WITH floods, mud and potholes plaguing our roads Skoda has a timely antidote in the shape of a modernised Yeti.

Restyled, revamped and, in part renamed the latest Yeti is even more capable than before.

When it comes to taking on the rough and tumble of driving in rotten conditions Skoda's SUV-like crossover is a highly competent all-rounder.

Fitted with the latest generation Haldex all-wheel-drive system the Yeti 4x4 can mud-plug with the best yet even the regular two-wheel-drive Yeti is sturdy enough to take on the excesses of everyday driving.

Around washed out lanes in the Cotswolds the new Yeti excelled in atrocious conditions, its good ground clearance enabling it to manage quite appalling road surfaces.

Skoda has now split the Yeti line up into two and introduced a more rugged Outdoor version which comes with extra body protection including scuff plates in the front and rear bumpers to give it an air of adventure.

The normal Yeti has been spruced up with body-coloured trim and prices now start from £16,600 - an increase of more than £1,500 for a 1.2-litre front wheel drive petrol model.

Four wheel drive versions are available only in the Outdoor body style and start from £19,580 with the range topping out £27,050 for a two-litre diesel 4x4 with semi-automatic DSG gearbox in high grade Laurin & Klement trim.

That version is highly equipped and includes full leather upholstery and sat nav as well as a heated windscreen and an automated parking system.

A Skoda first on the Yeti is the option of a rear view parking camera which is available as a £250 extra on all but the basic versions but has to be combined with a factory fitted sat nav that costs a further £1,630.

Gone are the days when Skodas had bargain basement prices but the latest models are still value for money and highly competitive compared to similar crossovers such as the MINI Countryman and the latest Nissan Qashqai.

Where the Yeti scores is with its family-sized interior and large luggage capacity which ranges from 510 litres to a gargantuan 1,750 litres with the rear seats removed.

Clever touches such as an LED torch fitted in the boot, a high-viz jacket holder and plenty of onboard stowage space and power points have become a Skoda trait and the Yeti is no different.

Four engines - two petrol and two diesel with a variety of power outputs - are available and all are up to the job and relatively economical.

For business users the 119g/km 1.6-litre diesel Greenline model is the most tax efficient. Priced from £19,505 it falls into the 18 per cent tax bracket and with stop/start Skoda is claiming an average fuel return of 61.4mpg.

That's not too fanciful and we achieved 56mpg without any trouble. In the 1.2-litre petrol we managed to average 37mpg compared to the official 46.3 and in a two-litre 110ps diesel we recorded 46.8 as opposed to the 55.4mpg which Skoda quotes as the official figure.

Off-road - and is some very muddy conditions - we achieved 26 to the gallon in a high powered 170ps version of the diesel which, given the work the car had to do was nothing to grumble about.

With an effective hill descent control and the sophisticated Haldex system capable of diverting up to 85 per cent of traction to a single wheel, the Yeti 4x4 is an above average off-road performer almost in the same league as full blown SUVs.

On top of that the higher powered diesel versions also have a towing capacity up to 2.1 tonnes which is another string to the Yeti's bow.

In terms of being a functional family vehicle the Yeti has built a solid reputation since it first arrived in 2009. UK sales number close on 30,000 and the update just broadens its appeal.