CALLING the latest addition to the Skoda family the Yeti was guaranteed to lead to many a monster- related headline.

Opting to launch the soft-roader at Loch Ness was either a work of marketing genius or a pun too far.

Whatever your take, the Highlands of Scotland turned out to be the ideal proving ground for a car Skoda hopes will make inroads into a market currently headed by the Nissan Qashqai.

The car comes in both two-wheel and four-wheel-drive form, and ranges from £13,725 for the entrylevel two-wheel-drive model to £22,120 for the range-topping 2.0 TDI 4x4 with 170bhp.

You pays your money and you takes your choice as they say, but for those who can look past badge snobbery the Yeti, which went on sale on Thursday, would seem to make sound financial sense.

However, saving money is only any good if the product you are buying is of sufficient quality.

The fact that Skoda chose to unveil the car in the lavish surroundings of Aldourie Castle on the banks of the loch would suggest they believe it is.

Skoda’s aim with the Yeti was to build a car that strikes a balance between off-road ruggedness and family car practicality.

It certainly looks the part.

Big bumpers, greater ground clearance and chunky tyres ensure the former, while an airy cabin with plenty of space fore and aft guarantee the latter.

Based on a slightly shortened Octavia platform, the Yeti has 416 litres of boot space, but can be increased to 1,760 if the seats are removed.

Talking of seats, the three in the rear are individually arranged so the outer seats can slide backwards and forwards. With the middle seat removed – a relatively easy operation, although one requiring a degree of strength as it’s fairly heavy – the two remaining seats can be pushed in, creating more room for their occupants.

The entire seat can also be folded forward, with the backrest folded down, and then taken out to create a cavernous load area.

These are all things which you might expect, but what you might not expect is just how capable this car is off road in range-topping 4x4 mode.

The forests around the castle appeared more than a match for the Yeti, but thanks to its Haldex clutch it handled the dirt with surprising ease.

On the Tarmac, almost all of the engine’s torque is sent to the front wheels. But if the car detects a difference in speed between the front and rear axles, as was the case around the estate, the clutch can divert up to 90% of the torque to the rear.

A limited-slip differential on the rear axle also makes sure the drive is evenly distributed from side to side, ensuring that grip is maintained.

For those who really want to get down and dirty there is an off-road mode that breaks all the usual rules.

With hill-descent control activated, you can put the car in neutral and it will maintain a steady speed, a dab of the brake or the accelerator to get it just right and the Yeti practically drives itself.

There’s also uphill-start assist which allows the driver to push the accelerator all the way down, but with the revs restricted to 2,500rpm, helping prevent damage to the clutch, while allowing you to keep control of the vehicle. It will even hold the car in situ for a few seconds while you gain control for the off.

In a rather extreme test of its credentials, we drove the Yeti into Loch Ness itself, the water actually breaking over the bonnet at one time, something I would not have even considered attempting had it not been for the reassurance from the accompanying off-road instructor.

With 70 per cent of the cars to be sold in two-wheel drive form, it’s such a shame that the majority of drivers will never get to experience the car’s full capabilities.

On dryer ground, both the diesel and petrol versions of the cars we tested, proved admirable units. The entire range consists of 1.2 TSI twowheel drive, with DSG option, (105bhp); 1.8 TSI four-wheel drive (160bhp); 2.0 TDI two and four-wheel drive (110bhp); 2.0 TDI four-wheel drive (140bhp) and 2.0 TDI (170bhp) with four-wheel drive.

Given the choice I’d opt for the diesels every time thanks to its greater pulling power.

All models come relatively wellequipped, with the entry-level Yeti getting air conditioning, electric windows and a CD player. Move further up the food chain and you can add the likes of alloys wheels, dual zone climate control, parking sensors, touch-screen technology, rain-sensing wipers and leather seats.

You can also opt for park-assist should you feel the need, which will manoeuvre the car into a space with the bare minimum of clearance front and back.

If you’re looking for a car that fulfills almost all the requirements of modern life, then the Yeti has to be a contender. One thing’s for certain, unlike the monster it’s named after, its secrets shouldn’t remain a mystery for too much longer.

Price: £13,725-£22,120