Test Drive Opel Astra Sedan 1998 - 2008 Sedan

Already prestigious, still available

Compare compact sedans of the lower middle class
The car is not chosen only with a cold mind. Here, the marriage is much more accomplished by love, rather than on the calculation. Although, maybe in it and there is a higher calculation ...
The secret of the popularity of the compact class sedans among secured Russians is obviously in the successful combination of representative appearance with practicality and moderate price. Everything that is less is discerning, all that is more is good, but expensive. In the price range of 8-12 thousand dollars. For wallets of buyers, Koreans are fighting mainly. Europeans and the Japanese are more expensive - they took part in our test: Opel Astra ($ 14,580), Ford Focus ($ 17,530), Volkswagen Bora ($ 17,490), Skoda Octavia ($ 16 170), Renault Megan ($ 14,900), Mitsubishi Carism ($ 14,490). Picked up machines with 1,6-liter gasoline engines and mechanical transmissions. Configuration - basic or close to them; Only focus was in the top performance of GIA - more affordable will cost $ 14,900. Another exception is Octavia with the body of the hatchback; She was taken to an overlook for the external similarity with the sedan.
Shining polished sides, Six machines froze in front of the strict judges: Let's start-with!
Looks
Banal Like - I do not like when choosing a car sometimes there is more than all objective advantages and disadvantages taken together. Well, let's try to evaluate the appeal to the subjects of the buyer, committed to eternal values \u200b\u200b(not only the automotive world): solidity, harmony, convenience. We take into account the objective indicators.
Opel Astra - 4. Further car, however, a somewhat averaged appearance, without memorable parts. Doors' openings are wide enough, just the handles creak. It is a pity that the engine compartment is not protected from below, the ground clearance with a cargo is 120 mm.
Ford Focus - 5. He has the most stylish and memorable appearance; From domestic parts - very large doorways. Delightened did not meet us a pile anti-coating coating in the rear arches. Door lock buttons are not visible outside. Big ground clearance - with four passengers about 150 mm.
Volkswagen Bora - 4. Externally - restrained and solid and at the same time muscular, very carefully made. It is not a trifle almost a smooth bottom with well-protected fuel lines and a graduation system, but the engine compartment is open from below. Did not please the outlooks behind, tight outdoor handles, hard locks of doors.
Skoda Octavia - 4. It looks with a claim for respectability. At the same time, the doorways are rapidly contaminated, and the sharp wind door is essential. The bottom is well protected, under the engine - a powerful steel shield, but before it is from the road - only 105 mm.
Renault Megan - 4. A peculiar, although not indisputable appearance. The openings are easily contaminated (without external seals), the rear is also clamped up; Door lock buttons are missing at all. Good protection of the engine compartment, but the sloping brackets of the fuel lines. Oil probe is stubborn very deeply.
Mitsubishi Carism - 4. Soft, calm, but not too memorable silhouette, low opening of the front door. Motor compartment without protection, ground clearance - medium.
WELCOME!
They looked around and about, shouted with languages \u200b\u200b- now it's time to grasp the driver or passenger, looking along the way to the trunk.
Opel Astra - 4. The salon was rated as neat and functional, quite spacious, but in comparison with others - the lowest and narrow. Pleased with the exact short moves of the gear lever, the maximum in the group the longitudinal adjustment of the front armchairs. The only one of the six - with side airbags for front passengers. Cutting folding back, as well as competitors, is supplemented with a hatch for long-term armrest niches.
Ford Focus - 5. Praised for the most stylish interior design, the most spacious interior, a fairly high landing (a little reminiscent of mini-Ven). The only six of the six can boast the electric heating of the front glass, at least in a rich configuration. The trunk is spacious, but it is short, it is short.
Volkswagen Bora - 4+. The richest, good and carefully separated salon would not be posted and the car class above. Designer interior solutions are distinguished by rigor and demanding to the accuracy of the manufacture of elements. Excellent steering wheel, short strokes of the box, huge chain adjustment ranges. The principle drawback is the closest rear. Hard uncomfortable headrests. The trunk is big, but his opening is narrowing, but the castle is with a servo.
Skoda Octavia - 5-. Rich, quite spacious salon; Large chairs adjustment ranges; The interior is largely reminded by Bor, but the quality of execution is not so impeccable. Inadvertent control of outer mirrors, the power windows are inconvenient. Thanks to the long back svet the trunk is almost a hundred liters more than rivals, and the fifth door provides excellent access there. In the spare wheel niche - a spacious tool compartment.
