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Between Ven and Heel

ONE ON ONE

Renault Kangu.
Renault Kangu is first shown at the end of 1997. Released with four or five-door bodies, in a double cargo (with a conventional or large compartment, standard or increased up to 800 kg with carrying capacity) or five-seater cargo-passenger versions. Completed with gasoline engines 1.1; 1.4 liters, as well as a diesel engine of 1.9 liters and a five-speed manual transmission. Drive wheels - front.

Doninvest-Orion M
Doninvest Orion M has been demonstrated at the current Moscow Motor Show. In fact, this debut in 1996 Citroen Berlingo (Peugeot Partner). The French machine is produced with three or four-door bodies, in a double cargo or five-seater cargo-passenger versions. Completed with gasoline engines 1.1; 1.4; 1.8 liters, as well as diesel engines 1.8; 1.9 liters. With two first motors, not only five, but also four-stage gearboxes, and the most powerful gasoline and diesel versions can not only be anterior, but also all-wheel drive.

A little more than a year ago on our test, a couple of heavenkov (SP, 1998, No. 9) was already visited. Today there is a reason to return to cargo-passenger cars: first, in Russia, Renault Kanggu (SP, 1997, No. 12) is sold, and, secondly, Doninvest has started a screwdriver assembly of Model Orion M. So we will get acquainted with newcomers closer.

Who needs it, so square?

Square itself - who needs it, it is necessary. And the square of these cars are only in height, along the length of the width as ordinary cars. Design Kanga, deliberately functional in the style of the once popular Renault model, as if says: I am not a Pijon, I am almost a proletarian. Orion, on the contrary, in every way hides its working-peasant origin: here is an elegant appearance, and large fourteenthyhane wheels, and single, like an ordinary stationary, rear door. Under it, it is pleasant to stay in the rain, the bottom of the table in the trunk, but for loading-unloading, it is still more convenient for the bivalve swollen, like on Kanga. However, it depends on the execution - if desired, the door on both machines can be ordered any. To transport anything very long - whether the boards, whether the stairs are a huge hatch in the rear of the roof.
There is another one, imperceptible outside, but rather relevant for Russia, the difference: the engine compartment of the Orion is not covered with the bottom, and the opponent's colleague is a powerful steel pallet, which only curled borders.

And sit?

You can sit and sit. Places above your head - a good quarter meter. In front of the ceiling in both machines, an extensive shelf and many more niches and pockets throughout the salon. Three people from behind? No problem! True, with one but: Rosovchancher does not torment the right passenger to the right passenger with a protruding undercover over the door poloz. By the way, the second row from Orion is located higher, as in the amphitheater. Raised and the floor level from which the hump of the tunnel disappeared, but under the rugs there were a couple of comfortable caches for the tool. But the inner handle designed or a dummy, or a sadist - the door can only be opened with your left hand. Too far forward shifted handles and on the front doors. You do not have to sleep in a long road here - the backs are completely not crowded. But the interior is decorated without discounts on utility - as in a passenger car.
Kangu inside is simpler - a lot of bare iron, appliances only the necessary minimum, behind landing is slightly more vertical and smaller place in length, in the middle of the floor - tunnel. However, there are no obvious misses, in one exception - the rear door handle is located at the floor itself. Given the French roots of both cars, chronic problems with handles are alarming - maybe the French have hands from there?

And suitcases?
For suitcases and ordinary small polysters. The same cars are cargo-passenger and can be used as light trucks. Orion a little more than once - except the driver is able to take another 580 kg on board, against 505 kg in Renault. However, the latter can be increased to 800 kg of carrying capacity. Internal volumes of colleagues-rivals are impressive - 2.8 M3 with a folded rear seats! Donating the right front seat, you can get another 200 liter in Kanga. The trunk are covered with soft curtain shelves, and in our Orion there were also a removable lattice partition, and a split, in an unusual proportion of 1/2, the back seat. The floor in the trunk is low, and the wheel arches are minimal - thanks to so favorite French compact torsion pendants with almost lying shock absorbers.
And charge?

Well, instructed. Only thoughtfully.
Thoughtfully sat down ... in Kanga is simple, but convenient, everything in its place. The gearbox lever is pleasant - short, with clear moves, good outer mirrors. True, there is no floor under the left foot and distracts a leisurely rear janitor - every time you wait with interest, whether he will put it up to the end or dies halfway.
Orion offers, except seats, adjust the height of the steering wheel. The front panel of it is framed, a tachometer appeared among the instruments. At the same time, no clear mirrors are clear, effort on the ventilation system switches, a fairly wide front racks. And again, national problems with the rear wiper! - He moves it quickly, but the washer gives the trickle after a long meditation.
... and thought thoughtfully. Noting between the case, that on both machines are similar to the possibilities of 1.4 liters and similar transmissions, similar transmissions.

The designated difference in the characters of cars was confirmed by their behavior on the road. Renault Kanggu is a smart and taiga, but also noisy and hard, in the ultimate turn is prone to drift. What is interesting, half-bottom ballast affect his behavior is very imperceptible - the supply of the pedal and shaking in the cabin almost do not change. However, the tough suspension has dignity - it is not easy to pierce it. The smaller mass and the size of the wheels allow the clutch without slipping to touch with a load on the cool lift, and on a 10 percent - even accelerate on the III transmission.
Doninvest Orion is not so hardworking - to get into the rise with the cargo fall, playing with the clutch, there is no speech about acceleration in the second exercise, although, in principle, it is not a problem in the stream. And with a cargo, and without it, the car is quieter, more comfortable, in general, demonstrates almost passenger in nature, although the suspension test does not have to speak here. Its reactions are not so sharp, in the turn when there is a speed of speed, it drifts to the sideline by all four wheels, the brakes are just shine. Rincess here and the body: when arriving with one rear wheel on a 20-centimeter border of the door of Orion, unlike Kanga, open-closing everything is as easy.

Prepare your money

Already. For Reno Kangu with remote central locking, immobilizer, belt tensioners, mirrors and front glass tensioners - $ 13.5 thousand Doninvest Orion M with a tissue outcome of the cabin, driver's safety pillow, adjustable with the steering wheel, the split back seat will cost only $ 10 thousand cars of the Russian Assembly without a catalytic neutralizer, and gasoline can be pouring 92th. A little later, diesel will appear on them and even perhaps a four-wheel drive. Freight modifications of both models are cheaper by $ 1.5-2 thousand. Periodicity then for gasoline cars - 10 thousand km, the warranty is one year, during which Orion may pass no more than 20 thousand km, Kanga - without restrictions. So if you are engaged in small business, you have a cottage, love to travel - read, Consider choose.

Doninvest Orion M.

Renault Kangu.

Doninvest Orion M.

Renault Kangu.
+ Good speaker, direct engine, motor protection from below, efficient ventilation, a huge trunk.
- rigid suspension, increased noise, very modest interior design, high fuel requirements, small body rigidity.

Doninvest Orion M.
+ High smoothness, efficient brakes, large standard load capacity, good sound insulation, passenger interior design, no tunnel on the floor, a huge trunk, an acceptable price.
- Uncomfortable door handles and adjustment of the backs of the front seats, fuzzy mirror adjustment, close a pedal assembly, wide front racks, unprotected motor compartment.

SUMMARY
With all the external similarities, the characters in cars turned out to be different: if Renault Kangu is really a cargo-passenger, then Doninvest Orion M is the passenger-cargo car.