Skoda Yeti

Does anyone have one? I can’t decide if they’re old people cars or if they’re cool spacious cars that can haul a lot of camping and/or biking stuff.

Neither these days I’d say, they’re just an ageing car with plenty of fans.

My nephew had one and really rated it. I hated the rear seats and didn’t think it was as huge inside as people wang on about. Watch out for rust on the doors, it happens on loads of them and spreads quickly once it’s taken hold.

We have one – the 4×4. Ideal round these parts and I see loads of them. There’s no obvious successor either as all the 4x4s now are a bit chunky, so I guess we’ll be hanging onto it for a few years.

Everyone I know who has one loves it. Friends of mine have his n hers, one of which has a bike carrying thing inside.

We looked at one around 2015 to replace an Octavia estate, but wasn’t impressed by the rear seats and it didn’t have the load space we wanted. So we got another Octavia.

My brother has one and really rates it. How roomy it is friends on what you’re comparing it to but he used to haul loads of band kit around and it’s boxy so what room it has can be used to the full.

He’s replaced the wiring loom in the driver’s door, apparently a weak spot because it’s just too short and gets strained every time the door opens. He’s also got a leak in the windscreen at the moment he’s having trouble tracking down, I don’t know if that’s a thing or a one off.

My wife has one and likes it.  Its the base diesel 4×4 which is a bit underpowered and a bit basic inside, but otherwise OK to drive.  Boot isn’t that big but seats down it holds loads because of the high roof.  Seems to take a huge amount of abuse and still work.

I have a 2wd diesel, I’d have gone for the 4×4 but I do a lot of miles and they are just a bit more expensive to run/fix. With good tyres its never been stopped yet so i’ll save the money.

Its good as a car for the outdoor person, tell you what tho- people can’t abide being overtaken by one. I’ve passed people on dual carriageway who are well under the limit and the times they either speed up, or immediately overtake you at significantly over the limit is uncanny, certainly more than I’ve experienced in other cars.

We wanted one when we last changed our daily car – a 1.2 TSI petrol one. It was great but at the end of the day, the boot wasn’t quite big enough and there were a few other things that didn’t quite work for us. Ended up with a C-Class estate but I still want a Yeti…

They are neat – but they are not actually very big at all.

An Octavia Scout is a far more useful shaped vehicle if you want some level of off-road (muddy field or snow) ability.

One of my daughters has one. Contrary to the love fest above, hers is an expensive lemon. If it can go wrong it has done.

Looked at one a while back, smaller boot than my Mondeo hatch. Left it at that.

I can’t decide if they’re old people cars or if they’re cool spacious cars that can haul a lot of camping and/or biking stuff.

Tell us you’re middle aged without telling us you’re middle aged 😉

Are they just the posers’ Berlingo though?

He’s also got a leak in the windscreen at the moment he’s having trouble tracking down, I don’t know if that’s a thing or a one off.

not yeti specific but an issue with that generation of golf platform cars – leak can be the pollen filter not being seated properly

Looked at one a while back, smaller boot than my Mondeo hatch. Left it at that.

I’m not surprised, the Mondeo is cavernous for sure but you’re comparing the Yeti to a car another size up.

not yeti specific but an issue with that generation of golf platform cars – leak can be the pollen filter not being seated properly

Thanks, I’ll mention the possibility.

FWIW I don’t rate ours as being particularly roomy. We do have a spare wheel in the boot, so that might be a factor. I don’t know if the 4wd impinges on internal space too?

Reliability has been fine. Springs and disks seem to be recurring issues but that could be down to road conditions. An overheating problem a few years ago required a new water pump..A short section of exhaust/clamp needed replaced earlier this year. It’s a 2017 registration (possibly the last model year) and was a couple of years old when we got it. Fuel consumption is weird. It’s the TD and seems quite thirsty on shorter trips but heading to Edinburgh and back just sips the diesel if driven smoothly.

Thanks all – food for thought and looking at a way to check one out! My neighbour has one that seems like a magic box with all the stuff he fits in it, but he’s never around to actually ask if I can look around.

@chakaping…my age starts with a 3 and the second number isn’t super high up! But in mindset, yes very much middle aged haha.

We really rate ours. 1.6 Greenline (2wd) and owned since 2016 (61 plate). It does have the zinc inclusion issue (or rust if you prefer), I did do the door looms and an injector has gone. Other than that, its been the usual wear and tear. We do find it roomy and I think the boot is good as the the rear of the Yeti is boxy and tall plus Greenline has no spare tyre . We love it for the easy rear seat removal and can then get a couple of the big rubble bags in for the garden dump run. At the same time as doing the general day to day stuff, its comfortably done multiple Europe/Alps trips with 4 of us.

We’ve been discussing replacing as it makes its way to 150k miles but we come back to the fact we’d just like to replace it with a new Yeti in the later style….we just cant think of a suitable alternative that would match the Yeti

We had a Monte Carlo for a couple of years.

