Test drive Kia Spectra 2004 - 2009 sedan
Such an eternal youth
For 1213 thousand. e. you can purchase an inexpensive supermini. And you can much more solid golf class sedan. Something about the migration of souls
Available car does not have to be small. And examples of this in the shows of dealers. Let's say the spectrum and amulet are sold at a price comparable to the cost of democratic superminations, although they themselves belong to the golf class. The reason for the delicious price lies on the surface. After all, the spectrum discharged from production in Korea gained a second birth at the Izhevsk Automobile Plant, and the amulet is nothing more than a licensed Chinese copy of Seata-Toledo. They are no more than a hetz or Aveo. But are they worth this money?
In a country where Vazovskaya produced by 11 years is still considered a new car, a spectrum with an amulet today looks quite presentable. It is not surprising, because they were created even later by the VAZ-2110. Moreover, if the Izhevsk spectrum and outwardly the exact copy of the Korean original, then Toledo, thanks to Chinese designers, even buried. The rear lights with round feet signals look quite pretty. And the chrome -made grin of the grilles of the radiator, which can hardly be called graceful, at least striking. More importantly, in the first approximation, the amulet is very well collected: body gaps are uniform, there are no complaints about the quality of color.
Made in China...
But if outwardly the amulet makes a pleasant impression rather, then in the cabin positive emotions instantly disappear. It is easier to say that in this interior it does not raise questions, steering wheel switches. If in a nutshell, then the quality of the manufacture of Cheri lively reminded ... all the same VAZ dozens of first years of release. The same rough, sonorous plastic of the finish, fuzzy, smeared moves of the gearbox, sometimes jamming the longitudinal adjustment of the seat. And with what luxurious Zhigulevsky sound the doors slam! In a word, scolding the amulet for an inconveniently located air conditioner block at the very bottom of the torpedo, the tongue does not turn away from the driver. In the end, this puncture is already on the conscience of Toledo.
The velor chair looks good, and it is convenient to sit in it. And unlike spectra, it is equipped with vertical adjustment. It's a pity only, the fabric is too praised
In the glove box of the amulet, even a 200-gram juice bag looks like a suitcase
This outlandish switch is in charge of lighting equipment in Chery
The air conditioner block located at the bottom of the console is not very convenient to manage
The armrest between the seats at the same time and the practical box for small things
It is not surprising that after this spectrum appears almost Rolls-Royce. Yes, the salon cannot boast of a designer approach, but here, at least, everything is twisted, grabbed into a conscience. And most importantly, with rare exceptions, it is really convenient. Worthy velor of chairs, two lighting plafins, a logically placed air conditioner, acceptably roomy glovey box, comfortable pockets in the doors and boxing between the seats. Exceptions? Somewhere in the bowels of the torpedo there is a cricket, the box disappoints with fuzzy moves, and the digitization of the speedometer in miles makes it difficult to readability. But the fact remains the fact after the amulet from the Kia salon does not want to leave.
Despite the minimum set of adjustments to the convenience of the driver's seat, by and large, there is no large cushion, unobtrusive side support
Practical paws of the cup holder will help to fix any container
The glass on the ceiling is inexpensive, but very comfortable
A corner of all sorts of things is formed between the front seats: boxing for small things, a place for CD, a coiner
The trunk can be opened with a cabin from the cabin. This is convenient. But you have to get the key outside
You can’t get anywhere
Once again, that the amulet is the licensed version of Ceata, you remember on the back sofa. After all, Toledo did not differ in space for passengers, as, indeed, all the cars built on the Golf III platform. The supply of air above the head is quite at the level, but there is nowhere to put your legs. And, of course, you should not even consider the possibility of three trip. You only torment.
Let the amulet are quite closely in the back, but the armrest is like from a business class with a built-in cup holder and a branch for small things
In width, the sofa spectra is suitable for three adult passengers. Unless the obvious molding is embarrassed for two persons
The spectrum, on the contrary, is very spacious behind. Even with a fully shifted driver’s chair, an adult passenger tall above the average will not feel infringed in either direct or figuratively. The Kia sofa is more spacious in all directions in length, and in width, and in height. If it would not be a rather high central tunnel, as well as a too obvious division of the sofa into only two persons, the spectrum could get five for spaciousness.
