The 2.0-litre turbodiesel had the lowest power and torque outputs in this group [level with Volkswagen Tiguan] but its six-speed dual-clutch transmission made up for any power deficit thanks to super-fast shifting. The transmission and engine combo proved one of the most refined in the group.
Along tightly winding mountain roads the Yeti’s dynamics came to the fore – it was a lot of fun to drive fast through corners and kept pace with the Mazda CX-5 where most others struggled, particularly the Nissan X-TRAIL and Holden Captiva.
The flipside of this on-road confidence was offroad nervousness. The Yeti’s low ground clearance and firm ride are fine on sealed roads, but were jarring when driving on bumpy, rock strewn off road tracks.
Safety was another of the car’s strong points – its stability control program one of the best on test, both on and off road. Simply put, it was fool proof. On smooth gravel and even slick muddy surfaces it performed exceedingly well, nipping any slides or skids in the bud before they took hold. A shame then the antilock brakes weren’t quite as resolved. The flat ride and wide tyres didn’t provide much ‘bite’ on our icy bridge test.
Other things that we liked included a hill-hold function, automatic headlights, rain-sensing front wipers and dual-zone climate control. Little things made a big difference too, such as high quality leather steering wheel, handbrake and gear shifter – areas that are constantly in contact with hands.
Standard fit 17-inch alloy wheels add value, but some things that were missed included rear parking sensors and a USB port, features that were standard on the more affordable Holden Captiva.
Soft touch dash plastics and other pleasant rubbery materials have been used at frequent touch points like the stereo controls, and there was a real sense of quality engineering in the way the switchgear clicked up and down and how various dials rotated.
The easy-to-use trip computer has a number of functions, from fuel usage (instant and average), distance to empty, distance travelled and so forth. The only things that could become a nuisance in the future is the lack of a full-sized spare [though most of the vehicles in this test are in the same boat] and road noise from the low-profile tyres.
Ergonomics were generally very good – fiddling with the car's various controls was intuitive and we didn’t have to consult the owner’s manual at all. The front seats proved very supportive and comfortable, with one of the crew suggesting the seats had "Euro orthopaedics".
We’d also like to compliment the inclusion of rear seat ventilation outlets.
By and large the Yeti does a good job of carting its passengers around in comfort. Just make sure there are only four passengers though, as the rear seats were the narrowest on test. When cruising around with five adults, shoulder room for rear seat passengers was poor.
A couple of other negatives include the below-average rear vision thanks to thick D-pillars and a small rear window. The thick A-pillars weren’t much better.
Economy was middle of the road, with an average of 9.2L/100km.
Plenty of incidental storage came in handy, with cup holders front and rear, but also bottle holders front and rear in the doors. A sunglasses holder was also appreciated.
Our test car didn’t have satellite navigation or a touchscreen interface, but the infotainment system was easy to use. The eight-speaker audio system was a nice piece of kit and steering wheel controls for both the stereo and trip computer resulted in easier operation of the car's infotainment functions.
The most impressive technology in the Yeti is not in the cabin however – it’s underneath the car, in the form of the six-speed dual-clutch transmission. It’s bettered only by the seven-speed version in the Tiguan and makes the car feel fast and responsive, though at slower speeds and smaller throttle inputs it did feel a little lifeless.
Price: $37,990 ($38,720 as tested)
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel
Output: 103kW/320Nm
Transmission: Six-speed dual-clutch
Wheels/Tyres: 17x7.0-inch / 225/50
Fuel/CO2: 6.7L/100km / 174g/km
Safety: Five-star (ANCAP) / Six airbags
See how each of the six went in the Mid-sized SUV test:
motoring.com.au's Mid-sized SUV comparison:
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