Test Drive Ford Grand C-MAX since 2010 Minivan
In love with your own accord
To understand what a newcomer is capable of, it is necessary to compare it only with the best. That is why in Sparring partners to the French debutant we chose the leader of the domestic market of disputes. And both proved that the family of the family does not mean boring. Modern classic and good old avant-garde
Outwardly, these cars certainly nobody confuses. Another thing is that to evaluate the exterior of the exercise. One of the imbandism of the scenic, another classical anything excess Si-Max. Therefore, we will give proper appearance both and immediately look inside.
Museum of Contemporary Art and Exposition on Long Live Conservatism Here is a brief description of Scenic salons and Si-Max. I remove the hat, the stylistic connection of the interior and the exterior of both withstanding virtuoso. Renault, whose lines personally resemble the work of the late Picasso, is just as definingly and in the cabin. Immediately you can see: they worked out here, invented, tried. What is only a giant, in the good half of the torpedo, the information scoreboard. Name it is just a dashboard language does not turn. Spectacular. Although, to tell the truth, there are certain problems with readability.
Ford, on the contrary, restraint itself. Strict, not touched by a brush of an eccentric maestro outline of the body organically flow into the salon without dissident with the appearance of black plastic torpedo and the massive central console. Here everything is subordinate to the functionality and no design for the sake of design.
The approach to the design is diametrically opposed, but the high class of execution is equally good. Fit panels, quality materials, clarity of the buttons and switches outside critics. And both have a magnificent commander landing, for the most part non-issues of the controls and, of course, the amazing ease of planting and disembarkation. This little joy of rheumat is recently the first seller's argument in favor of companktva.
Which one preferred? According to mature reflection, both are good. And differ from each other only by nuances that everyone is waved to evaluate in its own way. In the scenic it is better to review forward thanks to the carefully thought-out form of the vents and the front racks of the roof. Ford meets the superbly readable, albeit too conservative on the type of dashboard. The Frenchman conquers an incredible number of boxes, pockets, cavities for all sorts of things. The glove box and that by volume resembles a sanitary room sac. And the SI-Max warms the soul to the Russified Menu of the on-board computer. Now it is not necessary to climb into the dictionary, to understand what the Fuel Level Low is so for Abrakadabra. Bravo, Ford! All the rest of the Equality on the Blue Ovol, let the cars for Russia study their native speech.
Until children grew up
In response to the question why 5-seater compactings are needed, the apologists of one-uniforms confidently declare, they say, places for five in such cars much more than in ordinary hatchs. Yes, but who are these five? For example, five adult men in Si-Max are just wolf away. Places for legs on the gallery in excess, but in the width will be not enough. An even moreover that citizens from 185 cm frankly polish the hairdo roof angle and the upholstery of the side racks.
Unlike competitors, in Si Max sit, almost like in a passenger car. That's just the reserve of place in the back row does not hit the imagination
But for family tracks, when the rear row is occupied by his wife and children, the SI-Max salon is quite suitable. In addition, folding the middle chair, two side drives can be shifted closer to the center of the cabin and back, and then the rear passengers will immediately turn into VIP guests.
Spacious, lightweight, light inner world of the Scenic Real Luck Designers Renault. And the buyer is also important and very decent build quality
The scenic, by the way, the reserve of air above the passenger macushki is also small, but here is a wider sofa, composed of three individual chairs. Again, in favor of the French and the opportunity to order a 7-seater modification of Grand Scenic. Let only next year Si-Max, if neither twist, and remain 5-seater, or rather, to be honest to the end of a 4-seater.
Half step from ideal
What really compact holds are superior to the usual golf class hatchbacks, so it is in the quantity transported. The volumes of trunk, which operate the SI-Max and the scenic, their passenger relatives and did not dream of 460 and 430 liters, respectively. And this is a minimum! If you disassemble the barkaruda of the back chairs (by the way, in a French car, the dismantling process seemed easier to us), then there are luxurious numbers at our disposal. Scenic takes on board up to 1840 liters, Si-Max 1620 liters.
The advantage of Renault becomes more convincing when you remember the record number of hidden and obvious luggage cavities in the cabin. Ford does not shine such a variety, but also offers as a spare wheel only the dock.
