Skoda Yeti 4X4 vs SsangYong Rexton RX6 comparison

What’s new?

The compact Skoda Yeti and the full-sized SsangYong Rexton are cars from different categories. They are, however, similarly priced, which means they can be considered direct rivals. Although both are SUVs, the Yeti’s compact dimensions and modern construction means it is a car that is more agile and easy-to-drive. The Rexton, on the other hand, is based on an earlier M-class chassis. This means it is tough, rugged and delivers almost everything you expect of a full-sized SUV. 

Skoda has given the new Yeti a much needed styling upgrade and it looks much sharper than the old Yeti. It still retains the old car’s core strengths like great build, accomplished dynamics, and strong performance though the design is still a bit edgy.

The SsangYong Rexton, on the other hand, is a full size bigger than the Skoda. Thanks to its high seating and wide cabin, it gives you a proper SUV experience. And it gets a third row of seats too, making it even more practical. So, what should you choose? Size or substance?

 What are they like inside?

The Yeti clearly has the classier cabin of the two. So, you get a high-quality cabin with a neatly laid out dashboard. The Rexton gets a decently finished cabin too, but it just can’t match the Skoda’s beautifully crafted cabin for quality. Also, as the Yeti sits lower than the Rexton, it’s the easier SUV to get into and out of. On the flipside, you don’t get as commanding a view of the road as you would from the Rexton’s elevated driver’s seat. Front seat comfort is good on both, but again it’s the Yeti’s better bolstered (if slightly firmer) seats that will hold you in place better.

Though the Yeti can’t match the Rexton for rear legroom, it’s spacious enough in its own right. What works in the Yeti’s favour is its seat base, which offers substantially more thigh support and better overall comfort than the Rexton’s middle row. However, the equation changes when you need to seat three in the back, which is when your passengers will appreciate the Rexton’s wider cabin and flat floor.

This leads us to the Rexton’s big advantage — its third row of seats. While the ability to carry seven makes the SsangYong ideal for buyers with large families, you should know that the last row of seats is very short on space and comfort, so practically isn’t that great.

What are they like to drive?

The Skoda Yeti is powered by VW group’s 1,968cc TDI turbocharged diesel engine. On the move, this engine feels punchy which makes this SUV very easy to drive. In the 4X4 variant, the motor makes 138bhp and is mated to a six-speed manual transmission. Below 1,800rpm, there is a fair amount of throttle lag, but once you cross this mark, the engine has loads of grunt, and there is ample pulling power.

Skoda says it has improved the clutch feel on the new Yeti. However, it is still quite easy to stall the engine, which makes it irritating in stop-go traffic. On the hardware front, the most substantial upgrade is the new Haldex 4X4 system, which is much lighter and offers an off-road mode. In this mode, the engine maintains low revs, the ABS and the ESP functions are partially off, and this gives the Yeti some genuine off-road capability.

In comparison, the SsangYong Rexton gets a much bigger capacity 2,696cc, five-cylinder engine which is good for 162bhp; important due to the extra weight. Although the engine specs look impressive on paper, the real world performance isn’t as exciting, because the extra weight needs more power. The motor feels more relaxed than sporty, and there is a distinct power lag at low speeds. It wakes up as the rev needle crosses 2,000rpm, beyond which it delivers a sudden burst of power. As a result, while driving in traffic, one is often forced to brake suddenly to counter it. Also, the power quickly trails off beyond 3,000rpm. The Rexton’s engine is, however, very refined and smooth, while the clutch action is light. The fifth gear is quite tall and the motor feels relaxed while cruising at highway speeds.

Ride & handling

The good ride and handling balance has been one of the key strengths of the Yeti. Its suspension setup is slightly stiff, which means it has tight body movements, and the low centre of gravity and sorted mechanical underpinnings allows it to be driven at car-like speeds around corners without too much fuss. Unlike other SUVs, the Yeti is genuinely fun to drive on dirt roads. Although, if the road is bad, the Yeti crashes through ruts and potholes at low speeds.

Unlike the Yeti, the SangYong Rexton has a soft suspension setup. This, coupled with the hefty bulk and tall design makes it rather sloppy to drive. When driven hard, the tyres start squealing early, and there is plenty of body roll while negotiating bends; the steering is overtly light. It never feels anywhere near as composed or surefooted as the Yeti. The Rexton is best driven in a relaxed manner. 

At low speeds, the ride quality is good, and the suspension quietly absorbs impacts while traversing uneven surfaces. The higher profile tyres also do their bit in damping sharp bumps. At higher speeds, the ride quality never feels completely settled as there’s a lot of up and down movement over bad patches.

Buying & owning

On the pricing front, both SUVs are closely matched. The top Skoda Yeti Elegance 4X4 trim is priced at Rs 20.53 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) while the Rexton RX6 costs Rs 20.85 lakh. This makes the Rexton RX6 just Rs 32,000 more expensive than the Yeti.

Even on the warranty front, both competitors match each other closely, with Skoda offering a four year /one lakh km warranty while SsangYong offers a three year/one lakh km warranty on the Rexton.

According to ARAI figures, the Skoda Yeti 4X4 has an overall efficiency of 17.64kpl, while the SsangYong Rexton delivers only 12.4kpl.

Although Skoda is working towards resolving service-related issues, its after-sales network isn’t as strong as that of Mahindra.

Equipment & safety

The Yeti Elegance 4X4 and the SsangYong Rexton RX6 trims come equipped with leather upholstery, second-row AC vents, rain sensing wipers, climate control, keyless entry and a touchscreen infotainment system.

The Rexton’s infotainment system gets six speakers along with DVD, USB and aux compatibility, while the one in the Yeti has eight speakers, SD/MMC card reader, iPod and Bluetooth compatibility and a six-CD changer. The Rexton gets just audio controls on the steering wheel, while the Yeti has Bluetooth controls as well. Also, the driver’s seat in the Rexton is eight-way electrically adjustable, while the Yeti has a 12-way electrically adjustable one. The SsangYong gets rear parking sensors and it is a useful feature; the Skoda additionally gets front parking sensors as well.

Verdict

The Rexton is the only one with an electronic sunroof and navigation system with preloaded maps as standard. However, the Yeti has the longer equipment list with cruise control, height adjustable driver and front passenger seat, engine start/stop button along with remote opening and closing of windows. Both SUVs get common safety features like electronic stability program, anti-slip regulation and hill descent control. Only the Rexton gets active rollover protection while the Yeti has traction control system, hill hold control, electronic differential lock and a tyre pressure monitoring system. The Rexton is a full-sized SUV which offers great value for money. It’s got a refined motor, a spacious cabin and gets loads of equipment. But its ride and handling is not the best and it has started to look and feel a bit old now, especially on the inside.

The Yeti isn’t a great value proposition especially if you look at the size-to-price ratio but is clearly the more accomplished of the two. It has great road manners and a strong, efficient engine. The build quality is really good too and what distances the Yeti from the much bigger SsangYong is how well the cabin is executed. It clearly feels like the better engineered car of the two. Priced similarly to the Rexton, the Yeti is our clear winner here.