Test drive Fiat Stilo 5 doors 2001 - 2006 hatchback

Stilly fiat

The creation and sale of cars is incredibly profitable, especially if the one who is engaged in this very process of creation is very good. After all, the market fate of the model, and hence the financial success of the manufacturer, depends entirely on how advanced, beautiful, reliable and harmonious a new machine turned out. Moreover, even the largest specialist cannot say exactly which factor is the most important. There are incredibly reliable, but there are very beautiful or simply prestigious models, and no compliance with the recipe can guarantee the new product success. And that is why the appearance of each model, especially when it comes to mass cars, is associated with great hopes for the automaker: one model that has become a bestseller can do more for the company than the rest of the production gamut. For Fiat, such a bestseller should become a new Fiat Stilo - a completely new model on which the manufacturer himself makes a serious bet. So, get acquainted - the new Fiat Stilo 1.2 V16.

In the segment of small middle-class cars, FIAT has been present for a long time, and even at the very fiative-adavist, the tongue will not turn to call this presence nominal. In the European market, Fiat fights on equal terms with such grads as Renault or Toyota, and each subsequent generation among the Italians is better than the previous one. Ritmo, Tipo, Bravo/Brava - from generation to generation, representatives of this brand in a small middle class became more and more popular, surpassing the previous model not only in terms of the number of copies released, but also in terms of assembly. After all, it is far from a secret that the quality of the assembly and components is a sore issue of almost all Italian cars, starting from 600 cubic low -commissions and ending with magnificent Lamborghini.

No, Italians have no such blunders as in domestic cars, but against the backdrop of other foreign -production cars, Italians do not look in the best way. However, today it is safe to say that this feature can be talked about only in the past tense - Italians, well aware that it is not a trump card to a rigid competition, seriously took up the solution of this issue. Moreover, this was not another event -over -the -out event - the President of the Fiat concern himself was the first to speak about the need for radical restructuring in the minds of both buyers and those who produce these same cars. And it was Fiat Stilo that became the same car that the Italians represent as the new fiat ...

And Fiat is really new - this is the first thought that comes to mind when examining a car. The design is very peculiar, but this is an amateur, and everything else is just at the highest level. The build quality, clearly working door handles, expensive sounds - all this indicates if not a revolution in the minds of the creators of this car, then at least about the serious work that was done during the development of this model. If you think that creating the right car is easy and simple, then look at the VAZ viburnum. And there is no doubt that Fiat Stilo has no doubt. Almost every detail of this model indicates that this or that solution is applied only after a thorough study and detailed study of the issue. Take at least the same body design - don't you like the five -door Fiat Stilo? There is not enough dynamics in the guise, aggressiveness? And you will pay attention to the three -door - the cars, although they are similar, but at the same time they have only optics, and everything else is designed again. Initially, a more sports three -door hatchback has a completely different profile, it has a more dynamic window line and wide doors. The fashion in this way various versions of one model came to the automotive industry recently, but it seems that for a long time. In such a simple way, it is possible to achieve not only the individualization of each version, but also significantly increase the circulation of some modifications, previously unpopular precisely due to the mismatch of design and character. By the way, in the near future, the three -door version of Fiat Stilo will arrive in Minsk, and after meeting it we will be able to tell you than other versions of this car other than design.

However, there is enough theory, it's time and behind the wheel. Planting on the driver’s place in Stilo does not cause difficulties - the car is quite high, and you can’t rest against the steering wheel with your knees. By the way, already in the database this model has an adjustable steering column, and the position of the lamb can be changed not only in the longitudinal, but also in the vertical direction. The steering wheel itself is just a fairy tale, after a cheap plastic steering wheel of some models, the steering wheels Stilo looks very impressive. The soft, rough material from which it is made is very pleasant to the touch, and this is not the only pleasant sensation. On the right, the gearbox lever is visible, whose tan is drawn by a six -gear switching circuit. Yes, a six-speed mechanical gearbox on Stilo sets in the database, which is very pleasant. But if you thought that this is a fuck, then I will be forced to surprise you, - adding an additional step and getting the opportunity to make the rest shorter, the designers tried to make Stilo dynamic. True, the attempt was not quite successful, because The car remains dynamic only until one or two passenger and empty trunk are in the cabin.

Then, in each gear, Stilo shoots with a pleasant overload for each driver, quickly blocking all the speed limits. The lever of the checkpoint, for nothing that it is in charge of the seven positions, works surprisingly, pleasant, and even despite its length, the clarity of the inclusion remains amazing: it was never possible to make a mistake. But if you want a dynamic driving, you will have to turn to the lever quite often: a 1.2-liter engine installed on the basic modification is borrowed from the baby Punto and in a larger car shows not very outstanding results. The programs are quite short, so the range of speeds in which they work most efficiently are also narrow - at each speed you need to look for your program, and then even a 1.2 -liter Stilo can pleasantly surprise with accelerated dynamics and traction. By the way, the same motor is installed on the Doblo model, and there it, too, mainly due to the successful selection of the ratio of each gear, works very well. But still, Stilo just needs a more powerful engine, because In the basic competitors, as a rule, there are 1.4-liter versions that develop from 60 to 100 hp.

