It is in a class of its own - like a miniature Land Rover Discovery. I went with a friend to buy one about 2 months ago. Having never driven one I was very impressed by the way it performed with its 1.4 engine and 6 speed gearbox. He absolutely loves it for its practicality. Currently has the rear seats out and using it as a truck, to carry around classic car engine parts. He also likes the high driver seating position.
I inherited my yeti from my Foster mum when she passed away it got so much sentimental value and every time I drive it it is like I am in love with my yeti ❤ I will never ever sell it
I always liked the quirky looks of the yeti so finally bought a 4 year old L&C 2.0 TDi 4x4 manual 3 years back. It drove and handled better than expected but for fun I had it remapped for that little extra flair! Now it is impossible for me to replace as it goes like stink gives 50 mpg no matter how it is driven, parks so easily around town and still acts as a part time school bus. A much better choice for school run Mums than the obligatory Chelsea Tractor! Come on Skoda, never mind the Kamiq, lets have an updated version of the Yeti please.
They have already done it, it’s a Karoq, which is also a superb underrated vehicle, with the brilliant removable rear seats. Such practical fun cars. 👍
@@windinthewillows6248while the karoq is good, it is nowhere as iconic or standout as the yeti. It looks like the generic shiit put out by vag group. Yeti, is unique.
Just brilliant. A lot of fun. I STILL can’t believed they discontinued it. I have friend who has driven one from Berkshire to Thassos many times and it’s still going strong. Think again Skoda. Thanks Pete
An absolutely iconic car. What was omitted from the video was the commonality with the Golf. Same platform, engines and dashboard. Same engineering and build quality. We all knew how good the Golf 5/6/7 were but the Yeti is a Golf on stilts and even more practical. In such a competitive and crowded market it has the personality that marked it out. Its Karoq successor is indistinguishable from its VW brethren or all those Japanese, Korean and Chinese lookalikes. If any car is deserving of a retro inspired (possibly EV) reinvention it is the Yeti.
We bought a low mileage 2015 Yeti Outdoor 2ltr diesel 5 years ago, it’s the best car we have ever owned in over 50 years, it’s reliable, comfortable, warm and shows no sign of wear and tear, tows our caravan a treat, really can’t understand why the Yeti was discontinued, every one we speak to say’s how lovely it is. You never mention the fact that it can corner at fast speeds and it holds the road firmly, it’s good to feel safe 👍
I live in Helsinki, Finland.. Bought my Yeti in 2014. Lovely and absolutely most practical car i I owned. Great on fuel efficiency with the 1.4litres engine. When it was time to change to a newer car in 2020, i just couldn't let go so i shipped it to Nigeria and have it parked there for use whenever i visit home. It happens to be the only Skoda Yeti in Owerri, Imo state. Nigeria. That makes driving it a special experience every time i do because of the curious and admiring looks it gets. Yeti experience made me return to Skoda when it was time to go electric so now in Finland, i own an Enyaq and in Nigeria, my lovely Yeti awaits my use anytime I travel home for holidays. Skoda builds really really good and practical cars that are easy to ❤
I've owned one since new and have had it for the past 11 years. It was that very review by Jezza that got me hooked as well. Mine is a 2.0 TDI 4x4 Elegance 140 Manual. Still puts a smile on my face, every time I get behind the wheel.
So happy to see you having fun with possibly one of my most favourite cars and in best part of 60 years, I've had a few! Our Yeti (63 Reg) is the facelifted version and was featured in the Honest John review - is still on YT. Laughed at the compass bit. That also got me when we first got the car. Now in semi retirement Yeti now does around 4K miles a year, It has never let us down and passed each MoT without even an advisory. In the best part of 10 years, we had a new boot lock mechanism, an exhaust bracket and a set of front discs replaced. Everything else is original. Tucked away in the garage each night.
We bought our 2016 1.4 4x4 L&K Yeti December 2018, it was a Skoda management car. Hugely practical, we collect 25 bags of horse manure in it 2 or 3 times a year-seats out of course-for our allotment. Love the high driving position, the 1.4 is a great engine-had it 5 years now, had to replace the clutch recently but that’s it-don’t think we will ever part with it.
