Test Drive Chevrolet Lacetti Sedan since 2004 Sedan

Is it cheap and how cute?

The Russian market presents three modern models of the golf class of Korean origin. What kind of preferred?
 



Reason for acquaintance
Suppose you decide to buy a new golf class car. At the same time, the production of the vase and can afford a more modern, comfortable and safe car. However, your budget is designed literally to the ruble, so you spend many hundreds, not to mention thousands of people. e. For such ephemeral to the utilitarian means of movement of your family from point A to the point used, as a solid image or fashionable design, you do not intend.
 

In this case, your choice is not so great. If immediately reflecting a pensioner Nexia, our attention switches to the second and third winners on the cheapest podium in the golf class. This is the Korean Hende Elantra and Chevrolet-Lacetti: from $ 13,790 and $ 13,800, respectively.
 

Attractive price Lovely reason for more familiar dating, isn't it? We called the two above-mentioned models to the barrier by adding a little more expensive to them ($ 15,370) Kia-Cherato. Well, how will its advantages displays even a significant difference? All three cars we compared in the most running performance: the most Russian body sedan and the optimal for golf class Motor 1.6 L with a 5-speed mechanic.
 

Well, what do you know how to, gentlemen Koreans?
 



Slowly but surely
They look quite well. No, we will not, contrary to the principles, to raise an estimate for the exterior. But it should be noted that the design of Korean cars with each new generation is becoming more and more eyes. Is it turning the language to call, say, Cherato tasteless and gray? Kia, transfusion in the sun dazzling blue metal, is easy to take for something French or Italian. Not bad in his solid rigor Lacetti conservatism in small doses only on hand the classic sedan. For me, in this neat three-piece silhouette, even something German is glad. Elantra, chief old old man at a party, and not to miss. The predatory grille of the radiator seemed to be a modest sedan from some aggressive sports compartment. And the headlights that the thickened eyebrows of the dark Macho. Such a cheeky physiognomy in the golf class is still searching.
 

The interiors also produce quite a decent impression. The main thing is that you need to know the future buyer in part of the convenience of use and Hende, and Chevrolet, and Kia is nothing to reproach. Controls are logically grouped, the readability of the instruments are optimal, buttons icons and switches on the center console do not represent secrets. The overall remark is only one inexpensive finishing materials, which is quite for the budgetary golf class.

 
Kia Cerato.
 

 
 
Very decent CD magnetol enters the basic equipment
     
 
There is something sports in the design of a well-read dashboard

Round button on top of the speaker (shown by the arrow) opens the trunk lid
 
 
Pockets on the left sidewall of the passenger chair not so much for the mobile phone as for road maps

On the left behind the wheel is simple, but the convenient console of the music center
 


In addition, in Elantra disappointing the design of gray in all respects. Gray plastic, gray fabric, gray style of scarlet. In Cherato, by the way, full of parts borrowed from the elantry, the machines are still built on one chassis, but there is no feeling of cheapness here and in risen.

 
Hyundai Elantra.
 

 

Accessory from the class above the folding armrest with a box for smallers
  
Full electric car at Hyde begins with GLS execution
 
 
The air conditioner panel does not affect stylish solutions. It is just convenient

During the day, readability of tidy of questions does not cause, in the evening it spoils lilac lighting
 
 
Make-up mirror, a glance and lamps for reading in the cozy little things there is no

Two handwheel on the sidewall of the chair regulate not only the height of the pillow, but also an angle of inclination


Kia pleases his home, light not in the class of color gamut of the interior. Surprised the giant speedometer as specifically specifically for those who do not see the Arralist WC and B. What is the same in the test table of vision checks? Lacetti disappoints the very long and fuzzy moves of the gear lever. But Chevrolet has a trump card adjustment of the steering column both in length and angle of inclination. This in low-cost Koreans has not yet been. For innovation Additional Polballa.

 
Chevrolet Lacetti.


   

 
In the depths of the front armrest there is a lot of space for small things
 
   
Climate control and looks smart and managed easily
 
Today, even in an inexpensive sedan, you will meet the heated seats, the anti-test system and the hydrocormer
 
   
In the door pocket there is a recess under the bottle

The back of the sofa can be folded directly from the trunk using this button.

Not the best solution by changing the height of the pillow, simultaneously change the angle of inclination


Question approach
If a spacious lounge is a priority article for you when choosing a car, then ask yourself how many people will actually ride in the back sofa? Two or three?
 

In the first case, the rear row of any of the Korean golfers is optimal. In each of them, I sat down after myself, that, taking into account my growth in 1 m 85 cm, a very worthy result.
 

Did the sofa wanted to ride three healthy? In this case, Cherato looks less preferable. And the sofa pillow is noticeably shorter, and the roof of Kia is littered on the sides. Sitting around the edges will definitely polish the hairdo light upholstery of the ceiling. Of course, the family-owned golf class rarely goes the top five hockey players, but the reserve pocket does not pull. Right?

