Test drive Mazda 626 MK5 Sedan 1997 - 2002 Sedan
Euro standard
What does the rich middle class do in Russia? He uses a cellular connection - loudly and quickly, he will go in stroke boutiques - a crumpled chubby and from a familiar saleswoman, buys a steep car - used, tinted, from two gloomy strangers. The mid -powered capitalist for Cordon speaks at the tariff, pays the golden Visa, and on Sundays polishes the new Mazda 626. Without show -offs, but ...
What is the burgher in his mind, Russian in the yard. The first dreams of a truly large car only behind beer for Tyrolean tunes, and the second thinks how rather it is to sell it to a collective farm in mind, considers expenses and without pythet looks at the new VAZ 2110 as his future. But there is an opinion that we are not too rich to buy used things. That is why we were driving a new Mazda, and you read this test.
... with a new car Reconnaissance on local: we are inside the car cost $ 22,400. This is Novier-Mazda 626 in the top-end Touring configuration, with a guarantee operating for three years or 80,000 km of run. But to get acquainted with the car, we will have four hours and fifty kilometers. Moreover, it does not smell like the world exclusive: for its previous generations, the car is studied along and across, in the European class D is listed in good account and looks like 323, like the sixteenth moment of spring to the seventeenth. It is proved: if the automaker begins to flirt with the corporate style, one model from another can only be distinguished with a relative degree of probability.
And yet the six is \u200b\u200bgood! The faceted design of the bow is aggressive and has nothing to do with oriental soap. Stampovka on the hood merge into a triangular ledge on an integrated bumper, which, like the nose of an icebreaker, dissects the road space of the city. The front racks littered back create the impression of the presence of a hump on the hood, a certain predatory beak. The uncompromising appearance of the fog of the fog in the front bumper is complemented, giving the car full-fledged seriousness. A frivolous chrome strip with the emblem has gone the past, instead of it a more impressive symbol flaunts on a false radiator grille. In all other respects, the exterior of the Mazda 626 is a paradise for those who do not like to shine once again with their money: standard for the sedan of the body shape with wide rear racks, allocated, but not excessive stamping of arches, inexpressive decoration of the rear ... Sedan like a sedan. Restrained, moderately sports, moderately characteristic, without super -task.
Visiting the Japanese I sit inside, and immediately in the back seat. The front passenger chair is radically pushed back, and my knees stumble upon hospitable Japanese plastic. Ba, yes, this is standard, like Regina Dubovitskaya from the TV, a Japanese joke: with a great desire to transport skis or other long objects, folding part of the rear seat and the back of the front passenger. The latter can, if desired, also perform the function of a stationary meal, thanks to the available substetricians for containers. That's why there is a plastic! Yes, and the ski ointment does not stick the back of the seat. Comfortable.
Otherwise, the salon appears, as if the principle of Coca -Cola embodied in fabric and plastic - there are so many of you that one will decide anything. In other words, you should not hope for individuality here, which all the faces of the new Mazda sparkle. There should be many good Japanese, but mass does not lead to exclusivity. Does it need a medium -sized average car? The question is also ...
But in the place of the driver you do not feel like a diogenes in a barrel with a meaning of life in each question - once! The lack of excess design here turns out to be a plus - it does not distract from the road and even a dignity of a separate story. A surge of positive emotions caused pleasant to the touch the shape of the steering wheel, sheathed with perforated skin. In general, the light upholstery of the cabin visually extends the salon, making the car more inside than outside. To the place and inserts for a noble tree, not especially, of course, dearly looking next to the velor upholstery, but still ... The steering column is adjusted in height with a good range, and the disputed lever of the scenes of the Communist Party and propose to find new classes for household hands. Moreover, his moves are too big, as well as efforts to include gears. And the armrest interferes. 
Driving exercises in the sitting position are facilitated by four adjustments to the driver's seat, of which two are on the pillow. In the disadvantages, only the lack of a brightly exposed side support can be brought - the seat was clearly calculated on a very broad back. Nothing prevents excellent visibility from the front seats, but it’s enough to glance at the rear window, as it becomes clear - the Japanese designers are not used to looking back. Wide racks and pavements of the passenger seat interfere with visibility. But the external mirrors are good: wide, divided into two zones, they can easily be adjusted without leaving the car due to convenient electrical regulation. 
I did not cause discomfort and layout of steering wheel switches - everything is simple here: the left is responsible for the headlight and turn signals, the right - for the work of brushes. The only remark to the design of the instrument panel will almost exactly repeat the claims to the Mazda 323 - the indicators of the temperature of the coolant and the fuel level are deprived of digitization and are completely non -informative. If the Swiss Longines can still allow their owner to be between 12 and 3, then the Mazda driver needs more accurate information.
Geishas are not included The Japanese car is absolutely friendly towards its riders. To satisfy their seasonal desires, a climate control with air conditioning and heating the seats are included in the Touring package, and for those who love more lady, there are electric drives of all glasses, an on-board computer, a power steering and a gas tank cover opened from the cabin. Comprehensive safety will be provided with an immobilizer with a central lock, front and side airbags, and anti -suggestion beams in the doors.
Eastern technology, you understand ...
The two -liter Mazda engine, coupled with five -speed mechanics, is continuous positive emotions. 136 horsepower allows you to easily gain local victories in the road flow without compromising mental health. A high -speed motor implements all its power at 5800 rpm, and the maximum torque in 181 Nm is reached at 4500 rpm. Not a diesel, of course, but to smack the second gear from zero with exciting allows.
The car suspension is the result of a smart compromise between the original composition and the eastern package that lifted the car. What happened: there is no shaking on irregularities, they swallow and absorb, but the consequences of serious road troubles to the corps are transmitted without embellishment. Manageability was not affected, remaining on a solid level for machines of this class. Despite the sufficiently average operation of the hydraulic wrap, the steering wheel remains sharp and has a good return effort. In addition, the car is equipped with a number of modern electronic assistance systems, including ABS, the TCS antipropatting system and the EBD brake force redistribution system.
Results
According to sellers, Mazda 626 is the most affordable Japanese car in its class. Which, in principle, gives another competitive advantage. But you will decide anyway. And the east-west has nothing to do with it.
Source: Wheel magazine [No. 49/2001]
