Test drive Kia Spectra 2004 - 2009 sedan

Gemini day tomorrow

Different automobile markets are presented to cars and different requirements.
Among the European debuts of the Paris salon are the updated model of Kia Sephy III. In Korea, the car has been sold since the spring of this year under the name of the spectrum. So far, only a sedan with gasoline engines of 1.5 or 1.8 liters and a five -speed mechanical or four -speed automatic transmission.

In the spring, at the Turin salon, Hyunde showed an Endra. The new golf-class model, which replaces the Lantre, is produced with sedan bodies or a five-door hatchback, and a station wagon will later appear. Equipped with gasoline motors 1.6; 1.8 or 2.0 liters, as well as a two -liter turbodiesel, paired with a mechanical five -speed or automatic four -speed gearbox. In the Korean market, the model is known by the name of the Avanta XD (engines 1.5 or 2.0 l).

Different automotive markets are different for cars. Here, legislation, taxes, roads, traditions play a role. It is no accident that is why models oriented initially to some market will not officially fall on another. And if they get, then under a different name, with other engines and filling.
In this case, a different precedent: a couple of purebred Koreans, brought informally, visited our test - Kia spectrum worth $ 18 thousand and Hyunde Avanta for $ 19 thousand. In the fall, these cars will appear at European dealers - first Hyund, then Kia, then they can be expected And in Russia. In a certain sense, these are aliens from the future. (By the way, even about different markets - under the name of Kia Spectrum in America for several years, a model is sold, known for us as noise, and this is just a modification of Sephia II with a body of hatchback.)
Two Koreans unite not only similar biographies. They look like twins, and the same black color only enhances the similarity of a kind of omeded design. It seems that everything is in order: the lines are modern, the flashlights are pretty, chrome in moderation, but turned away - and forgot. The deficit of a bright corporate identity is a weak place for most cars from Asia. And from this they just begin to get rid of. The most memorable from the appearance of Kia is the gray plastic cladding of the radiator, which it was seemed to be forgotten to paint. In the middle, the plate shines with a void, clearly prepared under the emblem. The icon itself, now the new with the inscription Kia Motors, is located a little higher - on the hood.

Similar dissimilarity
An attentive look will reveal another difference: the spectrum can boast of 14-inch wheels, the Avanta has more for an inches. Otherwise, the running parts of the machines are more than similar: in both McEerzons with stabilizers on subframes in a circle, single levers in the front and three thrust in the back. The only difference is performed. The same with power units - one and a half -liter sixteen -clapdates with four -speed assault rifles. It seems as if the designers peeped in the drawings to each other. Did you find a recipe for the perfect car in South Korea? We'll see...
First, look into the salon. Twenty -five again! The gray plastic of the upholstery and velor of the seats, the inserts under the walnut on the panels ... Everything is so similar that, transplanting from the car to the car, you have to cast a look at the emblem on the helm of the steering wheel to control the emblem. We will not, however, find fault, is rather a feature than a disadvantage. Moreover, both salons are pleasant in appearance, are quite spacious for four, and with some reservations and for five people - passengers sitting behind 180 cm tall will find about 10 cm of space in front of their knees. Drivers are offered five mechanical adjustments of the seats and adjustable in height of the steering wheel. The latter are very thin in section. Badnets are not very convenient, and the door lock buttons are invisible from the outside.
Cars also have individual characteristics. The KIA spectrum of the door, especially with the lowered glasses, slam with tin trifles, the inner door handles are small, the volume of the glove box is small. A sitting at the wheel is unlikely to like the ignition lock located in the invisible zone, small external mirrors and intrusively loosening in the internal vertical threads on the rear window. Blue dials with white scales, no doubt, are pretty, but they are not read in the best way.
The advantages of Kia will be appreciated primarily by forgetting drivers: you can’t pull the key from the ignition lock if the machine gunner remains in position D (drive), and the selector itself cannot be removed from P (PARKING) until the brake pedal is pressed. Another plus - a split back of the rear seat - transport long -sized cargo to health. Carefully presented care for safety - on the lid of the trunk there is a special handle from the inside, in case someone is accidentally slammed there.
Hyunde avantte can be replaced by an excessive massive front panel, on which the knees are rested, not very comfortable rigid seats, a non -optimal connection diagram of external light (through the ignition lock), and the lack of blocking the machine gun selector. And also - with a tricky remote control and ventilation, a traumatic lock on the trunk lid, in addition, non -transformed. The asset contains an easy -up and illuminated ignition lock, a large number and capacity of various messages, completely lowering rear windows, light lighting lanterns, and a general impression. The car looks a little richer than a partner on the test.

