Skoda Octavia I test drive - 2010 -

Already prestigious, still available

Compare compact sedans of the lower middle class
The car is not chosen only by cold mind. Here, marriage is much more often committed by love than by calculation. Although, maybe there is a higher calculation in it ...
The secret of the popularity of compact class sedans in wealthy Russians is obviously in a successful combination of representative appearance with practicality and moderate price. Everything that is less is prestigious, everything that is more is good, but expensive. In the price range of 8-12 thousand dollars, Koreans mainly fight for the wallets of buyers. Europeans and Japanese are more expensive - it was they who took part in our test: Opel Astra ($ 14 580), Ford Focus ($ 17 530), Volkswagen Bora ($ 17 490), Skoda Octavia ($ 16 170), Renault Megan ($ 14,900), Mitsubishi Karism ($ 14 490). They picked up cars with 1.6-liter gasoline motors and mechanical gearboxes. Configurations - basic or close to them; Only the focus ended up in the top execution of the GIA - more affordable will cost $ 14,900. Another exception is Octavia with a body of hatchback; She was drawn for the outward resemblance to the sedan.
Shining with polished sides, six cars froze in front of strict judges: let's start!
Visorins
I like the banal - you don’t like it when choosing a car sometimes means more than all objective advantages and disadvantages taken together. Well, let's try to evaluate the appearance of the subjects of the buyer, committed to eternal values \u200b\u200b(not only the automobile world): solidity, harmony, convenience. Let's take into account objective indicators.
Opel Astra - 4. The ocular car, however, is somewhat average of appearance, without memorable details. The doorways are wide enough, only the handles creak. It is a pity that the motor compartment is not protected from below, the road clearance with a load is 120 mm.
Ford Focus - 5. He has the most stylish and memorable appearance; Of household details are very large doorways. We did not find a pile anti -shift coating in the rear arches. Doors lock buttons are not visible outside. Large road clearance - with four passengers about 150 mm.
Volkswagen Bora - 4. Outwardly, restrained -salt and at the same time muscular, very carefully made. Not at all a trifle is an almost smooth bottom with well -protected fuel lines and the exhaust system, but the motor compartment is open from below. The clamped openings, tight external handles, hard door locks were not pleased.
Skoda Octavia - 4. looks with a claim to respectability. At the same time, the doorways are quickly polluted, and the sharp unreasoned angle of the front door is injured. The bottom is well protected, under the engine - a powerful steel shield, but to it from the road - only 105 mm.
Renault Megan - 4. A peculiar, although not indisputable appearance. The openings are easily contaminated (without external seals), the rear ones are also clamped at the top; Doors lock buttons are absent at all. Good protection of the motor compartment, but flimsy brackets of fuel lines. The oil probe is hidden very deeply.
Mitsubishi Carisma - 4. Soft, calm, but not too memorable silhouette, low opening of the front door. Motor compartment without protection, road clearance is medium.
WELCOME!
We walked around the bush, hung up with his tongues - now is the time to sit in the place of the driver or passenger, looking at the trunk on the way.
Opel Astra - 4. The salon was appreciated as neat and functional, quite spacious, but in comparison with others - the lowest and narrowest. Conducted the exact short passages of the gear lever, the maximum in the group longitudinal adjustment of the front seats. The only six is \u200b\u200bwith side airbags for front passengers. A split back, like competitors, is supplemented with a hatch for long -termers in the niche of the armrest.
Ford Focus - 5. Praise for the most stylish interior design, the most spacious salon, a fairly high landing (slightly resembles a mini -wen). The only six can boast of the front glass electric heater, at least in a rich configuration. The trunk is spacious, but its opening is short.
Volkswagen Bora - 4+. The richest, solid and carefully trimmed salon would not have shamed the car with a class above. Design solutions of the interior are distinguished by strictness and exactingness to the accuracy of the manufacture of elements. Great steering wheel, short passages of the box of boxes, huge chairs adjustment ranges. The fundamental drawback is the tightness of the back. Hard uncomfortable head restraints. The trunk is large, but its opening is narrow, but the castle is with a servo.
Skoda Octavia - 5-. A rich, fairly spacious salon; large chairs adjustment ranges; The interior is largely reminiscent of a borus, but the quality of execution is not so impeccable. Inadvertent control of external mirrors, the buttons of electric windows are inconveniently located. Thanks to the long rear the trunk is almost a hundred liters larger than that of the opponents, and the fifth door provides excellent access there. In the niche of the spare wheel - a spacious tile compartment.
