Test drive Ford Focus sedan since 2010 sedan

Caravan "Sarayev"

The annual car cycle in nature is about the same. Winter. It is time for a full -wheel drive for a vestibular apparatus recalls the concepts of skidding, demolition, etc. Spring. The first rays of the sun sharply change the situation. Love is in the air, and cars for two are becoming relevant. Summer and autumn. Everything goes away, the dead season of summer cottages, vacations or just sorties begins in the suburbs. With things to the country, with a family to the sea, in the intervals for shops .... It was decided to buy a compact station wagon!
However, what to choose? The Peugeot 307 with the Break body has just appeared. Exquisite design, a wide range of engines and sets, a car platform of 2002 ... pluses is clearly gaining a lot. We will choose a complete set of a package, but sufficient. The motor is the most popular 1.6 liter today (there is another 2-liter and diesel). Ford focus, which has just acquired Russian citizenship, is perhaps suitable for opponents. True, in Vsevolozhsk, 5-door hatchbacks and sedans are being collected so far, but the prices for universals of the Russian assembly have already been announced. As they say, God loves the Trinity, so we will also take Opel Astra to our company, which, I remember, made a very pleasant impression during the first start in winter (see cars, b 2/2002). To match his calm, but solid character and equipment: motor 1.8 paired with a machine gun.
So, three cars are ready to start, but there is nowhere to rush. To begin with, let's go from the tail, because it is the trunk that represents the main value of the station wagon. Here, the leaders of Peugeot even at first glance shows that its luggage compartment is the most convenient. Small loading height and a large doorway turn the process of loading/unloading into a very unreleal lesson. And the dimensions allow you to take a large luggage aboard, and with a decomposed rear seat, an absolutely flat area of \u200b\u200bimpressive length forms. In addition, in comparison with competitors, the 307th has another plus of a removable rear seat pillow. This will be especially appreciated by tall drivers who will not rest their armchairs in the laid back.
Focus and Astra are also convenient for transporting goods, and each of them has its own advantages. Ford has practically no bulging wheel arches, and Opel is the only hatch in our test for transporting long -sized items. In addition, more successful, in my opinion, is the decision to use soft curtains in the trunk of these cars, and not a bulky hard shelf, as on Peugeot. Since we started from the end, before we get behind the wheel, let's look at the back seat. Thanks to the wide doorways, sitting there is quite simple and easy on all three machines. However, the Frenchman wins a little because of a greater height here. As for the convenience of landing, in this, cars, alas, are similar to proper comfort will be provided only by two passengers, the third will be clearly superfluous ...
There are much more differences. The ergonomics of cars does not cause complaints, however, Opel is slightly inferior in the range of adjustments to a person higher than the average will be easier to accommodate PEUGEOT or Ford. And the design of a strict front panel of the Germans constantly suggests that time is inexorably moving forward ... On the other hand, with an excavation under a tree and an excellent dashboard with chromendas, the Astra interior shuts more refined than that of the rest. In contrast to it, the interior of Focus, made in the New Edge style. His peculiar forms are unlikely to leave someone indifferent. However, bright solutions here are perfectly combined with honed ergonomics, which are famous for the latest brand models. All controls are available and convenient, and a beautiful steering wheel of a small diameter should be noted especially. Peugeot has the most modern interior. This is evident both in design, and in high quality finishing materials, and now on the now fashionable inserts of metallized plastic. Thanks to the high ceiling, a huge windshield and a minivan massive front panel, a sensation of space arises. I must admit that the future is precisely for such an architecture of the salon.
Finally settling at the wheel, the drovers direct our caravan on the road. From the very first meters, the difference in acoustic setting of cars becomes obvious. The most quiet in our three Opel. The noises in it are perfectly damped somewhere on the outskirts of the cabin, and only in Kick-Down mode makes the engine to sing a solo party. Ford also has good sound insulation, but you can’t call a quiet car. It’s just that a successful balance is reached here, in which the noise of the engine (by the way, low and not annoying) prevails over aerodynamic and road whistles-bujances. After this almost idyllic picture, Peugeot seems noisy. However, it is impossible to say that this is annoying. In addition, in the foreground there is the same engine that has to be twisted into a limiter in order to keep up with more powerful Germans whose motors have extra 200 cubes. That is why we will not engage in an incorrect comparison of dynamics: compared to Focus, it seems that the 307th lower classes have no lower classes, and Astra restrains a thoughtful automatic machine that adequately reacts to the gas pedal only in Sport mode. Better talk about handling.
It would seem, why the wagon of exquisite habits is enough that everything happens quite safely. Take, for example, Opel. Stable behavior for direct and high terminal stability is combined with comfortable suspension settings. In the turns, on guard of order, there is an unlotted ESP system, which suppresses sliding in the root with very non -intellectual intervention in the operation of the engine and brakes. As a result, at normal speeds (at which the owners of such cars usually drive), Astra is very safe, but in the limit shows a strong insufficient rotation, which, causing a skid, is useless. As a result, only accurate steering and ... braking saves. Focus has a stronger, but at the same time energy -intensive suspension. He repeats in more detail the profile of the road, but at the same time holds the trajectory both in line and in corners.
But Peugeot remained sweet because French cars were always not as clear and straightforward as German. And the 307th, even with the body of this, is confirmation of this. The obedience with which the pepper responds to the actions of the driver, delights, and the passage of turns turns into pleasure. True, against the backdrop of competitors, the Frenchman’s tendency to a sharp skid in response to a provocative discharge of gas may seem frightening, but the lightness with which the car is controlled in sliding, makes you forget the fear and enjoy the driving. To match the controllability and brakes of Peugeot. It is very convenient to control the slowdown, and ABS comes into effect quite late and softly. Opel and Ford are not inferior to the Frenchman in standard modes. (In fairness, I note that there was no Abs on our Focus.)
What happens? All three participants in our test are great for the role of a city family car. Created on the basis of golf class, they will not burden the owner with their large dimensions, and therefore for life in the line of a large city are adapted at the highest level. At the same time, these cars are endowed with all the advantages of the station wagons, and therefore they will not force them to rack their heads over how to transport the rack and, for example, a couple of bicycles. At the same time, the design does not fundamentally emphasize the utilitarianism of these cars are especially good Peugeot, which looks no worse than a hatch bek. And this is wise. Indeed, for sure, the choice of a particular car will largely depend on the opinion of the spouse, who will certainly pay the appearance of the future family member of the family. And the Frenchman is probably more suitable for an active driver. And Focus will take an original design and a comfortable trunk. Moreover, the engine for the station wagon option 1.8 seems optimal. Opel is designed for people calm and solid, most of all appreciate their own security. As you can see, all cars are good in their own way, and their choice will depend only on the character, temperament and simply personal preferences of the future owner.
 
