Test drive Fiat Linea since 2006 sedan
Fiat Linea: Expat with a residence permit in Tatarstan
The choice of golf class cars became wider per model: in Russia, sales of the Fiat Linea sedan launched, which marks competitors to the most popular Ford Focus, as well as Chevrolet Cruze, Kia Cerato and other foreign cars in the price range from 550,000 to 650,000 rubles. Whether the newcomer is given on equal terms with models that have already deserved success with customers, we found out in Tatarstan. It was there that the release of the Italian sedan was established. Mintimer Shaimiev, Rudolf Nuriev, Gubaidullina Sofya, Renat Ibragimov, under a pulsating electronic bit, transfers the famous compatriots of the Tatar pop-star of the Superalis. Some local radio station plays in the speakers of Fiat Linea. Next is the text in the native language. Rakhim Itegiez! The singer completes. That is, welcome. Italian cars are really met here with hospitality. Local traffic cops in recent years are massively transplanted to Fiat albea, and now large orders from the authorities and Fiat Linea are expected. Why not? Linea is, in fact, a rather specific Italian, created by no means for European autobahns.
This sedan can not be found on the official Italian site Fiat. Linea was originally developed for third world countries. To date, it has been produced only in Brazil, Turkey and India. That is, it was created in order to be an expate of a foreigner who makes a career in a stranger to himself to the country and culture. And he is already in many ways not like a European. What is this expressed?
We know what the Italians are capable of. How do some models of previous years look and how they are just a song. At the wheel of Linea, I cannot get rid of the feeling that the Italians stepped on the throat of their own song. The most visual comparison with the sister of the five-door golf class Fiat Bravo. And you need to start with the fact that their kinship is very conditional. Linea is developed on a completely different platform borrowed from the low -command Grande Punto. The difference here is not even technical, but ideological. Bravo came out of a bright modern model, creating which the Fiatists sought not to yield to any of the leaders of the European market. Even if they did not succeed, but the hatchback is conceived in Italian inventive: many details are created with fiction, spectacular. Only combinations of materials in the cabin, the game of different textures of which are worth it! Against this background, Linea is a completely typical car that is characterized by emphasized savings on everything. The cabin has hard plastic. Handles on the central console and steering wheel levers look pretty flimsy. In addition to the elegant panel of devices with scales in retro -stic, something is hardly remembered here. If Bravo has an inspiration that has a little related to Alfa Romeo, then Linea follows the traces of the most ordinary models like Fiat albea.
However, sitting behind the wheel is convenient. The steering wheel is adjusted to a very wide range, both in height and in departure. All governing bodies, as necessary, are at hand. Although the Italians would not be Italians if there were no ergonomic quirks. For a long time I was looking for a trunk opening pen at the threshold, then there was no button on the front panel to the left of the steering wheel on the trunk lid. Do not open each time from the remote control, built into the key! Only when it was once again required to open the trunk, I thoughtfully looked at the emergency alarm button on the central console and saw the necessary key nearby. In the most prominent place, but who could guess!
When you go from the Sviyazhsky monastery to the ferry crossing through the Volga, the road at some point will become bad. Then very bad. Do not scare, this is the right route, the organizers of the test drive advised me. Usually such a prospect is not at all happy, but, on the contrary, I was waiting for such roads with interest. Some sportskup should be tested on a racing highway or seaside serpentine, and a mass sedan, which claims popular with Russians, will reveal its true character on a broken wet and dirty autumn road. Judging by the map, there are completely nearby settlements with such exciting names as the Selishche and the old Shirdan, and the fact that the even highway is replaced by a bumpy laundry, you can’t be surprised. Well, the Italian, is it ready for the road cover of a third world?
A series of first bumps I walk with a turtle step, as I would do on almost any foreign car. However, the suspension swallowed all the irregularities without frightening blows. Obviously, you can move faster, without lagging behind local Lada. I add gas, and Linea meekly continues to overcome bumps and potholes. The contrast with Bravo is again huge, but this time the advantage in favor of the sedan. In Russia, there are not many places where you can feel all the advantages of the Bravo chassis. But the long -flowing and energy -intensive Linea suspension will show its best qualities on our most ordinary roads. In addition, the wheel arches have relatively good soundproofing and this also adds comfort on poor coating.
The 120-horsepower engine will also write down in the undeniable advantages of Fiat Linea. This is a modern 1.4-liter engine with turbocharged. Let it not in his character not that a modification forced up to 150 forces differs (Bravo has this). But in all power modes, exactly as much as necessary. If there is only one motor in the golf-class model in the range of engines (Linea has just one), then it should be just that.
To disrupt the front wheels into a slip, it is not necessary to drop the clutch abruptly. I go to the autobahn leading to Kazan, and at first slowly swinging in the accelerated strip in the first gear, looking for free space to wedge into a quick stream. Here I see the clearance, press the gas and under the rustling of the front asphalt of the front tires, I rapidly gain a move. You can complain a little about the lack of traction in the low -speed zone, but already at 2000 rpm the engine gives out a maximum of torque.
By the way, Linea, like a real sports car of a turbocharged sports car, has a boost pressure indicator. True, it did not began to be built into the front panel in the form of a separate device. Turbine performance indicators can be displayed on the screen of the on -board computer. Although in what situation can they come in handy a big question.
