Škoda Yeti wins 2010 Czech Car of the Year

By Tim Beissmann | December 11th, 2009

The Škoda Yeti has been named the 2010 Car of the Year by the Czech Motoring Journalists Club (KMN), beating home the Opel Astra and the Mercedes E-Class.

The Yeti became the first Czech-made SUV when it was launched locally in mid-July and has gone on to sell more than 2400 units in its homeland and more than 13,500 worldwide.

Central Europe’s head of Škoda sales, Jan Hurt, said being crowned as the first SUV to win the KMN award was an achievement the entire company was excited about.

“Achieving what no other SUV car has achieved so far shows that we are on the right track with the Yeti.

“Three months after the launch in the Czech market, the car became the best selling SUV here,” she said.

The Yeti scored 223 points compared to the Astra’s 146 and 143 for the E-Class against a range of criteria including design, safety, economy, drivability, environmental standards and price.

Hurt said the KMN COTY would sit proudly in the cabinet alongside the Auto Bild Golden Steering Wheel award from Switzerland and Austria and the Auto Trophy from Germany as the most popular imported vehicle.

Last month Škoda Australia told CarAdvice that efforts to bring the Yeti down under were advanced and that it would hopefully arrive in the second half of 2010.

FrugalOne

*****PRIMO!*****

WOW!

Who would have thought a Czech built car being named car of the year in Czech Republic!

Our C/A Skoda fanboy will be going gaagaa!!

For mine VW here in Oz have got it all WRONG, dump Skoda [sorry fanboy] they are still to communist, and bring back the superior SEAT brand which are also a very good looking unit

Cheers

F-0

[Welcome back!]

Tomas79

Mate you have never obviously never compared a seat and a skoda side by side!!
Skoda is built much better!!
Will

Frugal,
You are not very bright. Keep away from managing things. Disaster will follow.

Tomas79

Also what kind of person tells himself “[Welcome Back]“??!

Golfschwein

I didn’t see a Yeti during my recent stay in Scotland and Northern Ireland, but Skodas are everywhere. Our Belfast hosts had two Fabias. Superbs and Octavias are a dime a dozen, with the former being the most popular taxi choice. Seats were only reasonably common, so I think VW have made the right decision for Australia.

Sammy

Yeah Skodas are used as Taxis everywhere in the parts of Europe I went, good value for the size you get. Much cheaper than the Ford Mondeos and Opel Insignia which helps there popularity as the choice for taxi owners.

Tomas79

Also most of the taxies in europe, are the cheap Skoda Octavia tour variants, which are based on the gen 1 octavias and are still being produced alongside the current gen octavias!

The Real Car Fanatic

They should at least bring the Leon Cupra R out here, cracking car I tell you, WTCC in diesel I might add.

Jake02

I don’t get it…German cars are constantly being named COTY in Germany so what’s your point? Of course the judges have a sense of national pride…

Can I just say that the Yeti is an actual good car. I know you anti-Skoda rejects won’t believe me, and try and argue against me, but it’s true. It’s winning awards everywhere and was even named in the Times (the newspaper Jeremy Clarkson writes for) as one of their COTY (along with the BMW 320d, Ferrari F458 etc) and the Octavia Scout 1.8TSI was named as one of Jeremy’s top choices for 2009. So the awards are deserved.

Deco

It’s still ugly…

Jake02

Oh, I wasn’t aware that you’ve seen one in person. Where!?

spellbound

Yep the mighty VL , what a load of junk ,up there with the camira , gee they had good duco , see thru , dont get me started on the rest , favorite pov car of bogans

t

AND effnix yuleh

G

It’s so funny to see that the local brands and locally made cars always win the “Best of” awards. Skodas in Czech Republic, VWs in Germany, Holdens in Australia.

So neutral…

Even funnier is to know that people still think these awards are worth something.

Tomas79

G i guess you never really been to those countries? National cars don’t win as often as you think!!

But look at this site, how many people here think Falcadores are best things since sliced bread, yet rest of the world doesn’t really want them!!

