Chevrolet Cruze HB5 test drive since 2011 hatchback
Chevrolet Cruze, Honda Civic, Ford Focus: in space and on Earth
The hatchbacks are increasingly affirmed in our lives, conquering a place in the sun from the sedans. With three of them, including a couple of new products, we met. Alas, the reference hatchback focus with a 2-liter 150-horsepower engine could not be obtained. But the new items made up an almost perfect pair: the shevrole-coarse hard worker (1.8 liters, 141 hp) is opposed by the cosmic in design and price of the hatchbek Honda Sivik (1.8 liters, 142 hp). Well, our focus, editorial: 1.6-liter, 125-horsepower, with mechanics, which again differs from automated rivals. It seemed to many from the very beginning that Ford was doomed to lose. It turned out not quite
From the side of practicality
Emotions are overwhelmed, distracted from work, forced to take the hands of the doors again and again, feel the eyes of the hump of the rear lights. Grinkling on an impractical front overhang and admire the quality and architecture of the interior. I do not like a beaten comparison, but I admit: the current Sivik is still a cosmic one. This is a special world, a special relationship with a car, to which, regardless of you like it, I don’t like it, it is difficult to remain indifferent. A certain challenge to stereotypes, worked out schemes and solutions. In general, Cruz and focus are still in the shade.
Someone compares Honda with a discharged Christmas tree. Those who managed to travel on this holiday of life are not enthusiastic about the blurry and unnaturally slow accelerated dynamics. When communicating with Sivik, two people constantly fight in you. One delights with a high -quality and original environment, cozy, soft plastics (Cruz, for example, did not dream like this), numerous settings of everything and everything, bright devices and a two -zone climate, as well as a large green button designed to make you an ardent fan of economy. This is in Honda!
Another is no less ardent skeptic. He does not like a two -level dashboard that is clearly uncomfortable. Not to mention the banal light of digital scales on the bright sun. The front seats, albeit with adjustable subpo and lateral support, appear completely ordinary. And their back is short. In a word, space turns pale, it is worth recalling the criteria for practicality. Although discussing with yourself, you notice a large and convenient trunk, you approve of the filigree work of the rear seat transformation mechanism.
Cruise looks exactly as simpler as its price is. Its range ends approximately where Sivic's price list begins. So, from Chevrolet it is hardly worth waiting for revolutions. The interior is mostly gray. The same gray options of the seats upholstery, the usual contours of the hard front panel. Here, designer work was immediately sent to the channel of rationalism, so everything looks restrained, especially against the background of a stylish and richly equipped Japanese. Nevertheless, Cruise is quite convenient. The driver's seat, a good distribution load, has a huge range of longitudinal adjustment. Nice glance of the rounds of turquoise scales, the Russified menu of the main display, a regular climate. And the space above the head is noticeably larger.
The focus does not need special ideas, a lot has already been said about him. Out of habit, I criticize the tightness of the salon, but I immediately pay attention that in a well -given seat you sit quickly, without long tuning and fitting. The back is quite high, and lateral support is fit. The focus in general immediately puts everything in places, being somewhere ordinary, and somewhere bright, modern and convenient. Cleaning devices, logical displays of additional information, high -quality plastic, two -zone climate, verified controls. From time to time, sitting on the right complains that in Cruise and in Honda he felt more free, but immediately agrees that Ford is quite convenient, he simply dictates a certain severity of landing. So we will not be too picky: with reservations, but there is enough space both in front and behind.
OPINION EXCHANGE About the too peaceful, not at all the gasoline character of the Ford engine, we have already spoken earlier. The motor does not like sharp pressure on gas and instantly cools the ardor of the driver with laziness of reactions. Here you have to burn smoothly, before switching, using, as on a diesel, mainly average turns. Then the focus will go assertively and painfully, but only at the very top (and this is more than 5000 rpm) will finally allow itself to be a full return.
But the car is comfortable even on the most mediocre coatings and very quiet. To the pendants are alien to sharp, hard shaking. At the same time, the riders enjoy excellent sound insulation. I emphasize the latter on purpose, because the rivals have things to do with this a little differently. We add good brakes and interesting handling to the portrait of Ford, thanks to which the hatchback passes the most complex and high -speed turns is extremely easy and at ease. As a result, with the exception of the motor, the driver's offset focus.
Cruz against Ford seems rude. Of course, he knows how to sharply start. But what's the point if the whole fuse immediately ends, moving into a mournful and unhurried set of revolutions? Here is the problem in large differences between transmissions and the echoing character of the machine itself. In the city, it is not possible to find a common language with him. Cruz does not go, languidly reacting to the accelerator, then, on the contrary, it rushes forward jerking.
The difference with Ford in terms of sound insulation is so obvious that it can be evaluated without devices. But we still turn to measurements: when accelerating from 0 to 100 km / h in the Cruise cabin, there is such a roar that the device fixes the excess of the readings over the focus of as much as 6 (!) DB. It's a lot. It is good when you manage to find an acceptable compromise: you are extremely smoothly working as an accelerator, and the engine in response does not irritate with noise.
Shevrolet and interesting handling cannot boast. But dense pendants perfectly cope with most irregularities.