I wanted an Octavia but the Mrs liked the Yeti and I had a Fiesta ST at the time so I let her choose.

I was distinctly alright. Kind of like a mildly fast Golf on stilts.

Absolutely not big inside especially once we had a child seat in the back. I used to call it easyJet because I had to sit with my knees against the dashboard. The fully removable rear seats were handy a few times. It gives you a big empty cube but when you have a permanent rear passenger you’re stuck with the tiny boot. The rear seats are awful to sit in for anything other than short journeys.

Lots of road and wind noise on the motorway.

It never broke down, we only had a few electrical gremlins related to the head unit.

I kind of liked it on the rare occasions that I used it on my own but it was just wasn’t big or comfortable enough with people and stuff in it.

We now have an Octavia VRS with the 7 speed dsg which is vastly preferable in every way. Even the Mrs is happier.

Bought a 2010 100k miles 2.0 diesel one in 2021 as a relatively cheap stop gap car when I got hit by an uninsured driver.

It’s now got nearly 150k miles on it, done southern France a couple of times, carried multiple bikes on trips, fits loads of band stuff in for gigs and festivals ,and is great on my muddy back lane commute.

It’s not massive inside compared to some cars, but the inside room is very useable, especially if you have a towbar for a bike rack or, as I also have, a towbar platform (ideal for garden waste and extra camping equipment).

Taking the seats out makes it into a small van ?

Had a couple of electrical gremlins, easily sorted by the local garage.

Very easy to work on, changed pads and discs myself and did filters and oil myself. Parts are relatively cheap as lots of VAG vehicles tend to share parts.

There’s no obvious successor either as all the 4x4s now are a bit chunky, so I guess we’ll be hanging onto it for a few years.

Suzuki have got you covered.

We moved to one from a Subaru outback. What a mistake.

It’s cost us as fortune in bits, they just don’t seem that robust compared to the Subaru’s I’ve previously had.

Eats front tyres.  Cramped rear leg room. Small boot saved somewhat by not having a spare wheel and it’s high but it’s not good for a family of 4 going camping.

Drive is smooth though noisy on motorways. Really droney.

Driver ergonomics are dreadful. The central cubby space/armrest gets in the way of remotely comfortable use of the handbrake.

Fuel economy a bit all over the place.

Other half likes the relatively high driving position.

Suzuki have got you covered.

Or possibly a Duster

It’s a really roomy useful car given that it’s only 4.2m long. The Octavia is 4.7m and the mondo nearly 4.9m.

its a more practical golf with pretty much the same seats dash and ergonomic issues (armrest/handbrake) 

We looked at Dacia’s when we sold the Yeti. I really liked the idea of the Jogger but they’re pretty disappointing in the flesh. It’s blatantly obvious why they’re so cheap.

There’s no obvious successor either as all the 4x4s now are a bit chunky, so I guess we’ll be hanging onto it for a few years

Dangel / Peugeot / Citroen have you covered (if you live in France)

Had one for about 18 months. The rear seats come out easily and can get 2 bikes in upright with just the front wheels off. That was with a full sized spare car wheel/tyre too. If you remove that you can lower the boot floor quite a lot. I 3nded up buying a space save wheel and fixing it vertically to one side of the boot. For a smallish car it’s a clever design inside. Comfortable too. Then I got a berlingo and realised how small and slow the Yeti was.

I’d avoid the DSGs. In fact, I wouldn’t even have one if it was free unless it had a non VAG engine and gearbox. Had a bad experience with  one and lost a lot of money. Car had only done 14k miles too and Skoda were appalling to deal with.

I’ve had a 2018 Suzuki Vitara 1.4 AWD for 4 years – not as practical as a Yeti but it was cheaper to buy and doesn’t suffer from the technical problems. I really wanted a new Jimny but the hairdressers bought them all and used ones were going for more than new. Upside is the 1.4 turbo engine is quite pokey and regular drives between Oban and Tyndrum can be quite fun. Downside is that it’s not much of a load lugger with a fixed rear seat and high boot sill. I keep looking to see what is a suitable replacement but there doesn’t seem to be much around.

We went Ibiza>yeti>kodiaq>caravelle>caravelle

The vehicle we really regret selling is the yeti. It was so endearing. With a truly practical and well thought out interior.  Yes the boot is technically small, but if you learn to pack it vertically it’s really capacious.  We got a luggage net fitted so we could pack it to the rafters safely.

We had two rear doors proactively replaced under warranty as they started to show signs of pinprick corrosion. Mk2s got bigger paint protection film fitted to protect the door bottoms as a result.

The only other issue we had in 80k (apart from a wiring loom replacement after an incompetent tow-bar fitter shagged it) was a rear prop shaft flexible coupling. Skoda quoted us £1500 for the part alone. I declined and traded it in the next week to a different dealer for the Kodiaq, which was a great, but curiously also flawed replacement. 

