Skoda Yeti (09 on) - Review

There's plenty of room in the Yeti and although it might not look particularly big from the outside, there's good rear passenger space. That makes for good levels of Skoda Yeti comfort though legroom can be a little tight with six-footers sitting in the front, but there's plenty of head and shoulder space and the slightly raised seats give a good view out for kids.

The rear doors also open wide to make access easy. There are three individual seats in the back, but the middle one is very narrow and firm, so it's not ideal for long trips.

The superb ride means motorway journeys are comfortable, helped by little wind or engine noise, even in the 1.2 TSI models.

All Yetis come with air conditioning as standard and there's the option of an electric panoramic glass sunroof which stretches nearly the entire length of the roof, giving the interior an even lighter feel.

Although most Yeti drivers are unlikely to venture off road, the fact that the 4x4 model can easily cope with steep slopes and tricky terrain gives plenty of confidence if you're tackling wet fields or muddy tracks.

It also has a decent boot of 405 litres but this can be boosted to 510 litres - around the same as a Volkswagen Passat estate. That's thanks to the clever rear seats that can be individually folded or removed if needed, while the two outer seats can be moved closer to the centre of the car to increase shoulder room by taking the middle seat out.

The seats are easy to fold and easily light enough for one person to lift them in and out of the car. With them all out, boot space is boosted to a huge 1,760 litres - more than a Volvo V70.

With well laid out controls, clear instruments and plenty of adjustment in both the seat and steering column, the Yeti is an easy car to quickly get comfortable in. All the materials used are good quality and there's a pleasantly upmarket feel to the interior, helped by soft touch plastics.

It's also very modern, with white backlit dials and a neat stereo system while visibility is good all round. The near vertical rear end makes parking easy, but parking sensors are standard SE and Elegance models.