One Year of Skoda Yeti Ownership

12 months ago, I made my second car purchase, a 2014 Skoda Yeti, and over the past year, I’ve driven it over 32,000 kilometres, slept in it and pushed its limits off-road, so I think it’s time for a review.

​The Yeti was Skoda’s compact SUV, with wagon and even van-like characteristics, and it’s a car that I’ve always wanted to own.  Although built in the Czech Republic, Skoda comes under the Volkswagen Audi Group, so is made up of mainly VW parts, including the 1.2 litre turbocharged petrol engine putting out 105hp.

​Despite being only two-wheel drive, it’s still quite capable off-road with plenty of underside protection and good ride height that doesn’t affect the handling on tarmac.  I once again had to buy a manual, and enjoy the addition of a sixth gear, and combined with the 50-litre tank and lots of highway driving, I can complete 700km on a single fuel run.  ​

Although not necessary, the readout to tell you what gear you’re in is a nice addition to the multifunction display, which itself is handy to use, and something you can customise to display certain specifics including time travelled, range, average speed etc.

Speaking of the interior, there’s plenty of headroom (something I don’t really need), which is great for humans of all sizes, and with the seats down, enough room for little old me to use it as a camper, which I have done so on multiple occasions.  

Everything is an upgrade when compared to my first car, a Mitsubishi Mirage, including the speakers, which are decently powerful.  The air condition also works well, although almost too well, as even when you turn it off, air will continue to come through at the set temperature.  When it comes to more modern features like cruise control and digital displays, aspects that are intended to make driving a more comfortable experience, rather than being necessary, it’s quite easy to get the hang of using them, which is something I wish I could say for most cars.  Except when it reminds me that it needs a service as I can never remember how to turn that alert off.  

The only quirk I can think of when it comes to the layout of features is that the headlights are a switch on the side of the dashboard, rather than being on the indicator stalk.  The previous owner bought a lot of stuff for the Yeti, most of it quite tacky, but I’d be lying if I said these lights that print out the word ‘Skoda’ on the ground aren’t one of my favourite things on the whole car.

There are a few things I don’t like about the Yeti however, in addition to the indicator being on the wrong side and the constant fear of a helicopter landing on the roof.  Skoda took the term cupholders too literally for the ones in the centre, as they are indeed the size of cups, which would be handy if you’re are Takumi Fujiwara.  But I’m not delivering tofu, instead driving long distances to racetracks and need room for my large water bottles, which don’t fit.  

Then there is the head unit which came with the car.  Although it’s a good design the specific model that came with my Yeti cannot have Australian maps uploaded to the system, they’re just not compatible.  Why it was imported and sold in Australia with that model of head unit I have no idea, which is unfortunate because I was quite interested in playing with the technology.

The car has keyless start, and you can walk up to the driver, passenger side door and the boot and it unlocks without you having to take the key out of your pocket.  And that’s the purpose of the keyless start feature; the key never has to leave your pocket.  However, like other VAG cars, to unlock the middle doors, you must press the unlock button twice.  You can change this by plugging a laptop into the car and changing options, but from factory, VAG cars are fitted with a feature that forces you to take your keys out of your pocket, almost defeating the purpose of keyless start in the first place.

Even with these little annoyances, the Yeti is a car I seriously enjoy owning.  It’s not a car I have to fight or push on long journeys, and I genuinely smile walking back to it in a carpark, knowing that it’s mine! This Skoda Yeti is a vehicle I can see myself owning for a long time.  

​​I've already done some pretty cool things in this car, including using it as a camera car, driving it interstate to tracks such as Tolmer Speedway and Mt Panorama, used it as a camper and even been chased by four Hyper Racer X1's on the Thunderdome!  Here's to many more adventures in the Yeti.