FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM

Many in the know want to capture a Yeti – and for very good reason

- SAM PHILLIPS

Jacked-up hatchback or compact SUV? Whichever way you view the Skoda Yeti, there's no denying that the Czech marque's segment-blending family car is unique, even if it did borrow its engines and parts from the vast stores of the Volkswagen Group.

Its funky silhouette and quirky dimensions captured Europeans' imaginations when it first arrived in 2009: more than 700,000 were sold before production came to an end in 2018. And long after its demise, this cheerful chariot still holds up as a reliable and appealing family wagon - especially as it can now be bought for as little as £1500. That's a bargain price for a crossover that's more refined than a contemporary Dacia Duster and more pleasing to drive than a Nissan Qashqai.