I went to work for SKODA UK just after the Top Gear review. Such great time to be part of the brand. The Yeti was an instrumental part of the brand transformation in the UK. I loved having them, fabulous cars. We had a promo Yeti that we took to events with a helicopter on the top.
Very proud owner of a 2016 Yeti 1.2 S.E Outdoor in White and have to say, unbelievable car. It is so comfortable, enjoyable to drive on long journeys, so practical and turns heads wherever it goes! Shame nothing built now comes close! 😉
On my second Yeti, L&K 4x4. This is the longest I've ever kept a car, six years, bought it as a demonstrater. I've tried to talk myself into ev, but I can't part with the Yeti, I still look at other Yetis on the road and compare the shine to mine.
I absolutely love my Yeti. It’s a 2009 4WD and I live out in the sticks in a very hilly area. I can confidently go wherever I need to especially onto muddy verges with no fear of getting stuck. There’s nothing I don’t love. Wish that Skoda still made them as I really don’t love anything else out there as much. Mine will be run into the ground and I’ll then look for a 2017 model to replace it. I’ve only loved 3 cars I have owned. First was an original mini in 1982. Then Peugeot 205 in 1992 and finally the Yeti. All run into the ground until too old or expensive to fix economically. Lovely to see a 2009 Yeti like mine in pristine condition.
My wife and I went to Scotland for a mini break and had booked a fiesta only to find out that fiesta was a Yeti ! No regrets one of the most memorable cars ever and since then have yearned to own one!
We ran a 1.2 DSG SE Drive run out model from 2017 to 2020. Since then we've run a Karoq 1.5 DSG SEL which has the boot hooks and removable rear seats like the Yeti but somehow it just doesn't have the same personality. I can't put my finger on it but I'd go back to a Yeti in a heartbeat.
So glad you had the opportunity to drive the Yeti. Several friends have them in various different specs and love them. Italian John takes his across Europe to the lakes in Italy and it never skips a beat and that speaks volumes. Cheers Ped.
Great video, glad to see the old Yeti getting a mention. I just love my 2014 4x4 TDI Yeti, now heavily modified, and still going strong at 315,000kms. Despite all the messing around I've done to my poor Skoda ( and there's been a LOT ), I've had so little trouble it's astonishing. Just for you Pedro it's lowered on H&R/Bilsteins, with Golf R and GTI brakes, suspension arms and subframe, full rollbars and poly bushes, with 8.5 x 18" Rays with 255 wide tyres ( they just scrape on turns ). GTI seats, Octy VRS flat bottom steer wheel, the list goes on and on. Currently pushing about 190hp/450nm at the wheels, and am building a low km Audi Q3 180 TDI engine to drop in that should get me north of 250 at all four and around 600nm thanks to goodies from Darkside Developments. It's already like a grunty go-cart to drive and endless fun, with a remarkable launch to 100, can't wait for the extra torx, should be hilarious. Best thing of all over the new 22 Hyundai Tucson diesel we just bought the missus is almost zero driver aids in 2014, and it almost never bings or bongs at me unlike new nanny-ridden cars. That alone makes me adore my almost 10 year old Yeti!
I had one of the first CR140 DSG Elegance Yeti’s when they were launched. It was a great car. Being VAG I had the flappy paddle multifunction steering wheel fitted. Plus it was remapped to around 180bhp and the brakes were also updated. I took it off-road and also on a track day. It was great fun. I now have a vehicle similar in shape - a 2020 Kia Soul EV. I would love a BEV Yeti.
You could put two Lego bricks together and you’ve got the Yeti’s styling . That’s a compliment by the way , I love the looks of the car . Simple , balanced and pure.
Ive had mine for nearly four years now. The ground clearance and short overhangs are great for rural driving. I've slept in it several times, including a trip tp Scotland and the isle of Skye. It's been a great adventure vehicle.
5 years an owner.... Really want to try some other vehicles, but ..... It is so easy to get into and out of. It is so comfortable over a long distance (400 miles in one day). It sticks to the road and steers very predictably. The ABS works! (the deer, and car, survived undamaged). I am really having trouble finding something that will tempt me away.
