Hyundai Matrix test drive since 2001 minivan

Little debut

Where is the world rolling? Everyone just moved on minivans. However, just a mini-wen was not enough, compact. The Japanese generally turned the golf class into compact lins-it is enough to look at the last 5-door Honda Civic (where are you, swift, sports machines?) And Toyota Corolla. The Koreans also performed some late. They were in no hurry again - they looked at others, studied their achievements and mistakes ...

We will talk about Hyunday Matrix - the second mini -wen of the company in general (recall, the first was Trajet - Motor #1, 2001) and the first CDW in particular. Its world premiere was held in Europe this spring, and already at the Moscow Auto Show-2001 in August showed a car certified for Russia. (We, as in the rest of the world, are gaining momentum, although with less intensity. Hyundai is already hoping this year to sell about 25 thousand matrices in Europe, and in 2002 - 60 thousand in the future. She intends to bring an annual sales to 100 thousand cars.)

When planning an attack on the European market, the Koreans reinsured and ordered the body and design as a whole to the Italian studio Pininfarina, which has long been engaged in concepts in this class. Atelier did not hit the mud in her face, it worked, as usual, stylishly and original. In the spirit of time, the image is created by unpretentious correct surfaces and pattern lines. The design is not overloaded with decor and detailing. With its considerable height (1635 mm) and a small length (4025 mm), Matrix does not look heavy and kurguzy - from this it was delivered by large glasses, emphasized by the difference in the doorways, a gentle hood that smoothly passes into the windshield, and longitudinal facets and substetricians. Not the last role is played by 15-inch wheels. The archaic false radiator grille does not fit into the modern image.

It’s easy to get inside with a simple door opening and highly set seats. You actually enter the salon, only bending a little. The doors are not closed the first time, you need to clap more hard. Hyundai serves Matrix as a car that is inside more than outside. The car is really spacious. And this is not an illusion created by light tones of the finish - the salon is black, except for gray racks and ceiling. The guaranteed supply is both in length and width, and the height will satisfy the basketball player.
 
The already mentioned large glasses and high landing, coupled with large outer mirrors, provide excellent visibility, but you feel uncomfortable, you sit, as in the aquarium, it would be better if the seats were lower. And I would also ton the glass. Through them, the salon is literally through the sun through and through, quickly heated. It is good that the air conditioner is included in the standard equipment, and its management is simple - three wheels. However, if the light is not enough, you can order a hatch in the roof by donating a couple of centimeters of the ceiling height.

Bus landing is a vertical back, the legs are bent at right angles, but sits comfortably. The chairs are solid, moderately tough, with sufficient lateral support, a driver’s hand with an armrest. In addition to the mandatory two adjustments, it is possible to change the height of the front and rear parts of the pillow separately and set the lumbar back (useful thing with such landing). The steering wheel is pleasant to the touch, optimal diameter and cross -section, is adjustable in height.

A dashboard with a tachometer, speedometer, temperature and fuel level sensors and an on -board computer display is located unusually - in the center of the torpedo. The rest of the information is transmitted to the control lamps located in the usual place - in front of the driver. As far as it is reasonable, I can’t judge, I could not get used to it in a couple of days, now and then I came across a look at the luminous letter D (drive) instead of the expected speedometer.
 
Otherwise, everything is familiar and convenient - the automatic transmission selector on the floor (more precisely, on the front console, there is no tunnel here), control of light and wipers, like all Japanese and Koreans - on steering wheel switches. Electric glasses and mirrors, buttons - on a very comfortable armrest in the door sheathing. The inclusion of heating seats is on the floor near the handbrake.

The first thing I note was to cross back - to the legs freely even with the most pushed back the front chair. What is the matter? It turns out that a separate (2/3) rear seat has an adjustment in length (range-195 mm) and tilt of the back (23-58 degrees), which is why the luggage compartment and the rear passenger zone are varied. In the second row, you can also assume the three of them (there is even a third headrest), together, of course, more convenient, and the armrest can be used. The backlight of the rear of the cabin is autonomous.

The back door opens traditionally - up. The trunk, despite the short overhang, is large enough, under its floor there is a full -size reserve.

I almost forgot about the most important thing - cup holders and other auxiliary containers. There are plenty of them in this machine. Cup holders about 12 (lost account). There are a lot of small pockets, especially in the front panel. In the doorway - comfortable large pockets, under the rear seats there are two boxes, two more in the sidewalls of the trunk. In the backs of the front seats there are folding tables on gas springs. It seems to have not missed anything ...

The chassis, unlike the body, was engaged in themselves, borrowing it from Hyundai Elantra. And they set it up well. To Russia, they decided to export matrices only with 1.8 liters of a motor, boxes - to choose from, automatic or mechanical.

On the idle, the engine manifests itself with light vibrations on the steering wheel and barely audible grunt. The reception impressed - very briskly for a small mini -wen. If it were not for the tedious howl of the engine at revolutions above 4000, it would be very good. The machine allows it to unwind to 6000 rpm. In Kick-Down mode, and at the same time slightly inhibits when switching above. In general, the box is stupid, but it works smoothly and allows you to easily move in limited spaces, which, probably, needs a family car, which a woman will most likely be behind.

Management - in the same spirit: reliable, safe, but not sports. Due to the high height of the machine, noticeable rolls are observed in corners and insufficient rotation increases. The steering wheel is nevertheless quite saturated and adequate. The smoothness of the course is acceptable. Shock absorbers do not quite cope with the unsubstantiated masses, and with frequent fluctuations, they enter into resonance, which manifests itself in vertical vibrations. The suspension works almost silently, the salon is also silent. I really liked the brakes and ABS - they act harmoniously and correctly, despite the drums from behind.

Well, Matrix is \u200b\u200banother reason to congratulate the Korean auto industry: the model turned out to be successful, solid. Keep it up! You look, and they will do the Japanese. (By the way, I wonder how the Koreans settled with the Japanese a question with the name of the car - the Toyota matrix made her debut earlier than from Hyundai.) In my opinion, there are only three: the lack of security alarm, the weak head structure of the stereo system and insufficient sound insulation of the motor compartment. In general, Hyunday Matrix gives the impression of the right machine. The tested car costs $ 19.569.

Text: Sergey Yakubov
 

Source: Motor magazine [No. 10/2001]