Test Drive Ford Fusion since 2010 Hatchback

Chevrolet Niva, Ford Fusion, Skoda Yeti - Chance to defeat urban drifts

The quality of cleaning of streets in Russian cities largely determines our need for machines, more passable than ordinary city sedans and hatchbacks. Kolesa.Ru was taken to the test three not the most expensive and not the biggest car, in the design of which the truth in different degrees the opportunity to feel more confident in the unacted streets and outside the city in Kolas and Sugarbers.


Of course, to compare each other Fusion, Niva and Yeti and determine the best possible criteria at all incorrectly. Skoda is a lot of newer and much more expensive than the rest, Chevrolet is the most affordable and not quite powerful, Ford is not at all crossover and not an SUV

But we did not try to compare in the classic test sense. We simply assessed to what degrees make it easier for the current winter movement in the city and outside the city is increased clearance (Fusion), coupled with a full drive (Yeti) and lower transmission and blocking of the Central Differential (NIVA).

Ford Fusion. 1.6 100 hp 2wd.
Fusion according to standard car standards is already an old man, but still remains respected and relevant in Russia. The wagon hatchback appeared thanks to the preparation of the previous generation, however, next to her silent modern version, he looks like an aliel from the distant past. Still: Still Fusion 2002 year of birth!


At the same time, last year, FUSION bought more than 3,300 Russians, and Fiesta less than a thousand. Still popular in Russia Fusion makes a reasonable price (from 491,800 rubles), high clearance (160 mm) and the appearance of a small SUV.

Fusion has a spacious interior (which is in front, which is behind), a torpedo of a soft polymer, a comfortable three-spoke steering wheel and understandable, although boring devices. But his armchairs are too soft, noise insulation passes more noise into the cabin than, and as a result, for example, on the CAD to manage Fusion, it is not a pleasure that in the city.


Fusion weighs a little more tons, so the 1.6-liter 100-power engine is enough with an excess. The motor perfectly pulls on low revs and at low speeds the car is quite a bodra. But on the highway the dynamics is no longer athletic. Yes, and handling, too: When the speed increases, the vibrations on the steering wheel grow sharply on the steering wheel, and with a strong side wind and beacon, the car tried to move away from a straight line.

Chevrolet Niva 1.7 80 hp 4wd.
At one time, this model was the main hope of the Russian auto industry. Yes, and today Niva with a cross on the grille of the radiator, surviving restyling, is also quite popular. On the driver's door there is a BERTONE Scene. The famous Italian atelier really worked on the design. In general, Niva has never been considered ugly, but the pair of Italian strokes came by the way. The changes turned out not revolutionary, but noticeable. Outside.


Inside, everything is simple and not well. Cheap plastic, large slightly rattling buttons, faded combination of devices, slightly tilted to the driver lever PPP and is near the joy of now in winter! Selector Switching transmission modes.

At idle turns, the engine is almost not heard and its work can be determined by a slightly controversy lever of the PPC. But after 2000 turns, the humus persistently penetrates the salon. Transmesions stick easily, without effort, the distribution requires more active work with muscles.


Of course, the capacity is 80 hp Does not give a particularly raised. Niva accelerates and accelerates slowly, on the track rivals she is not a competitor. Although the absence of ABS and ESP and so beats off the desire to striking. Especially - in winter.

Skoda Yeti 1.8 152 hp 4wd.
From our Trinity Yeti the most modern car, and you won't call it budget. Although Skoda crossover will really cost cheaper rivals in the segment like Volkswagen Tiguan (test drives read here) or Honda CR-V (read the test drive here), but today's rivals are more expensive to one and two times.


Yeti is not a car specifically for Russia as Chevrolet Niva. But the snow man has the strengths that we appreciate. For example, a 1.2-liter turbo engine in the basic version (for 729,000 rubles) and good minimal package (2 airbags, anti-lock and anti-slip system, air conditioning, front electric windows, 16-inch wheels, heated seats, electric camera).

Yeti perfectly assembled and does not publish outside sounds. In a very spacious salon, pleasant materials are used, and there are no complaints about the ergonomics. The only thing that disappointed the 1.8-liter motor with a turbocharger, which we initially took for hopelessly unexpectedly evenly and misintermetately with it accelerates Yeti. We expected more, especially since a four-wheel drive is available with this engine. But the mechanical gearbox is a sample of clarity, and on the dashboard there is an indicator of economical gear shift that helps reduce fuel consumption. Actually, is it not true?!


Thanks to the Suspension settings, Yeti is an incredibly smooth move; Road irregularities are processed tightly and without excess screen. At the same time, the handling did not suffer, and in response to the rotation of the steering wheel, the chassis obediently and quickly follows in the specified direction.

So, what are we going to evaluate? The first behavior of the car on an ice uneven road, the second opportunity to maneuver in the snowy caress and park at the sidewalk, the third ability to move along the snow-covered, almost not cleaned road, part of which with deep rings.