Brilliant car. I had a 2.0 CDTI Laurin & Klement with a chip mod that gave 213 BHP. with the DSG and a Flappy paddle steering wheel from an Octavia, it was a dream to drive in all weather. Towed a boat too. Miss it terribly.
We just picked up a Yeti last month for my wife. It's a 2011 2.0tdi 4x4 Elegance (same colour as this!), with Xenon lights, panoramic electric sunroof and heated leather seats. It's absolutely amazing. A perfect all-round family car. My wife absolutely loves it, and I'm quite jealous!
Think we share great taste Ped. I daily Yeti 2.0 L+K 2017 ,one of the last 81k miles and running perfect. Just picked up 718 Cayman Gts after 12 month wait. Put 500 epic miles last week in North Wales,except for the 20 mph introduced while there. Massive contrast between the 2 vehicles but both put smile on face when driving.
What not so many people know - there was an option to spec and order a dividing net for interior. In such case you got a special kind of locks in the roof - two behind rear seats and two behind front seats. With this you have two options where to fix the net. With back seats out and net fixed behind front seats (net covers almost all space from bottom to the roof) you can utilize whole space up to the roof with no danger of flying stuff when breaking.
A benchmark car…….. in the trade for over 40 years, 33 in breakdown/recovery…….. never see Yeti’s as customers. Stuck countless friends and family into them…… number one choice, universally loved…… Eventually I twigged everyone else was doing great with one and I wasn’t…… 2015 2.0 TDi 150, DSG 4x4 as my daily driver and work tool…….. Standard Alloys, handles sublime……. sticks like chewing gum on a wig…….. also, a set of steels with winter tyres for finding vehicles dumped off road….. I find my venerable XC90 sits still all year, whilst the Yeti does the work…… It is handsome……. and it was a terrible choice to phase in the replacement anodyne generic blobs that followed…….. they are no doubt fine vehicles, just magnolia…….🙂🇬🇧
Happy you finally scratched that itch Peter.👍 I wish they were still in production, I would certainly buy one now, I really see the appeal in owning one, could you not pull some strings at Skoda Peter and ask them to start production of the Yeti again. There is the same love and following for a very similar car, and thats the Suzuki Jimny. The little go anywhere 4x4, are just great, we've had two Jimny's in our family, and I regret letting the second one go.😭 Another great video Peter, the variety of car reviews and related things you cover on your channel is always great to watch. 👍
I own a Yeti 4x4 petrol since new, September 2010. For me, it wasn't Topgear but EVO magazine that made me seek one out. The test drive convinced me it was a good buy. And I've loved it ever since! Even the engine failure (stretched chain after 110k km) and replacement didn't put me off. It's a keeper :) Oh, and you SHOULD have driven it in anger! The Yeti is the most fun when you're going slightly too fast on a poorly surfaced road. To feel that the longer travel suspension has what it takes for that is just magical.
They say the Yeti has a cult following. Mine is a 63 plate Yeti Adventure , with 75k, fsh and owned by our family since 6 months old (110bhp remapped to 145bhp). Spotted a car a fancied, and was offered £3550 trade in 😮
We have recently bought a 2017 Petrel Blue 2L 150hp 4*4 diesel DSG. Brilliant car and excellent review. Remember well the Top Gear program when it first was shown.
Miss my 2 litre diesel 4x4 muscavardo yeti purchased in 2010. Some thought it was a bit old mannish but with dogs and European trips I loved it ! Kept the yeti and now has 1.4 karoq in electric blue but not the same !!
