Long-term test: Skoda Yeti 1.6TDI Elegance Greenline II

Skoda’s brand really has made that leap into the mainstream.

Friends and family have been intrigued before when I’ve driven Skodas home in the past and I’ve had to explain to them that yes, it is in fact a Skoda.

However, the latest arrival to AM’s long-term fleet was instantly met with recognition. They knew it was a Skoda, they knew it was a Yeti and they were even “excited” about having a look.

It looks like the Czech brand’s marketing has paid off. I would imagine stuffing Sienna Miller into the Yeti’s glovebox and landing a helicopter on its roof in a surreal episode of Top Gear earlier this year also helped to raise the profile of the practical crossover (see video at www.am-online.com/amtv).

As is the case with Skoda’s entire range now, the Yeti is instantly recognisable. Skoda’s models are no longer subject to looking like VW Group clones and its interior is actually a surprisingly plush place to be when specified with the top trim level.

Elegance comes with high quality heated leather seats which have been essential for escaping the Baltic conditions sweeping across East Anglia on the morning commute.

The fact there is an auxiliary cable included as standard for MP3 players also makes me beam with a smile each time I swap back into the Yeti.

Having been able to get used to the Park Assist feature since it was first launched on a Skoda Superb back in July 2009, I’m now confident enough to use it regularly when trying to squeeze into tight parallel spots outside my flat.

At £495, it’s an acceptable optional cost for customers if the price of the car is spread in monthly instalments with a finance package.

The ease of achieving reasonable fuel economy with the Yeti is also a stand out feature.

While the official figure of 61.4mpg is slightly out of reach, hitting the mid-50s, particularly on longer journeys, is easy to do without changing driving style at all. Perfect if you’d rather be thinking about something more interesting than “optimising your driving style”.