Skoda Yeti Outdoor Review and Prices

Skoda Yeti buyers get a choice of six engines to choose from. Most go for one of the three 2.0-litre diesel engines tuned to 110, 140 or 170hp, but there is also a super-efficient 105hp diesel. Petrol power comes in the form of a 1.2-litre with 105hp or a 168hp 1.8-litre.

The 2.0-litre diesel is the engine Skoda reckons the majority of Yeti buyers will go for. The mid-tier 140hp version can get from 0-62mph in 9.9 seconds, returns up to 48mpg and is also the cheapest diesel available with the excellent DSG automatic gearbox.

For the outright best fuel economy, though, it’s best to opt for the Greenline model; Skoda claims it can achieve a family hatchback-rivalling fuel economy of 61mpg. There are a few concessions to be made, though: four-wheel-drive isn’t an option, and many critics feel the engine is noisy and underpowered.

You might think the 1.2-litre petrol engine would be overawed by the bulk of the Yeti, but not according to testers. As is the way of things these days, it is boosted by a small turbocharger and reviewers say it feels more spritely than the 11.8 seconds it takes to sprint from 0-62mph suggests. It is also pretty decent on fuel for a petrol model, with 46.3mpg possible along with CO2 emissions of 142g/km.

The 1.8-litre petrol model seems largely irrelevant. With 0-62mph taking 8.4 seconds, it’s quick but also relatively pricy (fuel economy sits at just 36.2mpg) – the 170hp diesel offers similar performance and is much cheaper to run.

Four-wheel-drive versions of the Yeti Outdoor come with an ‘off-road’ button that’s not available on the standard Yeti and is designed to make it easier to tackle a variety of terrains, particularly steep climbs and descents.

Despite being billed as the off-road-centric model, there aren’t any major mechanical differences between the Skoda Yeti Outdoor and the standard car in the way they drive on tarmac. That’s no bad thing, since many of the critics were satisfied (if not blown away) by the Yeti Outdoor’s well-weighted steering, decent body control and comfortable ride quality.

Overall refinement levels are also respectable, with largely well-suppressed road, wind and tyre noise making the Yeti Outdoor well-suited to longer journeys. However, depending on how hard you work the engines (especially the smaller units), a fair amount of engine roar can enter the cabin, and there is slight wind noise from the door mirrors when you creep above 70mph.