Hyundai ix35 vs Skoda Yeti - compare and contrast

[stockhausen]

I am looking at the Hyundai ix35 and the Skoda Yeti and would be interested in the views of anyone who has experience of either.

I will keep it for about 10 years
Must be 4WD and manual
Must be capable of carrying four adults in comfort
Must be capable of towing a dinghy trailer​

Thanks very much

 

[DM]

Buy a decent second hand 4x4 not a corn beef tin

 

[mikeh501]

I am looking at the Hyundai ix35 and the Skoda Yeti and would be interested in the views of anyone who has experience of either.

I will keep it for about 10 years
Must be 4WD and manual
Must be capable of carrying four adults in comfort
Must be capable of towing a dinghy trailer​

Thanks very much

either will do this. which do you prefer?

im assuming either will tow the trailer your looking at, but worth checking.

 

[stockhausen]

Buy a decent second hand 4x4 ...

Such as? I would be happy to consider economical, reliable alternatives, just not sure what else is likely to be as good over a 10 year period.

Incidentally, I wouldn't touch anything with a Range Rover badge on it, my understanding is that they are neither reliable or economical.

... not a corn beef tin

I'm not quite sure what you mean by this? I have owned an Hyundai for over a year and am perfectly happy with it. I know of three people who own Skodas (not the Yeti) and are very happy with them.

I will aim to buy in late Autumn (just before the skiing season) and will probably go for an ex-Demo model if available.

To be honest, I am not really concerned about aesthetics, image or colour but am VERY concerned about functionality, economy and reliability.


Thanks for any sort of reply, anyhow

 

[mikeh501]

Such as? I would be happy to consider economical, reliable alternatives, just not sure what else is likely to be as good over a 10 year period.

Incidentally, I wouldn't touch anything with a Range Rover badge on it, my understanding is that they are neither reliable or economical.

I'm not quite sure what you mean by this? I have owned an Hyundai for over a year and am perfectly happy with it. I know of three people who own Skodas (not the Yeti) and are very happy with them.

I will aim to buy in late Autumn (just before the skiing season) and will probably go for an ex-Demo model if available.

To be honest, I am not really concerned about aesthetics, image or colour but am VERY concerned about functionality, economy and reliability.


Thanks for any sort of reply, anyhow

Whats your budget?

Considered Qashqai?

 

[Lashout_UK]

I found the Yeti more comfortable and characterful than the ix35, plus it's the better handling car. I did notice that the leather had started creasing and rucking quite considerably by the 10k mile mark - but overall the Yeti's a fantastically well built thing.

There's not much in it economy way - both will do circa 40mpg without too much issue in daily use.

Towing weight is slighty higher on the ix35 but not by enough to make any worthwhile difference.

Qashqai isn't as good as either of the other suggestions and they seem to have a lot of problems. Probably worth avoiding.

ix35's a bit longer than a Yeti too - about 20cm - which may be worth considering. Yeti's wider than the ix35, though.

Both get plenty of kit and should last equally as well, both in terms of quality and depreciation. I'd probably swing for the Yeti but the best thing to do would be just to drive both and see how you get on with them - as they are slightly different cars.

Yeti does have a lot of neat touches though but many are optional so it's a case of finding the right spec car

 

[stockhausen]

Whats your budget? ...

Sufficient for a new ix35 / Yeti / Qashqai but not any German equivalent

... Considered Qashqai?

Yes but dismissed it, see below.

I found the Yeti more comfortable and characterful than the ix35, plus it's the better handling car. I did notice that the leather had started creasing and rucking quite considerably by the 10k mile mark - but overall the Yeti's a fantastically well built thing.

There's not much in it economy way - both will do circa 40mpg without too much issue in daily use.

Towing weight is slighty higher on the ix35 but not by enough to make any worthwhile difference.

Qashqai isn't as good as either of the other suggestions and they seem to have a lot of problems. Probably worth avoiding.

ix35's a bit longer than a Yeti too - about 20cm - which may be worth considering. Yeti's wider than the ix35, though.

Both get plenty of kit and should last equally as well, both in terms of quality and depreciation. I'd probably swing for the Yeti but the best thing to do would be just to drive both and see how you get on with them - as they are slightly different cars.

Thanks for that. I can't say that I am crazy about the idea of leather but I guess it will clean up more easily than fabric.

I would have to say that I am leaning towards the Yeti despite thinking that it looks ugly as sin. One of the couples I know who run two Skodas replaced a Qashqai with a Skoda estate, it is they who particularly encouraged me seriously to consider the Yeti. They are also encouraging me to go diesel but since I hate tractors and am likely to do less than 10k per year, I favour a petrol - torque may change my mind.

As you say, I need to test-drive both. I'm just interested in the views of anyone who has tried either

 

[Lashout_UK]

The diesel in the Yeti is a good little unit, very refined for what it is. Pulls very well too, as you'd expect. Works great in combination with the 4x4 powertrain. I've only driven the 1.7-litre diesel ix35 but again, that's a good engine too and very capable given its displacement. I eeked 48mpg out of it last week without much effort.

I found the seats in the ix35 less comfortable than the Yeti initially but I seem to be getting used to them. The Yeti does ride and handle better than the ix35 though and there are less easily scratched plastics in the Yeti's cabin (from memory).

 

[mikeh501]

you guys got any proper links of qashqai issues? i thought they would be pretty reliable given its a) japanese and b) theyve sold an absolute truck load of them (sure i read it was a top 10 seller). Sure the fact there is millions of the damn things about not skewing peoples perception?

I like the yeti as a proposition but cant get over the looks tbh; and the hyundai is just a bit korean looking for my liking.