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Just like his family Skoda Yeti that editor Ben Miller praises in the October issue editorial, we too have a Yeti 2.0 TDI which has passed 100,000 miles since we collected it from our local dealer eight years ago this month.

As Ben was saying, we too are finding it hard to replace the ‘old timer’ with something in vehicle terms akin to a friendly, fun, reliable companion, rather like the family labrador.

We shortlisted several compact SUVs to test drive, all offering slightly quirky designs, which might be a fine drive, with 2.0 diesel engines with 4x4 available (we do a lot of Alps ski trips).

The BMW X2 looked great and drove likewise but was too noisy and very4

expensive; the VW T-Roc drove just like the Yeti but the cabin was smaller than we expected, with that cheap interior finish; and the new Skoda Karoq had a hard ride, was only available with lower power engines and had derivative VW styling (Oh Skoda, what were you thinking?).

A Volvo XC40 2.0 diesel with standard AdBlu filter is on order for March delivery. Still, we will be very sad to bid farewell to this great motor when the time comes. Mike Clayton