Test drive fiat albea (siena) since 2005 sedan
Fun starts
Without fully possessing a charm inherent in cars from the Apennine Peninsula, the Turkish fiat collected in Russia nevertheless retained the main line of the true Italian cheerful character.New Russian
It seems that very soon it will simply become impossible to buy an imported car. As they buy everything from us in a row, they will collect, apparently, too, everything is in a row. However, the fiat in Russia is still in a special position: in fact, it was the Italians who almost four years ago created that the years later, the Russian auto industry has risen with a carefully cultivated concept.
I gave rise to you, I will kill you as you can see, modern Fiat again came to the Russian land. But this time it is no longer with the aim of building a notorious auto industry for the Russians, but in order to enter into a rigid struggle with the awkward descendants of their long -forgotten models. Oh, and it is not easy for them, descendants, will have to!
Having settled in the Naberezhnye Chelny, the Fiat immediately destroyed our pride and beauty the rapid charming of Oka, whom the industrial group Severstal, clearing a place for new Russian Italians, sent a ruthless hand to a landfill of history. And meet: Albeya, a budget sedan for a wide range of motorists, hungry for inexpensive, but modern and, archiving, new cars.
He is our World Albeya is a distant relative of the so -called World Hatchback Palio, whose premiere was held in 1997. Having received a new appearance and an improved interior, in December 2006, Albeya began to leave the conveyor at the production site of OJSC ZMA in Naberezhnye Chelny.
The car is produced in a special northern version: components of more elastic rubber capable of with severe frosts, an enlarged container, operational fluids with a reduced freezing threshold and high -power heater.
Look into the eyes!
Albeya looks quite modern. Especially okay, the sedan looks in front: the large farks a la Volkswagen-Passat, although they do not claim any sophistication, but at least they will not allow the car with something else, including with the Passat itself, of course. But in the profile of Fiat with its high body, kurguza trunk and small wheels looks a little disproportionate.
And in general, everything that begins after the back door, the car does not go very much. The designer of the masters, which Italy is so famous, could try to try better. True, all the beauty here is in practicality: the volume of the trunk is impressive 515 liters. This approach is probably justified for an inexpensive people's economic car, right? And then, create a small and beautiful, but at the same time spacious and inexpensive machine without a compromise, is hardly possible in principle.
In fairness, I’ll add that some competitors of Albey look, let’s say, much more far -fetched, yes. But we will not call names.
The topic of the trunk is completed in the same chapter. Yes, it really looks roomy. In addition, the rear sofa is laid out in parts unless, of course, you do not choose a basic configuration. To guess how to fold the rear seat, you will have to show ingenuity. I give a hint: small gray loops lurk behind the headrests, which allow themselves to find themselves after a thorough and thoughtful palpation of the back of the sofa. The trunk itself was trimmed with gray carpet, and in our case, it is also equipped with a very appropriate plastic tray can without pity to surplus the entire trunk with things of varying degrees of cleanliness and utility.
The poor inner world
In the fiatic salon, the budget runs, but very neatly assembled and looks good. Moreover, all the most necessary is present: the driver’s airbag, air conditioning, electricity is brought to the front windows and mirrors. There is also an on -board computer and ABS. Here, in fact, is all the foreign affairs in equipment.
The ergonomics of Fiat is also highly foreign: everything is under hand (legs), the chubby steering wheel is convenient for grip and pleasant to the touch, the pedals are informative, and the clarity and size of the moves of the KP lever can even become the envy of the owners of much more expensive and much less Russian cars. The front seats are ready to boast of good lateral support, and the driver’s height is also adjusted using a telescopic metal lever. Pretty unpleasant in appearance and to the touch, as it seemed to me. The adjustment algorithm due to this lever, although quite logical, is completely unexpected for car seats. But it works properly.
The number of all the unrealistic plastics involved in the interior of Albei claims to be an extensive collection. There are all known types of plastics, except perhaps soft, from which the central panel is usually made on more expensive cars. The design is pro-leading, with a central console deployed to the fiatovod. I liked the devices, I did not like the rough handles of opening the doors with an interesting one, but, again, a somewhat unusual blocking algorithm. Everything is logical and understandable to the steering switches and handles of microclimate controls and the microclimate control.
