Test drive fiat albea (siena) since 2005 sedan
Brothers on the rear
The Russian assembly and the relatively low price of the Fiat Albea warm up interest in the new car for our market. Sergei Voskresensky picked him up in a couple of direct competitor Renault-Simvol. Fiat albea
The People’s Sedan from the Turkish genealogy has experienced several cosmetic updates, since December 2006 it has been collected in Russia.
Engine: gasoline 1.4 liters (77 hp).
Gearbox: 5-speed mechanical.
Complete: Base, Classic, Comfort.
Price: 315368 thousand rubles. ($ 12 20014 300).
Renault Symbol
The Turkish production car is by no means young (1999). Last year's restyling prolongs the symbol life in our market.
Engines: gasoline 1.4 liters (7598 hp).
Gearboxes: 5-speed mechanical, 4-speed automatic.
Complete: Authentique, Expression, Expression+.
Price: $ 11 19914 399. They are derivatives of the same time of the era of cars for third world countries. Alteration, firstly, affected the rear. Both rivals of sedans made of hatchbacks. And although the Fiath Albea was brought to our market with the most serious intentions recently, and the Renault Simvol almost immediately after its appearance, in fact they are one field of berry.
The bodies that have experienced more than one restyling and far from stylistic wealth; a chassis designed for roads with a poor coating; An impressive road clearance by Western standards. These state employees did not dream of an EURONCAP five -star rating, even in the maximum trim levels everything is dosed at a minimum, and the simplicity of finishing materials is justified by practicality. But the dimensions of the trunk are as if designed to compensate for everything else: what is in my name, you better assess the volume
At a similar price
The Fiat albea, assembled in Russia, is neither in the first, nor in the second, nor even at the third glance from the Turkish fellow (ZR, 2007, No. 2). The same inexpressive appearance, a neat and slightly more stringent dark interior, and in comparison with that gray, it looks even more interesting. The same engine (1.4 liters, 77 hp), equipment and, alas, the price that goes off scale for $ 14,000. It was completely not affected by the use of local labor. And if so, the direct opponent of Albea is Renault Simvol. Moreover, packed to the maximum, with the same in liter, but 98-horsepower 16-valve engine. If you discard the taste, there are very few serious differences in the organization of the internal space. In the back seat of Albea, two are seated quite conveniently, with a margin of knees and height. The symbol is much closer: a skewer pillow, the legs are closely, the roof is close above the head. Yes, and having settled in front, in Renault you can’t find a support point from behind the flat back and too soft, amorphous pillow. Perhaps Fiat with all this is much more definitely.
The rest is a rare unity. Yes, Renault has more conveniently a combination of devices, more understandable microclimate management, better visibility. But in Albea, the pedals are more successful, the transmission switches clearly. A detailed comparison of the salons will be reduced to the boring listing of very small advantages or, conversely, disadvantages. It's time on the road, perhaps she will judge. SPRINTER
Maybe then, at the first meeting, I found it too much for him? This thought does not give rest from the first minutes of communication with fiat. Now Albea is obedient, harmonious, is easily touched, elasticly accelerates, assuming assuming a saturated city stream assertively. Yes, the engine is noisy, but the pendants are quite comfortable, although the spring bumpy streets at times make them show a rigid character.
But here at large, outside the city, accents are shifted. It turns out that the engine is convenient and traction on the bottom is quite lazy in the medium -speed zone, it is enough only for a calm, measured driving. You demand a larger accelerator pedal already resting on the floor, and the car is still in no hurry. Three, three and a half, only after four thousand revolutions, the Fiat Motor finally recalls its Italian origin. He becomes lively and loud, roaring with aerodynamic noises. The pendants are not particularly ceremony. They are still good on perfectly even asphalt and, conversely, on frank potholes, where almost all-resistant energy intensity is very helpful. In other areas (that is, ordinary roads), the car openly shakes the soul.
Controllability? You have to adapt to it and summer tires. If you do not pay attention to the rolls or swimming along the road at high speed, then everything looks pretty good. Supportant, albeit a little with a lazy reaction, the clear performance of the driver’s commands.
However, it is worth faster to enter the turn, Fiat blooms. He is trying to wave his tail, frightening with frank screwing inside the intended trajectory, then he suddenly straightens it, complementing the body with a side tag of the body. In a word, there are definitely not enough stars from the sky, very clearly making it clear: his element is a calm, unhurried movement. STAYER
Inspired by rich against the opponent’s background, I do not immediately notice that the touch from a place turned into a whole process. I regularly check the inclusion on the gear, is it the third? It turns out that with a calm control manner, the symbol is heavy on the rise. He needs an impulse, a sharp movement of gas and clutch pedals, then this car will really rush. Short and noisy first gear, more pleasant second and third. The accelerated dynamics does not admire the expectations even when driving the floor. The Renault engine loves momentum, but at the same time significantly limited either for environmental requirements, or the desire to be convenient in a wider working range. As a result, the symbol is clearly faster, more temperamental fiat, but you have to switch the transfers more often.
But Renault is more comfortable: like an elastic ball, it rolls along most road bumps. The pendants easily, even playfully cope with deep potholes, waves and other surprises. Of course, according to the maximum possibilities, they are not as capacious as Albea’s, but in everyday life they are not tiring with constant shocks in the lower back. Not so annoying in the symbol and the noise of the motor, at least up to 3500 rpm. Alas, with an increase in speed, the chances of being heard by the interlocutor and here become ghostly. The noise of tires and dissected air confidently drown out everything else.
Manageability is different in otherwise. The energetic, maneuverable dialogue is as if created for quick rebuilding. In a metropolis, he is like a fish in water, but does not timid on the high -speed highway. The sharpness of the steering compensates for clear feedbacks, balanced chassis settings. Not the most perfect in terms of controllability, the car suddenly turns out to be surprisingly simple and understandable. He does not present surprises, active and quite reliable in quick turns, which, alas, can not be said about Fiat.
Or not have Fourteen, fifteen thousand dollars, almost 400 thousand rubles three years ago, the editorial of Mitsubishi-Lenser cost a little more expensive. The symbol in 2000 cost almost double (!) The current one. Nationality is now in price
Fiat is a little more spacious, it has better seats and, partly, the engine is more interesting. But Renault is more comfortable, more convenient in driving, better protected from the insidiousness of our roads. Say, on the site of a full -fledged steel protection, mandatory for the symbol, Albea hangs the exhaust system. Trifle? But then why are these indecent stiff and lifted pendants?
A beginner with an Italian name did not convince superiority. In my opinion, he has little arguments for winning Russian buyers. They are more and more demanding
Sergey Voskresensky: It is time to allocate similar cars into a separate class. Then, perhaps, it will be possible to clearly formulate the requirements for folk vehicles. However, it is already clear that they are growing, and along with prices.
Fiat albea to become popular, too expensive; For demanding users, it is rustic and utilitarian. General assessment 7.6
+ Convenient for passengers, roomy trunk, energy -intensive pendants, an elastic engine.
- mediocre acoustic comfort, smoothness and handling.
Renault Symbol years have not changed his nature, he is still a bait. Even the controversial appearance has already become embarrassed, but the price
General assessment 7.9
+ Comfortable, well balanced in the driving plan, a spacious luggage compartment.
- A tight salon, noisy at high speed.
Sergey Voskresensky
Source: The magazine "Driving"