All sizes are given in centimeters.
* The distance from the seat pillow to the ceiling. The space for the legs of the seated rear is indicated provided that the driver’s growth is 185 cm
Large maneuvers
The amulet is only in appearance a classic sedan, but in fact a successfully disguised hatch-bek. Your main concern to cope with the heavy of cast iron, was it cast? Fifth door. But having completed the power approach, as a reward you get access to a huge luggage opening. So, removing out of sight, the sofa (by the way, both the back and the pillow are folded), free the loading platform worthy of other compactwenes. Yes, and the volume of the trunk plunges a minimum of 550 liters and a half cubic meter with a folded sofa! True, the impression spoils the substetricry under the spare tire, rising exactly in the center of the trunk.
From the point of view of the carrying capacity of the spectrum, it is weak. The opening between the trunk and the passenger compartment is partially blocked by a stiff bulkhead, and with a minimum of transformation options, solid volume in volume is good only for the transportation of potatoes. In bulk.
And without that, not too convenient trunk spectra spoils the opening heavily narrowed in the lower part
The diagonal opening of the trunk of 147 cm, which Cheri can boast, is likely to be a golf-class record
The transverse partition significantly reduces the convenience of the trunk spectra
High -free substetricry under the spare spare spoils the geometry of the amulet hold
It is not forbidden to drive
A very large, truly German move of the clutch pedal, which grabs, moreover, only at the very top, determines the ... very lively character of Cheri. Exactly so, do not be surprised. After all, in order not to stall at the start, you press on the gas a little stronger than necessary, and the amulet breaks off with a place with a fervent slip. However, the Chinese not only seems perky, he really is like that. Last but not least, thanks to the first two short programs, ex toledo is very vigorously accelerating, especially in the city cycle. Yes, and on the highway, the amulet without much tension lays the speedometer arrow 150 km/h, which, given the relatively modest 1.6-liter engine of 94 liters. with., cannot but rejoice.
Under the hood of Cheri hides the licensed motor of Mitsubishi. Moreover, despite the lower power, in terms of accelerated dynamics, it is the amulet that looks preferable
The 1.6-liter engine does not spur to an active driving. However, this, by and large, is the only claim to the KIA motor
In the cruising speed of the spectrum will not yield. It allows you to keep one and a half hundred without problems and, if necessary, can even add. But in the traffic lights of KIA, not an opponent with an amulet. The tone of the gearbox and the too flat work characteristic of the engine: without failures, but also without pickups. However, everyone, as they say, is his own.
But the brakes of spectra, even devoid of ABS, liked more than an amulet with an anti -lock system. It is very convenient to manage a slowdown in KIA to the best sensitive pedal allows you to easily dose force. In the amulet, it seems that the wheels and drums have already lifted the set of pads so inhibited and sluggishly the car reacts to the pedal.
Only calm Kia cars and now do not spoil gambling, and the spectrum is from the 90s and even more so. It is already enough that Kia, let's say, is a very obedient car on the road. A fairly informative and at the same time not too sharp the steering wheel does not force to strain on a high -speed straight line and at the same time, to a certain limit, facilitates life in corners. Another thing is that this limit comes quickly enough. But the spectrum of solid transverse rolls and a desperate squeak is honestly appears to the driver’s common sense. Like, do you not only have a vertical swing for 150 km/h and the car obediently and without sharaha changes the lane?
The amulet inherited at least part of the driver's qualities. Cheri has a stronger steering wheel, and the suspension is worse, so in the turns he is more interesting, obscure. A good amulet and on a high -speed straight line does not scour around and confidently follows the driver's movements.
Cacophony
It is this word that best characterizes the trip on the amulet. No, the ears are annoyed not just by the engine noise. A whole orchestra of mediocre musicians, who also played on upset instruments, settled in Cheri. Everything sounds here. The hydraulic wrap signs like an old virgin, the air conditioner makes a sound worthy of a zil’s grandmother's refrigerator when turned on, but the first violin, of course, at the engine. Even on idle, a gasoline four bans and vibrates as if under the hood of a diesel of the Barnaul plant. And when the arrow of the tachometer goes beyond 3000 rpm, and something unimaginable begins at all. You experience something like that, standing a meter from the railway embankment, while a 60-vegon commodity is carried by ... And this, by the way, if there is additional sound insulation under the hood! So, despite the suspension, the unsatisfactory assessment of Cheri for comfort should not be surprising, even for the muffled course.