Still in the parking lot from one of the Skoda Yeti car dealerships managed to get stuck literally in the same place. With one reservation: smooth there was a layer of snow with a height of 15-16 cm. Yeti was not stuck, but it was so bought a little, and then the goat got out

If you do not count the easiest Skoda stop, then the first surprise prepared Chevrolet Niva. It happened when three cars moved along the icing road with a snowy road trip, and the first SUV from Togliatti at a speed of about 4 km / h slowed down and turned right. Instead, Niva has deployed 180 degrees! The fusion driver followed the second, was very surprised when the nose was to the nose with Niva.

But we expected the Ford Fusion first of the top three to stop in front of snow-icy obstacles. Although in general, as a result, it happened: Fusion really stopped, failed to climb from the first time, to climb the hillock on the snow (lifting according to our estimates of 8-10 degrees) for the necessary without any problems Niva and Yeti. Although it is necessary to admit that the conditions at the start of the start were worse than nowhere - a shallow rolled rut and classic porridge. Approximately such as appears in the city on the unlocking sides.

Ford led untroved winter tires and a passenger, only by landing, Fusion from overclocking still took an obstacle.

Separately, it is worth noting a small optional spoiler under the front fusion bumper. This item for several centimeters reduced the angle of the car's attack already with the smallest clien from the top three. It's good that it is made flexible (although painted in the body of the body), therefore it remained alive until the end of the day of testing.

All-wheel drive cars have no problems with the passability in this place there were no.

Movement along a completely unspecified village rut, where Pajero go, taways and cruises of all the masters and annual releases, the full drive did not require. All threw away to the side in line with the direction of the rut, but none of the cars were stuck anywhere, and it was possible to turn around without problems. Is that Fusion and Yeti from time to time rubbed the bottom of the snow inside the rut.

For NIVA, this day, apparently, was outlined to us even did not even have to touch the arm of the dispensing box. The joint brainchild GM and AvtoVAZ only once embarrassed before the lifting on a snow-covered road on the second gear of frankly weak 1.7-liter engine refused to drag the machine up and almost stood helped the inclusion of the first speed.

So ... as we expected, the least winter has influenced Chevy Niva's Patency. It seems that it can be parked even on a pile of snow, which is shredding on the outskirts of the city. The suspension optimally manifests itself on small irregularities, which is abounding the winter road. That's just on Obesened asphalt, you need to be careful of active safety systems here. In general, the movement even in an unlocked city on an SUV does not cause problems. Although, of course, the more powerful engine would not stop: where there is an opportunity to develop the speed of Chevrolet turns out to be in lagging behind.

Ride on a more comfortable Skoda Yeti more fun and more pleasant: due to accurate management, good dynamics and, of course, non-primary security systems. We failed to plant Yeti in the middle rut, but they were joof on a rolled shallow snow, where the electronics could not replace the hard locks. But in the city, the car showed himself excellently: it was easily climbed, did not stop, elementary traveled to a smooth asphalt.

Even before the start of the test, before Ford, I wanted to apologize. Still, initially its off-road possibilities were most modest. And, of course, light (1,165 kg) Fusion with a 100-strong engine showed that being an SUV and be similar to an SUV - not the same thing. Ford is unconditionally ready for winter in the city, but in the snow it will hone. On it you can go to the cottage only if there are no lifts on the road, (or they, at least, cleared). And for the city, even this winter, it is generally suitable.

Prices
Starting Chevy Niva L costs 428,000 rubles, which are asking for a car with a 1.7-liter 80-strong engine, mechanical gearbox (no other motors and transmissions) with windows, electric circulars, a hydraulicer and an adjustable steering column. In the package of GL Shevi-Niva costs 478,000 rubles due to heating seats, wheels of the larger (16th) diameter, fog headlights, isothermal glasses. For air conditioning, you need to pay another 29,000 rubles.

The initial price of Fusion 491 800 rubles. In the minimum configuration: 1.4-liter motor (80 hp), mechanical gearbox and basic set of technical goods. With 1.6-liter (100 hp) by the motor in Trend version (with air conditioning, CD magnetic, electric circulars and front power windows) The car costs 569,500 rubles, and with a machine gun in the top version of the Elegance from 620 200 rubles.

The front-wheel drive Czech crossover with a 1.2-liter turbo engine (105 hp) will cost a minimum of 729,000 rubles. The standard Active feature includes ABS with anti-slip system, air conditioning, front electric windows, adjustment of height chairs, heated washer nozzles, front airbags, electroxy. The all-wheel drive version of Yeti (with a motor 1.8T - 152 hp) is worth 929,000 rubles, and with a machine gun and diesel 2.0 TDI 1,139,000 rubles.

Compare ground clearance:
Ford Fusion 160 mm
Skoda Yeti 180 mm
Chevrolet Niva 200mm


Cars are provided for Test by Peter Lada (official dealer AvtoVAZ), Alarm Motors (Official Ford dealer) and Autocentre Sofia (official Skoda dealer).

Authors: Alexander Korchenko, Philip Berezin
Photo: Roman Stunnin
 

A source: Magazine "Wheels" [January 2011]