would not go amiss.
As with the previous Yeti, overall ride quality is very good, and the car easily smothers most bumps and ruts. Low-speed ride is a tad stiff, but not disconcertingly so.
The full-time 4×4 system works brilliantly – grip is outstanding, and the Yeti takes corners at speed with nary a shimmy too. Pressing the “Off Road” button on the centre console activates multiple electronic systems such as ABS, ASR, EDL (electronic differential lock), start-up assistance (by limiting revs) and hill descent assist. The system is available only up to 30 km/h. Unfortunately, we could not take the Yeti off-road, but it should perform well with this kit.
The new Yeti attempts to take the SUV game even further for Škoda. At a launch price of Rs 18.63 lakh for the 4×2 and Rs 20.14 lakh for the 4×4 (ex-Maharashtra), it remains expensive, and those looking for an SUV with sheer road presence – as do many – will look elsewhere. For SUV buyers who love to drive with no compromise on luxury, there really is no other choice in this price range. So pull out the cash and head out.
