Test drive Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII 2000 - 2003 sedan

Eurasia

At first glance, in this test, Renault Megane II was not flooded into his hatchback between two sedans. But here you won’t write anything: firstly, the French promised to give the new Megane Sedan only at the beginning of the next year, and secondly, it became interesting to whether the outwardly unusual titled champion in all kinds of security worth about 20 thousand euros to compose Decent competition with their more utilitarian, that is, practical, brothers in the class of Hyundai Elantra and Mitsubishi Lancer.
Of course, compared to Elantra and Lancer, Renault looks like an alien from another world. Yes, it is still Europe, there is more in it. Not even so much more designer French charm, unlike the practical East. Not causing, but pleasant appearance of the updated Enntra, was frankly pleased, did the Koreans finally have a taste and something like tradition and style? It looks very pretty. I wonder how she will go, meet, as usual, by clothes. And Lancer ... He, of course, is different, he is Europeanized by Mitsubishi Cedia, which was previously sold only in Japan, he is supposed to soon replace the obsolete carism and collected frankly and strongly. But ... there is something in his image from the bird Tukan: Nosed. However, regardless of appearance, these cars are very similar to the same types of suspension, 16-valve four and 5-speed mechanical gearboxes for each in front of the independent and native McPherson, and an independent multi-link suspension is also behind. But as it turned out, they go completely differently.
Controllability
Those who prefer a widespread active drive will certainly like Lancer. Of the entire three, this is the most pleasant car in driving. The reactions on the steering wheel are so adequate, so correct and accurate that our soul at first rejoiced literally childishly. As they say, anything right up to sports driving! The information content of the steering wheel is beyond praise, any attempts to transition from uniform leisurely street movement to aggressive assertive drive are accepted by Lancer with a bang! And he rinses, as expected, and reacts to the discharge of gas in the bend, as the buzz is supposed to, and nothing more. If it were not for one nonsense, which we noticed by accident during the passage of a snake at a speed of 60 km/h. The performance of the snake requires the driver of active work by the steering wheel. There, there, there, the rolls, the creak of tires, the hot smell of rubber in general, everything is like people. And suddenly, at the detour of the next chip, the steering wheel of Lancer ceased to rotate easily, and for his search to the desired angle, the driver had to make a lot of effort. Here are the times! What the heck? And guilty in everything turned out to be small performance of the steering hydraulic power pump, which simply could not overtake the right amount of hydraulics on time. It was as if they had buried and almost won. However, such a misunderstanding is hardly possible on the tracks and in the city. By the way, in this regard, the overly sharp drop in engine speed on idle is noteworthy when you have to twist the Lancer's steering wheel on a fixed machine. A small pump is pushing and significantly selects power from the motor. Elantra against the background of Lancer looks more imposingly. Not hot. It is strongly rolled, falling in a bend a little more premature than this would be, and at high speeds, also tugging on high sides of the tires. Meanwhile, incredible reactions on the steering wheel cannot be called, as it is impossible to call them accurate, something average, but quite acceptable and even pleasant, if you are not rushing anywhere. After the case with Lancer, we took a closer look at the work of the Enntra hydraulic wrap, but no deviations were found, except that it is noisy, but even then it was barely audible. Unlike its Asian classmates, Megan is equipped with an electric amplifier fashionable now, about the shortcomings of which we already wrote in the last issue (cars B 10). But what was found taking into account the amendments for some delay in electrical reactions, Megan is controlled very reliably and confidently, allowing to drive the same snake at higher speed and with smaller rolls. Perhaps this is facilitated by widely placed wheels, as well as their different width and height: behind the 205th rubber on 16-inch discs, in front of the 195th on 15-inch.
Dynamics
The most leisurely instance from our trinity seemed to us Elantra, although in fact this is not so. She rides about the same as Lancer, and, however, like Megan, only programs in Hyundai are very stretched. Such a box does not require excess attention and allows you to move in the unhurried city stream for a long time in the same gear. It is necessary to intervene only when the speed drops almost to the zero mark of the lower classes sometimes lacks. What can not be said about Lancer. It almost always has enough of this, but the frisky motor provokes the transmission lower than the transmission lower again and press the gas more tightly. About the same situation with Megan. But here it is all the same differently the first two programs are short, and the third long to infinity. You can break off the place and quickly get away from the pursuers, who will definitely catch up with. And then the third gear can perform the functions of the machine. That is, the situation with Elantrus is repeated. At high speeds, Megan's engine is perhaps the most noisy, and this despite the fact that only the tachometer arrow reports on idle about his work. On the road, incorrect noise is added from somewhere under the legs, apparently, it does not matter with noise and vibration isolation of wheeled arches. The Enntra engine is no less noisy, although if you try very hard and unscrew it already to the limiter, its sound will probably be more imperative in the Meganovsky motor. Of course, Lancer is superior in dynamic indicators. He is not just going, he rides as it should. And it's damn nice. The relationship of the driver with the motor through excellent working nodes, as well as acoustic comfort, are ideal without unnecessary words.
Practicality
Actually, practicality is one of the basic requirements for golf class cars. For it is sometimes impossible to predict the amount of cargo transported in urban and subgorod conditions. All three copies for such surprises are ready for each, and if necessary, the rear seat is completely removed. Visually, the largest trunk of Elantra. However, this is not so much for 15 liters less than Lancer. In Lancer, because of the low rear side and loading everything is much more convenient. Is it worth saying kind words about the Meganovsky space? It is here exactly one large suitcase of 330 liters. The mysterious car like the label is expanded precisely in the sake of cargo space, but in practice it turns out that this is a fraud of vision.
