Among the most affordable all-wheel drive crossovers on the used market, several models can disappoint owners due to a high number of issues. Despite a strong reputation and a low price, the total ownership cost often climbs well beyond expectations.
One crossover that catches the eye of a veteran auto journalist from Za Rulem, the oldest and most respected automotive publication in Russia, is the Skoda Yeti. The model is widely recognized, but its reliability on the used market is mixed, especially at lower price points.
Finding a Yeti with under 100,000 km on the used market can be challenging. Those that surface typically cost 1.1–1.5 million rubles, which hardly qualifies as a “cheap car” by today’s standards. The target buyers often look for cars priced up to 1 million rubles, meaning older than eight years with mileage around 100,000 km.
Among Yeti configurations, the most practical choice is the 1.6-liter engine paired with a conventional manual or hydraulic transmission — it offers reliability. But this setup excludes four-wheel drive. If four-wheel drive is essential, buyers usually settle for the 1.8 TSI engine (152 hp) with a DSG-6 (DQ250) dual-clutch transmission — a turbocharged motor paired with a robotized gearbox.
This particular engine has presented owners with problems even during the warranty window. The blend of direct injection, light pistons, and thin oil scraper rings leads to noticeable oil consumption. The use of 0W-30 oil, which is relatively costly, means topping up roughly a liter every 1000 km is not uncommon.
Timing chains have shown wear, intake manifolds can fail, and the oil separator along with several sensors may malfunction. Fixing all these issues is expensive, especially for a crossover bought at a price under 1 million rubles.
Nevertheless, the all-wheel drive Yeti has its advantages. Owners report fewer suspension problems, corrosion issues, or Haldex clutch failures in the all-wheel drive system compared with some rivals.
Check out four more affordable and popular 4×4 crossovers, plus a long list of potential problems
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A photo: Skoda