Wheelnut

Aahh Tomas; you accused me of making off topic comments; for mentioning Toyota TRD on the HSV VE GX-P blog…? Yet here you are mentioning both Ford Falcons and Holden Commodores on a blog topic to do with Skoda.

So really your predictable/repetitive Anti-Ford; Anti-Holden comments comments are no different to my Anti-Toyota comments are they?

The Real Car Fanatic

Really G, cause if I recall the last two time Holden won COTY for it’s Commodore were 1997 and 2006 for the VT and VE repectively. Obviously the models in between weren’t good enough to beat the likes of Mazda, Subaru, Mercedes Benz and Honda, last I checked those four weren’t Australian cars.

And while the VW Polo was German car of the year, strangely enough it won European car of the year so I guess the Germans as well as having pride in their own cars, were correct, because the rest of Europe agreed with them.

Tomas79

Also I reckon Germans have the right to award themself a COTY award every year without bbeing labeled nationalistic!! As they really have so many great cars to choose!!

The Real Car Fanatic

Thats right Tomas79. I love it when my hubby gets all fired up and has a go! Mwwwaaaaa ! *kiss*

Dave T

20 odd comments, 2 are a negative opinions about Skodas, and the rest are abuse from the usual Skoda fanboys.
ZERO about the car the Yeti winning 1990 Czech car award.

This thing would sell up a storm in Aus. Well 22 of them anyway:
1 for Tomas, 1 for the anti-car fanatic and 1 demonstrator for each dealer. (Will has to make do with an ex-demo).

Seriously this has so many styling Faux par it’s a dissaster.

The Real Car Fanatic

So is your spelling Dave, it’s spelled Disaster. Back to school with you Boganboy

Classic

And I’m sure it’s spelt, not spelled. Back to boganville for you too it would seem.

Golfschwein

It can be spelled or spelt, unlike flour, which can only be spelt.

Classic

Spelled is for the abhorrent US version of english i.e. used only in Boganville.
Golfschwein

I checked in my Concise Strayan Oxford, which is good enough for me, as it doesn’t indulge American peculiarities such as center or nite.

Dave T

Like I care about a little typo. It’s not like it’s important, except to half-wits like you.
And BTW thanks for proving that you have nothing but abuse to contribute, still yet to post anything worthwhile about the story or the car.
Deco

Good to see you re-inforced his post by just abusing.

You’re great!

FrugalOne

Wayyyyyyy to much time and effort being spent on this fugly HOS orphan!!!

Please waste no more comment time on it, will be less common on our roads than say the few RollsRoyce Phantoms sold, that’s if it ever even comes here?

Like all other scodas, its a overpriced orphans.

Run with SEAT please VW.

PLEASE Go and comment on the BIG news of the day, start of production of the hybrid Camry ok i agree, its another con job and a tax steal, but anyway……….

Its at least partial Made In Australia!

Cheers

F-0

Tomas79

You’re a tool mate!!
Skoda isn’t orphan, it’s owned by VW!!
Skoda allrady outsold Seat, last time it was here!!
And with 2 models soon to be added to it’s new line up, it won’t be disapearing anytime soon!!

Jake02

Thomas, can I just add that SEAT, when it was here, wasn’t owned by VW, at least not right until the end (but the damage was done). So theres no point in arguing in something against these incompetent idiots, because their original argument is irrelevant. I’m not having a go at you, but others…

And that Skoda outsell SEAT around 3 to 1 worldwide every year, so it was very smart for VW to bring Skoda here. Worst still, it’s so funny that these idiots could come on here and say all this crap without probably ever sitting in one, and in the case of the Yeti, not even seeing one in person.

Bent 8 Brigade

Every Skoda that I don’t lay eyes on is one less migraine

Jake02

I’m not concerned with your idiotic and full-of-attitude opinion. Tool.

Not that your comment had anything to do with my previous comment…

Martin

Well SEAT isn’t sold in as many countries as Skoda to begin with, so I mean theres the sales difference.

Ibizaman

Exactly, VW introuduces Skoda to big growing markets such as China and India, but does not do the same for SEAT, so it really is no wonder Skoda outsells SEAT.

