Test Drive Chevrolet Epica since 2006 Sedan

Crusader

Automotive Peace Over the past 10 years, it has been thoroughly changed on the roads there was a huge number of SUVs of all stripes and classes, which unzip the market share primarily among family sedans and universal. Most of those who used to buy themselves Opel Omega or Ford Scorpio, now prefer a parquet SUV. For the conservatives, a narrow layer of available business sedans are preserved, which the Japanese and Korean cars occupy entirely. And recently, this class did a very ambitious novice from Korea, if not to say the Wunderkind. With a very moderate price and a rich set of options, it threatens very quickly get out of the class favorites.
We hurried to take the Chevrolet Epica test drive, and chose the maximum configuration. With a 2.5-liter 6-cylinder row motor, automatic and leather cabin Sedan costs $ 30,430 untrue, tempting offer?
The design of the cabin is quite modern and deprived of funeral details that Koreans were bottled 5-10 years ago. All decently, although without a raisin. At first glance, soft plastic and a significant width of the body leave a feeling of the solidity of the machine and its accessories to the present business class. However, after more close acquaintances, small flashes emerge, which pretty spoil the taste of the appetizing barrel of honey. The central console decorates the spectacular display where climate control is displayed, compass and on-board computer. Just below, a separate audio display, only it is for some reason noticeably paler than the top display, when the headlights are turned on and brighter when off. Do not even help the adjustment of the backlight contrast is preserved. The sound of the radio tape recorder to the firm four, which is an excellent result for a car for 30 thousand dollars. And the control of the audio system is duplicated by keys on the steering wheel. Against the background of this magnificence, absolutely blind digital clocks on the right side of the console look like another teaspoon of tar. Also annoying the closing box in the center of the front panel: its black lid is located in the most prominent place, and it is uncomfortable to open it. It would be better if he was open to it could put a mobile phone. And closing the compartments are between the seats and in the armrest. And it would be better to raise higher radio tape recorder and climate control, and then for use, the last one has to distract the view for a long time. The climate display and the control keys separates the radio. The glove box is another sample of limiting savings: it is too small, and the backlight has a weak one for a long time for Chevrolet Aveo, but not for Epica.
Also in pursuit of a decrease in the cost of EPICA is deprived of a number of options familiar to business class, although the need for some of them is very doubtful. For example, in Chevrolet one-city climate control, no headlight washers and stabilization systems of course stability. The absence of the latter completely imperceptibly and does not affect the safety of a completely enough opposite system that works very correctly and unobtrusively.
The first thing you pay attention to in the cabin when trying to take the right landing is the lack of steering wheel adjustment by departure: huge rains are moving only by vertical, and I want to take a little on yourself. The instrument panel is simple and laconic, although the day of the speedometer and the tachometer scales are not enough contrast.
But enough to look at the car from the inside, it's time to touch the way. Especially since under the hood hides a row 6-cylinder motor installed across. A similar scheme other than Chevrolet now uses only Volvo. This motor configuration promises the perfect balance and softness. And the truth, at idle turns of the engine is not heard and it does not make absolutely no vibrations.
So, the selector to the DRIVE position and forward. The gas pedal was incredibly long-term, which is not very convenient. Of course, a large car must have smooth responses to any actions of the driver, but when the pedal has to reach it is not exactly what you need. Most likely, thus designers wanted to warn customers from random disappointment in the car. When driving the accelerator pedal to the floor Epica pleases with abrupt responses and diligently, but without excess twigs, jumps forward with every press of gas. It seems that click on the gas is still stronger, and EPICA will compete with more powerful machines. However, the expected sharp acceleration should not be. First, for a couple of seconds, the automatic is conceived, and then ... the salon is filled with a shrill engine of the motor. The engine is even unwinding to the declared 6500 rpm, but does it without much pleasure. He moans and asks to spare him, after trying the gas pedal and allowing the machine to switch the transmission to the mark of 4500 rpm. Strange, from a modern row 6-cylinder engine with a volume of 2.5 liters, we expect significantly greater across and ease on high revs. However, the chevrolet will not be able to blame in deception: the stated power of the 2.5-liter engine is only 156 forces, which is not very much for the sedan, which is marked into the business class. For example, on a BMW trice, a motor is similar in terms of volume and the number of cylinders. Motor develops 218 hp
The machine scatter refuses to slow down the engine in the standard mode, and when manually shifting the gear does it not very willingly. Locking the hydrotransformer when the motor turnover is rigidly associated with the speed of the machine, it works only on the last 5th gear and it has at least some practical result at speeds greater than 100 km / h. In the city of braking the engine has to forget. In general, the power of the brakes is enough to lay a big car on time. However, the soft brake pedal gives rise to a slight feeling of mistrust to Epica, although it is clear that the developers deliberately tried to increase the work move so that the driver was easier to dispense slowness. There is no confidence that these brakes are able to postpone the car with high speed several times and do not overheat, but Epica does not pretend to the laurels of a sports car. Also caused some problems the work of the ABS it works too early that once almost led to the accident. It's all about significant unscrupted masses that are caused by large wheels and probably a powerful suspension. On numerous small irregularities, shock absorbers do not cope with their work, and the wheels lose stable contact with the road. As a result, when braking ABS, it works, and the car practically does not slow down.
However, if you do not find and ignore the traffic lights, the Epica acceleration and braking dynamics is quite enough for confident movement around the city. On the track of Chevrolet easily accelerates to 180 km / h, although in fact it is no longer possible to go faster than 150 km / h. It's not about a lack of power or suspension, but in noise insulation the salon is filled with such a strong hum that it is necessary to increase the volume of the radio and raise the voice. It is to blame for only weak acoustic protection or too noisy studded Toyo tires, it's hard to say. But the fact that Koreans never paid special attention to the high-quality sound insulation of the cabin is a fact.
Apart from the casus when braking on irregularities, the suspension from Epica is worthy of praise. Independent on all wheels, it is great for a business class. Significant road clearance and greater energy intensity allow you to skip through lying police and not reduce the speed on a broken country highway. And that up to large rolls and the lack of reactive effort on the steering wheel, then in this case it is a moderate fee for the comfort of passengers, which is characteristic of a higher class machine.
One of my colleague, riding on Chevrolet Epica, even thought about her purchase, although his previous favorite was a Toyota Avensis sedan. But the Japanese formally stands on the step below according to the classification and for 30 thousand dollars is offered only with a 2.0-liter motor and automatic, but without a leather cabin and other attributes of the business class. The only thing that caused serious complaints is too large crosses and rear emblems.
If you delete them, Epica will only win, my friend decided and, it seems, I already went to the car dealership to order a car. And, however, if with the EPICA radiator grille, remove the emblem, replacing it on something more interesting, then, on the form of headlights, it can be accepted for the top five BMW. Surely a few months later, the dealers will appear tuning packets, allowing you to make Epica more like European models like Koreans imitate. Trendy rear krugli remind all the same Toyota Avensis or Ford Mondeo. The profile of Epica is absolutely unrecognizable classic business class sedan. Whether the Toyota Camry of the last generation, or the Mercedes E-class. In any case, the Epica dimensions significantly exceed its price. If you do not make a car from the car, but choose a spacious and solid car for business and family, then Chevrolet still makes a very tempting offer.
Text: Leonid Pavlov. Photo by author.
 
