Skoda is a fairly popular brand in Russia. These cars are in high demand due to the good value for money. At the same time, many talk about the various shortcomings of the Skoda and the VAG family of cars in general. Is it really? Let's try to find out on the example of the Skoda Yeti. Owner reviews, technical details and a review are further in our article.
Characteristic
The Yeti is a compact crossover from the Skoda company. This car has been mass-produced since 2009. The crossover is in high demand not only in Russia but also in Europe. So, in 2010, Yeti took fourth place in the ranking of "Best European Car" and was recognized as the family car of the year, according to the magazine "Top Gear". The model was developed on the universal platform of the Volkswagen A5.
Appearance
The Yeti is the first crossover in the Skoda line. The car has a high ground clearance and angular shapes. Of course, he does not pull on an SUV, but he cannot be called an ordinary passenger car. In front, the car demonstrates a proprietary radiator grille, which was also installed on the Octavia, and “big-eyed” headlights. Fogs are also located nearby.
Moreover, they are so large in diameter that from afar they seem to be a kind of continuation of the head optics. The lower part of the bumper is made of black plastic and has a silver insert. Thresholds are also protected by a black overlay. On the roof - huge roof rails that allow you to fix the plastic box-trunk. According to reviews, the Skoda Yeti 1.8 has a rather modest appearance. There are no strict and aggressive forms, dynamic lines and other defiant contours.
Body and corrosion
The body is one of the main parts in any car. Therefore, it must be protected as much as possible from corrosion. In this regard, the Czechs tried "with a bang." The body is quality galvanized. But as the reviews say, Skoda Yeti is difficult to survive the Russian winters, in particular the capital's reagents. Over the course of four to five years of operation, chips are formed on the front part, paint is clinging to the bottom of the doors. But the metal does not rust, which is very pleasing.
Sizes, clearance
"Skoda Yeti" - perhaps the most compact crossover produced by VAG. So, the length of the car body is 4.23 meters, width - 1.79, height - 1.69 meters. And since this is a crossover, its ground clearance should be appropriate. So, the clearance on the “Skoda Yeti” is 18 centimeters. But as the reviews say, the Skoda Yeti 1.8 4x4 actually has a much smaller clearance (only 16 and a half centimeters). Also, the car has a small angle of arrival (18 degrees). The only plus is the presence of engine crankcase protection from the factory and the high location of the exhaust system (located in a special tunnel). The rest of the car's patency is on par with that of the Octavia. Reviews say that the Czech crossover has low suspension arms and a fuel tank. And when you try to call on a steep hill, you can easily lose the front bumper.
Salon
Boarding the car is quite comfortable. This is facilitated by doors that open at a fairly wide angle. The interior is assembled from solid materials. Soft plastic and soft-touch leather are everywhere. In budget trim seats are fabric. The steering wheel is a three-spoke, with a small set of buttons and a pretty nice grip. The dashboard consists of two huge wells. Between them is conveniently located on-board computer display. The center console is like the Octavia. There is a pair of deflectors, a climate control unit and a digital radio. In expensive trim levels, beige leather and wood look are available.
The seats are characterized by a hard padding and good lateral support. However, there is not enough lumbar support. On long trips, the back is very tired - say the reviews. By the way, in the luxury trim levels, the seats are equipped with electric drive and heating.
Skoda Yeti has good sound insulation. The roar of the engine is not audible, as well as the sound of the suspension. However, reviews say that after 80-100 thousand kilometers, plastic begins to creak.
For rear passengers, a three-piece sofa with two head restraints is provided. The armrest can be extended in the center. It has small foam pads so that the hand does not crawl over rough plastic. There is enough space above the head, but there is no place in the knees. The sofa is too close to the front.
Trunk
According to reviews, the Skoda Yeti has a fairly compact trunk by the standards of the crossover.
Its volume is from 406 to 509 liters, depending on the position of the back of the rear sofa. Also, the second row of seats can be removed, increasing the usable volume to 1760 liters.
Power part
The base for the Czech crossover is a TSI petrol engine of 1.2 liters. This engine is equipped with a turbine and develops an unprecedented power of 105 horsepower for this volume. Paired with him is a six-speed mechanics or a seven-band robot DSG. Acceleration to hundreds takes 11.8 and 12 seconds with the first and second box, respectively. The maximum speed is limited to 175 kilometers per hour. In mixed mode, the car consumes 6.5 liters of the 95th per 100 kilometers (according to passport data). As for the real fuel consumption of the Skoda Yeti 1.2, reviews say that this figure is always one to two liters higher depending on the driving style. The owners also say that this power is not enough for such a heavy crossover. After all, its curb weight reaches one and a half tons. The problem of the “slow” motor is solved as follows. The car is driven by chip tuning, where the masters perform a flashing of the electronic unit. Thanks to the new turbine settings, the power of the 1.2-liter engine increases to 140 horsepower.
