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

Five with a plus

You did not have to be squeezed into our passenger car, and then more passengers? No?! You are a happy man! Probably, you have only one child, the mother-in-law lives in another city, absolutely no short friends and, besides, you did not play the role of a sober driver after the general holiday.
Unfortunately, not everyone is so smiling fate with sometimes in the car lacks a couple of places. On the other hand, I don't want to buy a full-size mini-Ven for at all for such rare cases and feel credit.
There is a way out, modern CDs are small in size, but for six, and seven people. Moreover, it is often about the presence of additional seats, it is absolutely impossible to guess only if necessary, they are cleanedly extracted from under the floor of the trunk. Five plus is not an assessment of the merits, but the Formula of the Formula of the Four of the Four CD-WEN, which recently appeared in our market: Opel Zafira, Honda FR-V (SP, 2005, No. 8), Toyota Corolla Verso (SP, 2005, No. 7), Renault Grand Scenic (SP, 2004, No. 6).
Opel-Zafira
The test Safe was turned out to be a wolf in sheep skins, it was charged with a two-axis turbocharged motor and sports suspension. Over the mark of 3500 rpm Blast traction and emotions! Acceleration until hundreds of 9.1 s, the maximum speed is 222 km / h! The rigid adaptive suspension DSA instantly time to reconfigure shock absorbers, in harmony with the quality of the coating and side acceleration. An extremely sharp and nervous steering wheel (only two and a half turns from the stop to the stop) makes it possible to feel the wheels literally with the tips of the fingers. The stabilization system works very delicately allows you to go with a dosage slip or in a light drift and interferes only in the extreme case. Not every car called sports can boast such a set. On this sprinter, in the summer it would be silent, yes on the retained racing track!
And here winter snow ruts, ice and a broken frozen asphalt and a leisurely styrene race on a long distance. And, it turns out that it is more important here a motor pickup, but efficiency and smooth thrust in the entire range. Not low landing, but good ground clearance and reliable protection from below. Not a tough suspension, and comfort and ability, not chopping, swallow the pit in the asphalt. Not an acuteness of management, but its convenience and reliability.
After all, most buyers choose such cars for quite pragmatic reasons. For example, based on the convenience and size of the cabin. With this, Zafir, the full order of all seven places are full, and even very tall passengers will fit on the front and middle row. True, the folding system Flex-7, which appeared on the past generation car, today does not seem to be such a perfect middle sofa has a continuous pillow and it has to move forward to decompose the third row or put the passengers there. But the two can divide all its width, having fed to the center. By the way, only in this machine there is adjustment of the height of the strap of the middle row and the angle of tilt the driver's seat.
Like many modern Opels, here are non-fixed steering wheel switches, everything without exception drivers initially bliefly blinked by left, then right turn signals, misleading others. From the smallest climate control panel, smearing the gearbox lever, weightless brake pedal. The rest is spacious and in German, a neat car liked. And without a sports package with a more even characteristic of the motor, high and soft suspension and even a full-size spare wheel of Zafira could compete with the test leader.
Honda FR-V
On Honda, a very rare layout of the cabin with two rows of three chairs in each such solution was remembered only by the Fiat multiple. On the outer width of the body it did not affect; The same 1810 mm as the scenic. Nevertheless, the car looks somewhat cumbersome due to the high lines of glazing and almost vertical sides, which allowed to make Honda inside at 50100 mm wider than rivals. To post a third chair ahead, the driver was shifted to the left because of this, even if there are no passengers in the car, the full driver pressed to the door and feels close. The same applies to the right passenger, which in addition and legs to pull out nowhere: interferes with the massive bottom of the front panel.
But the third passenger in the center makes the ride the exciting-intimate he is forced to slide the chair back and pull the legs higher. So even at best, the driver's hand lies with his hip, as on the armrest. And if you need to switch the transmission or tighten the handbrake probably, it is in order to reduce the intima degree, the lever of the gearbox and the stretching handle of the parking brakes placed on the console unusually high. Because of this, you have to constantly keep in my head, which gear is included on the position of the curved lever it is difficult to determine.
The seat shifted back will move away and sitting behind it in the six-seat configuration both medium chairs shifted back to one and a half dozen centimeters. Due to the fact that it does not have to push the shoulders, threesome are quite comfortable. There is a completely even floor, the stock of space in the legs and for the head just under a tent of centimeters. In general, Honda car for slender accelerats.
An amazing business: a two-liter 150-strong engine demonstrated a much more energetic character than that endless Sonya, which had a chance to ride in Europe last summer. Most likely, the case in our softer environmental requirements: they make it possible to enrich the fuel mixture harder. The phase control engine and lifting height of the valve conquers excellent, magnificent elasticity, gambling character and very low noise and vibration levels. Even on the VI transmission, the machine willingly accelerate and easily takes rise. Under it is a chassis: a dense and chain, with an acute informative wheel, it allows you to go fast enough, confidently, with a loaf only on the energy intensity of the suspension it may not be enough on the waves, and even with the load.
By the way, Honda FR-V is positioned as a sports compact-Ven motor, suspension and management completely comply with such claims. As for the rest at the driver's seat Honda, you feel less than you feel athlete.
Toyota Corolla Verso