I'm on my second Yeti and absolutley adore these cars. I bought my first one from new in 2013 and sold it when it reached 125K miles (I drive a lot). As they'd been discontinued I had to buy 2nd hand in 2021. I could have sold another 8 - 10 myself.. i have never had so much interest in any other car i've driven, strangers regularly open up conversation because of my Yeti. Amazing... just amazing. Think i need to get a photo of it -- with a helicopter on top. :)
I own a Yeti! 2014 2.0 TD 2wd that I had re-mapped from 110 to 150 HP to make it nicer to drive (and it's a great improvement). I also have a 2009 BMW 635d M-Sport. I had to take early retirement this year due to health issues, and now I only work part time. Sadly, I need to sell one of my cars, because realistically I can't afford to run both, and I don't do any sort of mileage to run both regularly. Problem is, I love both cars! The Yeti is the sensible choice, but the BMW is the passionate choice. The Yeti is lower on running costs, but not by a huge margin, I can still get 45 mpg from the BMW on a run. Decisions, Decisions!
Having owned our one from new 2014 model, its covered 139k miles and its still brilliant, something people might not notice is the turning circle is like a London Taxi .... Its a swiss army knife does everything so well. 2.0 TDi 4x4 170 was our pick, just regret buying it in Black (heart not the head one that)
Thank you for reviewing a proper car, something the average person could/would buy. A car for real life, two kids, two dogs, sailing gear, buying a new fridge. Taking the kids to Uni, commuting to work,etc.
Oh good one Mr Ped. I owned one of these, bought in 2011. Elegance 4x4. 2 litre TDi CR. Was with me until end of 2019. And more is the pity that I let it go 8 years on.I never should have, because it was simply the best, most versatile, capable, thoughtful and comfy little car that I ever had. There is absolutely no car quite like it. And none of those that came later, are anywhere near it. And yes, I watched that Clarkson review on Top Gear while I was in England in March 2011, which is really what inspired me to go and test that car while there and go and buy it as soon as I was back in India.
We tested our Skoda Yeti to the very limits off-road! It surprised us every time. Great cars. Check out some of our videos to see what they are really capable of.
I avidly followed ALL the Darkside Dev videos about the Yeti which U modified brilliantly👍🏻 It never ceased to amaze me how capable it was off-road… Great series of videos guys 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
A fantastic video Pete and you could tell the sheer pleasure you had driving the Yeti. I had one for a week used it on a camping trip and it was simply the perfect car for the job. Its cancellation was Skodas biggest mistake. I got told from a dealer it was all about VW wanting to standardise on platforms across VW Seat and Skoda.
I concur with your enthusiasm for this great car I have a 2014 168bhp 2l diesel 4x4 Laurin Klement for 7 yrs and 70k mile it lost only about £4K . Love it so comfortable,safe, economical 50+ mpg,practical ( 3 golden Retrievers) can’t imagine ever selling.
I purchased a one previous owner fsh 2nd generation high spec Outdoor Elegance 2.0ltr diesel 6 speed 4x4. I’ve owned it for 3yrs now & it has had all the EGR/DPF, electrical gremlins & of course the mandatory leaking sunroof. However all those are fixed now & it truly is an amazing car in every way… so I will not be selling it as there is nothing as issuable useable, practical & quirky to replace it with👍🏻. Great review Ped👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Good evening petrol ped I have been looking forward to this hope you are doing well I love the Skoda Yeti I have Driven one which drives okay it thinks a bit roly-poly in the corners but not bad and good on fuel 👌
Now on my 2nd Yeti, put 100k miles on the first. Both 4x4 2.0 litre diesels. Best modification - and cheapest? Winter tyres. I put Nokians on mine from the off, and they transformed an already great car. At the time I lived in a rural setting. The car will go up a bank to a scary angle to get round other vehicles, and I've had water come up over the bonnet when I went through an unexpectedly deep puddle in a flood. Not a murmur. Even with the winters it's massively economical, especially considering the shape, and will easily take a fridge... Just damned practical, reliable and deserving of the fan base. Manufacturers who come up with eV conversions of classics like this will tap a market looking for a product I reckon.
@@gaycha6589 honestly, fine. There has been no extra degradation imho. Grip is superb, as is fuel consumption. As with any tyre, you can shred them if you abuse them. Trouble for me is that Nokians are getting hard to find - they appear to be backing away from the regular car market.