One and a half liters without mechanics - money is right down?
Of course, we must say that every car will find its buyer, that nineteen seconds in acceleration to hundreds, which the cars really showed, in principle, are sufficient for a calm, neat driver ... That's it. But, overwhelming your heart, you would agree to pay a lot of money and having more than one more strength under the hood, only trucks and unhurried summer residents from starting from the traffic light? Here we are too.
Forced engines are highly turnful, but have a relatively modest moment. Therefore, working in tandem with an automatic gearbox, they require a soft hydrrotransformer so that the engine can quickly reach maximum power mode. As a result, the transmission becomes rubber - it seems as if the tachometer's arrow was tied directly to the accelerator pedal .., while untied from the speedometer: it stepped on the gas, the motor roared conscientiously, and the car, it seems, was driving and driving, only indicating the trend towards Acceleration.
However, the reaction to the actions of the accelerator pedal, say, when overtaking or in other situations, can be slightly improved by turning off the overdrive, or even translating the selector from position D to 2. We note that the Hyunde provides not only ordinary, but also winter (also winter ( Hold) Automatic mode that reduces the risk of slipping by slippery coating. In Kia, acceleration is accompanied by tangible jerks during switching and the insight of the motor. The point here is not so much in the loud engine as in ineffective sound insulation, passing the rustle of tires and the whistle of the wind.
The rubber topic, begun by the transmission, is developing, although not so actively, steering. With ordinary, calm maneuvering - all Okay. With a sharp turn of the steering wheel, both cars comprehend the command for some time, simultaneously giving the driver the opportunity to change their minds, then squat on one side and only then begin to change the trajectory. If the speed turned out to be too high, they smoothly slide with all four wheels to a larger radius, making a timid and easily suppressed attempt to go into a shallow skid. In general, understandable, predicted, albeit slightly thoughtful cars. The differences between them are minimal here, however, we note: Hyunde is still a little bit.
Soft pendants of both Koreans swallow small irregularities well, but on large ones it is necessary to discard speed - the buildup of the body is rapidly increasing and shock absorbers are not able to extinguish it. In Hyunde, this is accompanied by a knock of the front racks - their reassemble is small. Off -road qualities, as far as they can talk about them in this case, are approximately equal: the Kia motor compartment protects the metal ski from below, which Hyunde can contrast a slightly larger road clearance.
Something does not loom in a portrait of perfect cars ... although from which bell tower and which market to look at. In order to lawly crawl to crawl in a traffic jam on an ideal ever -year -old Seoul asphalt just right. But in order to confidently fulfill the slalom between Russian potholes, the twins will have to work on characters. As, however, over prices.

Leave ambitions, all sitting here. Relax and go calmly - this is about Kia Spectrum and Hyunde Avanta. The difference in value is quite justified, the prices themselves clearly need radical adjustment.

Kia Spectra (estimated data)
General data: number of places - 5; Equipped mass - 1100 kg; full weight - 1500 kg; maximum speed - 165 km/h; acceleration time from a place to 100 km/h - 18 s; Fuel consumption in conditional suburban and city cycles - n. d.; fuel supply - 50 liters; Fuel is unhealthy gasoline AI -95. Dimensions, mm: length - 4450; width - 1710; height - 1410; base - 2560; The track in front/back - 1465/1455; Road clearance - 150; trunk volume - 440 l; The turning radius is 5.3 m. Engine: a gasoline with distributed injection, four -cylinder, in order, four valves per cylinder, two camshafts, located in front of it cross; working volume - 1493 cm; cylinder diameter and piston stroke - 75.5x83.4 mm; compression degree - 9.3; Power - 76 kW/103 liters. With. at 6000 rpm; The maximum torque is 143 N.M at 4500 rpm. Transmission: front wheel drive; gearbox - automatic four -speed; Transporting numbers: I - 2.80; II - 1.54; III - 1.00; IV - 0.70; h. X. - 2.33; The main program is 3.74. Suspension: Independent, such as McEferson with reptile stabilizers, collected on subframes, in front - transverse levers, from behind - one longitudinal and two transverse rods. Brakes: hydraulic with a vacuum amplifier, front - ventilated disk, rear - drum. Steering: rheck with a hydraulic wrap. Tire size: 185/65R14.

