Yeti Details now up on Skoda Australia website

[Jake02]

This topic actually has me rather interested, so I did a little more research and a small comparison between the three cars (not anything else) themselves.

ix35 Highlander R-Diesel: $38,490 ($42,600 on-road in NSW).
Sportage Platinum R-Diesel: $39,720 ($43,500 on-road in NSW).
Yeti 103TDI DSG: $37,990 (which I predict to be around $41,900 on-road in NSW).

Advantages (to me):
ix35: Probably the best value with the same standard equipment as the Sportage at a lower price; lovely dials/blue interior colours.
Sportage: Bigger interior with more space and biggest boot (with the seats up), best-looking (to some), standard projector headlamps/LED DRL's/tailights.
Yeti: Uses less fuel (7.5L/100km vs 6L/100km); more practical/higher quality interior with soft touch plastics, more storage spots, a big space advantage when the seats are down and the rear seats slide/recline; rear seat vents; looks different.

Disadvantages:
ix35: Uses more fuel and has a smaller tank; cheap interior; needs a facelift.
Sportage: Uses more fuel than the Yeti; rear indicators down the bottom of the rear bumper; potential order time for a vehicle that's no different to any other of the same type.
Yeti: Smallest in physical size; varying levels of value (sat-nav standard but not leather or the panoramic roof - seems kinda expensive to me); potential order time; potential to cost a lot more than the other two with high options pricing.

Obviously I'd have a Yeti because it's the perfect size (to me) but the other two present such strong value that they're hard to ignore. So while the Yeti might not be cheaper than the other two (well, spec for spec anyway) it's a lot cheaper than other C-SUV's (Tiguan, Forester, CR-V) and all three have a lot more character than the normal C-SUV's too. That's my 2c's anyway .

[Zelig]

Good summary Jake02.

I have a spreadsheet going comparing lots of different specs between these 3 cars and the Tiguan (103TDI), Dualis Ti (petrol), Koleos Privilege (petrol) and ASX Aspire (Diesel manual).

Some other advantages of the Yeti over the ix35/Sportage:-
* Fuel Economy advantage is even greater for Yeti on the URBAN cycle (7.6l/100km compared to 10l/100km for Sportage and 10.1 for ix35). Coupled with the larger fuel tank of the Yeti you mentioned (Yeti 60L, ix35/Sportage 55L), this means Yeti will have a longer range which which will make the bride happy.
* Minimum ground clearance 180mm (Yeti) vs 172 (Sportage) and 170 (ix35)
* Smaller turning circle 10.30m (Yeti) compared to 10.58m (ix35) and 10.6m (Sportage). Tiguan is listed at 12.0m ??? (I mention Turning circle because it is an issue for the bride).
* Yeti has driver's knee airbag which none of the others have.
* Not certain, but I think the Yeti's 4x4 credentials will be stronger than the ix35 & Sportage, although they are all essentially soft-roaders.


Disadvantages of Yeti:-
* ix35 (730L) and Sportage (740L) have bigger boots and full size spares. Sportage is an Alloy spare. Yeti boot is 416L or 322L with space saver spare.
* Sportage and ix35 both have Proximity Key for Keyless entry and start/stop system.
* Koreans both offer 5 year warranties compared to 3 years for the Yeti.
* ix35 and Sportage both have reversing camera with LCD in Rear View Mirror. Not sure if reverse camera will be a standard part of the included Columbus system for Yeti (this is not a real biggie as an after-market Reverse Camera/LCD Rear View Mirror for the Yeti won't be that expensive to add).


As you can probably guess from all of my posts, I really like the Yeti and want it to be price (and spec) competitive with the Koreans so the decision won't be hard.

I think I can cop adding $1,730 to the Yeti price for the Sunroof, giving me $39,720 RRP (same as Sportage).