Jake02

If it’s irrelevant than why do you bother? Why do you bother with your countless negativity? If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say it at all. The Skoda Yeti will be one of 2010′s best cars full stop, the opposite to what you comment on countless times (well not the Yeti, but Skoda in general) and when someone proves you wrong you come back with the ‘geeze man, its not worth the effort you sad Skoda fanboy’ so don’t give me attitude back because I’ve already covered it

Go back to giving pathetic and worthless advice on renewable fuel sources, much like the Camry Hybrid, which as said by CA, is less fuel efficient than most of the mid-size diesel competitors. You’re wasting your fingers, typing all this crap…

Jake02

Oh yes i JUST DID!!!

t39

A deserved win. Yeti is basically a Tiguan with a taller boot area, more engine choice and some other improvements on already great car that combines great dynamics, refinement, safety, high seating position, AWD, good interior and value. To get any improvement on that, one would need to pay 1.5 times more.
freddo

Soooooo ugly. Who cares how it goes, how much it costs, where its made, what award it won? ugly ugly ugly

The Real Car Fanatic

Is that what your parents used to say to you?

Tomas79

LOL, too right!!

Will

Aesthetically appropriate and a compliment to VAG’s star brand. This can take off where the old Sportswagon left off.

Brilliant machine.

poohbear

VW’s star brand ROFL
Lemme guess, not much foot traffic in the Skoda showroom today?

Fritz

Q: What are Two things you don’t want to be seen getting out of?

A: A Sheep and a Skoda

Tomas79

Is that because if you get seen getting out of a Skoda, centrelink might think you actually got some money stashed up somewhere, and cut your doll payments?!

The Real Car Fanatic

LOL, nice one Tomas, I think you hit the nail right on the head.

I noticed he never mentioned getting out of the dog, might have to report him to the RSPCA.

Doro

Yes he did. The “dog” was what he meant by Skoda.

Besides if Cenrelink saw you getting out of a Skoda they would cut your dole payments and give you a dissability pension for a mental illness.

The Real Car Fanatic

Well they’d give you one because you can’t spell disability nor can you spell centrelink. Getting out of a Skoda would have noting to do with it.
Doro

Aye cain spel reel goodly f aye tri bot hoo guves a rattts arfta a fwoo broos dis lait?

Car Fanatic – what a real tosser.

The Real Car Fanatic

You wish Dora, yes I called you Dora, cause you bitch like a woman!

The Real Truth

Better than sooking like a little girl like Car Frantic, who’s Tomas bitch anyway. On your knees and do it.

ABC

My problem with Skoda, IN AUSTRALIA, is that while they may be committed to the long-term here, they have no interest in being a mainstream player. They’re obviously happy being another niche player like the French, Italian and German brands. Which is fine just don’t expect me to pay a premium for it… because Skoda is not a premium brand. The funny thing is that people who know who Skoda is and know about their better than Volkswagen quality and European sales success, also know that Skoda is not a premium brand.

The Fabia has been out for years now… how much higher does the Aussie dollar have to go before it lands here? What’s the matter Skoda? Your Czech built car not able to be competitive?

The engine in the base model Octavia is a joke! If that’s your attempt at an entry level product you may as well pack up now. Tell me, please, what sort of resale would you get for this base model in a few years? How many Skoda buyers or fans would actually buy this base model? The rest of the Octavia line is fine but the crap base model means the others have higher to fall.

The Superb, Um Skoda, in this price range, IN AUSTRALIA, I expect leather to be standard. And thanks to the Japanese, a sunroof, even though I’d never use it. Yes, I know the Superb has many nice touches that would make the vehicle more comfortable in the long run but I want to minimise my loses on an unknown brand (IN AUSTRALIA) not increase it by adding expensive options…

As for the Yeti, I quite like the look of it when seen with other European cars, the styling is recognisably VAG Skoda but still conservative. It’s no where as disturbing to the generally conservative Australian styling tastes as the Roomster.

jojo

ABC…Your sensible view would have to be one of very few posts that are objective here.