@@gaycha6589 I should add that in snow these are unsurprisingly unbeatable. Got caught in a winter snow storm in SW England about 3 years ago and I was able to drive normally in snow that RWD's were unable to move in. In fact the yeti/Nokians was able to get emergency workers to their work places in an unusual snow spell in the West Midlands
I love this car. Even today it looks thoroughly modern and clever. Such a pity they stopped building it. One of the best cars Skoda ever built with one of the most delightful rides, especially on the rough stuff. Awesome review.
Hi. Great episode again. I do remember Clarkson 's flamboyant review and I really like the Yeti. The Karoq is seen by many to be a replacement of it, yet it lacks the crucial quirkiness of the Yeti.
Totally agree. 10 years and 150,000 kms with our Yeti 2.0l TRD DSG 4 X 4 - brilliant fun and practicality. Here in Australia so brilliant. Prefer the original headlights with more character.
I've always loved the design of the Yeti and would fancy one myself for a practical family car. Do you think the closest modern day equivalent could be a Dacia Jogger.... albeit the Jogger has 7 seats which could be seen as even more practical? Perhaps it would make a good video for you to test a Jogger! Thanks Pete 👍🏻
Had our 13 plate Yeti 1.2 SE DSG for 7 years now and have spent nothing apart from simple service items in that time until a front road spring broke 2 weeks ago. Absolutely brilliant car and it’s daft that Skoda stopped production. It gets compliments every time MOT tested, fantastic versatility. One thing I disagree with you on though; the pre face lift is the better looking car and, for me, much better design as it is less fussy but that is a personal opinion. Thanks for the review.
Thank you for a great tribute to such an iconic vehicle with a fantastic heritage. I am sure that Mr Clarkson would begrudgingly give a nod of approval to your update on such a special car.
I've never owned a Yeti, always wanted one but never owned one. I think they are fantastic. I did however own a Roomster, only the cooking "2" variant 1.4 diesel and that was an amazing car, a proper smile inducer. The engine and transmission were perfectly synced for relaxed easy driving but if you wanted to go it could sparkle, obviously not supercar performance but adequately spritely. The interior was similar in style to the Yeti and if anything there was more legroom in the rear, you should try one, it wasn't called the Roomster for nothing. My old one still lives on in the family, owned by my sister for many years, I have been seriously considering buying it back as she owns two! Thanks for the video it was very enjoyable.
Peter…it is interesting to discover just how good past cars can be and that not everything new is better….the simple dashboard just works and the design gives you ideas and practicality….it us a car for real life and much the better for it. As an alternative, I once bought a Mitsubishi Space Star which is a very similar concept and also has a simply huge interior plus very flat and unexpectedly good handling. It had a willing engine and I really enjoyed it….they are rare and super cheap now..mine was a 55 plate bought in 2013 for £1195 and sold 5,000 miles later for £1100! Next came a 2009 Citroen C5 2.0 Hi Exclusive automatic Tourer…super rare as a petrol version and again, a really excellent car on every level…sometimes good cars get overlooked too easily! Have a good week! Richard 😃😃😃😃😃
I had a wonderful L & k 170 bhp 2015 Diesel I remapped to 227 bhp, it was great to drive and very practical, wish I never sold it. You have made me want another, great video, you should do more like this,
Great video Pete, My brother in law had one, I thought it looked a bit weird when I first saw it, then I drove it and wow was mega impressed it felt sturdy well built and above all had character, now when I see one just have to smile brings those happy memories back what a great car
I have just purchased a 2012 Yeti great car few problems ive had but now all fixed fantastic car Am 6'4 seats are great height is perfect and plenty leg room . Getting in and out is a freeze for a small car. Tne fuel is amazing After working out the controls on the steering wheel is amazing. Def going to buy another one as it's done 215000km hopefully a 2016/17