Renault Megan - 5. Salon without delights, but one of the most spacious: three people will be placed behind without interference. Soft comfortable chairs, the central tunnel does not interfere at all. The trunk is huge in area and the widest, but rather low. A spacious niche for a spare wheel and tools.
Mitsubishi Carisma - 4+. The salon was considered a slightly rustic, but roomy. Soft comfortable chairs, the driver with the adjustment of the pillow along the angle of inclination. Only now the steering wheel is big, and the inner door handles, on the contrary, are too small. A large opening opens access to a medium -sized trunk. The latter is not very deep, in addition, the hinges of the lids protrude inside.
The bird is visible by flight
Now on the road - in the end, cars are bought to drive them.
Opel Astra - 5. The best indicators in almost all exercises: dynamic acceleration, good thrust in a wide range of revolutions, in the fifth gear without slowing overcomes an upsurge of 8%; A very elastic motor forgives even gross errors in the choice of gears. Informative steering wheel, small rolls in turns. The suspension is quite comfortable, the noise is small.
Ford Focus - 3-. Afront! With difficulty, he took a 30 percent rise in the first gear, while the rest were defeated and 50%. The combination of long gears and the engine strangled under the 91st gasoline, which is in no way lucky at low and medium speeds, makes the driver often switch. In quick turns, the effect of steering the rear suspension is noticeable, but how much is it necessary in ordinary modes? Rough operation of ABS, small vibrations on controls, noise from wheels.
Volkswagen Bora - 4+. A confident good man stepped on the heels of the leaders. Outstanding results on run (slightly the best only among the run -in Astra) is a high quality certificate. The engine is perfectly pulling on the bottoms, the most effective brakes. The suspension is quite dense, which is especially noticeable on an empty car.
Skoda Octavia - 4. Good dynamics, confident craving on the bottom, however, with a slow (innight) movement on irregularities, jerks were felt. The rolls are big in corners, and the tendency to skidding is also increased.
Renault Megan - 5. The second according to the results in dynamic exercises. The asset is confident in the entire range, energetic acceleration, minimal noise and vibration, high smoothness. Bloods - a great effort on the steering wheel, a tendency to skidding is noticeable.
Mitsubishi Carisma - 4. claimed the role of a solid middle peasant - led the tendency of the brakes to overheating with the subsequent loss of efficiency. The working motor pulls well, the suspension is soft and comfortable, the noise level is low. I did not like that the car is noticeably rolling in corners, and the force on the steering wheel changes in a spasmodic. Carisma provokes less than the rest to a sharp energetic ride. By the way, like the focus, he has a hearing multi -link suspension behind, but they do not know the moose about it, and the advertising is silent.
Assessments and ratings
When summing up the results, we will proceed from the same weight of indicators, although, of course, preferences from customers can be different.
Opel Astra-4 points and the final 4-5th place. A very dynamic, solid car, but not a masterpiece. The latter, afraid, offends the ambitious owner who will prefer this machine for running qualities. The contradiction between the form and the content is also evidenced by the rating of popularity: over the past year, only 161 Astra (the lower result from the group) has been sold in Russia).
Ford Focus- 4- and 4th place. A memorable appearance, a spacious salon, but ... a frank failure in running qualities. The applicant for leadership in the event of a cure of the disease, because an unadapted European version is much more freak. The novelty of the model, a bright appearance and a powerful advertising campaign allowed to win the sympathies of 416 buyers in the incomplete last year (fifth place from six in the number of sales).
Volkswagen Bora-4+ and 2-3th place. Reduced version of the prestigious passat? A car for the driver, and passengers from behind - do not blame. Much more expensive than competitors; Nevertheless, last year there were 877 buyers who were ready to overpay for quality (fourth out of six).
Skoda Octavia-4+ and 2-3th place. The troubledly working, although not quite accurate formula, German quality at the Czech price, as well as respectable appearance and high functionality - all this convinced 2763 buyers (the best result among our six).
Renault Megan - 5 and 1st place. A large, solid and dynamic car could become a sales leader, but is content with the third place (last year 1031 cars were sold) - evidence that not everyone shares the representations of the French about car beauty.
Mitsubishi Carisma-4 and 4-5th place. The most even indicators. A spacious family car that does not love too much dynamic driving. However, most of the 1210 (second place out of six) freshly baked owners, most likely, will most likely do not know about this - they will rejoice in their choice, exalting the legendary Japanese quality in the Dutch interpretation.

