Used Skoda Yeti for sale: everything you need to know
Owners love the Skoda Yeti, and we suspect it’s not just because it’s a fantastic all-rounder that blends practicality with low running costs and a fine drive. It’s also got something that’s difficult to define but easy to appreciate: character. From the funky, chunky styling to its unpretentious toughness, it’s one of the most likeable cars the Skoda brand has made.
The Yeti debuted in 2009 and was facelifted in 2013, finally going out of production (and getting replaced by the excellent but less interesting Karoq) in 2017. Not only are Yetis great cars but they also tend to last, so there’s usually a good selection of used models on sale, though it’s worth bearing in mind that even the newest models are a good few years old now, so may not have all the features we’ve come to expect from modern cars.
Should you buy a Skoda Yeti?
The Yeti is a car that’s very easy to recommend, especially as a used car, with depreciation bringing it well within the reach of many motorists. It’s telling that owners absolutely rave about their Yetis - it’s one of those rare cars that isn’t just a tool for a job, but almost becomes part of the family for a lot of drivers.
There are no significant weaknesses. The characterful boxy shape means the cabin is very spacious despite a relatively short footprint of 4.2 metres - actually a little shorter than a VW Golf. The 416-litre boot doesn’t sound huge but it’s a useful, square shape and has a fairly low loading lip, while if you flip the seats forward, the tall body means you can load more than 1700 litres if you pack it to the roof.
Interior fixtures and fittings are chunky and hard-wearing, the seats are comfortable, with a raised seating position, visibility is excellent thanks to the flat sides and relatively upright windscreen, and the dashboard is a paragon of logic. The infotainment can seem a little old by modern standards, but it’s at least very easy to use. The Yeti is unexpectedly good to drive too, with positive steering and composed, even quite fun handling, but a pliant ride that takes the sting out of poorly surfaced roads.
It’s even pretty dependable, which is useful particularly for an older car like this, but if you’d prefer something newer then the Skoda Karoq that replaced the Yeti is another great all-rounder, if less interesting to look at and drive. Another budget SUV that’s well worth checking out is the Dacia Duster, which doesn’t quite match the Yeti for quality but gets you even more car for your money.
What’s the best used Skoda Yeti model to buy?
The Skoda Yeti can play many roles, from simple urban family car to something a bit more rugged or better suited to covering plenty of miles - or even occasional off-road use, if you need it. As a result there’s no one answer to which is best, though we’d suggest the 1.2 TSI if you’re looking for a runaround, and the 140PS TDI if you’re going to be covering more miles. That diesel engine gets front-wheel drive and 4x4 options too, so go for whichever will suit your driving needs. The Yeti was facelifted in 2013 and later models are slightly better equipped, though as a package there’s not much to separate older and newer models.
Used Skoda Yeti fuel economy and performance
- Skoda Yeti 1.2 TSI 105: The 1.2-litre 105PS four-cylinder gets along quite nicely with an 11.4-second 0-62mph time, while combined economy is quoted at 46.3mpg.
- Skoda Yeti 1.8 TSI 160 4x4: With a larger 1.8-litre turbocharged petrol engine you get 160PS, and a manual gearbox and all-wheel drive as standard. 0-62mph comes up in 8.4 seconds and economy is 36.2mpg.
- Skoda Yeti 1.6 TDI CR 105 Greenline II: Greenline models get an efficient 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel with 105PS. Skoda quotes 61.4mpg economy.
- Skoda Yeti 2.0 TDI CR 110: The least powerful 2-litre turbodiesel engine starts th 110PS and has similar performance to the 1.2 TSI, with an 11.6-second 0-62mph dash. Economy is up to 55.4mpg.
- Skoda Yeti 2.0 TDI CR 140 4x4: With more power (140PS), standard all-wheel drive, and either a manual or dual-clutch auto gearbox, 0-62mph now takes 9.9 seconds, and average economy is 48.7mpg.
- Skoda Yeti 2.0 TDI CR 170 4x4: The most powerful diesel makes 170PS, and has a 0-62mph time of 8.4 seconds, matching the 1.8 TSI. Economy is 49.6mpg for manual versions and 44.8mpg for the dual-clutch auto.
What used Skoda Yeti trim levels are available?
- The Skoda Yeti S comes with kit such as alloy wheels, air conditioning and electric windows all-round.
- The Skoda Yeti SE upgrades to larger alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, a touchscreen infotainment system, and some of Skoda’s ‘Simply Clever’ features, such as horizontal rails in the boot and an ice scraper in the fuel filler door.
- The Skoda Yeti Monte Carlo has a sporty appearance, with Monte Carlo being a reference to the famous rally. It gets interior and exterior styling touches, plus some extra kit over the SE.
- The Skoda Yeti Elegance steps up the luxury with leather trim, heated front seats, and bright bi-xenon headlights with LED running lights.
- The Skoda Yeti Laurin & Klement tops the range with equipment such as brown leather upholstery, piano-black dashboard trim, a panoramic glass roof and the best infotainment system that Skoda could offer at the time.
Used Skoda Yeti dimensions and boot size
The Skoda Yeti’s exterior dimensions are:
- Length: 4222mm
- Width: 1793mm
- Height: 1645mm
- Ground clearance: 180mm (Skoda Yeti Greenline II: 155mm)
The Skoda Yeti’s boot space is:
- 416 litres
- 1760 litres with rear seats folded
Used Skoda Yeti road tax
Only a handful of Yetis were sold after April 2017, and therefore only a few will be subject to the flat rate of VED or ‘road tax’ that results - currently £190 per year as of 2024/2025. The rest of the range is CO2-based, which works out very nicely for the Greenline models with their 119g/km CO2 ratings, and a bill of only £35 per year. A top-spec 1.8 TSI 4x4 in Laurin & Klement trim though, with a 189g/km rating, is £385 per year.
How much is it to insure a Skoda Yeti?
The Yeti range spans insurance groups 9-24 depending on the model you’re looking at and the year of the vehicle. An early 1.2 TSI in S trim is at the bottom of that scale, and the top Laurin & Klement diesel at the upper end. Those numbers are a little lower than the Skoda Karoq that replaced the Yeti, which runs from groups 10-26.