Ergonomics and comfort
How many times they say, and confirmed in practice: appearance is deceiving. A pretty externally Elantra is an example. One has only to open the door in the eye throws a terrible black plastic, from which models are usually glued. He, as it is, naturally desecrates in general a well-thought-out interior. As, however, and a cheap fabric upholstery. However, the form of seats with five levels of adjustment in the amount with adjustment of the steering column in height corresponds to a fairly high level of comfort. The seat can be adjusted under a person with almost any complexion, lateral support is noticeable, but not obsessive, but at the services of passengers of the second row a convenient hook in the back of the front right chair, the pocket there and the leaning armrest with the mess inside. And there is very spacious there. Thanks to the additionally installed restyled version, the noise from the outside into the salon almost does not penetrate, as foreign odors do not penetrate. On the instrument panel, highlighted in the dark in thick blue light, two convex, surprised spi -resident and tachometer dials stand out. The numbers on them are large and read without tension, but damn it, it is difficult to get used to such a funny design. But in the new version, in the database, an on -board computer has already appeared. In the pedals, as in the long lever of the box, there is no proper clarity, an accurate dosage of effort comes to the work of the brake only after short training. But what a delightful handle of the lever itself! A round, soft ball with a metal insert warms both the hand and the soul at the same time. And the suspension. Energy -intensive and very soft, judging by the lying policemen, on which you can not slow down. Elantra, in its concept, gravitates to large sedans. Nevertheless, it goes nicely, especially on the highway. For a house, for the family is normal. Probably the same can be said about Lancer. In the sense of internal comfort. Inside, he has, as in a warm inhabited and very cozy apartment. Plush, pleasant to the touch of seats, unobtrusive soft light of devices. The driver and passenger shares a rather high, closer to the sports tunnel, in the middle of which a very convenient and stylish lever of the box rises. In general, Lancer's internal decor is a little strange. Stile hello or from the 80s, or even from the late 60s, the beginning of the 70s. A sort of Honda Civic, and the irregular shape of the shield generally resembles some kind of PEUGEOT of the times of battles with a wide gate. But at the same time, a long, a la retro panel is finished with very high-quality plastic under a black tree and somewhat resembles a bent panel of a modern BMW Z4. Unusual. There would be only another lamb. This one is very good in practice, the correct size, however, is completely ugly. A little more aesthetics and at least a color or metal logo Mitsubishi in the middle. As for the suspension, of course, Lancer is tougher than Elantra. But his character is fighting. Megan is a separate song. This is a separate type, with its own ideology, much more modern than Asians, and much more European. The steering wheel is thick, small and pleasant to the girth, the column is adjusted up and down and back and forth.
Security
Does it make sense to compare the security of the champion in this area of \u200b\u200bRenault Megane II with Elantrus and Lancer? Of course there is, since modern security measures are so high that the differences, based on the practice of operating golf class cars in Russia, are minimal. As we have already written, the power structure of the Megane body is 2% consists of sparkling steels, by 10% of high -strength and 43% of hardened. And further in the text: four airbags, belts with pretense, ABS in short, the modern and heroic security car, which is distinguished from the apparatus of the highest class, is distinguished by the absence of EPS and other active slowers and passive anti -industrialists. Asians in this sense is not that they are lagging behind, no. And they are, of course, in the subject. The ideologies themselves, as well as the Mitsubishi Lancer and Hyundai Elantra layouts, are so much that, speaking of one of these cars, one can mean the other. Each has two airbags, belts with pretensors, ABS and ... where would the rear head restraints in Lanser, except to throw out? And so the window is small, so they block the last air!
Price quality
What should we build a house? What should we take and buy Renault Megane II for Euro19 750? Of course, in our test, the most fried Megan, armed with climate control, stereo system, a full electric packet, including four electric windows and so on, took part in our test. But, sorry, even in the basic configuration, an extraordinary Frenchman stands Euro14 500! Where does such prices come from? There are no words, the car is good: purely individual, unusual, stylish, good, safe ... But how to hope for good sales, when not so pretentious, but quite worthy, and in terms of some parameters, competitors are also technical in technical terms. In dollars, much cheaper. Elantra with approximately the same saturation of $ 14,890, a thousand dollars more expensive. What kind of money will it be possible to sell Megan bought today in three years? It seems that the price will fall almost by half the secondary market of these machines is still very young, and according to operating conditions, as well as for maintenance, it is unlikely that anyone can answer something intelligible. On Entra, the price after the purchase falls immediately by about 30%, but then the fall slows down sharply. The popularity of Lancer in the secondary market is known, and, perhaps, its residual value will remain high.
Sentence
What to tell you about Magadan? Magadan ... Oh, Megan, an unconditional leader in an impeccable-promoted appearance, ideology and reasonable pathos. Someone may even seem like a modern golf class. In technical terms, it is not inferior, but however, it does not break forward of its Asian competitors. But, whatever one may say, its popularity and the location of potential buyers are at risk of ceiling price. Unhappy, but beautiful car. Cher Ami. Dear friend. Elantra Strong family middle peasant in everything, from appearance to technology. Family and school. Calculation and modesty in desires, the complete absence of snobbery. Spit and a more practical attitude to the concept of mentality. And finally, Lancer. Not quite a beautiful car with an ornithological appearance. But his character is combat, perky, he moves in any conditions pleasant and is able to give real pleasure from driving. Moreover, the quality of the assembly of Lancer, do not blame the Lord the French and the Lord Koreans an order of magnitude higher. So much that it is noticeable. Alas, to you, and Lancer for this is our gratitude.

