Test Drive Mitsubishi Grandis since 2004 Minivan

For family reasons

What to take home for the city? The wagon is already enough: the kids have grieved unnoticed, the father-in-law did not lose weight, and the favorite Bologna, contrary to the promises of the seller in the market, turned into a rather big bear.
The perfect option for such a mini-Wen team. And we have brought them on a virtual duel. Mitsubishi Grandis debuted last fall at the Frankfurt Motor Show. In the near future, he will appear in Russian dealers. On the other side of the Citroen C8 barrier, the product of the European Design School. Recall that he is an analogue of Peugeot 807, Fiat-Ulysses and Lianci Fedra.
On face graceful
The main advantages of mini-WEN functionality and practicality, no wonder this class is often denoted by the MPV abbreviation (Multi Purpose Vehicle Multipurpose Car). However, times when the design of spacious cars, some firms considered the case minor, passed.
Modern mini-Wenam does not have to be shying for their appearance. Characteristic of all modern models of Mitsubishi Stylistic solutions proposed by Chef-designer Oliver Boule (Oliver Boulay) are traced in the Grand. The branded breakfast stretches from the bumper through the emblem of three diamonds on a falseradiator lattice almost to the middle of the hood. Big rear lights are similar to those standing on the renewed Lancer with the body of a wagon and recently debuting Mitsubishi Colt.
Drawing a new Grandis, designers looked at the concepts, presented a couple of years ago, an elegant luxury car Space Liner (Space Liner) and a dynamic Tarmak convertible. The recognition of the grandpa gives folds on the side panels and doors.
French designers also tried to adhere to family traditions. The face of Citroen C8 is similar to the passenger models of the lattice with a bar across, on which a two-story emblem embrying is located, a little swollen hood. Side C8 compared to the Grandism looks robust. Yes, and the back looks rather functionally, rather than elegant.
But some elements of the Japanese and French are similar. For example, large elongated lights. Only the Grandis instead of the light bulbs in them are more attractive and bright LEDs (24 each). Similar and rotation indicators settled in the outer mirrors.
Delful inside
Of course, this should be mini-Ven. However, in order to seriously deal with competitors, this is not enough. The inner decoration of the Grandix was performed in the style inherent in many Japanese models are good, convenient, but without special delights. The main bodies are made on the central console.
The design of the C8 instrument panel is more original and intricate. Unlike the Grandism, where the basic devices are in front of the driver's eyes, the French joined the speedometer, tachometer and other signs in the middle of the torpedo to the two-storey visor. A screen on which information about the total and daily mileage, maintenance intervals, oil level index and other information is visible between the steering knitting needles. It is curious that the instrument mini-shield walks along with a steering column adjustable in the longitudinal direction and in height.
Of course, Mitsubishi and Citroen have a lot of common class obliges. Pockets, niches and boxes are scattered across the salon, not to forget where it lies. Even for sunglasses, special compartments thoughtfully. Cups The case is already familiar. In these mini-shops, the rear seat passengers also have tables that are nominated from the backs of the front armchairs.
In Citroen, the front seats are deployed 180 degrees. A second-row chair becomes around the table, four of them will be happy to dine or simply talk. Mitsubishi such cunning transformations can not boast. Is that the seats of the third row turn against the stroke can be traveling or relaxing on the balcony in the trunk.
Probably, each mini-Ven sometimes has to work out by a truck. In Citroen and Mitsubishi, you can clear the place before the front seats. It is even easier to fold only the last row, and to transport the longs to build armchairs in line.
It is probably important to someone that C8 will take eight people, and the Japanese is one less. However, if a family or company is not so numerous, you can sacrifice the number of seats in favor of comfort. On request in both cars, instead of a common sofa for three in the second row, two individual chairs with armrests will be installed.
They don't have to miss the driver nor passengers: if you have no one to talk to, the first trip will scratch a regular audio system, and the second will look at the film on a seven-wing screen suspended to the ceiling.
On the defense of the family
Attractive appearance, comfortable interior, a complete set of additional equipment ... What else is the buyer? Of course, security.
The RISE system (Reinforced Impact Safety Evolution The Evolution of the Enhanced Passive Safety System) includes the basic elements of the body that helps extinguish energy when hitting and protecting the rides. She brought the highest rating of 6 stars on the tests on the Japanese method of J-NCAP, in many ways similar to similar EUROnCAP tests. Other protection remedies were made by other means of protection: four airbags for the front sediments, inflatable curtains, protecting heads, three-point belts (on the first row with pretensioners).
A set of rescue media Citroen looks like a Japanese as two drops of water: a carefully worked body, a complete set of pillows, belts with sopatrons. The smallest passengers are not forgotten. On the seats of the second row of C8 and the Grandis are the castles of Isofix (see SM, 2004, No. 5), reliably holding the children's chair during the accident. True, Citroen slightly caring: there is even an additional mirror under the ceiling, in which parents are watching the situation on the rear seats.
Designers not only took care of passive security, but, of course, it tried to stuff the machines with devices that help to avoid trouble. Disc brakes on all wheels, of course, with ABS, the force between the axes distributes the electronics. In the list of staff equipment of electronic assistants at Citroen more. Systems controlling the wheel slip (Active Traction Control) and allow you to hold the car on a given trajectory (Active Stability Control), the Grandis in the options. True, the Japanese promised that for some European countries they will be included in the basic equipment.
Serious moments
Practicality practicality, and decent technical indicators are also necessary. Detect the maximum 180 km / h GRANDS helps the new gasoline engine with the MIVEC system regulating the height of the inlet valves. A couple of valves account for three cams of different profiles. On small crankshaft turnover, one inlet valve is opened only by half, second and less. At high speed, both valves set the other cam lift maximum. The tricky system saves fuel, and also improves the characteristics of the torque and maximum power.
For Citroen, they offer a pair of diesel engines with a volume of 2.0 (79 kW / 109 l.) And 2.2 liters (94 kW / 128 l.), The range of petrol is even richer. Two more powerful are equipped with VTC (VARIABLE TIMING CONTROL), adjusting the gas distribution phase. Hydromechanical rotary devices are installed on the camshaft sock. Depending on the engine speed and load, the camshaft shifts relative to the pulley. The advantages of the design are the same as the device governing the height of the lifting of the valves on the grand motor, less fuel consumption, above the torque and power.
The Japanese did the all-wheel drive version. Rear wheels, if necessary, connects electronic clutch, and the driver can choose one of the three modes of the transmission operation. On a good road, the 2WD position is preferable. On the slippery coating, it is better to turn on the four-wheel drive 4WD, and the Lock mode is designed to assign the off-road, when the electronic grip works almost without slipping.
It is difficult to say who of the duelists will score more votes on the family council. Opinions can be divided: for example, dad will vote for dynamic, externally a little more passenger grandis, and mom may like the inner decoration C8. Surely parents will take into account and children's wishes, because mini-Wenna is not for nothing called with family cars.
 

 



Maxim Sachkov

A source: Journal "Behind the wheel"