However, if Skoda want another $3,000 for Leather Seats when the ix35 & Sportage have them as standard (along with Electric Driver's Seat adjustment, KESSY etc), I then start having to weigh up whether the Yeti is worth the extra cost and even if it is, can I come up with the extra dough.

[woofy]

You know, if Skoda were dead serious about competing in the value type segment, they need to put their money behind the cars and have standard 5 yr warranty. I reckon a lot of the euro build/servicing issues would be outweighed by that.

When I bought my RS there wasn't even a proper option at the time to extend warranty.

[K1W1]

Yeti: Uses less fuel (7.5L/100km vs 6L/100km)

Which assuming that the real world difference is still the same at 15,000km per year and $1.40/litre for diesel means a saving of around $300 per year in fuel or $1000 near enough over three years. That's probably not enough advantage alone to make a huge difference in somebodies buying decision.

[Jake02]

That's probably not enough advantage alone to make a huge difference in somebodies buying decision.

I don't care, I never said it would do so...

The Yeti uses less fuel; meaning spending less time at a service station, not necessarily saving money.

[K1W1]

I agree with you but I think many people get way too wrapped up in meaningless stats when they look at vehicles. All that really matters is, do you and the other owners like the vehicle, are you comfortable driving it and will it do the job you are buying it for and of course can you afford it? Things like 8mm difference in ground clearance or 250mm in turning radius or $300 per year for fuel are not really reasons to buy a vehicle they are generally excuses not to buy one.

[Zelig]

Which assuming that the real world difference is still the same at 15,000km per year and $1.40/litre for diesel means a saving of around $300 per year in fuel or $1000 near enough over three years. That's probably not enough advantage alone to make a huge difference in somebodies buying decision.

When so many other things are equal between these cars, it is definitely a consideration. Even more so when you look at the URBAN cycle which is more likely to reflect real world figures. 7.6L/100 vs 10L/100 over 20,000kms @ $1.40/litre = $672 per year, or $720 per year if diesel stays up over $1.50 like it has for the last 12 weeks in Sydney.

[bluey]

To me everything adds a part to a decision.

I have a spreadsheet too, including a total cost of ownership estimate. I am not interested in a Korean car, for unknown longevity. Subarus had a bad enough reputation for quality after 100k. (I have had bad experiences with Korean laser printer mechanicals.) The biggest impact on cost is depreciation. This is less of an issue for a long-term owning proposition. VWs seem to have much better resale than Audis and Skodas.

Until the Yeti, the petrol Tiguan 125 was looking favourable, but I was keen to see the new model since I wasn't keen on the nose design (looked much better in the design prototypes) or tail lights. MY12 Looks much better (except the tail lights when on look awful). Sadly, VW have downspecced the standard alloys on the Tiguan 125 to 16in rather than 17in. Tiguan packaging is nothing special. Yeti fixes that with the varioflex seating. Yeti looks like it has the equivalent of VWs "comfort package" as standard. I'd like to see the Yeti with 125kW diesel, but presume that option was eliminated on cost grounds.

Somehow Yeti has a much smaller reported turning circle (10-10.3m depending on source) vs Tiguan 12m.

Had a look today - interesting that Yeti has a fuzzy wheel arch liner a bit like boot carpet or moulded geotextile. I like the picture in the Australian Yetu brochure with the light coloured interior trim - but they aren't getting that trim in Australia at all, only shades of grey.

[K1W1]

Had a look today - interesting that Yeti has a fuzzy wheel arch liner a bit like boot carpet or moulded geotextile.

My Octavia has that. It's crap to clean, if fact I don't bother I just hit it with the pressure washer and get on with other stuff.

I was told by a couple of sources that there were issues mating the 125kW TDI motor to the all wheel drive system. I'm not sure how accurate that is or was.

[Jake02]

I was told by a couple of sources that there were issues mating the 125kW TDI motor to the all wheel drive system. I'm not sure how accurate that is or was.

They do sell a Yeti 125TDI overseas, Skoda Aus obviously just didn't believe in it selling very well.