It’s obvious that the usual Skoda suspects get bent out of shape at the slighest critism….hey guys don’t take it personal as it’s just someones opinion just like yours.

You can still express your viewpoint in a civil manner without the need to abuse or offend other peoples posts.

Pacific

I think SEAT is much better-looking than Skoda. Lets just compare SEAT Ibiza – Skoda Fabia, or SEAT Exeo – Skoda Superb
davie

Like 99% of other contributors to this topic, I have never driven a Skoda Yeti or seen one in the flesh.

Any opinion I would give would therefore be just a worthless assertion loaded with my personal bigotry, immaturity and ignorance. Exactly as as most of the other posts are here on this topic.

I will therefore
- offer my congratulations to Skoda for the award
- acknowledge that this award may may not be that relevant to Australian market
- await its arrival in Australia and test drive it before offering any opinion.

Now, that would be the mature and sensible thing to do, no?
Robin Graves

Let me say straight out, I dont have a problem with Skodas. But this one looks like its straight from 1997? The rest of the range look quite modern except for the roomsta or whatever its called.
Skoda Salesman

For all those who doubt Skoda you do so knowing 10/5ths of nothing about it or what audience we are attracting and in what quantity. I sit in a showroom for 10 hours a day and i can tell you that in a few short years this debate and the words thrown about fore and against will have no relevance at all.

The brand will succeed and by the end of 2010 it will be a product that has found its footing inthe Australian market. People’s perception has been that this is the cheap Volkswagen and by all accounts Skoda OZ have done nothing to dispell this. The reality is far from the truth, it maybe a few thousand cheaper but it has more standard equipment than the VW and a well documented (clarkson, Autobuild magazine etc) as having superior build quality and finish.

Styling is unique but so was VW’s when it made its in roads in early 2,000′s. This is the key to its success, Hyuandai, Honda, Kia, Ford, Holden they all look the same hell even vW is starting to take a Honda feel. Skoda will make its mark with this point of difference, with the Yeti, Superb wagon, and Superb RS, Fabia all being launched this year in several variants each we will hit the 4,000 unit mark and prove the ever diminishing falcodore bogans that their opinion is wrong, uneducated dribble.

On that note i don’t see any of the Skoda fans in rubbishing the local manufacturers and yet these blokes are alw3ays in here rubbishing Skoda. Seems to me they are more scared of us than we are of them, look out boys we are coming to get ya, well your customers anyway!!!!!!
tim

I have a Skoda Roomster sure its ugly but what a fantastic car. 4.5 Litres per hundred K. And I can fit bikes in the back without taking anything apart. Prius eat your heart out
SamotSECT 4

Dam those dumb bogan Czchs how dear they vote there own car,car of the year,must of had to many big macs
Will

Severely doubt that HL.

We all know you are a closet drag queen just itching belt out a camp version of Cold Chisels’ ‘Working Class Man’ for an audience of gay men.

Go on, try that feather boa, it’ll make far more sense than giving either a falcodore or commocon the top gong in any Oz COTY.
Tomas79

Probably according to you not as good looking as your VL Commodore!

The Swiss, Austrian, and German Judges must have vission impared too i sopouse!!
The Real Car Fanatic

Obviously if you say so Hungy boy, cause everything that comes out of your mouth is true, Brown in colour and horrible in odour, but true!
Tomas79

Sorry but I don’t share your flashbacks from the past?
You might have to form a support group elsewhere!!
The Real Car Fanatic

Ohh Hungy boy, dont worry, I’m just kidding, now come over here and plant those lips and give Poppa some suga !
Richie

Styling isn’t a thing that is factored into COTY testing.

And reserve judgement until you see it in person…
The Real Car Fanatic

Never mind Richie, Hung Low is the CA village idiot, we are slowly learning to tolerate him, accept him no, tolerate yes!
Tomas79

Whats chec, chechnya retardo?
Tomas79

Wouldn’t want to conduse you any further!
Also how many yeti taxies have you seen??
Tomas79

So you are making assertions, that you admit are not true?!
Aere you on medication? Or just started to get chrommed a little early on a friday?!