Well, what about Sivik? Against expectations, he is not at all an athlete. At first, the chassis settings are conquered by high smoothness, which is not at all characteristic of the previous generation. On a flat road, Honda demonstrates not only excellent comfort, but also the tenacious brakes and collected, directly ideal behavior.
But something prevents himself from surrendering to the fullest. Maybe far from perfect sound insulation? Of course, Sivic is not Cruz, its motor sounds much more noble, but the device is inexorable, fixing the difference with a focus of almost 5 dB when accelerating from a place to a hundred.
The man's manners at the new Sivik is not Honda at all, tangible agility appears only after 4500 rpm. Probably, this can be explained by a craving for economy. But even in sport mode, the hatchback with 142 horses under the hood starts, as if in the shots of slowed off. Really, against his background, a slow focus is not so bad. Having accelerated, Sivik will nevertheless find temperament and begin to respond to the accelerator immediately, but this will happen only if you do not use a green button sharpened to achieve maximum economy
And the car is noticeably transformed, it should be on a broken road. Comfortable pendants suddenly scatter, making hatchback jumping and completely unprotected from the pardon. The verified handling also disappears. Honda loses the composure and accuracy of reactions, begins to scour. It's a shame, but we have to admit: this car is not ready for surprises of provincial asphalt. Castle roads lay it on both shoulder blades, forcing him to give priority first of all Cruise and then focus.
To the Asphalt court I foresee how the fans of Honda in general and the new Sivik in particular will reproach me for indifference to Ford. As well as the admirers of Cruise, who probably count the hatchback along with the sedan very successful, practical acquisition. I do not argue, each car has many advantages. Nevertheless, it was Ford Focus that became not only a kind of reference point for beginners, but also a clear leader in many categories.
Honda Sivik berry from another field, growing which marketer and engineers, it seems, did not agree to the end. Some were responsible for brightness and innovation, others for sled sensations and practicality. Well, we remained at a loss: for whom was this hatchback created worth more than a million rubles, completely unsuitable for most roads of Russia?
Chevrolet-Croose does not cause special emotions, but dignily deserved a number of assessments well. After all, it is best prepared for imperfect coatings and is well equipped. But before the leader of the dough, he nevertheless slightly did not. So there is where to strive.
We will engage in trifles
Computer technology in the focus is now in high esteem, but why does an ordinary flash drive are so inconvenient?
It is almost impossible to sit down to the driver's place of Ford, without touching the knee of the puck of the head of the head light.
It would seem that nonsense wheel drives of the head light. However, in Chevrolet, it works so fuzzy that it is necessary to constantly check with the symbol in a combination of devices.
Blacks in the sun are still half a bastard. How to cover the road, a speedometer and other devices spaced in Honda at different levels, a difficult mystery.
Praise
On the minimum level of noise, Ford Comer, and not only in its class. The average fuel consumption is good: in a suburban 300 -kilometer mileage 6.4 l / 100 km.
Thanks to the low floor (the exhaust system is laid on the right threshold) with the rear seat of Sivic, you can do just unimaginable things. We hardly used a green button of efficiency (the car does not drive!), Nevertheless, the average fuel consumption (with an automatic machine) is 7.3 l / 100 km. By the way, Honda’s on -board computer can be believed.
The alarm, the automatic parking system and the usual parking sensation of Ford in equipment are not inferior to Honda, except for the missing rear view chamber.
The luggage compartment of Cruise was perfect for our measuring cubes: they lay down just perfectly. At the same time, under the false floor, a full -fledged reserve. But in the fuel consumption he is far from a leader: 9.1 l / 100 km.
Sergey Voskresensky:
A rare case in runs pierced on the release of the wheel. Do not be surprised, but this again happened to Honda and to some extent characterizes the energy intensity of her pendants. Instead of the right front wheel, I had to install a dock, pumped up, by the way, by all the rules. After some time, a symbol of incorrect pressure in the tire was lit in Honda, and after another 70100 km, the driver began to complain about a hum, reminiscent of the sound of a failed bearing. The inspection did not give anything, but the hub of the wheel and the disk of doctrine breathed with heat. Electronic lock? The stabilization system that worked for the difference in diameters? There were no instructions in the car, but they nevertheless resorned a doom back and this time they safely reached the house. Verdict: beware of incorrect doctrines, modern electronics (and sivik, in particular) do not like. At least in front.
The architecture of the front panel Cruise is recognizable and interesting in its own way. Only hard plastic spoils the overall impression.
Honda tools at a height: convenient, adjustable steering wheel, fashionable perforated pedals, steering wheel petals, digital speedometer.
Alas, sitting in a focus, alas. But convenient! I especially liked the front seats.
Cruise devices are well read, it is pleasant and their turquoise backlight.
If it were not for the notorious two -levelness, we would call Honda devices the best.
It annoys only an arrow persuading to switch to the next gear. Everything else suits.
The trunk of Cruise is not the largest, but it is planned perfectly.
Sivik has the most deep and roomy compartment.
In crowded but not mad? Focus trunk, alas, is too modest.
Source: Behind Rush
