I don’t know where you stand on Yeti. Just as there are confused folk, mainly Scottish and indubitably misguided, who’ll forever insist that a prehistoric monster lurks immortally in the depths of Loch Ness, others live to regale us with science and research - to prove beyond doubt - that on the foothills of the Himalayas romps a Yeti, or an abominable snowman. Bless.

I remember being at the Geneva motor show in 2009 when, with unseemly fandango Skoda revealed their Yeti, which can reasonably and persuasively lay claim to be a founding member of the now ubiquitous crossover schtick. Yeti still is a good little car, both quirky and original. I’ve even come to terms with its slightly silly moniker.

Now Skoda have done it again…with the brand new Kodiaq. Most of you will know that a Kodiak is the planet’s biggest bear that lives exclusively on the islands of the Kodiak Archipelago, Southern Alaska. The Czechs call ’em Kodiaq, with a Q. There, now you all know. Another Skoda, another creature but - this time - not a beast of pure myth.

I do rather hold a candle for this VW owned Czech brand. While almost the entire automotive industry remains in an unstoppable headlong rush to bang out endless new 4x4s or compact SUV crossovers, Skoda quietly slip in and offer us something a little more useful.

Apart from the aforementioned Yeti, Skoda is a newcomer to this segment, yet has pretty much created something all its own here. Although pigeon-holed as a compact SUV, it’s a lot more. And bloomin’ capacious. Oh, I wish there was another word for Tardis. The modestly billed Skoda Superb saloons and estates pull off the same trick, creating most unexpected space. In the Kodiaq you also get a whole bunch of driver assistance gizmology, infotainment and other stuff, depending on how you tick the options boxes.

Looking over their collective shoulder will be Mitsubishi and Nissan, whose respective Outlander and X-Trail have been comprehensively outgunned here.

The Kodiaq, built on VW’s excellent MQB platform, is also lighter and thus more frugal than much of the opposition.

Front driven or 4x4? Six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch auto? Five seats or seven? Not so powerful petrol or powerful-ish petrol? Not so grunty diesel or gruntier diesel? Decisions, decisions. Private punters will, I think, opt for the 148bhp 1.4TSI petrol job. There’s also a 178bhp 2.0 litre petrol (4x4 only, however). On the diesel side, 2.0 litre with 187 horses or, as driven here, 148bhp - in this case with front drive and all the fruit, at a cost of £28,695.

The Kodiaq is not entirely nimble or that exciting to drive, but expectation of such things would be to miss the point. In all other respects it’s bang on.