Opel Astra (ZR, 2001, No. 6) of the current, second generation has been produced since 1998. Body - three- or five -door hatchback, sedan, station wagon; The coupe is considered an independent model, as well as the mini-wen Safira on the Astra platform. Drive - front, power units - four -cylinder sixteen -valve: gasoline - 1.2; 1.4; 1.6 (there is also eight -valve); 1.8; 2.2 liters, as well as turbodiesels - 1.7 and 2.0 liters (two options - 61 or 74 kW). Along with a five -speed manual gearbox with all motors except the two weakest, a four -speed automatic is aggregated.

Ford Focus (ZR, 2000, No. 7) - the heir to the popular escort, made his debut in 1998. The body- three- or five-door hatchback, sedan, station wagon, a mini-van will soon appear. The drive is front. Equipped with gasoline sixteen -platens with a volume of 1.4; 1.6; 1.8; 2.0 liters, as well as a 1.8-liter turbodiesel (55 or 66 kW). The gearbox is a five -speed mechanical, and with 1.6 and 2.0 liters - also a four -speed machine. In Vsevolozhsk, near St. Petersburg, a plant is being built for the production of tricks.

Volkswagen Bora (ZR, 1999, No. 3) - Sedan on the Hatchback Platform Golf -IV. It was first shown in 1998, together with the station wagon is considered an independent model. It is released by the widest range of power units: gasoline 1.4; 1.6 (eight and sixteen-valve); 1.8; 2.0; 2.3; 2.8 liters, as well as a 1.9-liter turbodiesel (five modifications, from 66 to 110 kW). Depending on the motor, it is equipped with front or all-wheel drive, five- or six-speed mechanical gearboxes, four- and five-speed machines.

Skoda Octavia (ZR, 2000, No. 5, 10), first shown in 1996, was built on a single platform with golf-IV. Last year updated. It is produced with a body of hatchback (longer than golf) and station wagon. Equipped with gasoline units 1.4 (44 and 55 kW); 1.6 (55 and 74 kW); 1.8 and 2.0 liters, as well as a 1.9 liter diesel engine (four modifications from 50 to 81 kW). Along with front -wheel drive for powerful versions, a full, and in addition to a five- or six -speed manual gearbox, a four -speed machine, is offered.

Renault Megan (ZR, 1999, No. 1, 5) appeared in 1995, and four years later his appearance was updated. The body is a five -door hatchback, sedan, station wagon. Independent models are considered compartment, convertible and mini-van scenes. The drive is front (all -wheel drive modification only has a mini -wan). Engines - gasoline 1.4; 1.6; 1.8 liters, as well as a 1.9-liter turbodiesel (55, 72 and 75 kW). The gearbox is a five -speed mechanical, for powerful versions, also four -speed automatic.

Mitsubishi Karisma (ZR, 2000, No. 3) has been produced since 1995 at the Kar Ned factory in Holland. In 1999, updated. The body is a five -door hatchback and sedan. The drive is front. Power units - gasoline 1.6 and 1.8 liters (last type GDI) and a turbodiesel 1.9 liters (75 and 85 kW). The gearbox is a five -speed mechanical, for gasoline versions there is also a four -speed machine.

The advanced tongue eliminates the need to fumble under the hood.

The loops protruding in the trunk steal a considerable part of its volume.

A convenient trifle is a plug on a leash.

The hood of the focus is opened.

A multi -link rear suspension with the effect of steering.

The parallelogram mechanism does not appear in the trunk.

The right mirror, like the bore, is very tiny.

Circular digitization somewhat difficult to read the readings.

It is difficult to check the oil level without stinging hands

Compact torsion suspension with inclined shock absorbers completely fits under the floor of the luggage compartment.

The inner door handles are just right for the child.
 
 
 


 
 
Text / Yuri Nechetov
Photo / Vladimir Knyazev and Vladimir Trusov

Source: The magazine "Driving"