The combination of minimal length and maximum wheelbase made the rear swells of a very tiny Toyota Corolla Verso at all like a car, the more seven. Meanwhile, under the hollow of the trunk, two seats are hidden, and completely full-fledged! If the middle chairs slightly move forward, the seven large men will fit in Toyota.
With the most modest out of the fourth, the exterior size car strikes the side of the interior of the front above the head of two dozen centimeters! In the middle less, but you can throw the leg to the leg, behind without frills, but not at all closely. The floor in the cabin is low low, but even without a tunnel, the chairs are worth it. The seats of the second row are almost flat here, as in Opel, you can easily shift to the center. Door openings, without excellence, are huge.
At night, it turned out that the headlights are very good, but the unregulated backlight of the Optitron devices is unnecessarily bright. Another feature of an unusual algorithm for managing a robotic machine, which has a parking position on the elector line. Instead, you should use neutral with a parking brake. Or does not follow, because the frosty day of the pads were about and had to disrupt their strength method. Very harsh winter revealed insufficient calorie of heating.
On the move Toyota, there is also a completely passenger car with energetic reactions, small rolls, a dense suspension, which, unfortunately, does not disregard the joints of the asphalt. The car turned out to be the most noisy, the annoying roar of the motor at speeds above 100 km / h makes regretting the absence of VI transmission.
In general, the operation of a manual transmission with automatic switching is a separate song. More precisely, crying: jerks under the Trokhan, especially in the mountain, dips when switching, hemisherous freezing when triggered kick-downs make urban rides just unpleasant. Slightly improves the case mode ES (Easy Sport Light Sports), in this case the box is not in a hurry to switch up, supporting higher engine speeds, and when it works, then a little more energetic. In general, the VERSO is preferable to go through an empty highway. And even better to buy a car with a conventional manual box, saving $ 800, and enjoy the elastic motor, which, with a volume of 1.8 l, only slightly inferior to two-liter.
Renault Grand Scenic
When there is a five-seater scenic, the grand is not needed to seem less than it really is. However, the convenience of additional rear places brought a sacrifice to the form dropped to the feed roof limited the growth of their passengers at the level of 165170 cm. Yes, and to get out of there through a modest doorway, it is complicated. But such a car is usually family transport: the children will be happy to take pleasure.
The Scenic is striking, so it is a variety of diverse tanks for small things more than two dozen! Only for shoes four basements, such a layout made it possible to make the floor absolutely smooth, although it raised its level. Given the very high chairs, the heads of the second row passengers are only five centimeters from the roof to look out the window, you need to start. Three equal separatic seats have adjustments to the longitudinal and tilt backs, but if the third row is filled and the third row will have to move forward. However, the man kilograms under the ninety here will quite fit. Yes, and shoulders raised to the widest level of windows Troim do not have to push.
To the dashboard, you need to get used to the huge display of the panel panel with a plurality of intricate scales and symbols. Quickly find on it the necessary information initially difficult.
On the move, Grand Scenic turned out to be a well-balanced wagon-comfortable car, quite quiet and at the same time high-speed. It would seem, not the strongest combination of a two-liter motor in 135 hp In a pair with an elderly four-step automatic machine. However, inconspicuous switching is well suited to the gentle nature of the machine and even some thoughtfulness of the box is quite apologative. However, smooth acceleration does not mean a slow scenic reaches hundreds of 11.5 s.
The steering wheel with the electric powerful is very light, in the turns noticeable roll so car and is not created for pilotage! With a calm mode, the long-time suspension reveals the best quality without a stick swallows the Cold, not disturbed the saddles, although it is better to slow down on large waves to avoid the swing. Neighless, the brake pedal appeared.
And in general, Renault showed itself the most evenly, almost without punctures than and earned the highest middle score.
Than rich
In our four, 1,8-liter Toyota is most accessible in the initial configuration of Terra $ 26,900. She has electric mirrors and front windows, heated seats, air conditioning, audio system, on-board computer, ABS and five airbags, including drivers' closer. From the options automatic transmission. Prices for three other cars with 2.0 liters are in the range of $ 28,90031 900, and the equipment is richer electrified rear windows, there are inseparable climates control, headlight washers. In addition, Renault (PRIVILEGE) offers alloy wheels, fog lights, parking sensors, six pillows and also automatic. But in another pair there are control systems for traction and stabilization, and Honda (Comfort) has a cruise control and xenon headlights. Opel (Cosmo Sport) has only four pillows, but there are rain and light sensors, adaptive sports suspension, alloy wheels.
Autonomous swimming
Mini Wenna often buy long-distance travel lovers, so the requirements for the autonomy of these cars above. Both Europeans are content with usual
92th gasoline, and the Japanese need 95th here above the risk of running into surrogate. Two cars outside (at Honda inside) under the hollow of the trunk are fixed narrow docks, the Opel with a sports package niche for the wheel is completely empty, on board only Remkomplekt. And if in a long road will seriously damage the sidewall?
Honda and Renault have a very good lumen 150 and even 160 mm, and the second car has a powerful steel protection under the engine compartment. In another pair, a modest 130135 mm sports suspension buffins are 10 mm below standard. Toyota requires more attentive care, it needs to be serviced every 10 thousand km from the rest of the mileage machines between one and a half times more.
        