HOW DO THEY LOOK
Nikita Rozanov
Outside: at first glance, the worst of all in such a company should feel an almost classic hatch-bek Megane, who was closed into the tested group of almost classic Lancer and Elantra sedans. But no! He has such a comparison only to benefit. Against such a background, Megane, which is favorably distinguished by some mystery of the appearance, looks even more vigorous and fresh and easily puts on the shoulder blades of any competitors. Despite the layer of cosmetics imposed on the eastern faces of rivals, Asians are quite well recognizable. True, Hyundai's face is not corporate, as Renault already has a place. The characteristics of the new Elantra can significantly affect the formation of a corporate face in Mitsubishi, which is already beginning to see. The silhouettes of the two eastern sedans are almost alphabetical, which makes the rear abrisa of the Megane body simply defiant. So, if you like the classics, then your choice is Lanser; If you want to add to the classic look a little of originality, then stop at Elantra; Well, if you want to keep up with fashion and are not afraid of increased attention, then the choice, of course for Megane.
Inside: it cannot be said that inside the cars are fully consistent with the style declared from the outside. So, Megane, unexpectedly for its revolutionary exterior, demonstrates a fairly banal T-shaped composition of the instrument panel, and Elantra mercilessly exploits the famous Saabov boomerang (the unified surface of the control and measuring instruments and the central console). Compared to this, the architecture of the Lancer instrument panel unexpectedly looks like, where the central console is newly not accented and horizontals prevail, which, as in aviation, divide the functional space into staging levels. The eastern rudders are not in the subject, because the four -spiti is not solid in the rank, the steering wheel is Renault, despite the significance of the developed pillow, the elegance itself. An important feature of the family car infrastructure created for rear passengers. Here, Mitsubishi immediately gives up, which did not provide its passengers with either a drawer with a drawer, nor stunted head restraints that Renault have and Hyundai.
Summary: I think that this is a rare case when the choice and sympathy are completely seemed to be a matter of taste. Another conversation, what taste, well, this, as you know, is the theme of a separate article in our heading design.
Text Nikolay Ushanov photo Alexander Nozdrin
 

 

A source: Cars