An intermediate in the line is a 1.6-liter engine. What do the Skoda Yeti 1.6 reviews say? The owners note that with this engine the car reacts more sharply to the accelerator pedal. Engine power is 122 horsepower. Like the previous engine, this unit is equipped with one of two gearboxes. Acceleration to hundreds takes 10.5 seconds. The maximum speed is 10 kilometers per hour more than with a 1.2-liter engine. The average fuel consumption is 6.8 liters. In practice, about eight.
Top in the line is the 1.8-liter TSI engine. This engine is also turbocharged and delivers as much as 152 horsepower. According to reviews, the Skoda Yeti 1.8 TSI is the fastest crossover among all the others. Acceleration to hundreds takes 8.7 seconds. Fuel consumption in the combined cycle for many is 9 liters. Note that the 1.8-liter modification is always equipped with an all-wheel drive system and Offroad mode, which helps on the downhill.
Problems: increased oil consumption
According to reviews, Skoda Yeti is distinguished by increased maslozhor. Moreover, this trend is observed on all engines with a turbine. So, about one liter of lubricant goes for 6 thousand kilometers. Moreover, such an expense is already from the factory. Many complained to the dealer about this problem. However, he stated that this flow rate is the norm for such engines.
Timing belt tensioner
The TSI motors use a timing chain drive. It can stretch over time. As a result, the owner hears a characteristic rumble during the operation of the internal combustion engine and strange rattling. The reason is a failed tensioner, due to which the chain is significantly stretched.
According to reviews, the Skoda Yeti 4x4 begins to "rumble" after 40 thousand kilometers. And most often this problem is observed on engines with a volume of 1.2 liters. What does the dealer say about this? A spokesperson advises installing a new camshaft cover that will prevent the chain from slipping.
Turbine
Since all engines are equipped with a turbocharger, failure of it is also possible. So, in the event of a breakdown of the mechanism, the motor significantly loses dynamics and traction on the bottoms. At the same time, the “Check” lights up on the instrument panel. The problem is solved under warranty by replacing the turbine with a new one. According to reviews, the Skoda Yeti 1.8 TSI 4x4 fails due to the large amount of oil that fills the intake manifold. It is necessary to regularly clean it, as well as to clean the throttle valve assembly from dirt.
Chassis
The Skoda Yeti has the same suspension configuration as the Octavia. So, MacPherson struts with A-shaped wishbones are used at the front, and a multi-link is at the back.
The manufacturer claims that the suspension for the Yeti has been finalized and retuned to a comfortable ride in urban environments. What do the reviews say about this? The car reacts rather rigidly to the pits. However, there are no complaints about controllability. The car perfectly holds the road at high speed and does not heel in corners.
Drive unit
In the basic and medium configuration, the car comes with front-wheel drive. The torque goes to the wheels according to the classical scheme - from the box to the joints of equal angular speeds. But the 1.8-liter modification is arranged somewhat differently. Here, the Czechs used four-wheel drive with a fourth-generation Haldex clutch. It works from an electronic control unit and an active safety sensor. In the event of a slip, the electronics automatically engage the rear wheels. There is also an Offroad mode. It allows you to increase braking performance on wet primers. The ABS system works so that the wheels form a wedge for a short time. As a result, soil is collected in front of the tires and the braking distance is reduced.
How does this car behave in off-road conditions? Reviews say the crossover is poorly adapted for cross-country driving. Firstly, the low location of the suspension and bumper elements contributes to this. Secondly, the 1.8-liter version does not even have electronic simulations of locks. The car is easy to put on the belly. And the second axis is activated only when the car is already mired head over heels in the sand.
Conclusion
So, we found out what the Czech crossover “Skoda Yeti” is. As you can see, the car has many pitfalls. Basically, they relate to the power structure (in fact, the most important part in the car). In pursuit of technological progress, the Czechs produced fairly crude and unfinished engines. The result was numerous car reviews and replacement of power parts under warranty. Fearing that Skoda will need another major repair, the owners are trying to put it up for sale faster. The price of this car drops significantly every year. Taking it on the secondary market (and even more so the version that has already come out of the warranty) is quite risky. Unforeseen investments may await the future owner.