Test Drive Toyota Corolla 2007 - 2009 Hatchback

All photos Toyota Corolla 2007 - 2009

Rising fashion

Japanese today in fashion: more and more people can distinguish sushi from Sashimi. Before us, three superpopular Japanese sedans, the demand for which exceeds the offer, and one hot novelty. Compare and evaluates the cars Anatoly Fomin.
Mazda 3.
European premiere 2003; restyling 2006th. Offered with a sled of a sedan or hatchback.
Engines: gasoline 1,42.3 l (80260 hp), diesel 1.6 l (109 hp). In Russia comes with 1,62.3 liter gasoline engines (MPS modification).
Gearboxes: 5- and 6-speed mechanical (2.0 l), 4-speed automatic.
Required: Base, Touring, Sport.
Price in Russia: $ 17,60028 220.

Honda Civic
Premiere 2005. Body options sedan, hatchback.
Engines: gasoline 1.42.0 l (83200 hp), hybrid 1.3 l (95 hp), diesel 2.2 l (140 hp). Cars are supplied to Russia only with an engine 1.8 liters.
Gearbox: 5-speed mechanical, 5-speed automatic.
Comfort: Comfort, Executive.
Price in Russia: $ 20,20025 100.

Toyota Corolla
Premiere 2006; Sales in Russia since February 2007. The body is only a sedan (the hatchback is offered under the name Auris).
Engines: gasoline 1.4, 1.6 liters (97124 hp), diesel 1.42.2 liters (90 177 hp). Machines only with gasoline engines supply cars.
Transmission: Mechanical 5- and
6-speed (diesel), automated 5-speed.
Comfort: Comfort, Elegance, Prestige.
Price in Russia: $ 18,60024,600.

Always alive

Updated at the end of last year Mazda-3 did not change the bumpers, grille, fog lights, wheels. Inside the upgraded seats, fashionable white appliances. Improved sound insulation; However, she still did not bring Mazda to the championship position by comfort. Of course, the overall noise declined noticeably, the sharpening and unpleasant stimuli disappeared, but against the background of the impeccably silent Toyota and Honda, the car does not look quiet.

This completely coincides with the nature of the car. The combination of a modest 105-strong motor with a four-stage hydromechanical machine seems to not configure an active ride. However, in fact, Mazda demonstrates fighting qualities! The gearbox with a fashionable manual mode is hardly belonging to the last generation, but in combination with a lively motor does not leave indifferent. The transmissions are turned on quickly and without oscillations, the hydrotransformer confidently multiplies the modest torque on small circulation, allowing the engine to quickly spin, and because of the short main pair it seems that the car is more powerful. Illusion dissipates when you try to keep up with the Honda after 120 km / h advantage of 35 hp indisputable.

Miracles do not happen, for a living character you need to pay something. In the case of Mazda, gasoline consumption. The average for the test amounted to 8.97 l / 100 km, which is longer than Toyota, and 1.7 l than Honda.

Mazda confidently keeps in turning on any coatings, demonstrates the suspension energy intensity quite acceptable for our conditions. But on the real Moscow region highway everything looks different, in a couple of hours Mazda can thoroughly tire. The car is very sensitive to rugs, and a sharp steering wheel not only supplies the driver with the necessary information from the wheels, but also forces constantly to twist on irregularities. Does not like Mazda and side wind, especially sharp gusts, for example, when driving with trucks. The hyperactivity of the machine only has at first acquaintance, and there is no complaint with prolonged communication. Still, this is an ordinary sedan, not an ambitious sports car, despite the relief seat, whose convenience will fully feel only a thin driver.

Sedanov has other values \u200b\u200ba spacious back seat, a large trunk and comfort. If with the last Mazda with a relative order, then the back is close not only to the groove passengers, but also people of a modest complex. The medium prevents the developed transmission tunnel, laterally inclined body racks. In this nomination, the treshka clearly loses more roomy Sivik and the Corolla. The trunk is surprisingly spacious, but the opening is small. The compartment is distinguished by a record high due to a compact resort.

The new integrated Mazda audio system understands the compressed formats of the MP3 and WMA recording formats and is equipped with a rigid disk by 20 gigabytes where the compositions can be written both from CD and from the radio. Such rare (so far!) The ability to cost an additional $ 1050.

Sivik himself
Unusual design, spacious salon, powerful engine, excellent dynamics This is the new Sivique. On acceleration and maximum speed in our Trinity, he has no equal. As with a cute timbre of the engine at high revs. And he is also a damn economy at the city easily and naturally made the Corolla for as much as 0.7 l / 100 km. And it is with a full-fledged hydromechanical transmission instead of the Toyotovsky robot, on winter tires and with a magnet volume on a glass greater.

