Setting sights on the new Yeti

Named after the Big Foot, but with a compact footprint, the Skoda Yeti was the original premium compact sports utility launched in India. The Yeti’s build quality, consistent with Skoda’s product quality image in India, was always the most likeable part of the car. Though it was not considered a serious off-roader, it did possess some skills.

The Yeti has now been redesigned to match with the new Skoda design language better. We got to drive it in wet and wild Kashmir, thankfully just before the rains wreaked havoc in the valley last week. Here are our first impressions.

Redesign The outgoing Yeti’s front design was extremely unique with its dual headlights on either side. The square and round elements somehow worked together and gave the Yeti its special appeal at the front. But the redesign has instead replaced it with the sharp contours that we have already seen in the new Octavia.

A similar (to Octavia) butterfly bonnet grille with the Skoda logo at the centre, and a similar straight LED daytime running light in the headlamps is what you’ll find in the new Yeti. The new nearly rectangular bi-Xenon headlamps, the redesigned bonnet slab, and the multiple slats in the grille and the airdam further highlight the Yeti’s new found liking for straight lines. The split fog lamps on either side of the front fender are also slim rectangular units.

At the rear of the new Yeti, most of the design elements seem to have been retained as is. Only on closer scrutiny do you see the new C-shaped LED brake light elements in the tail-lamps, again a Skoda signature feature we first saw in the new Octavia. There are minor changes that have also been made to the tail-gate. The rear bumper gets new high-set reflectors and a chunkier diffuser.

Viewed from the side, you can see the new silver roof rail and similar coloured door mirrors. The wheel arches have also been made more prominent to boost the Yeti’s image of robustness.

The face-lifted version also gets new alloy wheels to distinguish all-road and 4X2 versions.

The rest of the Yeti’s exterior design has been retained, including the floating roof held up by the B-pillar look, achieved by blacking out the A and C-pillars. There is also the option now for a bi-colour roof paint job.

The Yeti’s cabin similarly gets a bunch of new features. It now sports a push-button for start/ stop instead of the keyhole (called KESSY by Skoda), electrically adjustable driver’s seat, leather-wrapped steering wheel now with a cruise control button, tyre pressure monitors, a new multimedia interface, an audio system with Bluetooth and a set of steel pedals with rubber anti-slip inserts.

The Yeti’s cabin continues to offer the same amount of space as the outgoing model. While it is not really as roomy as some of the bigger SUVs, it continues to be very practical with considerable luggage space and the possibility of variable seating, fold and storage configurations.

Performance The engine on offer continues to be the 2-litre TDI diesel in two states of tune for the 4X2 and the all-road variants. The 1,968cc, turbocharged, 4-cylinder engine produces peak power of 110PS and a peak torque of 250Nm in the 4X2 variant. The more powerful 4X4 variant gets the higher state of tune where the engine puts out 140PS of power and 320Nm of peak torque. The former is mated to a 5-speed manual transmission and the latter gets a 6-speed manual. There is no automatic transmission on offer, though this price segment might be better served with an optional auto gearbox.

On the road, the new Yeti predictably feels exactly like the outgoing model. With no mechanical changes to the engine, there has just been a minor tweaking for better low-end torque in the 4X2 variant. We drove the 4X4 variant, which offers dollops of torque through the entire rpm-range. Power is also delivered in quite a linear fashion right through to the top-end closer to the redline at 5,000 rpm.

For the 4X4 variant, Skoda engineers have now replaced the previous Yeti’s clutch with a new lighter, fifth-generation Haldex clutch. The permanent 4-wheel drive with auto torque distribution gets a lot of electronic assistance with adjustments to the ABS, ASR, electronic differential lock etc. There is also an increase in throttle sensitivity and features like hill descent assist and uphill start assist are available.

To round off the new Yeti’s attempt at offering honest off-road capabilities, it also gets a rough road package that includes an engine cover, rear axle covers and reinforced cables cases.

Bottomline The Yeti’s design has lost a bit of its uniqueness, but it is still good enough to keep you interested. It drives well and its finish quality continues to be great. The outgoing model’s clutch was irksome at times with intermittent engine stalling being an issue. The new clutch has that sorted, for the most part.

The problem with the Yeti was the fact that it was imported and so its pricing was a bit steep. That is going to continue with the new redesigned Yeti, priced as it is at about ₹18.7 lakh for the 2X4 variant and at ₹20 lakh for the 4X4 variant.

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