Car Moon

It took Skoda more than four years and two concept studies, but Volkswagen's Czech subsidiary finally managed to unveil the production version of the Yeti at this week's Geneva Salon. When it goes on sale across Europe this summer, the Yeti compact SUV will be Skoda's fifth model competing against rivals such as the Ford Kuga, Toyota RAV4 and even VW's very own Tiguan.

Skoda's designers kept close to the original concept in terms of styling though they did replace the hidden rear door handles with conventional ones. Compared to its rivals, the 4.2 metre long, five-door vehicle looks less robust and more 'crossoverish'.

The Czech company claims that the Yeti is quite practical offering up to 1760 litres in luggage space by removing the rear seats while a luggage cover and net as well as lashing rings are available to secure the load

Available exclusively with turbocharged 4-cylinder engines, the range consists of two petrol units (1.2 TSI with 102HP and 1.8 TSI with 160HP) and three diesel variants (2.0 TDI with a power output of 110, 140 and 170HP). Aside from the 1.2-liter TSI which is offered only with a front-wheel drive layout, all the other powerplants come with four-wheel drive.