Skoda Yeti with two new engines

Skoda Auto India will launch new variants of the Yeti SUV. The new variants will be powered by a small capacity diesel engine and a petrol engine.

The new variants with small capacity engines will help Skoda to sell more Yeti models in the country as these models will likely be priced a notch below the present model.

There are speculations that the Yeti’s smaller diesel engine could be the 1.6 litre TDI motor that powers the Volkswagen Vento. This power plant makes 105 bhp of maximum power and 250 Nm of maximum torque. The petrol engine will likely be the 1.2 litre TSI motor that powers the Yeti sold in markets abroad.

The new engine variants can bring down the Yeti’s price by Rs. 1-2 lakh based on the features and mechanicals stripped down by Skoda. If the new Yeti variants are priced starting from Rs. 13 lakh or a lesser, the sales of the SUV could go up. Also read: Skoda launches two Yeti variants

At present, the Skoda Yeti is available in two variants, the Ambiente and the Elegance. The Yeti Ambiente is priced at Rs. 15.40 lakh while the Elegance is priced at Rs. 16.62 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

The current model is powered by a 2-litre TDI diesel engine that produces 140 bhp of maximum power at 4,000 rpm and 320 Nm of maximum torque at 1,750 to 2,500 rpm. This diesel motor is mated to a six-speed transmission.

The Yeti gives an ARAI certified mileage of 17.67 km/litre. The Yeti has an on-demand, 4×4 all-wheel-drive system via Haldex clutch, that not only drives the front wheels, but transfers power to the rear wheels when needed.

The Yeti is loaded with features like ABS, traction control, electronic stability program (ESP), electronic differential lock, brake assist (BA) and anti-slip regulation.

Besides, in order to help Yeti perform well during off-road driving, Skoda has equipped the SUV with hill start assist and hill descent control system. On the safety front, the Yeti has six airbags and cornering fog lamps that give a wider spread of light. Related: Skoda Yeti road test

The SUV is a 5-seater and offers a luggage space of 416 litres which can be extended to 1,760 litres by folding the rear seat. The size of the Yeti is not at par with popular SUVs like the Ford Endeavour, Toyota Fortuner and Mahindra Scorpio.

The Yeti is a small SUV, in fact it is the lightest of all weighing in at 1.5 tons. Being light, the Yeti offers a good mileage ( 14.9 km/litre overall) as against its heavier SUV rivals, but at the same time the Yeti felt a little skittish over rumbling surfaces during the CarToq road test.