Test drive Ford Focus sedan since 2010 sedan

That the Russian is good

The summer of this year is marked by outstanding achievements of automotive industries: the release of two new models has been established at Russian enterprises. In full accordance with the decisions of the plenums of the board of directors of Renault and Ford, they are ready to provide Russian citizens with modern cars Logan and Focus. The latest achievements of science and technology will now be available to the broad masses of motorists of the Russian Federation. Next year, working enterprises in the capital of our homeland and the Leningrad region will produce sixty thousand such cars.
Being a developing state is insulting and pleasant. It's a shame - because underdeveloped. It's nice - because everything is still, as they say, in front. From the point of view of Renault and many of its competitors, we are an extremely interesting market, because we will grow monstrous pace. From our pairs of three hundreds of cars per thousand inhabitants to marginal European and American 500-600-a considerable path. And the one who begins to produce cars in Russia now, while the local market is relatively free, will be able to earn more than others. The first to dare to build our own Ford and Renault plants. The French concern, however, got a joint venture with the Moscow Administration, but now the autoframm is 76% renault belongs, and this means that management is fully controlled by the company. In the choice of models, the policies of the two pioneers differ more dramatically: Ford decided to release the same model that he makes in Europe here, and Renault chose Russia one of the points of implementation of the project to issue a model at an affordable price. They say that dogs look like their owners; To an even greater extent, this is true for cars - after all, we choose them ourselves. What are the designers of these two cars see Russian buyers?
Simplicity is better than theft. To one degree or another, the argument about the exactingness of the Russian client sounded at the presentations of both machines. Ford thus motivated its decision to change the generation of Focus in Russia simultaneously with Europe - it turns out that we love everything the newest and modern, and if the previous generation was released in Vsevolozhsk, we would be offended. Renault argues in the same way. More precisely, now he reasons exactly the same. Ten years ago, this concern is quite calm, withdrawing the model from production in Europe, continued its release in some Argentina. Although Renault was not alone in this: all major concerns acted about the same at that time. However, now this policy is ending. And not only because in large bosses the desire to give the most poor buyers are really a new car. Caring for the consumer has never left the collapse of the auto business or ... I could never appear with them - choose the point of view more convenient for you. If we assume that they want to honestly sell what they are in demand, then they have always taken care of us. If you remember that any business seeks to minimize costs, then they will not take care of anyone until the product is in demand. In fact, it simply became obvious that now it is much cheaper to make a simple model with low cost from scratch than to simplify the complex design. And by the way, this can be good from the point of view of the image: we get not a worsened version of something to us already known, but the best-within the limits limited to our solvency.
   
The secret of the success of many people is that they can focus on the main thing. Logan is made exactly on this recipe. It is well known that buyers of modest cars, like the most expensive ones, love a body such as a sedan. Perhaps the former love them because they know about the latter. Although the popularity of the sedan is also quite a practical justification. If on your only car you at least sometimes have to carry everything at once, then I really want to have a decent trunk without prejudice to the capacity of the cabin. And Renault was generous: although Logan formally refers to class B, after it a Russian model of a higher class with a variation on the topic of the Spanish boot. This also applies to a huge salon, where three are easily located behind, and the trunk with a volume of 500 liters, in addition, very convenient proportions.
Another feature of not too rich states is the quality of roads. And here Logan is almost phenomenally adapted to the specifics of its operation. Compared to the European Dacia Logan, the road clearance is increased by 20mm-da 150 mm, so the car is not inferior to the old Russians in the notorious trip to the country house. Long -flowing and energy -intensive suspension allows you to treat tram rails and traditional hatches with healthy neglect. Although it must be borne in mind that the Renault advertised cost of a mileage of 25 kopecks does not include the suspension repair - so it is better to show such courage every day. As well as realize excellent handling and stability in a dense stream. Although the car allows this. In terms of size and suspension, Logan is perceived as a car worth once more than one and a half more expensive and bypasses almost all its competitors in the category of about $ 10,000. Or in more familiar units outside the Moscow Ring Road - about 300,000 rubles. It seems to us that this car is primarily focused not on the spoiled capitals, where potential owners have already begun to understand the advantages of compactness and are too picky to the style. As the girl noted, who became a random witness to the shooting of these cars, with this trunk he is so long ... Here is my girlfriend’s getz is much more convenient and more beautiful. Indeed, Logan forms look rude. So Renault reduced the cost of stamps and the cost of the machine as a whole.
The modest charm of the price list. A completely different thing is Ford Focus. We have already written about him more than once and now we can only report that the car has not disappointed us. Like Logan, we took Focus in the most expensive version - with a two -liter engine and in the luxurious configuration of GHIA. The suspension is wonderful. The steering wheel amplifier is excellent, and even with switched modes. The gearbox and shift drive are very good. With the exception of a few little things like an uncomfortable arrangement of the internal handles of the trunk door - they are in the end, and taking up them is inconvenient - we have absolutely nothing to complain about. It can be seen that Ford tried his best to surpass competitors. And in Russia he succeeded: Russian prices are lower than European, and at the moment, Focus is one of the most profitable purchases not only among class S. Models of this is very similar to Logan. Truth. Renault is more often compared with AvtoVAZ products.
It also seemed to us at first incomprehensible how Logan can be considered a more interesting option than, say, LADA 110, which even in the most expensive version costs as much as the cheapest Renault. At the same time, on the top ten for this money you can even see air conditioning, on -board computer or cast discs that will only be in expensive versions on Logan. But on Logan there will be a safety pillow for a driver, which is not in principle for any money in Lada. The difference between LADA 110 and Logan in a similar configuration is approximately $ 2000. This money is asked not only for a pillow and a rhombus instead of a boat on a cladding. They are still taken for a hydraulic wrap, the ability to equip the ABS car - which is again not for Lada for any money - and the scope that is simply phenomenal for this class.
And another nuance. Focus is unlikely to get cheaper: demand is too good and is stimulated by very profitable loans. Logan, on the other hand, was clearly left a fat for shares of the type of air conditioning as a gift.
Without checkers. The dimensions of the Logan salon and trunk, its price and estimated cost of content make it ideal for use in a taxi. In modern Russian, of course. According to the interior, it is also optimal for an hired car: from excesses even in an expensive version - except that the metallic color of the rims and panels on the central console. In full accordance with a taxi joke: do you need checkers or go? There is everything to go. True, the price makes itself felt in some little things. The door handle formed in the armrest is not very convenient - when closing it is not so easy to find to the touch. External mirrors are interchangeable, although it is not entirely clear why this so badly influenced their size. The control panel of their electric drive (part of the cost of Privilege) is located under the parking brake lever, and this in real life is not as inconvenient as it may seem. The absence of steering wheel adjustment is partly compensated by the adjustment of the height of the chair.
The noise annoys most of all. Perhaps it will not seem excessive for those who will cross the Logan from the six (not one of the Bavarian, but the Volga). But we somehow immediately wanted to enter an additional sound insulation of the motor compartment on the option list. And it would be nice to do something with the gas pedal: it seems that its craving concerns some details of the motor and the pedal is constantly vibrating. Maybe it's just Logan so torn forward?
The ideal is unattainable. After hard plastic Logan, the Focus interior is already difficult to distinguish from any Audi. Soft panel, generously scattered chrome and not even too annoying imitation of wood on the central console (although some of us would still prefer honest plastic or metal trim). The most interesting and so far an unusual feature of Focus is the choice of the operating mode of the electro -hydraulic steering wheel amplifier. This is done through the menu of the on -board computer: we twist the ring on the left steering wheel lever, select the desired item in the menu and put a checkmark opposite the sports, standard or comfortable mode. The difference is not amazing, but in the sports steering wheel it becomes somewhat tighter and a little more acute.
Focus does not particularly surpass Logan in capacity, but even in its Ford class looks very good. The GHIA equipment includes electrical adjustments to the driver's seat, including in height. But the issue with the ashtray is resolved in the same way. As in Logan and, apparently, as in most future models. This is just a glass that is inserted into any of the nests. Stationary ashtrays go out of fashion.
In Focus, you get the maximum for your money. True, the money is different here.