Opel Zafira.
The seven-party CD in second generation on the elongated Opel-Astra platform debuted in 2005.
Engines: gasoline 1,62.2 liters (105200 hp), turbodiesel rails 1.9 and 2.2 liters (100150 hp).
Transmission: 5- or 6-speed mechanical,
4-speed automatic. Front drive.
Required: Essentia, Enjoy, Cosmo.
Price: $ 19,75031 900.
Opel Zafira contradictory wagon with a sporty character. Selection of a city rider, burdened by transport service.
Total rating of 7.9
+ Excellent dynamics, high salon, good equipping, spacious trunk, rich selection of versions, 92th gasoline.
- Uncomfortable steering wheel switches, big moves of the KP lever, too light brake pedal, continuous seats of the second row, hard suspension, small ground clearance, no spare parts.

Honda FR-V
The six-seat CD-VEN with the original two-row layout of the salon debuted in 2004. Built using the CR-V model platform elements.
Engines: gasoline 1.7 and 2.0 l (125 and 150 hp), turbodiesel 2.2 liters (140 hp).
Gearboxes: 5- or 6-speed mechanical, 4- or 5-speed automatic.
Front drive.
Completion: Sport-Compact, Comfort, Executive.
Price: $ 28,900 (in Russia only 2.0 l, M6, Comfort).
Honda FR-V could be an excellent car, as it should be Honda, if not a controversial six-seater concept.
Total rating of 7.9
+ Relatively compact dimensions, good dynamics, powerful elastic motor, dense and chain suspension, comfortable steering, excellent noise and vibration isolation, wide salon.
- The driver is too long shifted to the door, closely for complete people's armchairs, limited suspension energy intensity, the only fixed equipment in Russia.

Toyota Corolla Verso.
Seven-party second-generation CD on Toyota-Avensis platform was shown in 2004.
Engines: gasoline 1.61.8 l (110135 hp), turbodiesel 2.0 l (90 hp).
Gearboxes: 5-speed mechanical, 4- or 5-speed automatic.
Package: Terra, Sol.
Price: $ 26,10028 900 (in Russia only 1.8 liters).
Toyota Corolla Verso in character and perception of almost passenger car, about the seventeent essence of which they know only dedicated.
Total estimate of 8.0
+ Compact sizes, very high salon, huge doorways, fast reactions on the road, elastic motor, powerful headlights.
- unsatisfactory work of the gearbox, too bright backlighting devices, no selection of modifications, noisy engine, small ground clearance, small mileage between that.

Renault Grand Scenic
The second generation CD on the Renault Megan I II platform debuted in 2003, and in 2004 his elongated seven-known version of Grand Scenic was presented.
Engines: gasoline 1.6 and 2.0 liters (113163 hp) or turbodiesel rails 1.5 and 1.9 l (101 and 120 hp).
Gearboxes: 5- and 6-speed mechanical or 4-speed automatic. Front drive.
The configuration: authentique (not supplied), Expression, Privileg.
Price: $ 22,60028 500 (in Russia only 1.6 and 2.0 l).
Renault Grand Scenic The most balanced car, whose few disadvantages are perceived, rather as features.
Total estimate of 8.3.
+ Excellent visibility, comfortable suspension, big ground clearance, good noise insulation, abundance of tanks and comfort elements, spacious trunk, 92th gasoline.
- Difficult to read the instrument panel, non-optimal driver's seat adjustments, too light brake pedal, the third row is only suitable for small passengers.

Y. Netches: The perfect CD-VEN for Russia could look like the running part of the Renault to put the Honda power unit and cover the Opel body with the laying system from Toyota and the numerous scenic boxes.
 
 

 

 

 
 
 
 





Yuri Neduchov
 

Source: Journal "Behind the wheel"