Test drive Kia Optima (Magentis) 2001 - 2003 sedan
Name - money
National characteristics of the middle class
How long did the owner of any new foreign car look like a dams at fate. Today, the imported vehicles of the Lada class are already perceived quite calmly - the prestige bar has shifted to the middle class - D. The prices here start from $ 18-20 thousand, reaching $ 30-40 thousand, or even higher. However, the buyer sometimes pays a considerable part of this amount for a multi -liter engine or rich equipment, but for a well -known brand - the image requires sacrifice, primarily financial. To figure out whether it is worth going to them, we compared several cars close in price. Who has more car
Volkswagen Passat (ZR, 2001, No. 1, 5). A well -known brand and competitive price (from about $ 22.3 thousand) made it a bestseller in this market segment. This combination became possible not least due to the non -thoroughly customs clearance - the volume of the base turbo engine is only 1.8 l. A machine with a 2.3l engine (however, and richer equipped) will cost $ 10 thousand more. The minimum set of equipment includes a mechanical gearbox, ABS, steering wheel amplifier, two airbags, a central castle, immobilizer, air conditioning, electric trains and mirrors, audio training, velor salon. A tested Passat with a five-speed automatic, climate control and alloy wheeled wheels costs $ 24.3 thousand. 
Citroen C5 (ZR, 2001, No. 9; 2002, No. 4). Compared to German or Japanese cars, the French are not so popular in Russia, and the Citroen brand is perhaps the least common. Nevertheless, the centuries are found on the streets more and more often - overshadowing the owners of the French charm, Citroen also create an image of advanced motorists who have their own opinion, different from the generally accepted. It also plays a role that the basic equipment is very rich in the control, the rain sensor, the on -board computer, the telephone preparation, four airbags and two full -sized inflatable curtains, climate control with separate regulation on the left and right, the rear wiper. Such a car with a two -liter engine and a manual box will cost $ 21.5 thousand and given a three -year guarantee (or 100 thousand km) for a car and a five -year -old (or 200 thousand km) for hydraulic pneumatics 
the suspension, the benefits become obvious. We have visited a car at a price of $ 26.2 thousand - it is equipped even richer: an automatic machine, alloy wheels, parking sensors, hatch, front seats, wood inserts and perforated suede. Kia Magentis (ZR, 2001, No. 8). In the name of the brand, the syllable of ki is deciphered, how to enter the world, but means Asia. If the entry into the world of Asia does not contradict your ideas about prestige, it is worth taking a closer look at Magentis. Korean origin and Kaliningrad assembly caused a record low price for such a class. Majentis with a two-liter engine has, in addition to the basic passato, still tracs, fog lights and a radio (though only one pillow of safety), and costs only $ 17.8 thousand in the test a car with a 2.5-liter six, automatically took part in the test , a washer of headlights, a hatch, a second pillow, an audio system with a CD player, climate control, alloy wheels of wheels-for everything about all $ 21.2 thousand.
On a national basis?
German cars differ in traditionally high quality manufacturing. The Volkswagen Passat is no exception - according to the interfaces of body elements, you can check the ruler, and the joint on the chrome edging of the roof is no thicker than the hair. But it is difficult to be a god - the slightest mismatch of the panels in the cabin, which in other cases simply would not pay attention, is striking here. However, such flaws once or twice were expected. Yes, and they made them noticeable, very demanding on the accuracy of manufacturing - most other companies simply cannot afford to take this way. A rather moderate guarantee - a year without limiting a run - only the result of marketing research and is in no way related to the quality of the product itself. A modest equipment makes a dual impression: the materials are solid, but monotonous black; Stylish chrome elements and poor central console with many plugs - like a frame without stones: there is clearly not enough skin and wood, displays and all sorts of switches. For years, the Germans have been following the successfully found compositional and ergonomic solutions - the Passat does not have to get used to anything, the hands and eyes themselves find what they need.
The salon is very spacious - the driver sits under the very center of the roof, above his head is about 160mm space. The range of adjustments of the seats and the steering wheel is huge, and the seats themselves are unusually soft, comfortable, but at the same time they fix the body well. The rear passengers support their head with a falling roof - fortunately, a large supply in front of the knees allows you to slide down and forth a little. A distinctive feature of French cars is an abundance of non -trivial solutions, both designer and technical. You can agree with many, others should be challenged, but they cannot be taken away from the originality. Citroen C5 is remembered, first of all, an unusual silhouette with a massive bow and short stern. And how many practical hatchbacks, albeit disguised as sedans, are found in this class at all? By the way, it is probably that the relatively low body hardness of the body is largely explained by the large cargo opening - with diagonal hanging in Citroen, unlike a couple of other machines, the doors are closed with effort. And the accuracy of the fitting of body panels is not the highest - the steps are noticeable in places, the cracks are big.
