Test drive Kia Cerato (Spectra) Sedan 2004 - 2007 sedan

The art of reincarnation

He is quite pretty. Many people like him. Is this not an achievement for the Korean golf class?
 



I blinded you from what was
It was funny to observe how refuelines, almost in smell distinguishing an expensive car from cheap, fussed around our Cherato, as if we had rolled up on an expensive Mercedes. Yes, it is not for nothing that the best design minds from the Frankfurt Studio Kia tried their best, creating a car that would not look like a simpleton against the backdrop of numerous competitors.
 

Kia always had problems with their own style, and this time the designers could not resist the temptation to use other people's findings. As a result, the front of the CHERTO somewhat resembles the previous generation Avensis, and Astra from behind.
 

According to the technical part, he also does not shine with originality. As a result of close cooperation with Hyunde, it became possible to use the Elantra platform. The base, track, suspensions and 105-horsepower gasoline engine in both machines are absolutely identical. Thus, the call of Fogg from Roman Jules Verne around the world in 80 days to use everything under the hand, and not to look for another in Kia was implemented.
 



Small outside, but big inside
In appearance, such a short sedan, it turns out, has by no means modest sizes. Having pushed the seat to the stop, I was eighty -five meters, barely touching the pedals, I notice that there will be no two -meter uncle here. Probably, there is no place left at all? But no, sitting behind himself, did not find tight contact between his knees and the back of the seat. In addition to everything above the head, both in front and behind, there was enough space for enough. And even a complete surprise was a decent sizes of the trunk.
 

 


And this is the matter here. The wheelbase of Cheratto is 2610 mm, and this, by the way, is one and a half centimeters more than that of Alfa-Romeo-156. In addition, this kia is not at all a shorty, without three centimeters one and a half meters tall a little smaller than Peugeot 307, one of the golns of golf class. Here you have the answer why this car is so large inside.
 



Do not forget replaceable shoes
I remember at school I probably studied in the third class. I go in the morning, like all normal children, to a lesson, and I forgot a bag with a shift. A strict duty officer is right there. Yeah! He speaks. We do not respect, then the work of the cleaning lady ... and sent me home.
 

The situation with Cerato is somewhat similar. The materials of the interior decoration are so bright, as if this kia is at least from a business class. The floor covered with almost white carpet, the light-beige seat manufactory, doors and the bottom of the front panel are very demanding on the purity of the inhabitants of this car. Do not think that I think all my fellow citizens are dirty. It’s just that we are not washed with shampoo, the mud-salt baths are also not uncommon. So I don’t understand why all these claims for luxury.
 

Otherwise, there is something to be happy. Materials, not to say that expensive, but very decent quality, everything is perfectly fitted. The steering wheel, however, is rustic, but it is adjusted in height. The route computer shows the average speed, stroke, the average fuel consumption and travel time.

A glass, several cup holders, an armrest with a small box without such pleasant little things now do not cost a little self-respecting car. Unless with musical accompaniment the inconspicuous came out: the radio is only the most expensive Chetto.

 
  
You can throw the back of the rear seat only by opening the trunk and pulling the special rod

For lovely ladies, in each of the sunscreen visors, a mirror is provided. True, without backlighting
  
This small box is one of the two hiding under the arm of the armrest

Thanks to rubber seals, these cup holders can put dishes of different sizes

Decent sizes of a glove box from prying hands can be locked with a key




Calm, only calm
Damn these traffic jams! Well, tell me where it is suitable from textiles to kuzminkov to go for half an hour among the exploring smoke and soot of masks and Ikaruses, when you can walk in twenty minutes with a walking step. And how I think that there will be a year in three, I don’t want to look at cars at all. The only thing that at least somehow dilutes my pessimism is the presence of an automatic gearbox in our Cheratto.
 

I raise the windows, turn on the air conditioner and crawl towards the region, just to get out as soon as possible. Having overcome the last traffic light at the Kuzminki metro, I notice that the cork is over. I thank the celestial forces for the opportunity provided to me at least somehow evaluate the capabilities of 105 horses in an alliance with an automaton and more hard on the gas pedal.
 

