Test drive Kia Shuma 2001 - 2004 sedan

Continuation of "Sephia"

Kia Shuma Kia Shuma
Kia noise (for some Kia Sephia Sephy markets) is the further development of the Kia Sephia model, known since 1993. Noise was first represented in Europe in the fall of 1997. The analogue of the sedan Kia Sephia 2, which differs from the body type (five -door hatchback) and a completely different design of the front. It is equipped with four-cylinder 16-valve engines 1.5 and 1.8 liters, a five-speed mechanical or four-speed automatic transmission. Set options - RS, LS, SLX.

A conversation with colleagues about the new Kia model was not particularly emotional. So, continuous normative vocabulary ...
No matter what experts say there, but from the assortment of brands and models available at the price of the assortment and models, the buyer most often chooses a car, most attractive outwardly. The novelty of the design, technological delights, outstanding characteristics - all this works only all other things being equal.
At first glance, the noise leaves a pleasant impression: successfully selected proportions, rounded shapes, memorable front and back parts of the body. In general, the appearance is quite original. And what is curious: he hides the true size of the car. It is hard to believe that the length of the car is almost 4.5 meters.
The body is made at the level of modern standards, although the uniformity of the gaps is not as high as, say, on Japanese low -profiles. With coloring is better: a small shagren on vertical surfaces of cars of this price group is forgiven. By the way, about the price: $ 12950 per car in the intermediate equipment of LS with a one and a half -liter engine, air conditioning, electric windows and steering hydraulic power steering against the background of VAZ 21103 or DEU Nexia will seem a lot. But in comparison with Toyota-Corolla or Honda Sivik, this is still a profitable offer. There is nothing to be done: noise is collected in South Korea and the Russian customs does not make concessions.
The external rubber seal on the front edge of the hood looks unusual: such a solution is extremely rare today, but you can’t refuse to effectiveness. We drove through the dirty streets, and not the grain of sand leaked through the gap under the cover of the engine compartment, and the plastic protection from below retained the engine impeccably clean. That's just the design of the front bumper is not the most repair -free: a single cladding painted in the color of the body closes the entire front of the car from the hood of the hood to the bottom, and even with slight damage, it will have to be changed entirely.
The noise salon is not impressive with luxury. Matte gray plastic and motley synthetic upholstery will not give the impression that you are driving a relative of Jaguar, but if we talk about practicality - it is at a height. Note that neither knocks nor creaks are in sight. The width of the salon is sufficient so that the driver and navigator do not interfere with each other, and in the back seat there are three to the extent of well -fed passengers. True, it is better that there are not too tall among them - the ceiling is low. As for the adjustment of the front seat, its longitudinal move is so great that in the extreme rear position a medium -sized person is not able to even reach the pedals. Adjusting the steering column changes the height of the steering wheel in small limits and is not able to provide an impeccable review of the devices. But the driver's seats can be adjusted both in height and in inclination. The visibility of the forward is good, but back ... Aspferic external mirrors are small, the rear window is located too high - it is not easy to feel the dimensions.
The trunk is quite large by the standards of a car of this class, but the height of the threshold is too big. The back of the rear seat folds in parts, allowing you to transport long -dimensional things.
In the movement of noise she did not present surprises. A rather tough for a family machine, the suspension passes the blows from small irregularities to the body, but effectively fights with swing and copes well with large coating defects. G the steering email is effective even with sharp maneuvers and at the same time allows you to feel how much and in which direction the wheels are turned. The same can be said about the brakes: it is easy to feel the wheel lock on the pedal even on ice. The front -wheel drive cars were accustomed to the cable clutch drive, but in the noise it is hydraulic. The pedal is not the easiest, but again with a feeling - it is almost impossible to make a mistake. There are no complaints about the location of the pedals. But the gear lever is not a masterpiece at all: the fixation is good, but its big moves force it to reach for the fifth gear; The back is fuzzy.
From a one and a half liter 16-valve engine you expect an evil temper and moderate fuel consumption. The noise engine (the same as on the Mazda-323) turned out to be extremely calm: I confidently pulled from 2000 rpm, slightly picked up 3500 and unacceptably promoted to 6200. I lacked the thrust on the very bottom, but to demand more from the engine of such a working volume Just unreasonable. But he went out excellently in the cold, heated very quickly and distinguished himself with a very moderate appetite. In our case, during urban driving, the consumption amounted to about 8 l/100 km. True, you can’t call the engine quietly - it is clearly heard in all modes. A curious feature: two ignition coils are located in a recess on the valve cover and covered on top so that the high -voltage system is in the very dry place of the car.
Managing the noise is surprisingly simple. Confident feedback allows you to completely trust the car from the first minutes driving. The behavior on a slippery road is so predictable that it is drawn to have fun in the bend in a bend - the car is completely deprived of any surprises.
Unfortunately, it is sometimes very difficult to get rid of a double standard in relation to foreign and domestic cars. But if cars like Kia noise left the conveyors of our factories, customs obstacles for imported cars could be canceled.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
General data: number of places - 5; Equipped mass - 1063 kg; full weight - 1590 kg; maximum speed - 180 km/h; acceleration time from a place to 100 km/h - 12.8 s; fuel consumption in conditional suburban and city cycles - 6.8; 10.9 l/100 km; fuel supply - 50 liters; Fuel is unhealthy gasoline AI -92. Dimensions, mm: length - 4475; width - 1711; height - 1415; base - 2560; The track in front/back - 1465/1455; Road clearance - 150; trunk volume - 440/780 l; The turning radius is 4.9 m. The engine: four -cylinder gasoline, in order with four valves on the cylinder and two distributions distributed in the front, is located transversely; working volume - 1498 cm; cylinder diameter and piston stroke - 78x78.4 mm; compression degree - 9.3; Power - 65 kW/88 liters. With. at 5000 rpm; The maximum torque is 135 N.M at 4000 rpm. Transmission: front wheel drive; gearbox - mechanical five -speed; Transporting numbers: I - 3.42; II - 1.90; III - 1.22; IV - 0.91; V - 0.74; h. X. - 3.33; The main program is 4.17. Suspension: in front and behind, an independent, such as McExon, with reptile stabilizers. Brakes: with a vacuum amplifier, in front - circular ventilated, behind - drum. Steering: rheck with an amplifier. Tire size: 185/60R14.

+ A spacious interior, a large transformable trunk, comfortable seats, an economical motor, an inconspicuous rear window, predicted behavior on the road.
- limited visibility back, hard suspension, large passages of the gear lever, noisy engine.

SUMMARY
A practical family car without surprises and miscalculations that is not trying to convince anyone that it is cooler than it really is.
Anatoly Fomin. Photo by Sergey Ivanov

Source: The magazine "Driving"