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The beauty Alfa Romeo 159 cannot be reproached for excessive utilitarianism, but the practicality and pleasure of driving rarely go hand in hand
Democratic D-class sedans are not the most popular product today. Therefore, manufacturers seek to make new models larger and luxurious, bringing them closer to classmates from noble families. And let Ford Mondeo and Mazda6 not compare to Alfa Romeo 159 in the brightness of the plan, the embodiment of the authors conceived by their authors turned out quite worthy.
Despite the relatively gentle market age of today's heroes of our heading, readers already had the opportunity to get to know them all the cars managed to visit Mkobil tests. Accordingly, refraining from the lengthy descriptions of exterior and interiors, we will focus on the ergonomics of the driver's seat. Here Alfa seems almost impeccable. Setting the steering wheel and seat without problems.
Indications of devices are read perfectly. All controls from the pedal unit to the climate system buttons in their places and function impeccably. The overview of serious complaints does not cause. In general, managing the 159th, getting true pleasure from driving, is easy and pleasant. How to say the truth.
But if we undertook to tell the truth, we’ll touch the shortcomings. We have to admit that we, with a corrupted corruption of the West, are already not enough just to enjoy the exciting process of car drive. Serve all sorts of additional amenities like shelves and cup holders to modern customers. But with the places where it would be the same time to stick a jar of cola, a phone or a pack of cigarettes, in a monolithic cockpit, Italian women are definitely weak. The niche to the left of the steering column and the modest boxing box does not count.
The Ford driver is not an example to satisfy passing whims: in the cabin there are convenient containers for all sorts of trifles necessary on the road. But with ergonomics, on the contrary, problems. No, not global, of course. But tangible.
For example, the mechanism of vertical setting up the seat of Mondeo practically nullifies all the attempts of short people to get a job with proper comfort. The chair rises not evenly, but only the back of the pillow. The location of the windows control unit, provoking the dislocation of the brush, also cannot be called successful.
The driver’s place Mazda6 is organized almost impeccably. You can only complain about the too hard seat. With the selection of convenient landing and the availability of controls of problems, most likely will not arise (though colleagues had complaints about the insufficient range of the steering wheel). There is where to dissect and related trifles.
And the trunk of the six is \u200b\u200bcompletely luxurious and, by the way, the largest in our trinity. The second place in cargo capacity is taken by Ford, only a little inferior to the Japanese.
But Alfa loses to rivals a good hundred liters. We are talking about sedans, but in principle the 159th is available in the wagon body, and its rivals can also be hatchbacks. (Mazda6-hatchback sales will begin in February, and the station wagons will appear in April.)
The stringed Italian and rear passengers do not welcome too much: the legs for the legs are not in excess here. It is almost unrealistic to drive the three of them (the central head restrained, offered as an option, is not needed by and large). Against the background of obvious tightness on the rear seats, Alfa 159, an option climate control for their inhabitants looks like a funny misunderstanding or a relatively inexpensive (254 euro) children's toy, because only kids will be convenient there.
Neither Ford nor Mazda offer such an option to passengers. However, in the absence of concern for the people of the creators of these cars you can not blame. If only because the living space in the rear seats is not an example more than in Alfa. The salon of the new six has become noticeably more spacious, some deficiency is observed only vertically: a tall man props his head with the ceiling. And Mondeo, which actually moved to a higher size class, is completely out of competition: the legs for the legs are like in a different limousine
In the ALFA Romeo 159 line, three gasoline engines with direct injection and changed gas distribution phases. It opens a gamma economical engine 1.9 JTS (160 hp), and a powerful 3.2-liter V-shaped six, developing 260 hp, crowns a powerful 3.2-liter V-shaped. Together with the Q4 all -wheel drive system, this unit will give you true pleasure by fully revealing the potential of Alfa 159. However, the pleasure is not cheap. Including due to high operating costs. The golden middle we rightly believe the 2.2-liter 185-horsepower version. In operation, it is not too burdensome, and the proposed power reserve is enough not to feel like a stepson on the road. In addition, the engine is amazingly elastic and perfectly pulls at any revolutions, without forcing the driver to be too often distracted by gear shift. By the way, a 6-speed mechanics sample of clarity (and to the robotic transmission of Selespeed, as well as to the Q-Tronic machine, there are no significant complaints).
