Our cars: Skoda Yeti 1.6-litre TDI Greenline

8 October 2011: A Yeti for all seasons – Come rain or shine, Yeti is prepared

We weren’t blessed with the warmest of Summers this year, but the upside to that is that it showed off some of Yeti’s strong points.

August saw its fair share of outside events, from proms to festivals, and as is typical at these events there’s always a good dousing of rain. With that comes those muddy, boggy fields that double as car parks in the Summer – and the worry that you’re going to be left stuck-in-the-mud when you come to leave.

But that’s not been the case with my Yeti. It may not be one of the models fitted with four-wheel drive (that would have a significant impact on emissions, fuel economy and therefore Road Tax), but with its raised ride height and chunky tyres, it’s still good enough to save you from the indignity of being pulled out of the mud by a tractor. In fact, I reckon for many buyers, the two-wheel drive Yeti is just the job and there’s no need to opt for one with four-wheel drive.

Once again the Yeti proved how practical it is. We’ve come to take the large, easy-to-load boot for granted – it swallows almost any load and, even with three in the back, there’s still loads of room for luggage. When it comes to camping equipment, it once again takes the lot with ease.

This Yeti has now been with me since March, coinciding with the longer nights of the Summer. Now that they’re drawing in, previously hidden features have begun to grab my attention as I’m driving the car in the dark a lot more. The ‘guide-me-home’ headlights that stay on for an extra 30 seconds to light up the path to the door are especially useful, while the ‘Puddle Lights’ that are built into the wing mirrors and illuminate the floor below are another minor detail, but one that’s incredibly practical – who want to open the door and step into a large pool of water?

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