Test Drive Fiat Bravo since 2007 Hatchback

All photos of Fiat Bravo since 2007

Bravo, Leon?

FIAT BRAVO and SEAT LEON Who are they, hostages of human prejudices or marketer error? Why are they still in the shadow with a set of qualities aside with competitors? We decided to figure it out by comparative test. Since they are not seen as direct rivals more famous competitors, then maybe it makes sense to choose the best among themselves?
SEAT LEON. Price: from 572500 rub. On sale: since 2005
Sporty image LEON, a certain SEAT in the conglomerate of Volkswagen brands, is emphasized by a sweat engine, underlying suspension, short gears and unique style, created by the former seat designer with Walter de Silva. The car is made based on the concept car SEAT SALSA.
Fiat Bravo. Price: from 655,000 rubles. On sale: since 2007
Fiat Bravo is most likely marriage for love than by calculating. However, for those who in the first place still puts the practicality of the car, we are in a hurry to state that in addition to emotional appearance, the car has a spacious and quite cozy salon, a leisure trunk and a powerful turbo engine in Emotion and Sport.

Red light burns on the traffic light. On the clogged illusionists, matryoshki and botanic intersections, our column of two cars looks somewhat unusual. Neither Seat Leon nor Fiat Bravo regulars cannot be called our streets, in connection with which we literally feel skin on themselves as evaluating the views of the partners of the road. The feeling that you just came to the new team, and while it did not reach a personal acquaintance, old-timers decide who in the future you will become each of them a friend, or save all the neutrality. In general, there is no indifferent, which, however, is understandable. After all, both SEAT LEON, and FIAT BRAVO were created where the emotions take the top of the practicality, and the passion for reason. There is no place in their appearance, neither conservatism or utility, nor Paphos. Feelings and once again feelings here's what led by designers when they painted these models. So we will not allocate one car against the background of another in terms of design. After all, feelings can either divide or not. So, comments here are superfluous.
It is quite another thing when these feelings begin to interfere with soberly assess the situation when designing a node. In particular, we are talking about door handles. You can find fault with the first and the second car. But if the Seat Leon is speaking only about the original handles of the second row doors, then Fiat Bravo has it for everyone without exception. Let's start with the Spaniard. Wanting to add leon dynamics, Seat hid the second-row door handles from the back, and access to them organized due to the excavation in the polycarbonate glass. You will not say anything, very impressive, but most likely, after a while, this glass will be scratched with nails, how paint is scratched at any car in the excavation under the hand. In general, the type will not be. And what about Bravo? He has another trouble. Doors handles are located too low, in connection with which it is not very convenient to open them, besides, the mechanisms themselves are too large. However, if something else can somehow be put up, then it's not to complain that the fifth door has a very uncomfortable opening algorithm, it is simply impossible. The fact is that after clicking on the appropriate button (it is the same emblem), the door departs from the opening of non-imminent, and cover the fingers into a small gap between the lid and the bumper is not so simple, in addition to bad weather this place is the most dirty. In general, I did not think.
And what about the door? The architecture of the trunk that Leon is that BRAVO is similar. Both cars have a rather high threshold, both folding seats in the ratio of 40:60 and both have an underground. But this is what surprises. With the full feeling that the trunk in the Spaniard is more, the top of this indicator takes on the figures yet Italian: 400 liters vs. 341. However, everything falls into place as soon as you start to delve into the study of numbers. After all, Bravo, though insignificantly, but still more Leon in all indicators, from here and optical deception.
By the way, about deception. Do you know what is most discouraged when you turn out to be driving Leon? Simplicity. The fact that on the surface does not fit in no way with what inside. Elementary instrument panel, simple look, but complicated in the development of the CD-receiver. Why there is sin to hide, and the materials themselves, of which all this is done, you can not call perfect. In general, the feeling is that from the designer who painted the interior, the beloved woman was gone. Other reasons for such melancholy and not find. A mansion in all this despondency is a flap of instruments. He is the only thing that is nice to see and what reinforces the mood set by the outdoor appearance. Only the speedometer arrow, starting its run from six hours, which costs. Fiat Bravo, unlike Seat Leon, the interior is just a Brazilian carnival.

Everything was mixed: materials, colors, forms, but at the same time everything is quite harmoniously intertwined, it looks impurious and, most importantly, performed at a high professional level. Does not go to the dissonance with this violence of fantasy and ergonomics. Any key or lever does not cause a double understanding, in connection with which everything is understandable at an intuitive level. It is not clear only one thing: how is a car with large dimensions and a larger wheelbase of space on the second row of seats less than a car, clearly inferior to these indicators? Leon places behind unequivocally more than in BRAVO. Yes, and it is much more convenient to sit in it: the average rack does not interfere, while in the bravo feet the feet need between it and the seat almost refill.
But what Fiat succeeded, so it is in the ability to remove significant power from a slight volume. With its 1.4 l, the bravo motor owns 150 horses, while the seat at a volume of 1.6 liters got only 102 horses. However, there would be a more fresh and similar on the characteristics of the motor from the older brother, it would be more honest comparison. But Volkswagen with its 1.4-liter turbocharging engine is not going to share. Although, you need to pay tribute, and 102 liters. With. With proper handling, the owner of the car is able to surprise, hanging it really good dynamics. True, the car shoots not bad only to the speed of 6070 km / h. Next, the lack of power begins to affect, and hundreds of the car reaches only 11.7 seconds after the start. BRAVO, of course, is much more dynamic, and its result is 8.5 s. But Leon due to the platform from Golf V is much collected and predictable on the road. Yes, he is not as comfortable on a bad road, like his Italian rival, but it practically does not rearrange in turns, and he keeps the trajectory much more confident. Bravo In this regard, too, can also be reproached in Raskannancy, but still it is clear to put it in one row with Leon on this indicator we did not dare.

Fiat Bravo.
Driving
The car is quite assembled, which makes it possible to easily manage with it even at high speed.
Salon
It is pleasant to the eye and crouched out of sufficiently solid materials. Capacked without prejudice to the comfort of placing four people including the driver.

Comfort
Good noise insulation, two-zone climate control will easily mask a long trip.
Safety
ABS and EBD, two airbags basic equipment.
Price
At the level.

SEAT LEON.
Driving
The car fully corresponds to that image that seats promotes: dynamic, across control and prone to the rebound in case of disabling the stabilization system.
Salon
Practical and quite comfortable, however, the abundance of cheap plastic eyes does not please. Yes, the design is quite utilitarian.
Comfort
Everything would be nothing if there is no no appropriate sound insulation.
Safety
In the basic configuration, the entire required package.
Price
Acceptable.

Our verdict
Deciding on this tale, we can now say for sure that if you are still tired of the dominant on our roads of the same type, and your plans are not included as everything, you must look at this couple. After all, with a price similar with competitors and a set of qualities, they are clearly distinguished on their background. Moreover, it is not only about the identity, and this is sometimes worth a lot, but also about the set of systems that are offered in these cars not as options, but as standard equipment.