Test drive Mazda Xedos 9 2001 - 2002 Sedan

choice of pragmatics

Once the Russians appears his first more or less decent capital and raises the question of the acquisition of the first more or less prestigious cars, for some reason he mainly looks to Europe - more precisely, Germany. And rationality among the selection criteria are clearly not in the first place. Especially when it comes to the executive or business class. Without belittling the merits of respected German brands, we note that in this sector, French, Japanese and Koreans even today offer models often ni- nearly as good and usually much cheaper.

However, already formed a group of people who lead an active lifestyle in Russia, earning well, and at the same time do not want to throw money away. When choosing a car they do not obscures his eyes proud name - they are primarily interested in its consumer properties. considerations of prestige, of course, there is also present, but not dominant.

It is to them and designed a solid sedan Mazda Xedos 9. His appearance is not as pretentious as that of the more prestigious of the Germans - will be livelier. Original optics, active hood relief added to the image of Xedos 9 aggression, and massive, almost without podshtampovok, sidewall - validity. In this case, the car looks very solid, not scattered on the visual side.

Minuyu wide doorway, and takes me in his arms wide leather armchair, convenient - you do not want to get up. An impressive amount of interior decorated with light-colored materials, and therefore it seems even greater, with some damage to the atmosphere. The chair has all the necessary electrical adjustment allows you to choose the right position of a person of any height.

The plump ball perfectly accounted for hand, but the adjustment range was insufficient - I wanted to lower the steering wheel down. On the steering wheel, the cruise control buttons are located, so you can control with it without removing the hands from the ramp. Steal lever (set of standard functions) are easily accessible. The instrument shield when the ignition is turned off is absolutely dead - through its dark glass is not visible either arrows or numbers. On the left and right from the flap are the buttons responsible for fog and glass heating. Having a very immodest size, the buttons are devoid of backlight, which at first somewhat disorient. In the middle of Torpedo is a microclimate control unit, extremely comfortable in everyday life.

The temperature is set to rotate the circular handle, while the numbers are displayed on the display, and the configuration of the threads is selected by the sequential press of one button - the display responds with a change of icons. Below is the radio - it sounds quite acceptable, but demanding music love, most likely, will not satisfy. The automatic box selector is located between the front seats, next to it - the disabling button of the anti-slip system. Next is the armrest with the bulk box, having a 12V outlet.

The back seat is wide enough so that three passengers felt quite freely. True, in the legs of the place is not enough, and if the chair in front is put up under a person with a growing average, then there is no place to nine his knees.

The trunk is impressive with its volume, but access to it in bad weather is associated with the risk of staining strongly - first you need to click on the button outside, and then pull the cover for something up (no handles are not).

Turn the key in the ignition lock, and the devices are dead to this flap flarely flashes. Clear, contrasting bluish-white scales and numbers, ruby \u200b\u200barrows hanging in the dark space. Everything looks very beautiful and expensive. On the left and right of the speedometer and the tachometer, respectively, the engine temperature and fuel temperature pointers were attached, the automatic transmission mode indicator is located in the middle.

Well, it's time to go - selector in position D, and ahead. Gas to the floor. Xedos, not without thinking, smoothly removed from the spot and slowly accelerates, while the tachometer arrow is not closed in the transcendant dysflow - switching occurs around 5,500 rpm. (In addition, the sound of the motor does not annoy). About slowly - this is, of course, purely subjective sensations, because according to passport information, overclocking up to hundreds takes less than nine seconds. But too, the thoughtful automatic machine still spoil the picture - during overtaking and rebuilding with acceleration I had to be reinsured.

The dimensions are well felt, and in the city you can ride, not really straining. However, with the rear visibility, due to the highly diluted glass and high head restraints, there are some problems that complicates parking. Slightly improve the situation of the outer rearview mirrors from the variable of the curvature reflector.

The steering wheel has good informativeness, it increases as a speed set, so regardless of the latter, you can easily withstand the desired trajectory of movement. The suspension pleased with high energy intensity - even serious Colds and tram tracks pass almost imperceptibly. The car perfectly manifests itself in turns - some thanks to the rear suspension, which is equipped with elements that ensure the wiring (though, in contrast to the previous Xedos 9, it is passive). In smooth turns, her work is almost imperceptible, except that you can drive faster than others, in the steep effect of infringement manifests itself more clearly, so I even have to spread the steering wheel slightly. It is quite logical to assume that under certain conditions it may even provoke a skid.

For the experiment, I chose a wide running turn; 90 km / h - everything is wonderful, 100 km / h - loads grow, but the trajectory is still ideal, 110 km / h - the light demolition of all four wheels went, the Mazda gas reset returns to the previous trajectory. I try differently: a speed of about 100 km / h, but in the middle of the turn, a sharply inventive steering wheel, imitating the detour suddenly appeared obstacles, - the rear axle swears too actively, and it is necessary smooth driving, which, however, is easy to quench the steering wheel and gas. Someone will surely enjoy it - you can quickly and beautifully turn turns on some low-albeit rustic track. Many such a reaction can scare, but if you do not cross the boundaries of reasonable, everything will be fine. In addition, the brakes showed excellent efficacy and sensitivity.

Summing up, I would like to note that Mazda Xedos 9 is a choice of pragmatics, which always requires a maximum and does not want to throw money into the wind. And money on the car in the configuration, visited on the test, will need $ 35.900.

Text: Alexander Nidenz
 

A source: Magazine Motor [№4 / 2002]