Text Alexander Bochkarev
Photo Alexander Nozdrin
 
How do they look:
Nikita Rozanov
 
 
 
 
OUTSIDE:
Classes of class C have never been popular. Indeed, since you have to transport a large luggage, then the very reason to purchase something is more authentic. And then I want to have more passenger capacity. Eh, walk, walk like that: at the same time, it’s not bad and more space over your head! All this remained a dream until the appearance of Peugeot 307 SW. The other two participants in the dough is a universal classic, which in a duel with Peugeot can not contrast much: by no means a young style of a new line in Focus and the respectability of the Opel style. But respectability is not easy to identify from a long distance, it does not even help the Astra facial expression is characteristic, but the perirable Anfas Peugeot is immediately recognized, from which Ford is not at all behind. On the side, the picture is different and the most harmonious is the silhouette of the classical Astra: it is solid, moderately dynamic, and most importantly, tightly constructed. Focus, inheriting the congenital severity of the relief of wheeled arches from the hatchback, retained its dynamism of the silhouette and swiftness. And even on Peugeot from originality options, one can note only a little glass of the 5th door with the upper corners of the rear light and a rug of a plastic lining that protects the bumper from scratches during loading. Focus has even more expressiveness, and this is noticeable both in the similarly solved lanterns, and the V-shaped outline of the lower edge of the rear window.
Results
Opel Astra Caravan, as always, a high -quality and solid approach to design, which slightly suppresses originality, but sets off respectability. However, 4 years for design is already enough and fresh blood will soon be required.
PEUGEOT 307 SW The ability of the station wagon architects to transform the design of the base hatchback for the better is extremely successful. At the same time, the style of the car acquired originality and retained plastic personality.
Ford Focus Wagon is a rather integral solution of architecture in a well -known and very characteristic style of the new line is complemented by new strokes. However, congenital malformations, for example, are also preserved, the non -realistic relief of the wheeled arches.
INSIDE:
Naturally, the most striking impression remains from the dynamic crossings of the lines on the Ford instrument panel is still a new line. But acute and thorny decisions do not belong to the category of centenarians and will soon want to see a calmer architecture, for example, like PEUGEOT or Opel. Despite the apparent simplicity, the Astra panel is quite modern, but at the same time, it is somehow unnecessarily correct, which brings dryness to the appearance of the interior. The 307th in the solution of the interior demonstrates the middle ground: smoothly flowing volumes and combining horizontal lines. In addition, there is a solution that is most adapted to variability, in which various color factories on the central console look organically and varied. The Peugeot 307 SW Vanov orientation is printed on many elements, but first of all, it affected the seats, which are separate (behind), and equipped with folding tables, and an entire organizer for travel is hidden in the backs of the second row. And the seats can be rearranged back (the third row may be located there) or completely dismantled and get at your disposal all 2082 DM3 of useful volume.
Results
Opel Astra Caravan is a solid and fully meeting the requirements of the cargo -passenger function, which, however, loses the design of the interior of Peugeot, which affects its multifunctionality, and is inferior in emotionality Focus design.
PEUGEOT 307 SW is a very modern and integral solution of the internal space, which is flexibly and diversely transformed, while the existing utilitarian framework of the cargo -passenger body expand significantly.
Ford Focus Wagon If, in a mischievous manner of an witty and daring solution to the architecture of the instrument panel, to fulfill everything else, the interior of the car would have won even more.

A source: Cars