I really enjoyed your video thanks for making it. I brought one 5 months ago. A simple 2016 1.2 a dsg auto and im impressed with 108hp engine it has more than enough power for me. The only bit im not over the moon with is the ride isn’t that comfortable. But I have looked into this and apparently I need to put different tyres on it and it will be a lot more of a comfortable ride. So when these tyres are worn I will replace them with a comfortable tyre. I really like it
Our 1.2 , basic Yeti, was an overlapping successor to our 2015, Mercedes E class estate. The single thing I missed from the Mercedes was the motorway performance. The Yeti, four up, with two dogs and a roof box lacked in performance. Whilst it was happy to cruise at 85mph - 90mph, it took a long run to get there, and hills were a wee bit of a problem. Other than that, the perfect car. Buzz box zippy in urban settings. A workhorse which could swallow huge loads when the seats were removed (Why don't other manufacturers do that?) and an utter delight to drive with scant little in the way of 'tech'. The bonus was, my wife also adored it. Elderly factor - 100% Family factor - 100% Fun factor - 99% Cost factor - 90% (I could have bought a Vauxhall for less, but who would?) Performance factor (1.2) - 88% (Just a wee bit more top end) Tip run factor - 250%! Q car factor (Knowing you have a better car than the Joneses Vauxhall but they are to snobby to suspect it) - 150% Comfort - 80% (compared to an E Class) Cost of ownership - 100% Day to day practicality - Off the scale. Quirk factor - Delicious. I leased a VW Tiguan diesel, manual to get the motorway performance, which I did, but lost everything else. It's like driving a tractor with the gearbox of a Caterpillar earth mover of the 1960's. It's actually quite quick but, seriously, who would bother? So, as an elderly bloke approaching 70, facing the last Hurrah of the ICE engine, and in an attempt to recreate the heady days of Yeti ownership, I find myself settling for a full fat, 300bhp, Cupra Ateca. The wife has no idea of the performance, but I'll convince her it's no faster than a Tiguan diesel somehow. I'm not going down to NetZero without a bloody battle!
I have a 17 plate 1.2 petrol auto, for two folk it goes well, with Tour de France air horns , it will probably see me out. We love it, this is our third.
I've had VW Tourans and its funny how much I recognise in the interior. Its like they didn't bother with the 4x4 in the Touran to make space in a sister companies range to fit the Yeti in. Very cool.
Had our 2015 Yeti for 3 years. It is everything this review says it is. Love ours and it's not being replaced anytime yet. To cap it all £30 a year road tax on our diesel 2 ltr Yeti. ❤️
Friend had the 2.0tdi 4x4. Lived out in the sticks but never got stuck when they added Cross Climates. Sold it with 160k miles with some injector problems.
We had a nearly new 2012 Yeti up till Feb this year thanks to the ULEZ. It was a great car and we'd never have got rid of it if it weren't for the ULEZ. 68,000 miles in total, took it everywhere and it never let us down.
Hi Petrol Ped Very good video.Having driven a Roomster once it was not difficult to beat but the Yeti was brilliant.Last time I was at Skoda in Chi a low mileage example was up for £17/£18 ! I like your comment" none of this touch screen rubbish" about the dash of the Yeti. We also live in the Goodwood Flight area and it does have its benefits when they are practicing the loop de loop and not forgetting the Spitfires et al. Kind Regards Crawford
...the Yeti is one of the creativest car's from Skoda. Very practical, attractive design ("simply clever") and by the way good value for money. If I'm right, the front doors with the "Stratos"-look are from the Roomster. I like Skoda since we owned our first one in 2006, an Octavia II RS Estate TFSI, 200 BHP. Now we have a 2019 Kodiaq RS 2.0 TDI as a family car - for 5 persons - and are very happy with it ❤👍👌
It's a bad choice that they stopped making the Yeti. They're really well made and reliable. Someone in a Corsa drove into our Yeti once which destroyed the front end of the Corsa but our Yeti's door opened and shut like nothing had happened!
I have had three yeti , i am driving yeti Monte Carlo 150 bhp 4x4 DSG at the moment it is such wonderful car I don’t know I how I going to replace it in the future.
On my 2nd Yeti after the White Knight got written off... Was a 2016, L&K 1.4 34k TSI. Now the Black Knight 2015 L&K 1.4 66k , not quite as tight but ok. Or will be when remapping is done later this year.
Brilliant review. Seems to me a fairly recent car but 2009 - That's 14 years ago, What! I have driven one - Have to say a great car, like most Skoda's to be honest.
