Having looked at my Christmas budget (we’ve overspent already and we haven’t bought the food yet!) I thought I would torture myself further by looking at cars I can’t afford! I was particularly curious to know what family cars were being touted as the best in 2009. Top Gear, being one of the industry’s most recognised and respected publications, seemed a good place to start. In its 10th year, the Top Gear Awards are selected by Top Gear’s TV, online and magazine teams, run across 24 international editions and recognise the most exciting and innovative cars launched in the last 12 months.
Top Gear has named the Skoda Yeti as its ‘Family Car of the Year’. Conor McNicholas, the magazine’s editor explained why the recently introduced Skoda Yeti crossover has won over the hearts of Top Gear:
“The Yeti has been an instant hit with the Top Gear magazine office,” he said. “We love the styling, the handling, the quality, the space, the clever touches and yes, the name. If you’re looking for a family car it should be top of your list to check out, simple as that. The Yeti feels like part of the Top Gear family.”
Starting at just £13,775, the Skoda Yeti was launched in the UK in September 2009 and combines all the strengths of a traditional 4×4, such as a higher ride height, safety and security, with the practicality and running costs of a hatchback – a perfect crossover vehicle for the family driver.
As someone who has moved from Surrey, where 4×4’s were more of a status symbol (until this week when they seem to have out-snowed the rest of the south!), to Somerset, where they are really practical on the narrow, winding, muddy roads of the Mendips, and the bumpy straight, but equally muddy roads of the Levels, to Wiltshire, where we seem to have both types of driver, I really love the idea of a crossover vehicle.
Has anybody out there bought one yet? I’d value the opinion of our readers as well as the opinion of the Top Gear hacks!