The speedometer marked up to 220 km/h is very flattering for our car, the maximum speed of which does not exceed 173 km/h. But for the 2-liter, which can boast of the result of 208 km/h, it will be just. Grumbling displeasedly, the car begins measured acceleration. Everything happens very calmly, the programs change smoothly, without jerking, without forcing the inhabitants of the cabin to beat off. The machine is far from advanced design requires a smooth handling. It makes no sense to trample the accelerator with all your strength, the only thing you will achieve in this case is a stronger noise from the engine, and not intensive acceleration. Therefore, rebuilding, when you need to quickly wedge into the neighboring row, it is better to avoid.
 

Outside the city, when I exceeded the speed over 130, I increasingly began to recall the missing radio: starting with 3000 rpm, the engine fills the salon with a noise overlapping the rumble of tires and the whistle of the wind. Well, at least, there is a sound insulation of the motor compartment, as it would be without it, I don’t even want to imagine. However, this trouble is easy to help. Calmly, in no hurry, 100110 is a speed when you can move comfortably and talk in an undertone.
 



About severity, comfort and art of reincarnation
Two and a half turning from the stop to the stop, how do you like these steering indicators? This kia is almost Alfa Romeo! But what is surprising, when turning the steering wheel, the car does not shy away as a crush stung, but behaves quite predictably. McEferson in front and the back multi-link deserve exceptionally high assessments. At any speeds of small flaws of the road surface, it is not felt, and deeper potholes the suspension is worthy, without shaking passengers. At the same time, the car does not fall in the turns and clearly holds a given trajectory.
 

Disk brakes would easily stop the car if it was twice as difficult. From the habit, I more diligently than expected, pressed the brake pedal, and then my photographer hung on seat belts. In order not to experience the reproachful gaze of these eyes, with the brake, I began to handle very affectionately, slightly stroking the pedal with my foot. Probably, by car with a 2-liter 143-horsepower engine there are such brakes, there, of course, they will be in the subject.
 

Driving impressions only confirmed the feeling of the overall balance that this car leaves. The car turned out to be pretty not only externally, but also, so to speak, I would love to go on one with pleasure. Whatever you say, and this is akin to the art of creating a machine not only attractive, with the right road habits, but, most importantly, affordable. And, in my opinion, it is not so important that Cheratto was not built from scratch, but reincarnated ready-made. The result is important.
    
Choose you

The cheapest CHERTO sedan with a 1.6 liter engine, a mechanical box, ABS, two airbags, air conditioning, audio training and immobilizer for 15 050 Y.E. By paying 250 Y.E, you will receive a board, electric windows, electric drive and heating of mirrors and steering wheel adjustment in height. With a machine gun, the car will cost a thousand conditional units more expensive, each of which is 30 rubles.
 

A sedan with a 2.0 liter engine, climate control and rear spoiler costs 19,000 Y.E. For real Sibarites for 22,000 Y.E. Cars with automatic transmission, in which there is everything, including electric loud, cruise control, leather interior, alloy wheels, a target stability system and side pillows. The hatchback is sold so far only with a 1.6 liter engine and costs 250 cu. more expensive than sedan.
  
PER

Attractive appearance, excellent running qualities and brakes, wide selection of configurations, reasonable price
AGAINST

Sluggish dynamics with a 1.6 engine and an automatic box, poor sound insulation, lack of hatchback with a 2.0 liter engine
 
Kia Cerato 1.6

common data
 
Body (number of places/doors)
Sedan (5/4)
 
Equipped mass, kg
1220
 
Length x width x height, mm
4340x1735x1470
 
Base, mm
2610
 
The diameter of the turn, m
10.2
 
Speed, km/h
173
 
Acceleration time 0100 km/h, with
13
 

Fuel consumption, l/100 km highway/city
6.0/10.9
 


Engine
 
Location
Front, transversely
 
Design
4-cylinder, in-line, gasoline
 
Working volume, SMZ
1599
 
Power, L.S. at rpm
105/5800
 
Torque, kgsm at rpm
14.3/4500
 

Chassis
 
Drive unit
On the front wheels
 
Transmission
Automatic, 4-speed
 
Brakes
Disco in front are ventilated
 
Tires
195/60 R15
 
 
Andrey Koltun, photo of Maxim Goncharov
 
 

Source: Magazine buy a car [18/2004]