Test drive Honda CR-V 2007-2009 SUV

The battle of samurai

Nissan Qashqai. Price: from $ 21 900 Honda C-RV. Price: from $ 33 800 Suzuki Grand Vitara. Price: from $ 30,475
Behind the new Nissan Qashqai have already lined up multi -month queues. However, it should not be assumed that the life of the debutant will be happy and cloudless. He will have to fight with the long-established Suzuki Grand Vitara and Honda C-RV.
Three all -wheel drive machines with 2 liter gasoline row engines close in characteristics are involved in our test. However, the Suzuki Grand Vitara is equipped with an automaton of the traditional design of the hydrotransformer with a planetary gearbox. The Honda C-RV is armed with ordinary mechanics, though 6 is stepped. And Nissan Qashqai, a newcomer -loved market for the Russians, trumps an exotic variator for our latitudor or simply put, a basement box.
The transfer numbers in the mechanical box Honda C-RV are selected taking into account the achievement of maximum accelerations. The higher the step, the longer the transmission. After 120 km/h, it becomes more difficult to control with a thrust, the rate of speed set is noticeably falling. The sixth level is economical, that is, the maximum speed is reached on the fifth. This is very convenient on long trips can be made great on fuel. The advantage of traditional mechanics is that the driver is free to choose the necessary power management strategy. You can accelerate to the first to 60 km/h, switch to the sixth and move with constant speed without spending precious gasoline. The Suzuki machine operating in combination with a longitudinally located engine gives more comfort. However, getting used to switching algorithms will be difficult. Sometimes there is a desire not to use the drive mode at all, but to switch to manual control. But that, alas, no. There are only four programs in the box, which today can be considered an unsatisfactory indicator.

The Qashqai variator will be able to deliver a lot of pleasure to lovers of active driving. It combines the comfort of the machine and the mechanical method of control of power. If the avid drivers, if they want to try out six programmed steps in the case, is perhaps out of habit and very soon they will go back to automatic mode. With maximum pressing on the gas pedal, the engine quickly spins up to 6700 revolutions and puts the driver at the disposal of all the power available in the bins. When recruiting, no dwellings of reserved stress are an exceptional prerogative of the infantry transmission.
The steering wheel Nissan Qashqai should be recognized as the most convenient. However, the on -board system control buttons are not quite successful on the hub. For example, in order to adjust the volume of the radio you will have to remove the left hand from the rim.
It is not possible to reach the adjustment with the thumb of the hand. The instrument panel is tilted at a large angle. I just want to stretch out my neck to look into two wells, at the bottom of which the dials of a tachometer and speedometer are placed. True, you get used to it quickly. Unlike the well -read information of the main devices, the on -board computer screen is highly glancing. In general, the design of the instrument panel should be recognized as obsolete and little attractive, but very functional.
The most successful from the point of view of ergonomics can be considered the dashboard and the steering wheel of the Honda C-RV. The hub is not overloaded with buttons, so they were able to place them directly on the knitting needles. The color performance of the instrument panel is the most successful and comfortable. At first glance, it looks like a Christmas tree, but you can go all night and perceive the necessary information without tired. If we analyze the color scheme, it will be found that on the dashboard the driver constantly observes only three colors. Red shows the speedometer and tachometer arrows, the rims of dials are highlighted in blue. Such a decision blocks the speed and revolutions from the rest of the secondary information. The main backlight is white-moon.

 
 
 
 
 
The steering wheel of Suzuki Grand Vitara turned out to be the most uncomfortable slippery and thin. In addition, there are no thickening in the places of the right grip. The dashboard is constantly highlighted and information is easily read from it.
The main trump card Grand Vitara is the transmission configuration. There is a lowering gear in the handout and the possibility of forced blocking of the center differential. But controllability is not on top. The lack of feedback on the steering wheel, a rolling suspension, and as a result inadequate behavior when performing maneuvers at speed. Honda has a little cotton control reactions. You can’t do without rolls in corners, but the car holds a given path well. True, on off-road the C-RV path is ordered. There is no drive control. With a straightforward uniform movement, the car is front -wheel drive. In the case of slipping of the front wheels, the coupling (the compression of the discs is provided by hydraulics, and not the current electromagnet now) throws part of the thrust (up to 70%) to the rear bridge. This is enough to get to the summer house on a broken road.
Nissan Qashqai cannot boast of an interdessual differential, however, it will allow you to choose one of the three operating modes of the drive: only on the front wheels, all -wheel drive (connecting the rear axle is automatically), a constant full with a blocked coupling. In the latter case, the blocking provides a non -leading relationship between bridges, which significantly increases the capabilities of the car on the roads. In addition, Nissan shows the best handling. The suspension allows you to move very actively, but frequent holes are upset. Qashqai showed a good result and divided the championship with Honda. The only truly strong argument of Grand Vitara is off-road properties, so Suzuki closes the three participants.
Suzuki Grand Vitara
The last update of Suzuku Grand Vitara occurred in 2005. Demand for the car remains stably high. This is facilitated by an expressive appearance, which, in combination with a lowering transmission in a handout, is a good offer. Car prices start at $ 30475 (792350 rubles) and end $ 36692 (954,000 rubles).
Driving
Car management in urban conditions should be recognized as difficult. All units are set for off -road driving.
Salon
The decoration of the cabin is not distinguished by the refinements. On a long trip, the driver’s body now and then asks for warm -ups.
Comfort
The ergonomic decisions of the salon in the traditional line.
Security
The body has an enhanced frame and programmed deformation zones.
Price
Given that in the arsenal of the model there is only a full -fledged all -wheel drive, the price should be recognized as high.
Nissan Qashqai
The completely new Qashqai crossover made his debut at the beginning of the year. The car attracts with a pleasant design, a wide variety of configurations, a set of options and, most importantly, adequate prices. The cheapest equipment with all -wheel drive and an automatic unfavorable gearbox will cost $ 28300.
Driving
It’s a pleasure to be driving this car. The steering is informative.
Salon
Due to compact sizes, I had to sacrifice something. In this case, the trunk volume suffered.
Comfort
Ergonomic solutions in the interior are not perfect and require addiction.
Security
The beginner was created taking into account all the required security standards.
Price
The abundance of sets made it possible to vary the prices in a wide range.
Honda CR-V
Honda C-RV entered the Russian market a little earlier than Qashqai. He received a completely new appearance, became more dynamic and aggressive. Prices remained at the same level. But this does not mean that for some consumer properties, the model has become worse. Everything is done with the same Japanese pedantry. The price range is from $ 33800 to $ 39,500.
Driving
Mechanical KP allows you to effectively control the thrust and provide good dynamics.
Salon
The salon is spacious and convenient. Everything is at hand, and the abundance of armrests and various containers makes C-RV similar to mini-ven.
Comfort
Places in the cabin with excess, but the seats profile are not too successful.
Security
The car is equipped with many systems of both active and passive safety.
Price
The emergence of a new generation C-RV did not cause a significant increase in prices. Our opinion
Our opinion
Nissan Qashqai showed a good result and divided the championship with Honda C-RV. The beginner attracts an adequate price, an abundance of completion and the ability to order an automatic box based on a variator. C-RV is more expensive, but this is an justified fee for large salon and trunk. Suzuki Grand Vitara lags behind opponents in terms of handling on dry asphalt. This crossover has only one indisputable trump card with a lowering gearbox. But with such a modest baggage you will not go far.
Text: 5 wheel
Photo: Sergey Krestov

A source: Magazine 5 wheel [May 2007]