Well, family or companionable people will surely appreciate the amount of free space in the rear seats.
On the floor of our Albei, branded rugs with the same inscription flaunted, but not rubber, but plastic ones. They protect the salon from dirt remarkably, but in combination with individual types of shoes are quite slippery.
Lighter. Do not regret gas!
But the fiatic rides surprisingly incendiary! Frankly, I did not expect such agility from a 1.4-liter only motor about 77. Apparently, all the salt here in short, well -chosen gears, deftly clinging to one another. At the traffic light of Albey, he unexpectedly cheerfully jumps forward, and if not to be modest with the speed, he jumps very at ease beyond the limits of the maximum wings permitted in the city. The engine is well audible in the entire speed range, and the closer the tachometer arrow is selected to the red zone, the more intrusive the motor of the motor becomes. In the city, this does not bother, but on the highway during long movement at high speed, the stopudovo engine will fit into the ears.
But the suspension is not heard at all by whatever Albey's potholes rode, she does it surprisingly culturally. And the energy intensity of the suspension is simply amazing: it seems that on any road you can bring down at any speed without any damage to the chassis and at the same time feel quite comfortable. Another thing is that such recovery turns into some stiffness on small irregularities, but no stooling is smelling of any stool. Although, for example, the same notebook Logan, all other things being equal, can provide a more smooth movement.
At the same time, Albeya will steer with dignity. The steering wheel, although light, is quite intelligible, and the returning force is present in the proper volume. Another thing is that if a set of irregularities comes across in an self -declared turn, then the rigidity of the suspension in an unhealthy alliance with a slight weight of the car itself will strive to shake off the fiat on the external trajectory. Here you have to hold the ear open, and the hand on the pulse. But on an even asphalt, Albey is very obedient and predictable.
Well, finally about the brakes. They are quite effective and more than convenient to use even despite the short pedal. That's all I can say about this.
...and others
Albeya turned out to be a very cheerful and incendiary car. She is able to give its owner a whole sea of \u200b\u200bpositive, but at the same time the owner should be ready for a compromise and prefer a drive comfort. For comfort, you should turn to Renault and Hyundai with their equally Russified Logan and emphasis, respectively. Here you should also pay attention to the fact that Renault even in a more powerful 1.6-liter version is cheaper than the basic Albei, and the emphasis can be purchased with a machine gun, which will become a decisive factor for someone.
However, the fiat will be in the very suit for one who often gets out of the city or is forced to periodically move off the asphalt to the country: apparently, the car suspension will be able to withstand the test of our roads without harm to their health for a very, very long time.
Albeya now needs the market, more than ever: it is a modern and timely car, quite practical, with a human face and a celestial price. And, of course, we address all those who want to get a living car with southern temperament for acceptable money to fiat. This is what the emigrant with Italian roots has more than everything else.
One in three trim levels
Albeya exists with a single 1.4-liter engine and only with a mechanical gearbox, but in three different trim levels. Basic for 315 thousand rubles, a mere drum: an immobilizer, a pillow, a central castle, an flight comprehensive compartment and a hydraulic power steering. If you add another 31 thousand before the classic configuration, then you can get an electric drive of mirrors and front windows, a separate -sofa, air conditioning and fog for tinnitus. And in the most equipped Albey, two additional adjustments in the driver’s chair, ABS with EBD and Air Bag for a passenger will appear for 368 thousand.
Comments on photo materials
Photo 4. The telescopic lever of height adjustment is quite clumsy. However, it is convenient to use it
Photo 5. The driver's seat liked the presence of very sensible lateral support
Photo 6. Only the right passenger of the rear sofa will be able to use the ashtray located at the level of the legs.
Photo 7. Unlike the trunk, which can be shut off outside, the gas tank hatch is strictly uncorked from the inside
Photo 8. If three passengers are here and will be crowded, then exclusively in the shoulders. For the legs on the back sofa there is plenty of place
Photo 9. When laying out the back of the rear sofa, it forms an almost perfect continuation of the trunk
Photo 10. The trunk itself is huge, but the loading height still seems excessive
Text: Kirill Brevdo
Photo: Maxim Goncharov, Gleb Semerenko
Source: Magazine buy a car [05/2007]
