Yeti pricing

[Zelig]

Before anybody gets too carried away remember that those prices will be plus extras plus on roads. I would say $40k for a top of the line with metallic paint and some extras may well be closer to what early adopters have to pay to drive one out of the dealership. Still great pricing though.

I am looking at the Yeti up against the Sportage Platinum/ix35 Highlander/Dualis Ti/ASX Aspire, all of which have a high level of standard equipment in their $38k-$43k driveaway price.

If that $40k (driveaway) Yeti is a 103TDI 4x4 DSG with Leather, Sunroof, Columbus Sat Nav, Spare Tyre, Electric Driver Seat, Folding Mirrors, Bluetooth, Parking Sensors and Privacy Glass then I would be comfortable with the $40k price tag.

A Tiguan with equivalent options would be about $55k or more.

[Jake02]

Hmmmm $40k for all of that? I'm not so sure.

I reckon they'll make (out of that list above) sat-nav, the spare wheel (how could they not? This isn't a Commodore or a Golf Bluemotion), maybe the folding mirrors (definitely if the electric seat is chosen like the Scout) and at least rear parking sensors as standard equipment. Leather would be a $3k option (with heated seats included), electric driver's seat ($1,500), Bluetooth (what is that priced like? $800?) and the panoramic roof (I don't think that ix35 or Sportage sunroofs are panoramic but someone prove me wrong? That'd be like $1,800).

Loaded with those options I think it'll be around $43-45k, but including the DSG and considering the level of quality and engineering involved is a bargain.

[Zelig]

It all depends on how hard they wish to compete with the Koreans & Japanese.

The Sportage Platinum has leather, full sized Alloy spare, panoramic (opening) sunroof, electric driver seat, heated front seats, cooling driver's seat, bluetooth, rear parking sensors, reversing camera, DRL's, privacy glass, proximity key and start/stop button for $39,490 plus on-roads. ix35 Highlander has virtually the same equipment (except no DRL's and cooling driver seat). Driveaway pricing of $40k-$41k is apparently readily achievable for both.

The ASX Aspire ($38k driveaway) also includes Sat Nav, but is manual only for the diesel and its panoramic sunroof doesn't open like the Yeti and Sportage/ix35.

The Dualis Ti AWD is cheaper again, but is Petrol only.


Given the Yeti will have to overcome the "European Servicing costs" perception and the lack of Brand Rep in Australia for Skoda generally, if Skoda want to use the Yeti to really put their brand on the map in Australia, then they will need the sort of pricing I was suggesting.

Maybe wishful thinking on my part, but that's what Skoda is up against.

Whilst some knowledgeable punters may see the "level of quality and engineering involved" and be willing to pay a small premium over the Koreans, most punters will see any premium in the price as a reason to say "Pass".

[Zelig]

Just looked at the Scout pricing and I see that the Scout Premium adds DSG, Leather, Privacy Glass, Electric Seat and Electric Sunroof all for $4,000 extra over the standard Scout.


If the 4x4 103TDI Yeti (manual) is $33k and then they add $4k for the same list of extras as above then you will have $37k plus on roads.

If they keep their Free Sat Nav promotion going, that $40k driveaway Yeti I am after may be possible after all.

[Transporter]

I liked the ix35 until I took it for the test drive. Then I went and ordered the Tiguan, should the Yeti been around then, I'm sure it would be parked in my garage instead the Tiguan.

When car company doesn't have AT as an option with the diesel engine, I always ask, what else they didn't develop (saved money on)?

[Zelig]

I've driven a Kia Sportage diesel and was suitably impressed.

Haven't driven the 103TDI / DSG combination yet. Will have to try that out. Maybe try a Scout while we wait for the Yeti to appear.

[bobski]

Blurg, my wife sent me a Yeti article and is absolutely in love with it. Trouble is I'm rather attached to my RS... 2 car family?

At least it should be reasonably priced! It'll sell on styling alone, and if it lands around the same money as the koreans with the same level refinement of our other skoda's it'll only be the availability holding it back....

[Transporter]

Blurg, my wife sent me a Yeti article and is absolutely in love with it. Trouble is I'm rather attached to my RS... 2 car family?

At least it should be reasonably priced! It'll sell on styling alone, and if it lands around the same money as the koreans with the same level refinement of our other skoda's it'll only be the availability holding it back....

I like it too and when I saw the first pictures it looked ugly to me. I think that many people will be surprised by Yeti.