Renault Megan - 5. Salon without delights, but one of the most spacious: three people will light up without interference. Soft comfortable chairs, does not bother at all the central tunnel. The trunk is a huge area and the widest, but rather low. Spacious niche for spare wheel and tools.
Mitsubishi Carism - 4+. The salon was considered slightly rustic, but spacious. Soft comfortable chairs, driver - with adjustment of the pillow along the angle of inclination. Only here the steering wheel is Velic, and the inner door handles, on the contrary, are too small. A large opening opens access to the jigger of medium sizes. The latter is not very deep, besides the loops of the lids protrude inside.
Bird can be seen by flight
Now in the way - in the end, the cars are bought to ride them.
Opel Astra - 5. Best indicators in almost all exercises: dynamic acceleration, good thrust in a wide range of revolutions, on the fifth gear without a deceleration overcomes the rise of 8%; A very elastic engine forgives even gross mistakes in choosing gear. Informative steering wheel, small rolls in turns. The suspension is sufficiently comfortable, the noises are small.
Ford Focus - 3-. Afront! With difficulty took a 30 percent rise on the first gear, while the rest overpowered and 50%. The combination of long gear and strangled under the 91th gasoline of the motor, which does not take place at low and medium turnover, causes the driver often switching. In rapid turns notice the effect of infringement of the rear suspension, but how much does it need in ordinary modes? Rough work ABS, small vibrations on controls, noise from wheels.
Volkswagen Bora - 4+. A confident good one has come on the heels of leaders. Outstanding results on the run (a little better only at the rolled astra) - evidence of high quality manufacturing. The engine perfectly pulls on the bottoms, the most effective brakes. The suspension is quite dense, which is especially noticeable on a blank machine.
Skoda Octavia - 4. Good dynamics, confident thrust on the bottoms, however, with a slow (lady), the movement was felt on the irregularities. Rolls are vigilable in turns, besides, the tendency towards driving.
Renault Megan - 5. The second according to the results in dynamic exercises. In the asset - confident thrust in the entire range, energetic overclocking, minimal noise and vibration, high smoothness. Packs - the effort on the steering wheel is pregnant, the tendency to the drift is noticeable.
Mitsubishi Carism - 4. Applicated for the role of a good-quality middle man - led the tendency of the brakes to overheating with the subsequent loss of efficiency. The running motor pulls well, the suspension is soft and comfortable, the noise level is low. I did not like that the car is noticeably rented in turns, and the force on the steering wheel changes jumps like. Carism less than the rest provokes on a sharp energetic ride. By the way, as well as the focus, it has a rear of a prominent multi-dimensional suspension, but the moose do not know about it, and the advertisement is silent.
Ratings and ratings
When summing up, we will proceed from the same fee of the indicators, although, of course, buyers can be different.
Opel Astra - 4 points and final 4-5th place. Very dynamic, good car, but not a masterpiece design. Last, afraid, insult an ambitious owner who would prefer this car for driving quality. The rating of popularity is also evidenced about the contradiction between the form and content: over the past year, only 161 Astra is sold in Russia (the lowest result from the group).
Ford Focus - 4- and 4th place. Stringing appearance, spacious salon, but ... Frank failure in driving qualities. The contender for leadership in case of curing the ailment, because the unadapted European version is much more. Novelty model, bright appearance and a powerful advertising campaign allowed for incomplete last year to conquer sympathy of 416 buyers (fifth place out of six in terms of sales).
Volkswagen Bora - 4+ and 2-3rd place. Reduced version of the prestigious trade wind? The car for the driver, and the passengers from behind - do not blame immediately. Much more expensive competitors; Nevertheless, last year there were 877 buyers who are ready to overpay for quality (fourth place of six).
Skoda Octavia - 4+ and 2-3rd place. A well-working, although not quite exact formula German quality at the Czech price, as well as respectable appearance and high functionality - all this convinced 2763 buyers (the best result among our six).
Renault Megan - 5 and 1st place. The big, good-quality and dynamic car could be a sales leader, but it is content with the third place (last year 1031 cars were implemented) - evidence that the presence of the French about automotive beauty is not separated.
Mitsubishi Carism - 4 and 4-5th place. The most even indicators. Spacious family car, not loving unnecessary dynamic driving. However, the most of the 1210 (second place of six) of the freshly baked owners, most likely, will not recognize - they will rejoice in their choice, exalting the legendary Japanese quality in the Dutch interpretation.

