The Czech oddball promises to be a competent soft-roader reckons Aspi Bhathena
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Skoda selected the picturesque location of Slovenia for a press drive of their Yeti. The Czech firm had taken up part of the airport parking for its media centre and test drive cars. The world media got its first glimpse of the new SUV from the Skoda family when the Yeti was launched at the Geneva Motor Show in March this year. The Yeti is not a stunner by any chance as far as looks are concerned. The front end is reminiscent of the Skoda family look but the round fog lamps look a little out of place and old fashioned. From side on, the SUV looks nice but the rear end is a little boxy.
The interiors are typically Skoda: high quality plastics with comfortable seats for good side support. The touch screen music and navigation system are user-friendly and easy to operate. Rear seat space and leg room are more than adequate and comfortable.
The rear seat passengers sit two centimeters higher than the front passengers. This enables the back benchers to have a good view of what’s happening at the front over the driver and passenger’s heads. Rear seat flexibility and comfort is increased by the VarioFlex seat concept. Thanks to the rear seat system, the Yeti achieves variability in its interiors. The three separate seats can be individually folded or removed, the outer seats can be moved lengthways while the middle seat moves sideways by eighty millimeters. This converts the Yeti from a five-seater to a four-seater SUV and increases rear seat room.
Skoda had selected this far out country for the test drive because Slovenian road conditions were just about right to highlight the Yeti’s capabilities. The first part of the drive took us from the airport via country roads to our lunch halt which was located besides a lake with a breathtaking view. During the first part of the drive, the Yeti displayed its cornering capabilities and composure while going round some fast and some slow tight corners. The tall SUV showed no signs of any body roll or side sway even when pushed hard. The second leg of the trip had a long dirt road with loose gravel and ruts through a mountain section. This gave us wannabe rally drivers a chance to push the Yeti around corners. One could feel the traction control working hard to keep the car on the dirt road. I was getting a little carried away and was getting a kick every time the traction control lights flashed on the dash, till I came up on a car that was lying upside down on the side of the road. This definitely made me ease off and play safe. 
The Yeti is capable of some serious off-roading thanks to some advanced electronics. Once you select the off-road mode, you can put the car in neutral on a steep descent and release the brakes. The Skoda will come down at two km/h and if you need to increase the speed all you have do is step on the gas and it will gain speed even in neutral. The 1.2 TSI engine delivers sufficient performance to propel the Yeti to a good rate of knots. The TSI engine produces a good amount of torque at low rpm to support the car’s off-roading capabilities.