Hyundai Avante (manufacturer data)
General data: number of places - 5; Equipped mass - 1130 kg; full weight - 1530 kg; maximum speed - 165 km/h; acceleration time from a place to 100 km/h - 17.2 s; Fuel consumption in conditional suburban and city cycles - n. d.; fuel supply - 55 liters; fuel - unhealthy gasoline
AI-95. Dimensions, mm: length - 4510; width - 1720; height - 1425; base - 2610; The track in front/back - 1485/1475; Road clearance - 160; trunk volume - 415 l; The turning radius is 5.1 m. Engine: a gasoline with distributed injection, four -cylinder, in order, four valves per cylinder, two camshafts, located in front of it cross; working volume - 1495 cm; cylinder diameter and piston stroke - 75.5x83.5 mm; The degree of compression is n. d.; Power - 80 kW/108 liters. With. at 5860 rpm; The maximum torque is 140 N.M at 3000 rpm. Transmission: front wheel drive; gearbox - automatic four -speed; Transporting numbers: I - 2.85; II - 1.58; III - 1.00; IV - 0.68; h. X. - 2.18; The main program is 4.38. Suspension: Independent, such as McEferson with reptile stabilizers, collected on subframes, in front - transverse levers, from behind - one longitudinal and two transverse rods. Brakes: hydraulic with a vacuum amplifier, front - ventilated disk, rear - drum. Steering: rheck with a hydraulic wrap. Tire size: 185/65R15.

Kia spectrum
+ Spacious salon, rich equipment, comfortable chairs, transformed trunk, predictable behavior on the road.
- mediocre dynamics, jerking when switching the machine, swing on bumps, increased noise, smeared reactions, uncomfortable door handles, high price.

Hyunde avantte
+ Spacious salon, rich equipment, good sound insulation, good brakes.
- mediocre dynamics, swinging on irregularities, knocking suspension on the hush, not very comfortable chairs, slow reactions on the road, high price.

The results of measurements driving
Weather conditions: temperature +21OS,
pressure 741 mm Hg , air humidity 68%. Coating - dry asphalt concrete
Kia-Hyunde-
Avanta spectrum
Weight characteristics
Equipped mass, kg 1169 1230
The load on the front axle, kg 729 (62%) 765 (62%)
Load on the rear axle, kg 440 (38%) 465 (38%)
Dynamic qualities
(partial load - 2 people + 25 kg)
Acceleration, C:
0-40 km/h 4.1 4.0
0-60 km/h 7.4 7.3
0-80 km/h 11.8 11.6
0-100 km/h 19.2 19.0
0-120 km/h 27.9 28.1
0-140 km/h 43.8 41.5
0-400 m 21.1 (108.6 km/h) 20.9 (106.8 km/h)
0-1000 m 38.9 (136.7 km/h) 38.5 (135.1 km/h)
Maximum speed, km/h 159 155
Speedometer error, % 3.5 2.2
Elasticity, p
60-100 km/h
(without overdrive) 11.7 11.6
80-120 km/h
(with overdrive) 15.6 17.2
Running, m
120-50 km/h 1283 1366
50-0 km/h 418 595
Braking with 100-0 km/h:
braking distance, m 57 53
slow down, m/s2 6.8 7.3

Salon and trunk dimensions
Car Kia spectrum Hyunde Avante
Parameter, mm
Salon
H1 990 1000
H2 935 930
L1 940/1130 935/1120
L2 600/835 630/875
B1 1390 1385
B2 1380 1365
T1 515 500
T2 480 490
D 385 375
a, city 21-25 19-24
Trunk
H3 500 500
L3 min 960/2000 980
B3 min 970 1005
B3 Max 1380 1385
h4 680 665

Yuri Nechetov
Photo by Alexander Polunin

Source: The magazine "Driving"