Fiat Croma test drive since 2008

A wonderful resurrection

Fiat Croma. Price: from 840,000 rubles. On sale: from February 2007
 
Fiat Croma, which has been sold in Europe, has been debuted in the domestic automobile market. The car platform was borrowed from Opel, and the design was developed in the Italian atelier Guigiaro.
 
Fat fans will immediately notice the lack of similar features from Croma, which was produced in the 80s. Only the name has been preserved. The new model was created on the Opel Signum platform.
 
The efforts of the designers of the notorious Guigiaro studio did not go in vain. The car really looks very pretty. Broke details can be counted on the fingers: a wide chrome false radiator grille, elongated oval headlights and hasty metal door handles. Thanks to the cunning squint of the lanterns from behind, Croma resembles Alfa Romeo.
 
A feature of the novelty is a body that is difficult to identify even to specialists. In official releases, the model is called a station wagon. However, due to a strong roll of the rear rack and a tapering window line, the car is more like a hatchback. There are similar features with a compact van. Given that there will be no other bodies, it can be assumed that the designers decided to combine all possible types. In the cabin, other features that are FIAT with a compact van are also found. For example, ergonomics of the driver's seat. Commander landing provides an excellent review. Quite highly located and the lever of the CP. The shape and algorithm of the work of steering wheel switches require a habit.
 
At the back you can comfortably accommodate even with tall passengers on the front seats. There are enough places in the legs and above the head. The trunk was pleased with volume, the size of which can vary from 500 to 1610 liters. A good result. In addition, there is an opportunity to fold the front passenger chair.
 
With such a restrained, but respectable appearance, Fiat Croma could easily become a service car. True, this is possible only if the owner is ready to put up with the quality of the interior decoration. Alas, with all the external solidity near, everything is not so rosy. Plastic inserts under the tree look too artistic, and finishing skin is too hard and rough. Light beige color does not differ in practicality, so frequent dry cleaners are provided.
 
It is not possible to start the engine on the first attempt. In a traditional place on the steering column, there is no larva into which the key must be inserted. And although it looks like a launch card, the Start/Stop button is also absent. After a minute, the groove for the key is found near the handbrake.
 
Noise insulation should be recognized as excellent. The motor is not heard either at launch or at maximum revolutions. The flowing shape of the body minimized aerodynamic noises. Only the suspension fills with extraneous sounds. It is not slaughtered, but at the same time not too hard. Overcoming pits and bumps is accompanied by a echoing sound.
 
The steering is not enough information content. Although when setting speed, the steering wheel is difficult, it is difficult to catch feedback. If you turn on the City mode, then it becomes completely weightless. Therefore, this mode should only be used in the parking lot.
 
Acceleration with a 2.2 liter engine and a capacity of 147 hp You can’t call explosive. A set of 100 km/h takes 10.7 s. But the motor easily spins up to 6000 and even 6500 min-1 in manual gearbox mode. In the usual drive, the machine is not distinguished by special dynamics. But it is worth sharply click on the gas, as the machine switches for lower gear. So acceleration is much faster.
 
The complaints caused the brakes. The pedal was struck by the lack of information content, which requires addiction. With a slight pressing on it with a car, almost nothing happens. Having increased the pressure effort, Fiat Croma begins to slow down very intensively. The stop is crowned with cloudy clinking. All this must be taken into account with intense maneuvering.
 
In less than ten years ...
 
For the first time, Fiat Croma was started in 1985, when a conceptual model was shown to the public. Serial cars appeared in Italy a year later. It is curious that Lancia Thema, Alfa Romeo 164 and Saab 9000 were simultaneously produced on one platform with Croma. Fiat Croma was created as an affordable car that was sold only in Italy. This was due to the dampness of the product. Until 1989, Fiat engineers sought to improve the quality of cars. However, the demand for Croma was still falling. Even restyling and launch of the V6 engine from Alfa Romeo did not help. Having sold about 450 thousand cars for all time, in 1996 the company stopped assembling the car. Ten years later, Fiat Croma returns.
 
Driving
 
The motor has good characteristics. The uninformative steering wheel and brakes are upset. Fiat Croma does not have aggressive driving. The optimal mode is a measured movement with infrequent accelerations.
 
Salon
 
If from afar, the salon seems strict and attractive, then close skin, a mark of the salon and plastic inserts near Deretsevo are upset closely.
 
Comfort
 
Support is enough for front and rear passengers. In this case, a decent volume in the trunk remains. But the seats have only a similarity of lateral support.
 
Safety
 
Croma has the highest assessment of the safety of five EURONCAP stars. The machine is equipped with nine airbags.
 
Price
 
The car turned out to be successful, although largely controversial. But with a starting price of $ 31600 in our market, the new product will have to be hard.
 
Technical characteristics Fiat Croma
 
Dimensions, mm 4756/1775/1618
Gasoline engine, 2198 cm3, 147 hp/ 5800 min-1
Automatic transmission, 5-speed
Dynamics 0-100 km/h, from 10.7
Maximum speed, km/h 205
Competitors Hyundai NF, Opel Vectra, Renault Laguna
 
Advantages and disadvantages
 
+ Spacious interior, pleasant appearance, good sound insulation.
Non -informative steering wheel and brakes, low -energy suspension.
 
Our opinion
 
Croma will have to not be easy to fight competitors, given that the car marks a prestigious business class. On the way there are European grands who do not want to take up positions without a fight. The price that many may seem overpriced plays not in favor of the novelty. For such money, you can buy more promoted Toyota and Volkswagen. However, the car itself should be recognized quite successful.
 
Text: Maxim Egorov
Photo: fiat
 

Source: Magazine 5 wheel [April 2007]