CHEVROLET LACETTI sedan test drive since 2004 sedan

Benefic Lacetti

GM brought to the Russian market another workhorse under the Chevrolet brand
 
The most difficult thing, I admit to you, the reader, to talk about a car that does not stand out anything special. Neither in the better, nor in the worst. Chevrolet Lacetti hatchback just of those than, I dare to say, and good. This is just a modern car with a standard set of consumer qualities. And there is no doubt that he will find demand in our market: it is on such cars that most people drive in different countries.
 

Calm option
 
By definition, the calm I do not mean the dynamic potential of the car, but the fact that its owner does not have to wake up at night in a cold sweat and look out the window - whether his iron horse is in place, or report to the tax inspector - where does the money for a luxurious car come from. $ 13,800 is not the highest, and not even the average price of a C -class car, which are offered today in the Russian market. That is why, by the way, Lacetti is doomed to the demand from corporate customers: choosing transport for middle -level employees, the manager will certainly appreciate, we can say - an excellent ratio of price, quality and consumer properties of this car.
 
In my opinion, the concept of a budget car decisively is nothing offensive. It’s time for us to learn how to live without embarrassment, by means of means, as citizens of states do, which we seem to be equal to. And it makes no sense to demand from such a machine of habits of a true sportsar either - sports cars are much more expensive. In other words, Chevrolet Lacetti is a real workhorse, a car for every day, modern and quite convenient. The appearance of the car cannot be called original or peculiar. This is just another model among competitors, among which it is worth calling Kia Cerato, Kia Rio, Daewoo Nexia, Hyundai Elantra. Only with some hint of sports, which, however, manifests itself mainly in the back of the car - a sloping line of the rear window, round disperflows in elongated lanterns.
 
In general, the current Chevrolet Lacetti, which the Americans began to sell throughout the Old Light, is actually a symbiosis of two Daewoo models - Lacetti and Nubira of the latest generation. A model with a universal body that my colleague described in the summer is just Nubira, and a sedan and a five -door hatchback are flesh from the flesh of Lacetti.
 
Predictable and quiet
 
The design of the Lacetti interior is also devoid of all sorts of frills, but at the same time very harmonious and modern. The devices are easily read, there can be no complaints to the ergonomics of the driver's seat (the steering column is regulated in two directions, the KP lever). The chairs are medium. For example, I would prefer a more concave back and a slightly longer pillow. But already in the database, a driver's seat can be adjusted not only in the usual directions, but also in height, and separately the front and back of the pillow. Not to say that I was delighted with the salon, but he did not cause rejection either.
 
Continuing a conversation about the interior, I want to say that Lacetti, as it seemed to me, has one of the most spacious rear sofas. Even with the driver’s chair maximally moved back (I growth is higher than the average, and at the same time I didn’t reach the pedals), there was enough space for the passenger’s legs. Of course, with his knees he would have rested on the back, but not much. It is not good and the trunk, the area of \u200b\u200bwhich can be significantly increased, folding completely or in parts the back of the rear sofa. Only some means of the opening of the opening is upset.
 
Unlike almost all European competitors, Lacetti flaunts a good list of standard equipment. It includes athermal glasses, air conditioning, audio training, electric drives of mirrors and all side glasses. The latter, by the way, was amazed at me: the process of lowering the glass from edge to edge takes, according to the sensations, no more than two seconds. It seems that glass just falls down under the strength of its own weight. However, raising takes the same amount of time. If you distract from funny sensations, it is worth saying that such a speed is not a good for the driver while driving. Say, opening a window just a couple of centimeters in motion is quite difficult.
 
There is another remark related to the selectivity of the transfers mechanism, which leaves much to be desired. In addition, the step between the second and third gears (I, I recall, are in different rows) slightly increased. In motion, I have more than once the impression that I stuck the fifth gear instead of the third. Accordingly, in order to turn on the fifth, you have to stretch out a little more than I am used to.
 
But the rest of the car, I admit, pleased. And a 109-horsepower engine and moderately a hard chassis that does not allow the car to roll with sharp restructures and in corners. In pairs with a very intelligent steering wheel amplifier, the chassis of the Lacetti allows you to step on the road, artificially causing the appearance of the stern or sharply changing the trajectory of movement.
 
From the point of view of the CHEVROLET chassis settings, a typical front -wheel drive car with light insufficient rotation. If you exceed the speed in the turn, the machine begins to slide out the front wheels. This is not at all scary and easily adjusted by the driver. The situation at high speeds is no worse - Lacetti confidently holds the trajectory even on a poor coating at a speed of about 120 km/h (I did not have the opportunity to accelerate faster).
 
By the way, I almost forgot to talk about some differences between Chevrolet and Daewoo Lacetti, which I also had to travel for several days. So, then my main claim to the car was the excessive softness of the suspension and the complete absence of sound insulation in the area of \u200b\u200bthe wheeled arches. After changing the emblem on the radiator grille, the car became more intelligent. Firstly, European engineers worked on the rigidity of the chassis, making it more collected. In addition, according to my sensations, the salon has become much quieter. Maybe this is due to the fact that the test took place in the winter, when the snow is jamming part of the noise, but most likely the arches were treated with special mastic. I do not presume to assert either one or the other, but the fact remains - Lacetti in terms of internal noise is not inferior to more eminent competitors.
 
A strong middle peasant
 
In general, Chevrolet Lacetti left a very pleasant impression. If you transfer my impressions to the personal plane, then I would most likely buy such a car for myself. But in a certain configuration. Of the three engines (1.4, 1.6 and 1.8 liters), I would prefer the middle ground. This motor develops 109 hp, which is quite enough in any road situation. I think that even with a machine gun such a car will not seem slow, but for me it is preferable to a mechanic. Such Lacetti will cost $ 14,700-15 500, depending on the configuration - SE or SX. The standard equipment of the first includes air conditioning, steering wheel amplifier, anterior airbags, ABS, which, by the way, works very carefully, allowing the wheels to be slightly blocked at the beginning of the braking, the driver's seat adjustable in height, the CD magnet. In the SX configuration, the equipment of the car is complemented by the climate control system, side airbags for front passengers, fog lights, a driver's case, located on the ceiling panel above the door.
 
For luxury lovers there are a third equipment - CDX. It includes, in addition to the above, 15-inch wheels, sports front chairs with severe lateral support, as well as an armrest with glasses for glasses. True, such a car costs already $ 16,650.
 
Returning to the very beginning of the material, I repeat that Lacetti is a born workhorse. This is a strong middle peasant golf class, which has something to show off before competitors. And this, it seems to me, is a worthy assessment for any car.
 
Brief technical characteristics of Chevrolet Lacetti 1.6 SX
Engine volume, cubic meter. See: 1598
The number of valves for the cylinder: 4
Power, l. with. at about./min.: 109/6000
Max. Torque, Nm/at about. min.: 150/4000
Acceleration to 100 km/h, p.: 10.7
Maximum speed, km/h: 187
Average fuel consumption l./100 km.: 6.0
Fuel tank volume, l.: 60
Dimensions, mm.: 4295x1725x1420
 
Sergey Ilyinsky
 
 

Source: Newspaper "Automobile Izvestia" [No. 24 (69), 2004-2005]