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Price
Energy intensive suspension
Spacious salon
 
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Officers in the interior decoration
Increacious design
 
Price of the Tested Car - $ 30,040

Complete set of tested car
Frontal airbags
Side airbags
Inflatable curtains
Abs
Anti-test system
Steering amplifier
Automatic transmission
Multifunctional steering wheel
Adjustable steering column in height
Skin Steering Decoration
Finishing salon skin
Electric heating front seats
Rear view mirror with autocession
Remote central castle
Air conditioner
Climate control mono
Electric and heating outdoor mirrors
Electric folding of outdoor mirrors
Electric windows front
Power windows rear
Folding in parts rear seat
CD audio system
CD changer
Rain sensor
Trip computer
Parktronic
Fog lights
Alloy wheels
Coloring metallic
Electrically regulating driver's seat
Cruise control
Specifications
Body
Body type 4-door sedan
Number of places 5.
Trunk volume, l 480
Curb weight, kg 1500
Full weight, kg 1900
Length, mm 4805
Width, mm 1810
Height, mm 1450
Wheel base, mm 2700
Road clearance, mm 150
Engine
Type gasoline, with distributed fuel injection and phase change system
Location in front, transversely
Location and number of cylinders R6
Working volume, cm 2492
Cylinder diameter / piston stroke, mm -
Compression ratio -
Number of valves for cylinder 4
Maximum power, hp / rpm 156/5800
Maximum torque, nm / rpm 237/4000
Transmission
Gearbox 5-speed, automatic
Drive front
Front Pendant Independent, Spring, McPherson
Rear suspension independent, spring, multi-type
Front brakes disc ventilated
Rear brakes disk
Tires 215/50 R17
Dynamics
Maximum speed, km / h 209
Acceleration time 0-100 km / h, from 9.9
Fuel consumption, l / 100 km
urban cycle 13,8.
country cycle 6.6
mixed cycle 9.3.
Fuel tank capacity, l 65
Fuel gasoline AI-95
 
 
 
 

A source: Carclub.ru.