In conjunction, the motor-scrap-scope is really pleased only by the motor. The clutch pedal is too long -term, although this can be adopted. And the mechanic is not too suitable to work in the vigor of the rhythm that the engine sets. She is far from clarity of the same Ford Focus. And when when slowing you need to stick the first gear, the lever simply rests and does not go into any. In general, a machine gun would come here better, because Linea is primarily a comfortable family car. Representatives of Sollers (a Russian company owning assembly enterprises producing Fiat) argue that it is addressed to customers aged 35-50 years with two children. It is known that such customers are more and more preferred by automatic transmission. However, for Fiat Linea, such a transmission is not offered even for a surcharge.
Although the novelty is one of the longest cars in the class, but it is one of the narrowest. Apparently, the platform borrowed from the B-class model makes itself felt. The salon cannot be called spacious at all. The rear passengers with a height of 180 cm propagate their heads.
But there are no complaints about the capacity of the luggage department. The rear seat folds in a ratio of 60:40, but without this, the sedan contains 500 liters of luggage, which is an excellent indicator for this class. The only inconvenience of the inner pen. In appearance, it seems comfortable, but you take it for it, and an acute face is digging into your fingers, for which you should pull quite hard. And still, often the trunk cannot be slammed the first time, since the cover of the lid is sinking. You have to put pressure on it from above. That is, without stinging your hands, the trunk cannot be closed.
The basic version of Fiat Linea is relatively well equipped: air conditioning, ABS, two airbags, an audio system with 6 speakers, two glass windows, electric mirrors and heating, a central castle with DU. The price of such configuration (Dynamic) 584 900 rub. Unfortunately, additional equipment cannot be selected from the list of options. Only fixed configurations are available. Comfort version for 613 200 rubles. Additionally includes heating seats, rear windows, fog -windows, steering wheel and lever gearbox with skin, and the audio system receives the control keys on the steering wheel, as well as the mp3 playing function. For 678 200 rubles. You get the Emotion EMOTION set, ESP, driver’s seat electroregies, side safety pillows, alloy disks and a more advanced audio system that can joke with a mobile phone and provide a loud connection.
If from Fiat Linea there is no longer to wait for something more than from the relatively budget golf class sedan, then it will not disappoint. However, is it so budget? ..
Pavel Elshin
Photo by the author and fiat
Competitors
Ford Focus
The model produced near Peter has now lost the advantage that she had five years ago, when the release of the current generation began: now Focus does not look phenomenally cheap against the background of the main competitors. In 2005-2006, it was about 100,000 rubles. More accessible to many analogues, and now a well -equipped car costs the same amount as the models of rivals, that is, about 600,000 rubles. Nevertheless, this car remains the most popular in the class due to the wide range of modifications (six motors, four types of body), a comfortable salon, a well -tuned chassis, as well as a list of several dozen options, including even such rare -heater and windshield and windshield and windshield and windshield and full -time motor heater
Renault Fluence
He, like Fiat Linea, was created with an eye on the markets of third world countries. The Fluence sedan supplied to Russia and the five -door Megane are produced in Turkey. They are distinguished by cheaper materials in the salon, not gambling chassis settings and the lack of the most powerful modifications in the gamut of the most powerful modifications at all. Nevertheless, Fluence is unique in its own way. A large body in length exceeds some D-class models. The appearance is respectable. The price is relatively affordable. The basic version with a 1.6 liter engine (110 forces) and mechanics costs from 569,000 rubles. Modifications with an automaton from 638,000 rubles. The flagship versions with a 138-horsepower engine and variator cost from 751,000 rubles
Chevrolet Cruze
He is the successor of the Lacetti sedan, but the newcomer did not replace the predecessor in the market, but stood half a hundred higher. Among the advantages of the novelty are solid appearance, a more modern interior and updated gamut of engines. Prices for a 1.6-liter version (109 hp) with mechanics start from 547,000 rubles. A 1.8-liter engine developing 141 hp is proposed as an alternative. (from 618,000 rubles). And with that and with another engine you can order a machine gun. So far, Cruze has not gained great popularity on the market: buyers prefer a noticeably more affordable Lacetti (from 435,000 rubles in the sedan body with a 98-horsepower engine). The old model, including the hatchback version, remains one of the bestsellers of the golf class, giving way to sales only focus
Kia Cerato
The new generation Cerato sedan, which debuted last year, is a big step forward in comparison with the model that was released under this name before. It differs in a European-based treasured body, comfortable interior, powerful motors. And the four-door also has a rather rare two-door coupe of Cerato Koup for a golf class. The base engine with a volume of 1.6 liters produces 126 hp. The prices of the sedan with such a motor and mechanics start from 579,900 rubles, with an automatic machine from 659,900 rubles. The flagship 2-liter engine produces 156 hp. With him and the automatic transmission sedan costs from 759,900 rubles
Nissan Tiida
The Japanese woman is related to Renault Fluence: they have common details of the structure and the same base engine with a volume of 1.6 liters (110 hp). And although the external dimensions of the tiids are not as solid as that of Flyens, inside Nissan it also affects the expanse. The disadvantages of this model can be considered a slightly awkward appearance and a boring interior. And the pluses are low prices. Of these competitors, it is the Nissan that can boast of the most affordable version with a machine gun: from 575,000 rubles. (mechanics for 30,000 rubles is cheaper). For the version more powerful with a 1.8-liter engine developing 126 hp, and the manual transmission is asked from 613,000 rubles. Automatic transmission with this engine is not aggregated
Source: Auto.mail.ru