The box of Sivik has no manual mode, but this does not interfere anything. The combination of a powerful and tracting engine with a shock, but a comfortable machine does not cause desire to interfere. Behind the sharp pressing of the gas pedal instantly follows the push to the lower back. The best Sivique behaves on the highway but only good. Honda is comfortable on small irregularities, however, the passage of any noticeable yam is accompanied by unexpectedly loud complaints of the suspension. Energy intensity supply is a very small short wave at a speed of 100 km / h, and again the root of the stroke limiters.

But in the salon, only two Sivik is absolutely indifferent to Karacia and side wind. The successful characteristic of the electric power amplifier allows accurately and without unnecessary movements to control the trajectory. In the tense turns, Sivik may slightly scare an inexperienced driver when the gas is discharged on the arc, the car is inclined to drift. However, it is stabilized by himself, even without the participation of electronics.

Front in Honda is surprisingly spacious. At first glance, Sivik and behind the most spacious, but a large distance between the first and second is not even equal to convenience. The car is noticeable for the Corolla, and the rear seat cushion is too low even for medium height passengers. Unfortunately, the driver's seat is also not so comfortable, as it seemed that the lumbar framed part gave itself to know everything in half an hour. The adjustment of the back will clearly prevent! The original instrument panel, for sure, there are fans and hutes. From the point of view of pure art, it is certainly a find, but an attempt to keep the road in sight, the speedometer and the tachometer turns into torture.

The trunk is wide, spacious and small. Of course, under the floor there is a full-size spare wheel, but competitors are much more.

Class in class

The new Corolla looks like a younger sister Camry. Even in the larger position of the chair, the driver sits higher than in Honda or Mazda. This not only improves the review, but also allows economically to use the length of the cabin. As a result, with the most short base, a dealer with comfort is placed by himself. Despite the fact that under the floor is a full spare time 205 / 55R16, the trunk is great.

High Seat Corolla looks robust, but convenient for a small or medium height driver. Large cushion is small. Dear equipment involves the rain sensor and self-defining electrochromic inner mirror. Audio system Even in the Comfort version reads MP3 and WMA files.

The main difference between our car Automated gearbox Multi-Mode: An ordinary manual box with automatic control. The pedals have two, and the selector is similar to the one that in hydromechanical machines. The advantages of such a solution are theoretically in a smaller fuel consumption (especially in the city) and

low cost. Over the city, short transfers Corolla crossed out savings. Feelings from driving with an automated box are completely different than with conventional hydromechanics. Frequent switching is given by unpleasant hanging and jerks when overclocking. Competition with the classic Multi-Mode machine does not withstand, although in comparison with other similar aggregates are not bad. It is provided for manual mode, in which the transmissions choose with a steering wheel lever or selector on the floor. Troubled all the options, resulted: the most comfortable semi-automatic one when the driver sets the moment of switching to the short release of the gas pedal.

In general, Corolla is made to annoy as little as possible. Broken spring roads seem to be filmed. Suspension silently copes with such pita, which is scary for the wheels! The board serves as a fair stitch on irregularities. Electric steering power amplifier Direct opposite of Sivik. It is designed so much that it seems that there is no mechanical connection between it and wheels. Although the reactive effect in the rotation of the steering wheel is proportionally and proportionally. Synthetic feedback and brake pedal to dose the effort to stop exactly the specified point, without habit it is difficult.

Catch up and wait
Choose Mazda-3 is still better with a manual gearbox: such a rustier, and more economical, and cheaper. Sivique, on the contrary, is good with a gun: neither in the dynamics, nor in speed we will not feel yourself. However, now the automatic box is available only in the EXECUTIVE configuration. Toyota is in its own way. The rejection of the hydromechanical transmission in favor of robotic probably is beneficial to the manufacturer, but for a comfortable ride is not the best solution. Good new 1,6-liter motor deposits are better to open with a conventional manual box.

Caught? Do not hurry! Any of these cars will have to wait for them all in fashion. And sometimes it is not clear who chooses whom: buyer looking for a car or a car owner?

Anatoly Fomin: The main priority in this class is the convenience of operation, and not outstanding running quality. Because Toyota's leadership is reasonable.

Mazda 3 Despite the automatic, very lively and active car with a cloth interior, but a spacious trunk. Bright appearance as standard.
Total rating of 7.6
+ Elegance, affordable price in the basic configuration, a large selection of additional equipment, active in nature.
- Close back seat, small opening trunk, sensitivity to longitudinal irregularities and side wind, dance instead of spray.

Honda Civic sample of modern mechanics; Outstanding engine! Not very practical, but fast and economical. Loves good roads more precisely, does not endure bad.
Total rating of 7.6
+ Excellent speaker, efficient brakes, low fuel consumption, spacious front interior, good resistance at high speeds.
- Limited proposal, few options for configuration, small trunk, weak energy intensity suspension.

Toyota Corolla is all solid and kindly. Do not wait for miracles in the driving disciplines, but the car will delight comfort and practicality.
Total rating of 8.1
+ Good visibility, low noise, comfortable suspension, large trunk, Russified menu.
- Uncomfortable switching machine, uncomfortable dynamics management, non-informative brake pedal.