It's cool to be quirky, and even cooler to be proud of it. Although quirkiness isn't anything new for Czech automaker Skoda, it's taken it a step further by naming its oddest-looking car after the Abominable Snowman. Only a carmaker that's very sure of itself would have the guts to do that. Although I wouldn't say the Skoda Yeti looks abominable, it definitely does look strange. As strange as a Fabia hatch that accidentally happened to pass in front of Professor Wayne Szalinski's electromagnetic thingy, in reverse, would look. But like most things unsightly, there's something undeniably charming lying beneath the Yeti's bug-eyed face. And that's a Volkswagen.
Yes, like most of the cars in Skoda's line-up, the Yeti too shares the German behemoth's mechanicals. From the 1.8-litre, 160bhp, turbocharged engine and the smooth-shifting six-speed DSG gearbox, to the buttons and knobs inside the cabin, they're all straight from the VW-parts bin — which is not a bad thing at all. And this does translate into the way the Yeti drives. Before hurling a brickbat towards me for saying it drives almost like a Golf, go try one for yourself. But while you do that also bear in mind that we're talking about a small SUV here. The Yeti will surprise you with its keen handling characteristics, which offer ample fun while you zip around town. The steering is sharp and responsive, and the suspension firm; attributes that are usually not associated with your average crossover.
The slab-like windows are an eyesore from outside, but from inside they offer a good overall 360-degree view. The same applies to the Yeti's boxy styling. While it's not exactly what you call an appealing design, the styling adds to the car's flexibility and versatility by freeing up an impressively large amount of space in the cabin. Head and leg room in the front and back must be the best in class, and five adults can travel in comfort for a fair few hours without getting too acquainted with one another. The sense of space inside is further enhanced by the electrically operated panoramic sunroof, which spans the entire length of the roof.
The boot space is also remarkably good with seats up and grows considerably bigger with seats folded. Storage pockets and compartments abound with handy practical spaces provided all over the cabin including doors and centre console.
The interior of the Yeti is solidly put together with a generous smattering of familiar Volkswagen elements. All the controls are neatly laid out, and the clutter-free instrument cluster features clear, easy to read gauges and a central information display. Smack in the middle of the dashboard is a Bolero touchscreen system that incorporates a CD changer, SD memory card reader and the Bluetooth telecom controls. Although stitched in durable fabric and well-contoured, I found the seats a bit too firm for my liking. But the Yeti's suspension makes up for it by striking a great balance between firmness and comfort. It will take more than just a cobbled path to unsettle the MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension. Road and wind noise are kept at bay till speeds up to 100kph, but start creeping in slightly beyond that.
But the Yeti's unexpectedly fun handling and the smooth progress offered by the DSG 'box will make the whole experience so enjoyable that you'll soon forget these minor niggles. And the looks.
Verdict
There are many better-looking small SUVS in the segment that the Yeti has been introduced into, including the Peugeot 3008, Mitsubishi ASX and the Nissan Qashqai.
But none of them is as big on practicality as the Yeti is. And above all, none of them would compare with the proven off-road capabilities of the Skoda's Haldex clutch-equipped 4x4 system, with features such as hill descent assistant and start-up assistant. And the only other car in its class that's nearly as fun to drive would be an equally quirky looking Nissan Juke. So if you are someone who believes that there's more to everything than meets the eye, you should give the Yeti a try.
And luckily it's not just a myth inhabiting the frozen recesses of the Himalayas. You can easily spot one at an Ali & Sons showroom near you.
Specs & ratings
- Model Yeti Adventure
- Engine 1.8-litre turbo four-cyl
- Transmission Six-speed DSG, AWD
- Max power 160bhp @ 6,200rpm
- Max torque 250Nm @ 1,500rpm
- Top speed 200kph
- 0-100kph 8.4sec
- Price Dh107,500 as tested