Yeti’s seem to me – ‘I want an SUV (maybe 4×4), but something (cost, eco anxiety?) is stopping me buying an SUV’

If you don’t want an SUV, get a decent estate, if you want an SUV, get a proper one. A Yeti seems like a bad compromise IMO

I have one and love it – good to drive and practical. The square back end makes it quite van-like in shape and so useful for odd shaped objects like bikes. It takes 2 min to remove the rear seats so that I can fit both my and my sons bike in with the rear wheels on, plus all our gear. I’ve also had a full size wardrobe in the back (Ebay purchase).

Are they just the posers’ Berlingo though?

Having driven both, from a driver comfort point of view I’ll take a Yeti every time. I loathed the older Berlingo/Partners, far too cramped for me, and I’d be doing a couple of hundred miles at a time.

But, I’d have an Octavia for the huge amount of space in the back, and that was a hatchback – for real space it’s an Octavia estate, a 4×4 if available.

Ours was great, the only reason we sold it was I was able to get a top end 4wd Superb at a really good price and we didn’t need two 2L diesel cars.

We had the 2 wheel drive diesel version and I had it re-mapped and the garage got it up to 190bhp, it was like driving a go cart. If they’d continued to make it I’d have got another newer one in due course but in petrol.

 A Yeti seems like a bad compromise IMO

Nah. There’s loads of folk want a 4×4 but don’t need a large vehicle. No point in lugging around extra weight when you don’t need the space.

Of the Skoda van-a-likes, I thought that perhaps the Roomster would have been larger inside?

Haven’t owned either but have spent time around both.  (A mate had a roomster where the first owner had given the interior a high end retro fit leather interior to match his Mercedes for his wife. On the top spec model with full glass roof. It was great).

Yeti was based on golf platform, roomster on polo – so it’s a smaller base vehicle (and driving position etc) but does the magic space thing again. Rear seats out and two bikes in back and luggage.

either are a great vehicle for a MTB-er to use like a small van. Access (hatch size) probably even better on the roomster.

it’s a real shame Skoda no longer make innovative vehicles like this now. Most people are so scared of anything that looks in any way unconventional

not actually very big at all.

+1 on this, when I get a lift in a mate’s it’s been both wheels off the bike to get it in (XLs). A berlingo is the same size but both wheels can stay on.

I have the last  of the petrol 1.4’s and it goes quite well, the 4×4 is the haldex system, so not permanent except for under 20mph if you press the offroad button. As it’s based on the golf I think the 4×4 is more road handling than greenlaning (though darkside developments on YT have played around off-road) , or so it feels to me when you get busy(ish). I’ve had it since 2018, and the only thing I would replace it with is a full sized van (& an ‘up’ for commuting), so I don’t need to disassemble the bike to carry it or worry about muddy dogs. I thought it was a big car when I bought it, but the boot is pretty small, especially if you carry the spare tyre (it lifts the boot floor). As for problems.. don’t rush to buy one with the sun roof, their notorious for leaks, I had mine replaced under warranty (check under the front mats for damp). Otherwise mine has been flawless, but as it’s petrol far from economic – again round town it’s pretty terrible (low 30’s) but seems to be much better on longer journeys (even at 80mph).

Of the Skoda van-a-likes, I thought that perhaps the Roomster would have been larger inside?

Would be my suggestion, if you just need space and not 4×4, so I’m surprised by b33k3rs comment regarding the base

An Octavia Scout is a far more useful shaped vehicle if you want some level of off-road (muddy field or snow) ability.

It’s what I always think would have been a better option, but I wanted the yeti for the more upright (van) like driving seat. I drove lots of hire car for a few years, and it wreaked my back

Had a 4×4 turbo diesel.

Best car I’ve had despite the granny pope mobile looks.

Of the Skoda van-a-likes, I thought that perhaps the Roomster would have been larger inside?

I think it technically is, the RIDC stats looked better for the Roomster IIRC.

Fair point that Mondeo is a class up, how about a Jazz if you don’t need 4×4?

I always look at yetis but feel a VW touran is probably better for bikes inside, I maybe wrong.

I loved my Yeti & regretted getting rid of it, so much so that I recently tried to buy a decent low mileage late model; they’re daft money.

Given that they’re based on the same platform as a Tiguan, you can get one of those for less, and they’re arguably better equipped & slightly roomier.

Every Yeti that ticked my boxes with spec & price was always miles away, and I ended up with an Audi Q3, which is also based on the same platform.

The Q3 has a bigger boot with seat in place but doesn’t get the same flexi seating arrangement (60/40 split only), but is faaaaaaar more refined to drive. Feels like a much bigger car in terms of ride quality, is quieter and feels more stable on the road; not surprising given that it’s quite a bit lower profile. It was also £10k more expensive when new. All in all I’m very happy with my choice… but still love a Yeti.