Not being a record holder among compactnesnov in terms of the volume of the trunk, the scenic due to the rich possibilities of transformation of the salon will cope with the transportation of any cargo
Large loading height and relatively narrow transverse opening can be attributed to the disadvantages of the trunk of Si-Max
Linkers of the Scenic Salon on such compromises were not able to undergo a full-size wheel, a jack and a set of tools are awaited under the floor of the trunk. That's just to put perfectly allows the record of the transportation capacity of Turan 695/1990 liters.
Have time everywhere A rare crank will buy a compact in order to wheel in the city alone. Travels are assumed to be family, then you mean, at least, with a moderate download. That is why it is quite sufficient for a golf class 1.6-liter engine by one-index will be small. Need artillery of larger caliber. For example, a 120-strong Fords 1.8 l, and it is better to walk so much! 2-liter motor. With such a power of 136-strong Scenic and Si-Max, under the hood of which 145 horses turn into a formidable road force. Especially with a manual transmission. Confidence under overtaking is guaranteed not only in the city feature, but also on the highway, where the left row of the tracks can be consolidated by the right of strong (read: fast).
Especially good Si-Max. Clear and rather short moves of the box lever, a pleasant pickup from 2500 rpm and confident thrust in the lower range of revolutions. But the trouble: 2-liter Ford can not be obtained from the ACP. To do this, you will have to buy 1,6-liter turbodiesel with the Common Rail injection system. Nausea what!
However, maybe it is for the better? After all, the scenic with the machine immediately loses hardly not all his temperament. The four-stage proactive lives with a motor like a cat with a dog. Top gas to the floor, and a second box two finds out the relationship with the engine and only then pins low. On the contrary, with a measured ride, it's time to switch upstairs, but the machine objects and luckies on the third, as if deliberately forcing the motor to work on increased revs. You need to either come up with this, or use the manual switching mode.
Wait! High center of gravity, soft comfortable suspension, bus landing driver, not contributing to the active handling, but how to make a delicious car with such an introductory? The answer has so far been negative. But then Si-Max came, and there was a notable taxi among one-uniforms. Thanks to the wonderful part of the driver's talents, Ford is surprisingly obsessed and even Azarten.
Just a great steering wheel, clearly and immediately telling you about where the wheels are directed in the turn. It is easy in parking, but heels with increasing speed in a protracted turn, not giving a chance of a mistake. On the highway, the Branca is small in the near-theulous zone and at the same time instantly orders the car to take right or left, depending on what the driver wants. Si-Max performs teams with the readiness of the personnel officer: quickly, clearly, without thinking. Add to this exemplary high-speed straight line and not too prominent rolls, and Si-Max deservedly receives its five per manageability.
Another question is whether the compacttwan need such a skill? There is no sin in the fact that, take the kids and mother-in-law to the cottage, to catch up with the breeze on the way back. In addition, good handling is the main key of the active safety of the car.
The scenic of special liberties does not allow with you. It can be seen that if for Si-Max turns a pleasure, then for the Frenchman routine. All because the steering of megan has got the steering and this is not too great. In the absence of a clearly built chain of the wheelliruk, the desire to shrill in the stream evaporates like water from a boiling kettle. It's a shame, because behind the trajectory on the priese, the scenic keeps diligently, although much earlier than Si-Max, begins to roll and straighten the arc. Yes, and cruising, then you mean comfortable for the driver, the speed is not 170, as in the case of Ford, but in the area of \u200b\u200bone and a half hundred. What is a good result for compacttva. But no more.
On guard of the world
Soft flow and good noise insulation for a family car to determine the task of the fundamental. Do not help me doubt, Scenic and Si-Max will not violate the fragile family harmony. Extremely soft suspensions, swallowing most of the flaws, pleased with a high level of comfort. The SI-Max is different and good energy intensity of the body does not swing and does not peck onto braking. The scenic is a little more ram in the far road may indicate.
The noise insulation of Ford appeared more efficient. If in urban modes both cars do not differ in the class of low noise background, then on the turns close to the maximum, the engine Reno sings much louder and at the same time frankly fake listening to this song at all.
It would be more carefully ...
