Test drive fiat albea (siena) since 2005 sedan

Spaghetti in Turinsky

Tasty, satisfying, inexpensive. Albea the first car in the modern Fiat line, where, it seems, they are not going to take extra money for the brand. Only for the body, engine, transmission and set of options necessary for survival in the city and beyond
 

The design of Albea is perhaps the main target for critics: here they have something to catch on! The old -fashioned front end clearly refreshes only a stylish front optics, and the profile seems to be a mixture of Iranian Samand and Renault Logan. At the back you can find out the same Samand plus the previous (also Japanese) version of Nissan Almera.
 

In other words, everyone can see something familiar in the car, and it is not so simple to identify Albea in the stream. However, this is for now, because Fiat plans for conquering the world are still in the first stage, another interior, where Fiat makes the impression of a really modern memorable car with a claim to the quality above the price.
 

An interesting interior decoration, comfortable soft seats and high-quality plastic are not at all associated with the status of an economy class and clearly with a discreet appearance.
 

With comfort, a person can get a job above 180 cm, only for this he will need to adjust the seat in height. And the steering wheel can be set comfortable in standard configuration.
 

It's nice for the power! It is rarely possible to state the high quality of the Russian assembly, but Albea gathered in Russia: at the factory of small vehicles in Naberezhnye Chelny! The minimum gaps and the bewitching silence emanating from plastic during the movement of the car cannot but cause acoustic and patriotic pleasure.
 

By the way, about acoustics: the joy of the absence of crickets in the cabin would be incomplete if it were not for the silence of the engine. It is clearly heard only after 3,000 rpm. But silence is not the only advantage of a 1.4-liter 77-horsepower engine. If this does not seem enough for someone, we advise you not to rush with conclusions.
 

Prices
The basic fiat albea is offered for 315,000 rubles. Only a 1.4-liter engine and only a mechanical five-speed checkpoint are available to this model. The standard equipment includes a driver’s airbag, a fire prevention system, a central lock, an immobilizer, an on -board computer, a steering wheel, adjustable in height, and a full -sized spare wheel.
 

For urban conditions (which includes compliance with traffic rules), it is even better than some 1.5 and 1.6-liter models of its segment. Albea quite briskly gains 60-70 km/h and does not experience difficulties when a wide tape of the ring road is under the wheels. Acceleration from 70 to 110 km/h is also given to a 1.4-liter hard worker without tension.
 

The steering wheel, thanks to the hydraulic power settings, is easy to rotate at any speed, and the effort does not change on it. Gas and clutch pedals are soft and informative. Only the brake pedal can cause complaints in terms of understandability: at first, the effort on it is difficult to predict, but in terms of the effectiveness of claims to the operation of the system, it could not.
 

The checkpoint works with high selectivity and the clarity of the inclusion of gears. Rush numbers are also well -chosen, which relieve the need to resort to the switching lever often. Very and at the same time readablely decorated devices pink scales and red arrows on a black background are understandable both day and night, and the eyes do not get tired and do not strain. Only the arrow of the fuel level makes you doubt the fiat appetite to our gasoline. After overcoming 30 km, it seems that she did not move from a level of half a tank, she glued?
 

The current Fiat albea is nothing more than a descendant of the Fiat Palio model. They say that Maestro Georgetto Jujaro himself put his hand to the development of his design. For the first time, the car was introduced in 1996 in two bodies: sedan and hatchback. They were collected in Brazil and sent to the not richest countries of the world. Later, Palio and variations on his topic (Siena sedan, Palio hatchback and the Palio Weekend universal who appeared later in India, China, Turkey and South Africa. Now in Russia.
 

In the most convenient way, the air conditioning/heating system is not in the most convenient way: to turn any of the three buttons, you need to have very thin fingers, or do it with tweezers. But he is not included in the set to the air conditioner ...
 

An impressive, according to the standards of the class, the trunk (515 l) slightly affected the convenience of passengers of the rear seat. Perhaps three large men will feel the tightness in the elbows, but more compact riders will feel quite at ease. Especially if two sit back.
 

In general, the car came up to the joy of everyone except competitors. The motor pulls as it should, while not the burden of the driver's pocket. And the level of comfort and equipment is also an order of magnitude higher than the segment offers that Albea got into. However, there are, of course, questions for Fiat, but they are resolved over time.
 

Opponents still have a trump card for equipped fiat noticeably higher than alternative Renault Logan or Peugeot 206 Sedan. It’s good when there is something to choose from, isn't it?!
 

The car was provided for the test company Elvamotors, an official fiat dealer


Text: Alexander Korobchenko
Photo: Roman Ostanin
 
 
 
 

Source: Wheel magazine [No. 113/2007]