Test Drive Nissan Almera Classic since 2006 Sedan

Aliens. Two

One - Nissan, the other - Chevrolet. Japanese brand, an American brand which is now the difference: both cars - Koreans!
 

On the next comparative test of the journal the debutant of the Russian market - Nissan Almera Classic and in the juice in the coolest (if you talk about automotive age) Chevrolet Lacetti.

 

Even with a big desire, neither one nor another car is currently in the free sale. Nothing can be done - in the interior queues! Depending on the configuration, you will have to wait from the month to six months, and it makes it look at the competing from an unusual point of view. They are a deficit, because too many want to become owners of such cars. As they say in boxers, in the right corner of Ring - debutant: Nissan Almera Classic. The South Korean version of the popular car that caused similar feelings in Russia. Famous in his homeland as Samsung Sm3, he has a lot in common with a well-known Nissan Almera European assembly, although the engine and appearance is what you immediately pay attention to - original. In our hands, the maximum completed version, which is driven by a 1.6-liter 107-strong motor and a 4-speed automatic transmission.

 

In the left corner - sedan Chevrolet Lacetti. The car that has proven itself in Russia and even going to Kaliningrad. Lacetti (he is - Daewoo Nubira, he - Buick Excelle) appeared, thanks to the efforts of not only South Korean, but also Italian designers from PinInfarina, almost 2 years ago. It is also equipped with a 1.6-strong 109 liter engine. p., but the torque is transmitted through the mechanical transmission.
 

With an outdoor inspection you will not be asked: what they found Russians in these cars. Maybe the cars and are not indisputable beautiful, but the raisin is in that, and in the other. Expressive, solid, memorable - what is needed.
 

If you look inside, then the delight will take off. The interior of the cabin of each of them is modest; Perhaps even too much. But the simplicity of the situation is a way to maintain low prices, which plays a decisive role in this car segment.
 

However, in the Lacetti salon, it is quite cozy, it is possible to find face, rather, to ergonomics. Here is not the most comfortable steering wheel - large diameter, and the unsuccessful shape of the handle of the shedding lever. Fabric seats are also not the best solution in the finish; In addition, they do not provide the desired side support. True, here we make a configuration: Lacetti with an automatic offer another, much more pleasant salon (with a two-color trim). The instrument panel at Chevrolet looks more interesting than the opponent: in many respects, thanks to the metal edging. On the other hand, this option is relatively worse.

 

Aesthetically interior Nissan pleases less American-Korean. Cheap plastic of the central console plus the archaic of an external look does not honor the classics. But here is a much more pleasant steering wheel: it is -3-spoke and size less than in Lacetti. The dashboard - nonsense, sensors are devoid of edging and all sorts of design triggers. The air conditioner works properly: despite the classic (in the sense, old-fashioned) design, it is convenient to use - the blowing modes are switched by the buttons. In addition, the local cooling system has occurred much faster after turning on the engine.
 

Turn on the ignition ... The first transmission ... gas ... The Lacetti turned out to be a very soft clutch pedal, and the path of the KP lever before turning on the gear cannot be called short. True, the box works well, and the transfer numbers are selected here very well. 1.6-liter 109-strong motor is weak on Nizakh, but much more interesting in the field of medium and high revs. The steering wheel, which external did not like less, was pleasantly surprised by the felt effort and accuracy in choosing an angle of rotation.

 

As for Nissan, here the effort on the steering wheel is indistinguishable, sharpness is slightly smaller. There are no complaints to both pedals, but the engine does not always find a common language with transmission - to choose the necessary transmission and keep the necessary dynamics turned out to be not easy. The right pedal can be played with amplitude of several centimeters: - No reaction. Delays in switching are sufficiently long, and overclocking is quite sluggish. Start from the traffic light with 200 m put the points over I: We will state a repeated chevrolet victory with a rupture of one and a half housing. However, this gap is most likely due to the transmission difference.

 

The higher the speed, the more nice to manage Nissan. The car confidently holds the road, quickly reacting to the steering wheel turn, while in Chevrolet there is a lightweight plumbing and does not feel as acute power steering and wheels. But the classic loses in the energy intensity of the suspensions, sounded with cracks in the asphalt with the selection of short-terrestrial racks. Tangible rolls and there and there, in principle, did not surprise - from these cars we did not wait for sharpness and manageability, say, Civic. With braking from Lacetti, there are no problems: the stop occurs on the first requirement. Almers have no less effective slowdown; True, braking until a complete stop is less smooth due to the jerks of the machine with a decrease. At idle, both engines work almost silently, Nissan is a little quieter. The lacetti feature is the need to use medium and high revolutions - just then the engine responds not to such a pleasant roar. But consuming to the floor of the Nissan accelerator pedal has no less noise effect; Perhaps the Japanese even intercepts the championship in this dubious nomination. In general, in both cars I would like more silence at speed.

  

We draw conclusions. Lacetti since our next meeting did not change at all. In ergonomics, there are still shortcomings, and in aesthetics did not disappear advantages. In general, a worthy option for $ 16,000-17,000. In Nissan, we didn't like the automatic alone: \u200b\u200bit does not have a dynamic movement at all, it gives delays when switching, in short, slowly. The 107-strong engine deserves a mechanical transmission, which will add a driving sedan, and in addition, will significantly reduce the cost of the car. However, any advantages and cons of both cars are blunt when you go to the dealership. The attractive demand for these models allows you to make an unambiguous conclusion: according to the price-quality ratio both of our hero are out of criticism!

 
Chevrolet Lacetti.
Lacetti sedan with a 1.4-liter 94-strong engine costs $ 13,790. The base includes a hydraulic switch, front airbags, ABS, central locking, front windows, CD magnetol with radio. 1.6-liter 109-strong version is available from $ 15,590, and the equipment with the same engine and automatic CP will cost, starting at $ 17,590.
 
Nissan Almera Classic
The Japanese Korean sedan is available in three sets exclusively with a 1.6-liter 107-power engine. In the starting version, the car costs $ 13,490. In addition to the 5-speed mechanical KP, it includes a hydraulic switch, front windows, adjustable in height of the steering wheel, driver airbag, central locking, immobilizer. The version with the machine can be purchased from $ 15,090.
 

Cars are provided for Test by autoprodix companies (official Nissan dealer) and Atlantm Baltika (official Chevrolet dealer)


Text: Alexander Korobchenko, Philip Berezen
Photo: Roman Stunnin
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 

A source: Magazine "Wheels" [№105 / 2006]