Škoda Yeti

Škoda Yeti
Overview
Manufacturer	Škoda Auto
Also called	Sandi
Production	May 2009–present
Assembly	Kvasiny, Czech Republic Oskemen, Kazakhstan (Azia Avto) Solomonovo, Ukraine (Eurocar) Nizhny Novgorod, Russia (GAZ)[1] Aurangabad, India (Škoda India) People's Republic of China (FAW-VW)
Designer	Thomas Ingenlath Peter Wouda Andres Meyer Jens Manske
Body and chassis
Class	Compact SUV
Body style	5-door SUV
Layout	Front-engine, front-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive
Platform	Volkswagen Group A5 (PQ35)
Related	Volkswagen Tiguan SEAT Tribu Audi Q3
Powertrain
Engine	1.2 L I4 TSI 1.4 L I4 TSI 1.8 L I4 TSI 1.6 L I4 TDI 2.0 L I4 TDI
Transmission	5-speed manual 6-speed manual 6-speed DSG
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,578 mm (101.5 in)
Length	4,223 mm (166.3 in)
Width	1,793 mm (70.6 in)
Height	1,691 mm (66.6 in)
Kerb weight	1,245–1,435 kg (2,745–3,164 lb)

The Škoda Yeti (Typ 5L)^[2] is a five-door five-seater compact SUV model built by the Czech car manufacturer Škoda Auto. It was introduced at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show in March, as the division's first entry into the popular SUV market.^[3]

An announcement was made in late 2010 that Škoda Yeti will be built in China by Shanghai-VW in 2013.^[4]

Overview

Pre-production Škoda Yeti concept

Škoda Yeti in Mumbai Auto Expo

In most of the EU, the Yeti is available with three different trim levels: Experience, Ambition and Track^[2] (or Active in some markets). However in the UK it is available in five trim levels, E, S, SE, SE Plus and Elegance. In India, it is available in "Active", "Ambition" (also called "Ambiente") and "Elegance" trims. Its luggage capacity, aided by the 'VarioFlex' rear seats, ranges from 405 litres (14.3 cu ft), up to 1,760 litres (62.2 cu ft) when the rear seats are removed.^[3][5]

It was named Family Car of the Year in 2009 by Top Gear Magazine.^[6] And according to the European Car of the Year website, the Yeti was placed fourth in the 2010 award.

In June 2011, Škoda built the 100,000th Yeti.^[7]

Safety

The Škoda Yeti has been awarded a 5-star safety rating by the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP).^[8][9] It scored 92% for adult occupant protection in the frontal and side crash tests, 78% for child occupant protection and 46% in the pedestrian safety test.^[8] It also scored 71% for default Safety Assist equipment, as the range comes with driver/passenger seatbelt reminders as standard.^[8] It also includes Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) with Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Hydraulic Brake Assist (HBA), Anti-Slip Regulation (ASR) and Electronic Differential Lock (EDS)^[9] - which is currently standard equipment on most variants throughout Europe and optional on others.^[8] Protection against whiplash injury in the rear-impact (whiplash) test was also good.^[8]

It can be ordered with up to 11 airbags (dual front, front side torso, rear side torso, front and rear side curtain, and driver's knee airbag).^[10]

Powertrain

The powertrain offerings in the Yeti include a range of internal combustion engines, all of which are four cylinder (I4) four-stroke turbocharged^[3] and EU5 emissions standard compliant.^[10] petrol engines are all fuel injected and diesel engines are all common rail (CR) Turbocharged Direct Injection (TDI) with diesel particulate filter (DPF).

Source: Volkswagen Group ELSA/erWin (Electronic Repair and Workshop Information System), 03/2010

Most engines are offered with six-speed manual transmissions, with a five-speed manual being reserved for front-wheel drive only cars with the 81 kW TDI engine. Currently, the Volkswagen Group seven-speed Direct-Shift Gearbox (DSG) can be ordered for the 1.2 TSI only. The six-speed Direct-Shift Gearbox (DSG) has been available for the 2.0 CR 103 PS diesel engine since May 2010.

The four-wheel drive variants utilise the latest fourth-generation Haldex Traction multi-plate clutch to transmit the drive to the rear wheels, and all drive layouts include fully independent multi-link rear suspension^[10] first seen on the Volkswagen Golf Mk5 to complement the fully independent front suspension.^[10]

Awards and reviews

Since its introduction in 2009, the Yeti has been well received by the public and the press. The Yeti has received a number of awards, including some high profile and coveted ones. In 2009, it won the Top Gear Magazine's Best Family Car. In 2010, it won the Auto Express Car of the Year Award. The Škoda Yeti also received numerous awards from Total Offroad Magazine in 2011. The Škoda Yeti also featured in the most searched for vehicle on the popular car review website Honestjohn, until early April, 2011 and was voted as the first Honestjohn Car of the Year award.

In 2011, the Yeti appeared on BBC's Top Gear programme. Presenter Jeremy Clarkson declared it to be possibly the best car in the world and used 20 minutes of the programme putting the Yeti through a number of challenges to support his point.^[12] Due to this broadcast, the Škoda UK website temporarily overloaded and the Yeti became a trending item on Twitter.^{[citation needed]}

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Škoda Yeti.

• Škoda Yeti – Škoda Auto Official Website
• Škoda Yeti – Škoda UK Website