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These are the first official images of the Skoda Yeti, the Czech manufacturer's compact SUV and a likely rival for the Ford Kuga.

The Yeti is a 4.2m-long five-door hatchback that's based on a unique mix of VW Group four-wheel drive hardware and chassis parts from the Fabia and Octavia. Skoda's designers have stuck reasonably close to the original concept's looks, and the chunky styling is helped by 17in alloys.

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Seems to be a rather more practical proposition than a Ford Kuga. I like the chunky looks, a true interpretation of the "Form Follows Function" mantra rather than the somewhat impractical Ford. I am guessing that the price will be more reasonable than the Ford as well.

Autocar:

Skoda is also claiming considerable levels of practicality; the Yeti offers 1760 litres of boot space with its rear seats folded down

- now that would be considerable: 1,760 litres with seats folded down! After all, the much larger VW Passat Estate only manages 1,730 with its seats folded down. Er, read the press release again. The 1,760 litres figure is for the space available when the rear seats are removed not folded down. Also, to be super-picky I think the press release will also say that the 107 bhp diesel is available in either fwd or 4wd.

As to the car, nice. VW group are on a roll. Not only should Ford be worried with the Kuga but I think Land Rover should be, er, bricking themselves over this cute 'little' vehicle and what it could do to Freelander sales and the upcoming LRX thing.

The Skoda press release makes a big point of how environmentally friendly and economical this vehicle is in the current anti-SUV climate. No further details yet but it says that the figures would be considered excellent for a family saloon, let alone an SUV.

 I am impressed how upmarket Skoda have gone with this. The interior looks very nice and the engine range is impressive. All turbocharged and all diesels are common rail.

 nice. very nice. And I don't like SUVs as a rule.

The concept is now well over 4 years old and as a result feel the production version will already look dated - I thought Skoda would have moved the game on with this but they've just stood still, what was the hold up? And (not a fan of faux-4x4's) why did they not just jack up a Roomster? Would have saved an awful lot of cash.

horseandcart:

I think Land Rover should be, er, bricking themselves over this cute 'little' vehicle and what it could do to Freelander sales and the upcoming LRX thing.

I'd doubt it horse, the LRX is being pushed as a 'premium' small car - expensive and good looking, whereas the Yeti is a bit too minivan with windows, being sold on the cheap and practical angle, even if it does steal some LR design cues. Very different buyers for the cars, the Skoda comes across as very Citroen Berlingo.

Orangewheels:

I'd doubt it horse, the LRX is being pushed as a 'premium' small car - expensive and good looking, whereas the Yeti is a bit too minivan with windows, being sold on the cheap and practical angle, even if it does steal some LR design cues. Very different buyers for the cars, the Skoda comes across as very Citroen Berlingo.

 I don't think the photos on here are doing it justice, look at this one:

 http://new.skoda-auto.com/SiteCollectionImages/Events/Geneva_2009/Wallpapers/ENG/1024x768/SkodaYeti_2_EN.jpg

 And the interior is in a totally different league to the Berlingo class.

I think horseandcart is right, it not Citroen Berlingo at all......basically it is VW quality and VW engineering and if I was Landrover, I would be scared.  Skoda have a utility type brand like Landrover and this blows the Freelander away, it will be good to drive and lots less money with better equipment; its a no brainer.

Skoda is getting Chic and Landrover is expensive, the freelander was always expensive and ugly; think of the second hand market also, as buy a second hand Freelander, I can have a brand new Skoda Yeti (indeed a cool motor); Freelander used values drop even more and that means cost of contract ownership increases which wacks new car sales.

I agree with H&C the Yeti is a blinding motor and Landrover should scared.....it goes back to what I was saying before at a Landrover "4x4 Panda" type deal.....Landrover need to wake up!....(in the nicest way).....these other firms are moving in.....JLR have been on about the LXR for ages, we have seen pictures etc....it needs to be out in the market.

No, the LRX is being sold as a 4x4 version of something premium like a mini - like a shrunken RR Sport for style addicts, it has low a roof and little interior storage space more like a coupe than a people carrier 4x4. If I were driving an Audi A3 S Line / TT/ Mini Cooper I may consider my next car as an LRX but I wouldn't look at the Yeti - it's more stylish than previous Skodas, yes, but still all about cost and practicality for families, why else would it have a high roofline and the press release major on things like storage capacity? Nothing wrong with that, just completely different target audiences. Audi Q3 / BMW X2 will be the LRX main competitors.

The LRX hasn't yet made it past concept, and the real thing may be a sadly watered down version of the original good looking concept - like the RR Sport turned out, but I hope not.