Reno total approach to safety. In other words, the buyer of the simplest scenic will expire later in the absence of air conditioner and apply gross physical strength, opening windows with an antique handle, but at the same time, to protect six airbags immediately. After all, they are already in the standard! Of course, in French touching care deserves respect. Among other things, in the database at the Scenica also ABS with the brake force distribution system, and five head restraints, and I isofixes for children's armchaks, and, of course, where without them, no other! Sensors-reminders about unusted safety belts. In the Krash tests of EuroNcap, the Scenic is not just five stars, and one of the best estimates among all ever crashed cars. So, there is no doubt about Maxi-Assessment for security and will not.
Si-Max is only a good one. What, however, in such a solid company is not ashamed. Ford has a part of passive and a pipe down, and smoke is more likely. For a start in EuroNCAP tests, Si-Max crashed only four stars rise above did not allow the increased risk of knee injury with a frontal test. Yes, and the starting equipment of the compacttva is by no means overloaded with the means of protection. Here is a modern subsistence minimum two frontal and two side air-beaga plus ABS. And here are six pillows in Si-Max not to receive any kind of gold world.
Do not believe our eyes
Total pricing policy, and simply put, the fact that they sell both cars in the euro, which is, in theory, prevents the proper popularity of the Scenic and Si-Max in Russia. Multiply 16,600 and 15,900 euros, respectively, the basic prices of the Scenic and SI Max with motors of 1.6 liters per coefficient of 1.3. Immediately fly for 20 thousand green.
You may not pay so much for the car, and no one wants to ride such a thing without air conditioning and music. For Ford, it makes sense to order a package of comfort (air conditioning, radio tape recorder, the remote control of the central castle, fog) for 700 euros. Reno needs at least, finally finish with kondeem (550 euros) and CD-magnetic (300 euros). In any case, the amount is approaching $ 22,000. And this is for the basic configurations, followed up and ambient!
The prices of the top version and at all of the side of good and evil. 145-strong Si-Max performed trend will cost 19 310 euros. The most powerful 2-liter preview is at least 22,500 euros. Plus a thousand per machine gun. Expensive. For 30 thousand green, you can look after a business class sedan.
But why then Si-Max leader of the domestic compact route market? Yes, and the new stalney from the very beginning of sales took a very good pace. Just sellers know about high prices and in vain offer customers very generous discounts. In November, a 1200 euros could be saved on the purchase of the stalney. Late? It's OK. I assure it soon Renault will launch a new limited proposal to the market.
In the race for the buyer, Ford is not lagging behind. In addition to the most favorable lending rates, the purchase of Si-Max has both monetary discounts and free packages of additional equipment. Choose that your soul. In this case, keeping the equivalent conditions of the factory warranty 2 years or 100 thousand kilometers, the Scenic and Si-Max deserved for the Four budget. Let it be slightly tightened by the ears.
Remote control of music for rarity convenient
Passenger airbag before installing a children's ledge can be disabled
Seat heating button will have to look blindly
Self-adjustable handbrake extremely comfortable
Modern Renault no longer imagine without a key card
An additional mirror spying on the rear side is appreciated by people
With removed chair chains, the scenic turns into a cargo van
Rewous passengers in the back row quite closely
The clarity of the work of the levers and switches at the height
Si-Max's on-board computer communicates with you in Russian
The central armchair of the rear row is easily turning into a bundle table
Torpedo provides a convenient compartment for cards and atlases
We decided:
The eight-day duel, which was with a slight advantage of one, then another single-index, did not reveal the winner. The referee eventually raised his hands to both (average estimate 4.4). With such points both are quite suitable for the role of class leaders. The scenic has succeeded in the field of family values \u200b\u200ba more spacious salon with an incredible amount of underground cells and a spacious trunk. It will easily be easy to make toys, strollers, cribs and other scarbs of the couple and her siblings. For them, the scenic will not just be a car, but a real house on wheels. More precisely, the house is cozy, relatives and probably loved.
In general, is there a challenge of quality that can be improved? There is. First of all, dynamics and handling. These are the very components of driving pleasures, which can fully give Si-Max. Yes, Ford's salon by and large only a 4-seater, the trunk is not recorded, but it is standing behind the wheel of this companktva lick a couple of turns, and you are almost in love with. Not least, that is why the most passenger among all compact representatives, Si-Max is a sales leader not only in Russia, but also in Europe.
Mikhail Medvedev, Maxim Goncharov
A source: Journal Buy Auto [22/2004]