And the point is not even in the dynamics of acceleration, in this discipline, Stilo just demonstrates very good, in comparison with competitors, results. The situation is different: a 1.2-liter motor on a relatively large and heavy golf-class car will be able to prove its viability only if there is a fairly experienced driver at the wheel, which is also not lazy to often switch the programs. And if on the highway switching from the 6th to the 5th before protracted overtaking will not cause indignation from anyone, then the constant change of gears in the torn city cycle can cause black envy of the owners of machines with an automaton. And if a car without passengers, thanks to short gears, is still quite good, then with thorough loading the dynamics depends entirely on how much the driver will twist the engine in each gear.

And it seems that Stilo is ready for this. The sound of the motor is very unobtrusive, and at low speeds it is completely absent. But for a modern car, this is rather a rule than achievement, and the level of acoustic comfort is determined not so much by the sound of a motor that, if desired, designers could generally create very quiet, but according to the general level of noise that penetrate the car interior when driving along various roads. And here Stilo, at least, the base version found another small drawback: when moving along the asphalt at a speed of more than 60 km/h, the tires begin to buzz, and very strongly. Closer to 90 km/h, this rumble develops into a low -frequency howl, preventing him from talking, but even shouting. But this, I repeat, is the basic version. It is possible that on more powerful versions they put tires of other brands or models, and there this feature is probably absent.

However, for those who like to ride quickly, and necessarily a large company, more powerful versions are provided, and what can offer its owner the basic version? Quite a lot: an incredibly comfortable interior for this class, several airbags, air conditioning, etc. You can even say that, in terms of the quality of the dashboard and the central console, this FIAT was even overwhelmed by VW Golf - soft, both in the opinion and to the touch, coating, expensive plastic, clearly working switches. In general, inside the Fiat Stilo pleasantly surprised - even repeatedly seen in the pictures, the Stilo salon simply struck with its luxury and an abundance of various secret corners - pockets in the doors, special drawback boxes under the front chairs, a niche under the central armrest, a glove box. I haven't tired you yet? After all, these are only places for storing small things that are available from the driver's seat, and there are still in the back of the trunk. However, it is not very convenient to use some of them - door pockets are very deep, but narrow, therefore they are able to accept only a folded map or newspaper, but by no means a barrier or something voluminous. With the mess, the story is even more abruptly - not only in the open state it resembles a dot's embrasure, in the sense that it is very narrow, and even when opening it falls right on the knees to the front passenger. Or a passenger ...

In the back of the back, Stilo is simply not in competition, but not because it is so large, but thanks to one cunning solution. The fact is that the rear seats can be moved in the longitudinal direction, thus receiving either a large luggage compartment or additional legs space. Moreover, you can not move the entire sofa, but only part of it: it is divided in a ratio of 2/3, and both parts of it are regulated individually. By the way, in addition to longitudinal adjustment, the rear seats Stilo have another one - the backs can be adjusted along the angle of inclination. Not many cars of this class can boast of such an option. Usually, minivans and similar cars have such opportunities in terms of transformation of the salon. True, the rear sofa is not completely folded - the back simply fits on the seat, and it does not work out an even cargo compartment.

However, few people are going to carry goods in such machines, especially since Stilo is 400 liters. And it is very convenient to open this very trunk: you will not surprise anyone with a touch button, but only in Stilo it is made so convenient. The whole salt is that the buttons or at least the opening handles of the fifth door as such - you just touch the door to the door of the door where the same button is usually located, and the castle is clung to it, as it were, as it were. Original and very convenient.

Everything is known in comparison, and cars in this sense are no exception. Only a comparative test with competitors can clearly define the position of the model in a car tablet table. And with competitors, Stilo is in perfect order. In the sense that the market sector, where the new fiat protein acts, is today the most massive and popular, and it is quite natural that each automaker has mandatory to introduce his model in the golf class. In Europe, and with us, too, golf -class cars are the most popular product - the total volume of their production is calculated in tens of millions of copies. In our Fiat Stilo market, we will have to compete with many models, starting from Hyundai Accent, which is almost half cheaper, and ending with the most important VW Golf, in whose honor this class was called. And besides them, many models are quite successfully sold in this market sector: Ford Focus, Peugeot 307, Opel Astra, Nissan Almera, etc. And this means that to compete with them Stilo, you need to be at least an order of magnitude better and, preferably, cheaper. The promoted models of the widespread brands in our country will not give their positions so simply. After all, if we take into account that the market of new cars in our republic is approximately 3000-3500 cars annually, then for successful STILO sales, not only an acceptable price and high level of quality, but also something else that can make the buyer pay attention to this car is necessary . Personally, I did not find something in the car. Yes, the car is solid, well equipped, with quite acceptable dynamics and running qualities. This is what is plus, but there are enough minuses. For example, the relatively high price of the basic version. Yes, I understand that the AVTO car is well equipped and has a very high -quality interior, but you must admit that competitors are also present in one way or another.

(+) Expensive interior, rear chairs with the ability to adjust, a wide list of equipment installed in standard configuration.

(-) High price, a kind of design.

Text: Pavel Kozlovsky
 

Source: Auto -Gazeta / N 11 (357) dated 03.27.02