 
   
Convenient Hole Salon Multiple Spoard Is that too Banal Interior Design

Adjusting the steering wheel along the length and angle of inclination plus chevrolet, fuzzy and long moves of the gearbox annoying minus

Rarely on low-cost Golf Class models, you will meet so happy
 
   
Elantra, despite the age, quite a spacious car and in front, and rear

Spacious sofa and a fabric that resembles a dear velor, will delight passengers Lacetti

Cerato sofa has the shortest pillow, and the reserve for the head of the rear passengers is very small
 
        


But on the part of comfortable placement behind the wheel there are no complaints. Everything is fine here: a complete set of adjustments and a chain upholstery fabric.


Where to ship something?
The trunk in something is akin to air to think about it, only when it is missing. Of course, at the modern service level, the televisions and refrigerators from the store will have to be infrequently packed goods will deliver specially trained people. Well, how to deal with such things as a baby stroller, which is ordered to take the cottage? Order a cargo taxi?!
 

And nothing funny because in any of the three sedans, this vehicle does not fit. And in general, it is easier to say that the trunk of Korean sedans will take. A couple of large road suitcases yes drawer with tools or subwoofer. But not both together. Everyone has one trouble on three times with a folded sofa sofa access to the salon limits the technological arch. And here is a narrow opening, a large loading height, that is, everything that complicates, and does not facilitate life. In short, despite the minimum difference in volumes, Kia, Hende and Chevrolet get the top three for carrying capacity.

 
   
The trunkings of all three cars do not differ convenience, and differ slightly. Elantra has the widest day

Chevrolet has a little smaller loading height

And Cheraco wins a bit on the inner space of the freight compartment


The same one who does not want to put up with such a position of things, we strongly recommend looking at the hatchbacks, especially since all three of our market has such a body. Moreover, 5-door Kia and Chevrolet even cheaper than a 4-door model, and Hande hatchback in one with a sedan price.




Deceive feelings
This often happens one car seems faster than the other, but actually goes in the same way, if not slow. Everyone who turned out to be behind the wheel of Cherato was unanimous: Kia quickly its competitors, especially in the urban cycle. It seems that this Korean has the richest, the rich bottom, it is because he so foolo shoots from traffic lights. But why then the Elantre and Lacetti, which seemed not to be so temperament, do not fall behind at all? Yes, just the dynamics of three cars are about the same, which is called, in the zone of the pharmaceutical error.
 

Identical up to the last cube and gear ratios of Hyunda and Kia's power units really grate down. Take the latitude, start from the second transfer and weave in traffic jams easier. But on the highway, turn the motor above 4000 rpm does not make sense of noise a lot, but a little bit.
 

Lacetti, on the contrary, prefers high revs. On the bottoms, its motor must be twisted that the machine does not squeak when switching. But on the highway behind the threshold in 35004000 rpm Shevi pointers pleasant pickup. Hence the minimum gain in acceleration to hundreds. And the poor bottom compensate for stretched gear ratios of transmission, allowing to reduce the number of switchings. Let's say, on the third Lacetti confidently and clearly lucky from 30 to 120 km / h. Perhaps not the perfect, but quite acceptable urban version.
 

Rovely accelerating dynamics of Korean sedans are only emphasized by smooth brake data. Note that all three are equipped with discs in front and rear, which is especially relevant with full load at high speed. Claims for the convenience of controlling the slowdown and work ABS did not arise.

 



Easy, elegant, reliable
In terms of road trip, the car is nothing to reproach. Both Elantra and Lacetti, and Cheraco are well adapted to the highway speeds. All three confidently hold on the road, even when the speedometer arrows begins to approach 180 km / h: there is no frightening lying, the suspension is completely worn out the irregularities, not allowing the swing, the steering wheel does not strain excessive sensitivity. In short, not bad.
 

The behavior of cars in turns deserves the same worthy assessment. Koreans, of course, do not soilly write an arc as focus, golf and 307th, but you can see that they are trying. The character of the controllability is not gone, but predictable-reliable. The steering wheel tells the driver with the optimum information about the direction of the wheels in the turn, and the whistle tires on the turns are heard earlier than the machines begin to grow threateningly. However, the last not only praise the chassis settings, but also the stone in the garden of Korean tires, in which all dough participants were shoved. Coupling qualities they do not shine.




Concert for four cylinders
Let's say not going, noise isolation Here is the main disappointment of the whole Trinity. To admit, such noisy motors Europeans and the Japanese do not allow themselves in the class models below. In Lacheti, you will have to get used to the supervised and nomuzical metal rocution of the engine. Usually behind the threshold of 120130 km / h, the motor accompaniment is inferior to aerodynamic noise, but no Chevrolet manages to buzz in the entire range of speed from idling to the red zone. But under the hood, as it should be a modern car, a noise absorbing screen is fixed.
 

Elantra is also not quiet. Especially monotonous terrain of 105-strong row fourth felt when we twist the motor when the ride start. But with increasing speed, the whistle of the wind around the racks becomes the main source of noise. Here at least everything is logical.
 