The front panel formed by the conjugation of complex surfaces, as if painted with a bold stroke of the pen. The Citroen salon is even 50mm wider than that of the Passat, but part of the inner height ate the hatch under the upholstery of the ceiling. By the way, it is controlled by a rotating handle - convenient, but also unusual. The sensation of open spaces enhances the completely even floor, without a central tunnel in the rear; Planting here, as in the Germans, is almost close to the top of the head and with a margin of knees. Compact head restraints, shedding almost to the level of the back, leave a rather low clearance of the rear window free. Like many Frenchmen, there are fairly secluded places - a huge two -story glove boxing box, pockets and boxes in the doors, pallets under the front seats. Kia Magentis, which fell to the asphalt, does not at all look like a poor relative against the background of eminent rivals. Reminding the radiator with a luxurious cadillac, it pleases with a neat assembly of the body and high quality of color. Some old -fashioned drawing of the rear lights, but this is a matter of taste. However, inside there is a feeling that an unpretentious gray salon got here by mistake, and was originally intended for a car lower than a car lower: inexpensive stamped plastic, an ingenuous design of elements, utilitarian black switches, flat hard seats.
By golly, it is worth spending more $ 1.5-2 thousand. On soft skin, wood inserts, seats electroregulations and something else-all the same, it is difficult to find an alternative for that kind of money. But with some consequences of a democratic price, you still have to put up: for example, the steering column is regulated only by the angle of inclination, the electric windows do not have a reconciliation function - the return stroke when something falls under the glass. The Magentis salon is almost as spacious and rich in comfort elements as that of the previous couple, although in the middle of the rear seat there is a hillock that strives to drive the passenger with his head into a slightly lower ceiling. The ignition lock with ring backlighting is convenient - inserting the key, you do not have to look under the wheel. By the way, with the ignition turned off, all external lighting goes out, which will surely appreciate forgetful drivers; You can indicate the car in the parking lot with its re -inclusion. Near the cigarette lighter there is even a special outlet for connecting a compressor or other electrical appliances.
Cars of this class are rarely used for household needs, but we have to carry suitcases or sports equipment, and therefore we will look into the trunk. In volume, they are almost equal and transformed thanks to the folding seats of seats, but they have their own characteristics. At the Passat, the compartment is almost the right rectangular shape, but the sloping rear window tangibly shortened the opening. Citroen, like all hatchbacks, pleases with excellent access and the only one can provide an even platform with a folded back. The Magentis assets have a smaller loading height and huge width in the rear, minus - a luke pushed from the sides, connecting the trunk with a salon. Believe your eyes!
The appearance of our Trinity quite accurately reflects the characters of cars. The Volkswagen raised on the adapted suspension looks fry and dynamic - and in the movement the same is. A relatively small volume of the engine with five valves on the cylinder and turbocharging reaches the peak of torque at 1750 UH/min and provides excellent dynamics. The machine switches without delay, but with minimal adding, the gas is abused by the transition from V to IV - it is convenient to turn on the manual control mode on the highway, fixing one of them. The most noticeable drawback is the unreadable indicator of the ranges on the dashboard and equally indistinguishable small icons on the selector line. A dense suspension can easily cope with medium -sized potholes and lets only small coating defects into the body, instilling carelessness - I don’t want to slow down before the tram tracks. It is important to observe the measure - a complex anterior suspension of aluminum alloys provides accurate reactions of the machine, but does not like gross circulation. Brakes are very good - even on wet asphalt, the braking distance with 100km/h was only 38.4m! Good aerodynamics is evidenced by a low noise level and a maximum speed of 212 km/h. 
The thick sharp -bearing Citroen C5 is similar to a large caliber shell - and in character it resembles an express. The least powerful, it finds himself in a deliberately losing position in dynamics, but it can boast of an incredibly accurate speedometer: error - only 0.4%! I don’t want to put the pedal on the floor - the soft hydropneumatic suspension lulls, setting up on a calm flight. For an energetic driving, there is a more rigid sports regime, and for moving through an obstacle, the lumen can be increased to 210mm! In addition to the usual, the automatic gearbox also has sports and winter modes - in the latter, to exclude slipping, they are touching on the 3rd program. There is also manual control with a fairly rigid fixation of the gears - without switching up the maximum revolutions. What is curious, in this mode you can start at least from the IV transmission. True, the ranges of the ranges on the selector line are shifted, and the duplicate pointer among the devices gives out information with a delay, which at first is slightly annoying. But the alarm, including with sharp braking, will certainly increase the chances of saving the feed. Classical-reservable Kia Magentis is easy to imagine with a personal driver, and fussiness is not peculiar to such machines. To a calm manner of riding, a soft automatic machine and easy control are pushed. You can also go dynamically - a powerful six -cylinder engine and the manual mode of operation of the gearbox allow this, and a multi -leaf rear suspension with the steering effect provides reliable behavior in corners. Just look carefully under the wheels - the energy intensity of pendants is moderate, and the clearance to the engine of the engine near the empty car - only 130mm.
