Test drive Kia Spectra 2004 - 2009 sedan

Spectrum from the Izhov family

The new domestic car is always an event. And the new domestic foreign car is also a reason for thinking: either it is a saving straw for a native automobile industry, or another nail in the lid of its coffin. And, by the way, it is completely incomprehensible how to regard this fact: can the Russian automobile industry be viable, to endure and show a modern high -quality car? Or let him die in health, giving way to interventionists who can provide an adult population with healthy machines that do not suffer from incurable childhood diseases for many decades until death? I am full of doubt.

But, in any case, the fact that Russian motorists receive a well -deserved opportunity for relatively little money to transfer from fasting under -aid vehicles to a new foreign car cannot but rejoice. It doesn’t matter whether it is a nail or a straw. The main thing is that to ride and does not break. At first glance, to call the Udmurt spectrum a cheap car, I personally will not turn my tongue. It can be affordable by budgetary, it is possible to be democratic. But cheap is hardly: the declared basic price from $ 11,500 implies a rather poor car, in which only the central castle and electric windows are present from the charms of a rich life. And, most valuable, two pillows of safety. But in such a configuration of cars there are no cars on sale yet. And what is (as in photographs) is much more expensive far beyond $ 13,000.

So if the machine is assembled from cheap materials by the forces of cheap workers, this does not mean that it will be sold for a penny. But truly Russian cars at a price were already very close to the basic spectrum. Moreover, this does not mean at all that Kia is cheap. This only indicates that our newspaper is unreasonably expensive. However, the conceptually Spectra looks pretty attractive. This is a rather large car, besides with a sedan body, which, according to our concepts, makes it quite prestigious. True, it seems to me that all attempts to create a large car for little money are given by clean water by Chinese: the savings will be visible to the naked eye. So it, in fact, is. The impressive Spectra leaves a contradictory feeling: on the one hand, decent overall dimensions and a more or less modern design give it a solidity vital for a budget foreign car; On the other hand, it is worth being in the cabin, it becomes clear that this product has not gone too far from the same vases. Smooth hard -stone plastic everywhere, from which self -tapping screws peek out here. By the way, there is no intermediate open -door fixation: the door opens at once to the limiter. Risky

Run around and rims the rim under the fingers. The adjustment of the steering column is made, rather, for a box than for convenience: you can choose between low and very low. Looking at the dashboard and on it is poorly readable and for some reason a two-sided speedometer with a kilometer-mild digitization. But in the back seats, the room and grace: here they are, good dimensions, where they fell! And the trunk is also good.

OUR CHOICE

Safety is above all, therefore, we recommend that we opt for a set of a standard for $ 12,220, in which there are two pillows and belts with pretensors. Undoubtedly, the air conditioner is also a positive effect on safety, but it is not entirely reasonable to overpay for it in the case of spectra. And once again you can regret that the anti -lock system is available only in the top version of the luxury.

The engine is surprisingly well pulling the spectrum behind itself. True, there is an interesting feature: depending on the transmission, the motor demonstrates a different degree of activity: say, the first car is very frisky, the second is noticeably hit, and closer to the highest programs begins to be awake again. But the engine manifests itself especially well at the top: as soon as the tachometer arrow passes a mark of four thousand revolutions, a powerful pickup immediately follows and the engine is easily (and noisy!) Unwinds to the limiter itself. And if it were not for the terrible work of the clutch box, then a dynamic riding in the spectrum could bring pleasure!

Switching transmissions is something: the moves of the lever is gigantic, like in a truck. And the clutch is completely super -stringent: the free course of the pedal is almost more than the worker, in addition, the effort on it requires meager. A complete illusion is created that it is faulty as if it falls into the floor! But even more surprising is the fact that this is in no way felt when moving: none of us was never mistaken when working with the pedal. A completely inexplicable phenomenon!

The setting of the chassis does not contribute to the active ride: there is evidence of the work of the front and rear suspensions. We observed something similar on Hyundai NF, but there this effect was not so pronounced. And here it is brightly just tinkering: it seems that the back of the car does not keep up with the front. Or such that the car is dragging behind the machine. The rolls, at the same time, must say, quite moderate. But the smoothness of the course is outstanding: the city simply does not have such roads where the spectrum would not provide its passengers with comfort. But here, not without oddities: with significant hinges, the suspension gives out such knocks that it seems as if the bottom had been applied on a stone. Which, in general, is quite unexpected. But there are no complaints about the brakes.

During the test, one interesting feature found out: if you open the door with the engine, then the emergency grown, which will turn off shortly after the door closes. Unusual, but nice. Especially on the highway in the dark.

Any car can be boiled and exalted. With all its shortcomings, Spectra is still perhaps the most solid foreign car from among the budget. But she has another task to fill in in the lineup a gap that arose after the cessation of production in Kaliningrad successfully Rio. Getting into the price niche exactly between Picanto and Cerato, the Udmurt Kia is larger than both of them. And for many, as you know, the size matters.

Autography
Kia Spectra
Still known as Kia Mentor/Sephia III
Predecessor Kia Sephia II (1997)
Premiere May 2000
Modernization Autumn 2002
Body sedan
Engines 1.5 l (101 l.
Production Russia
Successor Kia Cerato/Spectra II (2004)

Kia Spectra 1.6: Competition

Chevrolet Aveo, 2003

The easiest AVEO in Direct version with a 72 -senior engine 1.2, a hydraulic wrap, one pillow, front electric windows, immobilizer and central lock costs $ 9,900. A car with ABS, air conditioning and an audio system will cost at least $ 12,790. The machine will increase the bar to $ 14,990. Warranty 2 years. Without limiting mileage.

Hyundai Accent, 1999

Restyling 2002. In the basic configuration of MT1 (320 700 rubles) there are GUR, air conditioning, audio system and immobilizer. Cars with a pillow and ABS cost from 353,700 rubles. ACCENT will cost the automatic checkpoint in the amount of 350,700 rubles. Warranty 3 years or 100,000 km of run.

Renault Symbol, 1999

Restyling 2002 and 2004. The only 1.4-liter engine (75 hp). Prices start with $ 11,259 this is the Authentique equipment (GUR, one pillow, immobilizer). With air conditioning, ABS and Symbol music costs from $ 13,964, with an automaton - from $ 15 199. A guarantee of 2 years without mileage restrictions.
 
   

Source: Wheel magazine [No. 99/2006]