The main disadvantage of the spectra is too vocal engine can be cured by installing additional sound insulation for the hood. For today's money, this is by no means ruined
You transplant from the amulet to the spectrum and as if you get into the club of lovers of engagement, where silence is appreciated above all. In fact, the Kia motor is also a very vocal on a tria at best. But everything is known in comparison. In addition, the smoothness of the stroke of the spectra leaves only positive impressions very soft on the go, the princess on the pea would like this sedan. It is only a pity that the suspension does not indulge in energy intensity and breaks even in medium -sized pits.
Abs is not a luxury! Obviously, the basic configurations of both the amulet and the spectra were compiled with the calculation to assign the minimum possible price for them. At least we sincerely hope for it. After all, the performance of A1 for Cheri, as well as the Izhevsk norm, is completely devoid of passive safety. In the database of both, perhaps a complete set of belts and head restraints. All! The driver's pillow on the amulet appears only on the most expensive version of the A3. At the same time, the passenger Air Bag in the list of options of the Chinese model is absent as a class.
The spectrum is not much more generous. Front pillows are required, starting with the set of the second level, the standard. But ABS is provided only for the most expensive version with the automatic transmission called Lux.
A little money The price is what is primarily interested in buyers of budget cars. And the most curious: not having time to appear in the Russian market, the amulet has already managed to ... rise in price! If at the beginning of the year the price tag for Cheri began at $ 10,990, now another 200 U needs to be reported to this amount. e, however, if it is not a complete ignoring of passive safety means, even the amulet base could be recognized as optimal. After all, the A1 version includes a full electric package and so important air conditioning for many. ABS, along with cast disks and CD magnet, appears in version A2 ($ 11,790). Crown of creation A3 equipment for $ 11,990 with a driver's bag. Another thing is that the true level of reliability and durability of Chinese cars remains a mystery. There is an amulet, as if, inexpensive. But what will be with him a year in three? And most importantly, for how much it can be sold then? By the way, for this reason, we do not yet calculate the Kar-index for Chinese cars.
The initial price of the spectra is also very attractive. However, for $ 11,500 you will receive a naked car with a steering wheel and seats. The convenient and practical kia is only in the performance of the optimum for $ 13,320: an electric packet, air conditioning, and front airbags. The machine for the spectrum requires no budget surcharge of $ 1000. However, you can’t get an automatic transmission in any case. In addition, numerous Kia dealers like to arrange seasonal actions. So, for example, in April, all buyers of spectra performed the optimum was supposed to be a free set of cast discs. Consider $ 200 pure savings.
We decided:
The spectrum (, the average rating is 3.8), of course, will please a person who has moved from Vazovskaya dozens. Firstly, at the price of supermini you get a golf class sedan. But most importantly, in a spacious and solid outward spectrum there is everything that is lacking in domestic machines. This is a quite solid assembly quality, and a spacious rear row of seats, and a comfortable suspension, and decent dynamic characteristics, and air conditioning, and, finally, an automata box. Yes, the spectrum is not as prestigious as modern Japanese and European classmates. But for her price, she adequately copes with the duties assigned to her.
It will not work to take all the above at the expense of the amulet. Although even by today's standards, his ancestor Toledo does not look hopelessly outdated. However, the extremely low quality of the amulet (, the average estimate is 3.1), in our opinion, even the low price cannot justify. It is hard, or rather, it is almost impossible to put up with such a noisy car, the salon of which resembles a craft from the Palace of Pioneers. For $ 12,000 you can find a much more solid car, even below the class. Only one thing can be said to be justified by Cheri. The Chinese are incredibly quickly correcting mistakes. Dealers do not cease to be surprised that cars from each new batch get rid of many sores, becoming better. We believe that through a year and the amulet will grow up. In the meantime, is it worth it to test this on your own experience?
Mikhail Medvedev, photo of Maxim Goncharov
Source: Magazine buy a car [08/2006]