For goods and price
Fame, prestige of the brand is not ephemeral concepts: they are created by painstaking work on the design and refinement of each model. The owner of such a car can be sure of its quality, but also pays for it expensive. If there is no extra money, but I want to look no worse than others - what, you will have to condescending a little more shortcomings and console yourself with the fact that there are no ideal cars ... Volkswagen Passat of the current, fourth generation made his debut in 1996, and four years later he was seriously updated. It is produced with the bodies of the sedan and the station wagon, equipped with front, and powerful modifications are also a complete (4 Motion) drive. It has a wide range of power units: gasoline engines 1.6; 1.8; 2.0; 2.3; 2.8 and 4.0 liters, turbodiesels 1.9 (101 and 130 hp) and 2.5 liters, gearboxes-four-, five-speed automatic or five-, six-speed mechanical.
With the cessation of the release of the top model, HM Citroen C5, who replaced a little more compact Xantia in 2000, became the flagship of the company. The hatchback with the silhouette of the sedan last year received reinforcements in the form of a spacious station wagon (BRIC). Equipped with gasoline engines 1.8; 2.0 (136 and 140 hp), 2.9, as well as turbodiesels 2.0 (90 and 110 hp), 2.2 l, aggregated with automatic four- or mechanical five-speed gearboxes. A corporate dish is an adjustable hydropneumatic suspension of a hydractive III. Kia Magentis was presented at the end of 2000 as a replacement for the clarus model. A middle -class front -wheel drive sedan is built on the same platform as Hynde Sonata IV and V generations. Equipped with gasoline units 2.0; 2.5 liters and an automatic four -speed or mechanical five -speed gearbox. In Russia, cars assembled at the Kaliningrad enterprise Autotor are sold.
A burning icon resembles: click the brake pedal to translate the machine gun from the position of R. In the right position, manual mode is implemented.
Volkswagen Passat
Like most Volkswagenes, the right external mirror of the Passat is very small and distorts objects. The emergency stop sign on the inside of the trunk lid will help to see the car in the dark.
The devices are concise and easy to read, but the liquid crystal indicator of the selector position is poorly seen without backlighting.
The scatter (40/60) can be folded, but at the same time it will not work.
Unlike most front -wheel drive cars, Passat has longitudinally.
Double anti -linen visor - comfort is composed of small strokes.
The trunk can be transformed into a flat cargo platform.
The floor in the back of the cabin is smooth, without a protruding tunnel.
Citroen C5
In France, easy contact during parking is normal. This is probably why external mirrors in the parking lot are automatically folded. In this position, only a free handle stroke is chosen - the door lock is still closed ...
The designations of the position of the selector do not coincide with the slots, which at first causes some difficulties. On the right is the control panel of the hydropneumatic suspension.
The road clearance changes in the range of 90-210 mm.
The dashboard is cramped, although there was a place on the right for an indicator of oil temperature.
Records must be set in the rain!
Measurements were held in cold weather at 100 percent humidity. The high air density provided the engines with an additional power increase (especially the turbocharged passato), which even allowed the factory data to overclock up to 100 km/h. In turn, the increased aerodynamic resistance led to a noticeable shortage of the maximum speed, especially among machines with atmospheric motors - Citroen and Kia.
Kia Magentis It is not so easy to adjust the height and angle of inclination of the pillow with a pair of tight handles.
The inner pens are large - you can grab them with your whole hand, and not with two fingers, as often happens.
When folding the back of the flat site, you cannot reach, and the resulting opening is small.
In a special window on the dashboard, the gear is displayed.
Under the hood of Magentis - a powerful 2.5 -liter six.
Salon and trunk dimensions
Size, Volkswagen-Sitroen-
mm Passat C5 Magentis
L1 960-1200 925-1115 965-1135
L2 650-910 635-875 650-880
H1 1040 1005 (hatch) 955 (hatch)
H2 910 940 925
B1 1410 1460 1440
B2 1360 1415 1390
T1 500 490 510
T2 440 490 495 h1 280-330 275-345 285-325
h2 370 350 325
H 1210 1140 1100
a, city. 19-23 25-30 19-31
L3 1100/1910 980/1780 1015/1995
H3 510 530/780 480
B3 min 1000 1110 960
B3 Max 1370 1280 1625
B4 950 1190 1040
H4 455 1045 455
h4 740 730* 655
Volkswagen passage
High quality manufacturing, very spacious interior, excellent dynamics, magnificent brakes.
