Test Drive Honda FR-V (EDIX) 2004 - 2007 Minivan

All photos Honda FR-V (EDIX) 2004 - 2007

Seven across the vowels

Compactvan - car, which is called, without wings. It is not bought because I want, but because you need. Dreams of youth leave somewhere on the distant plan, giving way to reasons depressingly landed - accessibility, practicality, safety and even moderation of operating costs.

Fortunately, no one forces us to buy faceless multi-seat boxes. His Majesty Market provides us with the right to choose. There is an opportunity to just stand out from the crowd, so there is and the possibility of this crowd to resolutely leave behind. With the first role, Honda FR-V will perfectly cope with the second - Opel Zafira 2.0 Turbo. And how do they cope with the role of companktvn?

Honda is a real show-stopper, causing sincere curiosity surrounding attacks. It is far from the insane Fiat Multipla, however, it was FR-V to get the closest to the creation of the reckless fantasy of Italian designers. Here definitely have something to grow. The rocking front carries the traces of the effort to enter this wide car into a narrow framework of corporate identity. When looking from the rear, you pay attention not so much on unusual dimensions, how much on the S-shaped trunk lid - even its glass has a noticeable bend, which demanded the use of the janitor of non-standard design. Well, in the FR-V profile generates obsessive associations with BMW X5. Despite the fact that direct borrowing is not observed - except the rear racks of familiar outlines. Probably, the whole thing in the game of the proportions of doors and glasses.

Zafira in its second generation is still becoming an obvious imprint of German technogenicity, but it became animate in places, emotionally. The nasal part of the winning looks in any perspective: the transition of the front racks of the cover in the wings was especially successful - to large block headlights connected by a powerful chrome-plated radiator cladding. The front bumper is well developed - look at a huge mouth of the air intake and energetic relief skirt, however, the same applies to Honda. A good taste is said to say neatly outlined wheel arches extends, which do not at all seem fasteners, as on focus or the new S-class. But behind Zafira is boring - one perpendicular.

In the gray pillar, monumental industrial - monolithic forms, squeezed lines reign. Large round knobs and buttons, careless displays fit into the strict atmosphere of the interior. All this looks at the work of the cutter on a stone, but in general it looks solid and quite elegant. Honda is completely different. It fascinates the glitter of a glossy high-tech and a bunch of futuristic addicts. The mechanical gearbox lever grows onto the front panel, directly under it - an exhaust handbrake, nearby - a massive retractable cupboard. Steering spokes are decorated with elegant silver inserts with flat buttons. But soon on the abundance of small parts from plastic of all sorts of textures, he begins to take the eyes in his eyes. And this multicolored instrument panel

The originality of the FR-V is that it turns into conflicts with ergonomics. It is necessary to high down the right hand in search of the lever of the gearbox, reach climate control, each time you look for the windows. Layout 3 + 3 - also on an amateur. Threesome are close in front: even if a child sits between adults, it is better to move back it back. But then the average landing place is lost behind. It, of course, can also be moved away, as a result of which the location of the chairs in the cabin will remind a Citroenan icon. Isn't it wise?

Opel is an order of magnish more descendingable and clearer. Let's start with the fact that the doorways are wider here. Then, this is really a seven-bed car - two chairs of the third row are absolutely full. They are laid out in one apparatus, with a mining sofa moved to the stop. In general, everything is as on an old car - do not look for good, they still have nothing better come up with competitors. Probably the only disadvantage of this scheme is the algorithm for folding the seats of the second row, when the pillow in a vertical position is pressed against the back, and the entire design is moved to the front chairs. In addition, Zafira is well adapted to the carriage of long items, for which the back of the front right seat is folded forward.

It also should be noted here that, compared with the machines of the previous generation, the gearbox lever is located on the driver, and it has become much more convenient to manipulate it. At the same time, there is also deterioration - these are stupid non-fixable switches at the wheel and spied at Renault Megane II aircraft.

The actual test drive we started with Honda, fearing, no matter how her opportunities would not die against the background of the stunning power of Opel. Everything happened just the opposite. Yes, FR-V is uniquely slower. But what is the level of technical culture! How high quality works all the knots of the car, how filigree the controls are configured! I would call the reaction of the car - they are feline fast, soft and intuitively understandable. The engine is surprisingly elastic and responds to the slightest offset of the accelerator pedal. Gearbox, despite the lever cable drive, switches with perfect clarity. Suspension without a trace extinguishes the microrelief and very gently worries large defects, and on gentle waves the car does not swing, and rolls remain at an acceptable level. In the turns of Honda behaves amazingly correctly: the driver perceives the car as a whole and feels complete control over it, enjoying a thorough feedback on the steering wheel. And amorphous-soft, at first glance, the seat, as it turned out, securely hold the body in turns. Miracle what kind of car!

And what about Opel? The car is equipped with an interactive IDS chassis (Interactive Driving System), connecting together electronically controlled shock absorbers, an EHP electro-hydraulic amplifier, an ESP Plus stabilization system, a braking system in CBC turns and a TC Plus anti-test system. Numerous IDS sensors track parameters such as steering positions and pedals, overload in various directions, allowing electronics to adjust the operation of various machine systems. In practice, the compacttva showed himself a sharp, coarse: its reactions are not always unambiguous, often nervous and deprived of accuracy. The suspension is denser than the Honda, more energy intensive, but the road profile on the body too detailed. There is a Sport mode activated by the button on the front panel. It aggravates the cuts of the machine to the steering steering, reduces rolls, but the stiffness of the suspension becomes even higher. However, the main problem is - namely the mismatch of the suspension, manifested in steep turns or sharp rebuilding of the rear axle, is not disappearing anywhere. There was no such thing on the same car! Yes, and on the hot hatchback of Vectra GTS 3.2 The same IDS chassis is set up much more convincing. An annoying, especially since on direct Zafira is infinitely stable and reliable.

Motor Silen, no dispute. True, the operation of the turbine does not manifest on low revolutions, and only at the achievement of the mark 3000 begins a smooth burst of thrust. Well, after 5000, the engine finally bently animals, instantly resting in the limiter. And so - on each transmission. Extreme Opel! However, outside the autobans, its extreme is hardly justified. For family transport, I would like something quieter and more refined. For example, diesel.

Honda also remain questions. Undoubtedly, the FR-V model is a sample of technical perfection, but in the role of a multipurpose car, this compactance is also stupid as Stream. Honda Everything is trying to invent a bike, although in the class of large minivans has long been playing with the Odyssey model, built without frills, according to the generally accepted canons. And playing successfully.

What do you want? And once again you want to engage in genetic engineering and withdraw a viable mix of two species.

The car is provided by Ralph Art Divizn.
The car Opel Zafira is provided by Pragmatics, the official dealer General Motors
During the dough, the car is insured by Rosno.

Text: Leonid Klyuev
Photo: Roman Stunnin