Cherato on a background of quietness from quiet. The noble mutaging of the motor seems purring a cat that smelted sour cream. And somewhere even the noble baritone Kia accompanies the tachometer arrow to almost the red zone. True, here you need to consider one point. At our disposal was Kia in the most advanced configuration of its factory code 0806. In addition, it was possible to ride on the machine in the basic execution. So, with full responsibility we declare: in terms of noise insulation, these are two big differences. Without a protective screen of 4 cylinder and 16 basic cerant valves, you will get you no less Hyde or Chevrolet motors.
 

In the nomination, the smoothness of the course was obviously comfortable to Elantra and Cherato Before, the suspension is completely the same. Almost without noticing small irregularities, Hyunda and Kia are very successfully withstanding and more complex tests, like a sharp spurt along the tram paths. Sleeping rubber That's all that gives a replaced nature of the coating. Sorry, the suspension of these cars does not please the energy intensity. Do not go in one of the holes that did not affect the imagination with dimensions, Elantra flashed down the stroke restricters so that the wheel appeared there and remains for a second.
 

Lacetti The same punching test passed without lying. In general, Chevrolet performs an impression of a slightly tougher, but more collected on our car roads. A smaller level of comfort in comparison with competitors, in our opinion, is worth the good stock of strength.
 





Missed exam
Security Another aspect, the views on which engineers, and the main marketer of Europe and Korea diverge. Look, in other French or German firms, EuroNCAP crash tests are held without exception. Moreover, the results are published even before the start of official sales! None of the Korean golf class sedans, with the exception of Dorestayling Elantra, EuroNCAP experts did not share. Well, what then do they set for these estimates?
 

Perhaps more than the Troika Hyunda will not pull in any case. Indeed, in the basic configuration of the elantra there are front airbags, but there is no ABS. Even taking into account the budget nature of the contestants, this time is simply not solid. Oh neither twist, and frontal pillows and ABS, like Lacetti and Cherato, should be included in the database of any golf class.


On the edge of reasonable
Price list Hende is just nice to read. As we have noticed, the basic elantra costs only $ 13,790. Just do not rejoice ahead of time. Yes, of course, in the initial execution, the Elantra-GL represents not just a body with a motor and seats, and let them somewhere and frankly budget, but still a modern car. After all, the 1.6-liter motor is fully capable, and air conditioning is available, and front windows. Another thing is that GL does not include ABS. And rear brakes on this version of the drum. And in general, studying the list of equipment more expensive GLS configuration, so I want to pay a little. There is already a central castle, and the folding back of the sofa, and not at all mandatory, but such comfortable armrests in front and behind. So the full elantra is GLS for $ 15 390. In How! More than a hundred bucks, and you are driving likewise equipped with a 1.6-liter lancer ... Even awkwardly remember Hende with a volume of 1.8 and 2.0 liters, which are trying to play in the same league with Corolo, Meganom and Astro . In short, the availability of this hand, which is called, on the verge.
 

Like Lacetti. Yes, the basic price is also very appetizing. But setting X for $ 13,800 is a machine with a minimum of equipment, and even with a 1.4-liter motor. We visited our 109-strong SX test costs $ 15,690 and in addition to air conditioning, front airbags and ABS includes CD magnets, electric car, fog. Do not even think to reach the version of CDX ($ 17,490) with side pillows, cast discs, tracked control. Why, you already know.
 

Kia is not at all more expensive brothers in arms. 1.6-liter Cherato is offered to customers in four configurations. But even the basic costs 15 100 y. e. that in terms of dollars is about $ 15 370. But who will buy a car without power windows? And the base + electric car pulls $ 15,560. Optimal for Cherato equipment (code 0798) $ 16,080. For the budget machine of the golf class, this is a bust. Alas, Cherato does not even have a bright basic price of thirteen with something thousands, which makes the magnet attracts buyers in the showroom.
    
We decided:

Consumer qualities Elantra, Lacetti and Querato, the final assessments of this confirmation are very close. With each new generation, the distance between Korean and European-Japanese classmates is reduced. And now she is short as ever.
 

Subjectively Elantra (, average rating 3.8) liked a little less than rivals. Age still takes his own, and today Hynde's salon looks outdated. Other cons Noisy motor and not too energy-intensive pendant at least do not catch up.
 

Cherato (, average rating 3.8) Let it be built on the platform of the same elantry, in sensations, the car is noticeably more modern. This is true for design, and richer by the basic configuration.
 

Thus, Chevrolet-lacetti (, the average rating is 3.9) wins the Korean confrontation. The only serious minus is well a very noisy engine. But the practicality of the car in the budget category has no analogues: spacious, dynamic, with reliable, energy-intensive suspension and in configuration that does not require apologies.
 

And finally, you need to say that. The most accessible golf class models seemed to us ... quite expensive. After all, it is worth the buyer to make one step up from the best options for Elantra and Lacetti, as the entire undertaking with the purchase of inexpensive Korean loses its meaning. For 1617 thousand there are cars more interesting. Perhaps this is precisely the reason for modest sales. According to the results of the first quarter of 2005, the best of Trio, Hyunda Elantra, only the fifth in the list of the most popular. Chevrolet Lacetti is content with the eighth place, and Kia-Cherato and the 14th.

But a new focus will appear on the market ...
 

Mikhail Medvedev, Maxim Potcharov
 
 

A source: Journal buy cars [10/2005]