A poor basic equipment, difficult to use the selector provisions, a modest guarantee.
Citroen-S5 A rich basic equipment, adjustable suspension, long -term guarantee, convenient trunk.
Inaccurate fitting of body panels, a relatively weak engine.
Kia-Magentis
Good quality fitting body panels, a powerful engine, an attractive price.
Pretty poor salon, not very comfortable chairs, relatively stiff suspension.
SPECIFICATIONS (manufacturers data)
Volkswagen- Citroen-
Passat C5 Magentis
COMMON DATA
Number of places 5 5 5
Equipped
mass, kg 1375 1325 1445
Full mass, kg 1930 1845 1855
Dimensions, mm:
length 4703 4618 4745
width 1746 1770 1815
height 1462 1476 1420
Base, mm 2703 2750 2700
Track, mm front/rear 1515/1515 1544/1509 1542/1530
Road
line, mm 110 130* 160
Volume
trunk, l 475/800 455/1310 479/810
Maximum
speed, km/h 215 202 209
Acceleration time
0-100 km/h, with 10.5 12.3 10.9
Turning radius, m 5.3 5.7 5.3
Fuel consumption,
l/100 km
highway/city 7.0/13.4 6.4/12.3 8.3/15.3
Fuel supply, l 62 66 65
Fuel AI-95/91 AI-95/98 AI-95
ENGINE The location of the longitudinal transverse
The number of cylinders/ p4/ p4/ v6/
valves 20 ** 16 24
Working volume, SMZ 1781 1997 2493
Diam. Tsil. x 81.0x 85.0x 84.0x
piston stroke, mm 86.4 88.0 75.0
Compression degree 9.5 10.8 10.0
Power, kW/l. With. 110/150 100/136 124/168
at rpm 5700 6000 6000
Twist 210 190 230
moment, N.M.
at rpm 1750 4100 4000
TRANSMISSION
Front -wheel drive Gearbox A5 A4
Programs I - 3.61; I - 2.72; I - 2.84;
II - 2.00; II - 1.50; II - 1.53;
III - 1.41; III - 1.00; III - 1.00;
IV - 1.00; IV - 0.71; IV - 0.71;
V - 0.74; h. X. - 2.46 p. X. - 2.48
h. X. - 4.10
Home Transfer 3.29 4.09 3.77
SUSPENSION
with transverse stabilizers
stability, on subframes
spring hydropneum is spring
&
in front of two pairs like two different
sprinkled mac
in height height in height
lever levers
behind longitudinal longitudinal many
levers, ligaments lever
dedicated elastic
goy cross
noah beam
STEERING
rEMENCH with an amplifier
Brakes
hydraulic with an amplifier and abs
in front, circular ventilated
at the back, disk disk
ventilated
Tires 205/60R15 195/65R15 205/60R15
* In the normal position, the range of changes is 90-120 mm.
** turbocharged.
The results of measurements driving
Weather conditions: temperature +3C, pressure 744 mm Hg. Art., 100%humidity, coating - wet asphalt concrete
Volkswagen- Citroen-
Passat C5 Magentis
Weight characteristics
Equipped 1446 1419 1486
mass, kg
Load
on the axis, kg:
front 899 885 914 (62,2%) (62,4%) (61,5%)
back 547 534 572
(37,8%) (37,6%) (38,5%)
Dynamic qualities
(Partial load -
2 people+25 kg)
Acceleration, C:
0-40 km/h 2.5 3.1 2.8
0-60 km/h 4.2 5.3 4.3
0-80 km/h 7.1 8.4 7.1
0-100 km/h 9.7 11.8 10.2
0-120 km/h 13.4 16.6 13.7
0-140 km/h 18.6 23.6 20.5
0-160 km/h 27.3 32.2 27.8
0-400 m (km/h) 170.0 (133.3) 18.3 (124.7) 17.2 (130.5)
0-1000 m (km/h) 31.3 (168.7) 33.2 (163.3) 31.5 (167.2)
Maximum
speed, km/h 212.5 192.3 194.4
Error speedometer, % 0.8 0.4 3.4
Elasticity*, s:
60-100 km/h 5.2 6.8 6.1
80-120 km/h 6.6 8.0 6.8
Run, m:
120-50 km/h 1167 1263 1137
50-0 km/h 414 536 359
Braking
with 100 km/h:
braking distance, m 38.4 41.4 42.6
slow down, m/s2 10.0 9.3 9.1
* Kik-Daun.
Text / Yuri Nechetov
Photo / Alexander Polunin
Source: The magazine "Driving"