Opel Astra (SM, 2001, No. 6) of the current, second generation is issued since 1998. Body - three- or five-door hatchback, sedan, wagon; The coupe is considered an independent model, like Mini Ven Zafira on the Astra platform. Drive - front, power units - four-cylinder sixteenthly patched: gasoline - 1.2; 1.4; 1.6 (there is eight-block); 1.8; 2.2 liters, as well as turbo diesel engines - 1.7 and 2.0 liters (two options - 61 or 74 kW). Along with a five-speed manual transmission with all motors, except for the two weakens, the four-stage automatic machine is aggregated.

Ford Focus (SM, 2000, No. 7) - the heir of popular escort, debuted in 1998. Body - three- or five-door hatchback, sedan, wagon, soon there will be mini-Ven. Drive - front. Equipped with gasoline sixteenthly gauges of 1.4; 1.6; 1.8; 2.0 l, as well as 1.8-liter turbodiesel (55 or 66 kW). The gearbox is a five-speed mechanical, and from 1.6 and 2.0 liters also a four-stage automatic. In Vsevolozhsk, near St. Petersburg, a plant is built for the release of focus.

Volkswagen Bora (SM, 1999, No. 3) - Sedan on the Hatchback Platform Golf IV. For the first time was shown in 1998, together with the universal is considered an independent model. It is highlighted by the widest range of power units: gasoline 1.4; 1.6 (eight and sixteen farm); 1.8; 2.0; 2.3; 2.8 l, as well as 1.9-liter turbodiesel (five modifications, from 66 to 110 kW). Depending on the motor, it is equipped with an anterior or complete drive, five or six-speed mechanical transmissions, four- and five-speed automata.

Skoda Octavia (SP, 2000, No. 5, 10), first shown in 1996, built on a single platform with golf-IV. Last year updated. Produced with a hatchback body (longer than golf) and a wagon. Equipped with 1.4 (44 and 55 kW) gasoline aggregates; 1.6 (55 and 74 kW); 1.8 and 2.0 liters, as well as a diesel engine of 1.9 liters (four modifications from 50 to 81 kW). Along with the front-wheel drive for powerful versions, a complete one is proposed, and besides a five-or six-speed manual gearbox - a four-stage automatic.

Renault Megan (SM, 1999, No. 1, 5) appeared in 1995, and four years later his appearance was updated. Body - five-door hatchback, sedan, wagon. Independent models are considered a coupe, a convertible and mini-Ven Scenic. The drive - the front (all-wheel drive modification is only at mini-Wen). Motors - gasoline 1.4; 1.6; 1.8 liters, as well as 1.9-liter turbodiesel (55, 72 and 75 kW). The gearbox is a five-speed manual, for powerful versions also four-stage automatic.

Mitsubishi Carism (SM, 2000, No. 3) has been produced since 1995 at the Nedland factory in Holland. In 1999, updated. Body - five-door hatchback and sedan. Drive - front. Power units - gasoline 1.6 and 1.8 liters (the last GDI type) and turbodiesel 1.9 l (75 and 85 kW). The gearbox is the five-speed mechanical, for gasoline versions is also a four-stage automatic.

The extended tongue eliminates the need to fool with hand under the hood.

Speakers in the trunk loop steal a considerable part of its volume.

Convenient trifle - plug on a leash.

The focus hood opens the wise.

Multi-link rear suspension with a cheating effect.

The parallelogram mechanism does not protrude in the trunk.

The right mirror, like a bor, is completely tiny.

Circular digitization somewhat makes it difficult to read the readings.

It is difficult to check the oil level, not staining hands

Compact torsion pendant with inclined shock absorbers fits completely under the hollow of the luggage compartment.

Internal door handles fit only to a child.
 
 
 


 
 
Text / Yuri Tile
Photo / Vladimir Knyazev and Vladimir Pantsov

A source: Journal "Behind the wheel"