Light on snow

ROADTEST SKODA YETI 4x4: IF YOU BELIEVE the metrological Cassandras out there, last week’s floods were but a precursor to the Arctic winter ahead. It was a reminder to Irish motorists of how vulnerable our new road network is to the elements, and reignited the national angst about another “big freeze”.

Unfortunately most households don’t have the spare cash to jump into a Land Rover or Toyota Land Cruiser at the first fall of snow. Yet, while our financial means might be more meagre, where there’s public apprehension there’s commercial opportunity.

Hence the decision by several mainstream and price-conscious car brands to bring their four-wheel-drive variants developed for more snow-bound Continental markets to these shores this winter. In Skoda’s case it means a new range of 4x4 versions.

We spent a week with the Yeti, a car the Czech-based company has always pitched as being a rugged affordable hatchback. Yet for all its mud-plugging pretensions in the marketing campaigns, in most instances it’s sold as a front-wheel-drive vehicle, albeit with the more elevated seating position and the more rugged looks of a crossover. However, Skoda now offers a version that’s perhaps more in keeping with the mountain-climbing ability of its Himalayan namesake.

Skoda’s 4x4 derivatives use a clutch system from Swedish firm Haldex that distributes power between the front and rear wheels when its on-board computer notes a loss of traction. During normal driving 95 per cent of the torque is delivered to the front axle and the remaining 5 per cent to the rear. When a wheel loses traction the Haldex clutch redistributes the torque to the other wheels.

In effect it’s a part-time four-wheel drive system, a more advanced version of the traction control system available in most new cars these days, but with the benefit of being able to send power to four wheels rather than two. Additionally, the very quick reaction time between a noted loss of traction and power moving to the axle with more grip means that it’s effective enough to keep you moving along. It might be a reactive system, but that will be enough to get most people in the snow out of trouble.

The benefit of this system over full-time four-wheel-drive is that it’s lighter and that means less of an impact on fuel consumption and emissions. For example the Yeti still manages a respectable 155g/km with the Haldex system fitted, putting in tax Band C with annual motor tax of €302.

Does it deserve its 4x4 tagline? It’s a debatable point, for there’s no use kidding yourself that this is going to have the mud-plugging skills of a Toyota Land Cruiser but when the snow comes it may well prove its worth.

We’ve roadtested the Yeti before (see our road test archive at irishtimes.com/motors) so suffice to say that in this guise it’s as practical and versatile as always. The interior is smart and well put together, and while bootspace is not quite as big as you might expect, the extra height and adjustable seating format means that adults will have no complaints when sitting in the back.

Overall this is a well-built car that feels as composed on the road and as well put together internally as the VW Golf from which many of its parts are derived.

Having four driven wheels is better than two in the snow, but a good set of winter tyres can be just as useful. If you’re living halfway up the Mourne mountains it’s still going to be a struggle in the Yeti.

Skoda in Ireland has opted to match the Haldex system to its most powerful two-litre diesel engine, which pushes the price to the upper end of the Yeti range. The 170bhp engine offers impressive performance in this size of car, but they could have added the 4x4 system in with the 140bhp version as well and kept prices more in line with the Yeti’s mid-€20,000 customer base. After all, the cost-conscious market is looking for four-wheel-drive at an affordable price and a smaller engine wouldn’t necessarily compromise the Yeti’s off-road ability.

Skoda is on a major product offensive at present, with a couple of exciting new models on the way next year. The addition of these four-wheel-drive versions to its Superb, Octavia and Yeti models will only further strengthen its position as a fully-fledged rival to the likes of Opel and Peugeot.

As for the Yeti 4x4, its new car competition comes from the likes of the Mini Countryman All4 version, which has more panache and premium appeal, while the Hyundai ix35 4WD version at €30,995 will prove tempting with the Korean’s five-year unlimited mileage warranty. Add another €5,000 to the budget and you are looking at the likes of the Toyota RAV4 and four-wheel-drive Land Rover Freelanders.

Yet even against these rivals this 4x4 derivative of the Yeti offers value, functionality and a decent drive, with added reassurance if the snow does fall. This should mean the Yeti will be far more regular sight on Irish roads this winter.

OUR RATING 7/10

Gets to grips on the fear of another “big freeze” , if not quite the mountain-conqueror its name suggests

FACTFILE

ENGINE

1.968cc four-cylinder turbodiesel with a six-speed auto box, putting out 167bhp @ 4,200rpm and 350Nm of torque.

PERFORMANCE

0-100km/h: 8.4 seconds; 201km/h top speed

ECONOMY

5.9 L/100km (47.9mpg)

EMISSIONS

155g/km (€320 motor tax)

FEATURES

Seven airbags; touchscreen sound system; 17” alloys; front foglights; dualzone climate control; Bluetooth connection; and rear parking sensors.

PRICES

€29,545 for Ambition version; €31,480 for Elegance version

RIVALS

Toyota RAV4 2.2 D-4D Luna 4x4, €35,745 (motor tax: €302); Mini Countryman Cooper SD All4, €33,050 (motor tax: €156); Hyundai ix35 4WD, €30,995 (motor tax: €302); Suzuki SX4 2.0 diesel GLX €20,950 (motor tax: €156)