The manual transmission also functions on mondeo (depending on the engine it can be 5- or 6-speed). In terms of the number of proposed Ford engines, just a champion of four gasoline and two 2-liter diesel engines (130 and 140 hp). However, the base 1.6 (125 hp) is unlikely to deserve serious attention. After all, even a 2-liter 145-horsepower engine is barely enough for a more or less active driving.
Things are somewhat better with a 2.3-liter 161-horsepower engine (it, like a less powerful diesel engine, is available only with automatic transmission 6). Well, on the top of the gamma 220-horsepower turbo-five-l, borrowed for the new Mondeo in the bins of the Volvo subsidiary.
Mazda6 customers are still offered 1.8- and 2-liter engines (120 and 147 hp), inherited by the novelty from the predecessor. However, there is a relatively fresh solution of a 2.5-liter 170-horsepower engine (a modified version of a familiar to us 2.3), perfectly combined with the ICD-6. The Japanese do not particularly indulge the choice of transmission: the automatic transmission can be an alternative to the 2-liter version only for buyers.
And finally, about prices. It is easy to guess that the most expensive car in this test Alfa Romeo. In the basic configuration, the 159th with a 1.9 liter engine costs 1,126,800 rubles. The sophisticated all-wheel drive top version of this sedan will cost 540,000 rubles more. It's funny that, having paid for this difference of some 75,000 rubles, you can purchase the most affordable Mondeo 1.6 Ambiente. And a little bit of the coin and Mazda6 1.8 Direct (from 653,000 rubles). However, everything has a reasonable explanation. Firstly, for these relatively modest amounts you will get cars empty, like a shaman’s tambourine (well-equipped democratic sedans cost completely different money). Secondly, the need to overpay for the brand A Alfa Romeo is far from the last place in the car world, no one canceled.
And finally, not one of the heroes of this test gave us such pleasure from driving as Alfa 159. And for pleasure, we repeat, we must pay.
Alfa Romeo 159 Krash Test
According to the results of the Crash tests of EURONCAP in 2006, Alfa Romeo 159 received 5 stars, gaining 34 points, which is the best indicator among all models of the brand and classmates. In imitation of Alfa’s frontal collision, she received 15 points, and with a side 16 points. The car turned out to be commendably safe for small passengers traveling in a children's chair, 4 stars. But pedestrians with Alfa 159 are better not to face 1 star.
Crash test Mazda6
The new Mazda6 has not yet passed independent crash tests. However, there is every reason to assume that their results will be no worse than that of the predecessor. Recall that in a series of crash tests held in 2005 EURONCAP, the Mazda6 sedan received 31 points for safety, which corresponds to the indicator of 4 star. The American NHTSA assigned the 2007 model year of the model year 5 stars for protecting the driver and passengers in the front collision.
In imitation of a side collision, the car was no longer so safe, having received only 4 stars.
Ford mondeo crash test
In a series of crash tests conducted by EURONCAP in September 2007, the latest generation Ford Mondeo received quite high marks. For the safety of the driver and adult passengers, the car earned 5 stars. Children's security was estimated at 4 stars. Moreover, the points were reduced for the fact that a special toggle switch, turning off the safety pillow of the front passenger, is offered only as an option. Therefore, it is not recommended to install a children's chair in front. The defense of the pedestrian was not at an altitude of only 2 stars.
Alfa Romeo 159
+ Magnificent power unit, excellent handling, good basic equipment.
Testament in the rear seats, small trunk, high operating costs.
Mazda6
+ Bright design, decent handling, roomy luggage compartment, radio with MP3.
Mediocre sound insulation, an automatic machine is available only with a 2-liter engine, a poor basic equipment.
Ford Mondeo
+ Wide selection of engines, excellent handling, spacious interior, solid appearance.
The inconvenient location of the unit by the windows, a two -liter engine for a carved car is weak.
Andrey Tsybulsky
Author photo: Yan Segal
 

Source: Mkobil magazine [January/2008]