Test drive Kia Cerato (Spectra) Sedan 2008 - 2009 sedan
Kia Cerato. The everyday life is over
Kia Cerato. Price: from 559,000 rubles. On sale: since April 2009 What do Audi TT, VW New Beatle and Kia Cerato of a new generation have in common? Do not believe your face! The person who stands behind the development of the appearance of all three models. In the past, the leading designer of the Volkswagen concern, and now KIA's chief stylist Peter Schreyer was able to give Korean the equally disadvantageous appearance as the notorious coupe. It seems that the target audience of the car is waiting for a tangible age devaluation
Test pilot
Dmitry Tytyuchenko, 33 years old, automobile journalist, driving experience of 14 years, personal car - Jeep Wrangler
The first generation of Kia Cerato did not cause poetic inspiration. Like any other. On the contrary, the model deserved quite an unemotional-pessimistic description in the spirit of the Bulychev planet Shelezyak no water. There is no vegetation. There are no minerals. Populated by robots. A high -quality and affordable car was colorless, like acne cream, and everyday, like a jacket on the back of a chair of an office clerk, which is experiencing a middle -aged crisis. By the way, there were a lot of those among the buyers of the car ...
The fleeting gaze at Cerato II is enough to firmly strengthen the opinion: the target group of the model is still quite far from the Balzac years. Yes, the car does not claim originality: pedans from auto design will easily find familiar features. But the elegance and dynamism of forms, the charm of broken lines and veiled aggressiveness of the Korean definitely cannot be occupied! With such a spectacular appearance, the novelty will attract a young and progressive audience with greater ease, which previously sent Kia to a deep ignore.
The car, like the third call in the theater, persistently calls on to pay attention to the radical change in the image of Kia, the vector of which was set by the multifaceted CEE`D, and continued the ambiguous Soul. It is interesting that in the style of the exterior design, neither with the first nor with the second Cerato does not echo: the sedan is original. So it is too early to talk about some uniformity of the new model range and recognition of the brand. But the audience sympathy for the Korean brand is growing without a doubt! In fact, Cerato organically pours into the model line Cee`d, where a sedan body is absent or, rather, absent as a class. And in addition, it completely shares with the last suspension (McPherson in front and torsion beam from behind). But the chassis of the cars is different: Cerato uses the Hyundai Avante platform for the future generation, better known in Russia under the name Elantra.
Compared to the predecessor, the sedan received a small but sufficient increase in length and width, while becoming several millimeters of squat due to a decrease in height. With an increase in dimensions, the trunk capacity increased by 15%. Now at your disposal of 415 liters of space as in a healthy refrigerator! With a small loading height and even, thanks to the inferior spare wheel, floor.
A decent wheelbase (2650 mm) decent for C-class, by the way, also slightly stretched, promises comfortable placement in the cabin four adults without discounts on the size of the abdomen, the length of the legs and shoulder width. Within reasonable limits, of course. The tall driver will only have to be tired of the location of the steering wheel relative to the devices: the column adjustable in two planes is fixed in such a way that even in the extreme upper position of the steering rim prevents the information, despite the fact that the chair itself, customized in height, can be lowered quite low.
And there’s nothing more to find fault with you: neither you are ergonomic flaws, nor designer misses. The interior looks nice and modern. Inexpensive, but alternate decoration materials are good not only from afar, but all the keys and regulators are endowed with understandable the first time and easily memorable functionality. In general, not that from the road, from the thoughts you will not have to break away. And this is just excellent, because Cerato has one feature, namely, the unexpected sharpness of the steering wheel inherent in other machines with other characteristics. A sensitive steering wheel requires neat circulation, without sharp passes, otherwise the loss of the trajectory with possible negative consequences cannot be avoided. But its zero zone is enough not to bother yourself with constant stunning on a straight line. And the only possible GUR (for Europe is provided for an alternative-optical electrical power), completely coping with the load, provides a clear connection with the front wheels.
There are more engines for our market. Twice. Gasoline units with a volume of 1.6 and 2.0 liters develop 124 and 156 liters. With. respectively. The second version and in the old days did not particularly complain, therefore, there was no living interest, and even accommodated in the time frame of the dough. And the familiar Kia Soul, a less powerful engine, is a clear favorite and in the new generation of Cerato bright, comparable to the impression of the exterior of the car, did not cause emotions again. However, he did not bring frank disappointments either. With active operation, a 5 -speed mechanics can even be called dynamic. True, you have to twist it desperately, but the music at high speeds overlap. But the lack of traction is almost not felt. A non -modern machine with its four steps exacerbates the situation with both noise and dynamics. To a hundred, it accelerates in the heavy 12 seconds, and when vigorous driving, delay with switching manifests itself. But the fuel consumption is promised at the level of 67 liters per hundred, and these numbers, in theory, should worry the potential owner of Kia Cerato!
We do not love Connect the iPod to the audio system, and gigabytes of your favorite music are pouring from the speakers. Nice
If you want to save you, you can do without climate control. Not cheap
Super Vision backlight appears on the dashboard along with the information -splash on the speedometer. Cute
Advantages and disadvantages
+ Modern design, spacious and comfortable interior, verified ergonomics, good handling.
- mediocre dynamics, insufficient adjustment of the steering wheel along the angle of inclination, an obsolete machine.
Specifications
Mark and model - Kia Cerato 1.6 MT
Dimensions - 4530x1775x1460 mm
Engine-gasoline, 4-cylinder, 1591 cm3, 124 hp/6300 min-1
Transmission - mechanical, 5 -speed
Dynamics - max 190 km/h; 10.3 s to 100 km/h
Competitors - Chevrolet Cruze, Mazda3, Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic
Our opinion
With this prominent appearance, Kia Cerato will clearly exalt the eyes of a younger than before, the audience. And since in Russia this parameter often plays the main role when choosing a car, the model will finally be able to compete with such a golf favor, such as Mazda3, Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, Mitsubishi Lancer and even, sorry, Lord, Ford Focus!
Author: Dmitry Tytyuchenko
Source: Magazine 5 wheel [May 2009]