Text Valery Chusov, Sergey Sorokin, photo Andrey Danilov

Cars are provided by Renault and CJSC Ford Motor company, (095) 777-8500.

Renault Logan 1.6 Privilege
 
The engine is gasoline, 4-cylinder, in order
Working volume (cubic cub) 1598
Power (L.S. at about/min) 90 at 5500
Moment (nm at rpm) 128 at 3000
Front drive
The gearbox is 5-speed
Length/width/height (mm) 4250/1742/1525
Wheel base (mm) 2630
Equipped mass (kg) 980
Maximum speed (km/h) 175
Acceleration to 100 km/h (c) 11.5
Fuel consumption (city/highway, l/100 km) 10.0/5.8
Price in Moscow (tested car) from $ 12,099 ($ \u200b\u200b13,739)

Ford Focus 2.0 Ghia
 
The engine is gasoline, 4-cylinder, in order
Working volume (cubic cub) 1999
Power (L.S. at about/min) 145 at 6000
Moment (nm at rpm) 185 at 4500
Front drive
The gearbox is 5-speed
Length/width/height (mm) 4342/1840/1454 (1497)
Wheel base (mm) 2640
Equipped mass (kg) 1250
Maximum speed (km/h) 206
Acceleration to 100 km/h (c) 9.2
Fuel consumption (city/highway, l/100 km) 9.8/5.4
Price in Moscow (tested car) from $ 16 020 ($ 21,900)

Logan formally belongs to class B, but many models of a higher class with next to it seem to be a variation on the theme of the Spanish boot Ford Focus have several minor disadvantages and one large one - it must be waited a few months after ordering
Renault was not the first author of the idea of \u200b\u200ban accessible car: about ten years ago, Fiat reasoned in the same way, creating a Palio family, which was called a world car. Palio hatchbacks, sedans Siena and Albea and the station wagon Palio Weekend are now produced in South America, Poland and Turkey. In Russia, they also sold it, but somehow they did not go. Logan was created according to a similar recipe, which has long been indicated by the Russian proverb, stretch your legs: for the same amount it is better to buy a well -made simple thing than a bad imitation of a complex one. It is strange that foreigners, not Russians, again, again this idea.
Now on the Logan market is represented only in the form of a beloved sedan we have. In the near future, the release of hatchbacks and station wagons will begin on Dacia.
Like Logan, Focus attracts with decent salon sizes. It is not surprising, in width it surpasses, say, Audi A4 or BMW 3R and only does not reach A6 and five a little. The most expensive version of Ghia includes about the same as the most expensive equipment by Logan Privilege: air conditioning, electric windows, airbag ... Although there are class differences: there are four electric windows in the standard, and only two on Privilege, a pillow on all Logan In the base only for the driver, and Ford on GHIA puts four at once. On Logan, climate control cannot be put for any money, Focus can be equipped with a rather perfect two-zone. Fashion bixenon headlights are also available on Focus. True, this is one of the most expensive options: $ 980 for bixenon plus $ 630 for adaptability (when they turn slightly with the wheels).
   
 
 
 

Source: "Autopilot"