Test Drive Opel Zafira 2006 - 2008 Minivan

Five with a plus

You did not have to be squeezed into our passenger car, and then more passengers? Not?! You are a happy man! Probably, you have only one child, the mother-in-law lives in another city, there are absolutely no slavery friends and besides, you did not play the role of a sober driver after the general holiday.
Unfortunately, not everyone is so smiling fate with sometimes in the car lacks a couple of places. On the other hand, I don't want to buy a full-size mini-Ven for such rare cases for such rare cases and feel credited.
There is a way out, modern CDs are small in size, but six, and seven people. Moreover, it is often about the presence of additional seats, it is absolutely impossible to guess only if necessary, they are cleanedly removed from under the floor of the trunk. Five plus it is not an assessment of the merits, but the Formula of the Formula of the Four of the Four CD-WEN, which recently appeared in our market: Opel Zafira, Honda FR-V (SP, 2005, No. 8), Toyota Corolla Verso (SE, 2005, No. 7), Renault Grand Scenic (SP, 2004, No. 6).
Opel-Zafira
Test Safeir turned out to be a wolf in sheep skins charged by a two-axis turbocharged motor and sports suspension. Over the mark of 3500 rpm Explosion traction and emotions! Acceleration to hundreds of 9.1 s, the maximum speed is 222 km / h! The rigid adaptive suspension DSA instantly time to reconfigure shock absorbers, in harmony with the quality of the coating and side acceleration. An extremely acute and nervous steering wheel (only two and a half turns from the stop to the stop) makes it possible to feel the wheels literally with the tips of the fingers. The stabilization system works very sensitively allows you to go with a dosage slip or in a light drift and interferes only as a last resort. Not every car called sports can boast such a set. On this sprinter, in the summer it would be silent, yes on the retained racing track!
And here winter snow rhesis, ice and a broken frozen asphalt and a leisurely styrene race on a long distance. And, it turns out that it is more important here a motor pickup, but an efficiency and smooth traction in the entire range. Not low landing, but good ground clearance and reliable protection from below. Not a tough suspension, and comfort and ability, not chopping, swallow the pit in the asphalt. Not acute control, but its convenience and reliability.
After all, most buyers choose such cars for quite pragmatic considerations. For example, based on the convenience and size of the cabin. With this, Zafir are full order of all seven places are full, and even very tall passengers will fit on the front and middle row. True, the folding system Flex-7, which appeared on the past generation car, today does not seem to be such a perfect middle sofa has a continuous pillow and it has to move forward to decompose the third row or put the passengers there. But two can divide all his width, having fed to the center. By the way, only in this machine there is adjustment of the height of the rod of the middle row and the angle of tilt the driver's seat.
Like many modern Opels, here are non-fixed steering wheel switches, all the drivers initially bliefly bliss on the left, then right turn signals, misleading others. From the smallest climate control panel, smearing the gearbox lever, weightless brake pedal. The rest is spacious and in German, a neat car liked. And without a sports package with a more even characteristic of the motor, high and soft suspension, and even a full-sized spare wheel of Zafira could compete with the test leader.
Honda FR-V
On Honda, a very rare layout of the cabin with two rows of three chairs in each such solution was remembered only by the Fiat multiple. On the outer width of the body it did not affect; The same 1810 mm as the scenic. Nevertheless, the car looks somewhat cumbersome due to the high lines of glazing and almost vertical sides, which allowed you to make Honda inside at 50100 mm wider than rivals. To place a third chair ahead, the driver was shifted to the left because of this, even if there are no passengers in the car, the full driver pressed to the door and feels cramped. The same applies to the right passenger, which in addition and legs to pull out nowhere: interferes with the massive bottom of the front panel.
But the third passenger in the center makes the way the exciting-intimate he is forced to slide the chair back and pull the legs higher. So even at best, the driver's hand lies with his hip, as on the armrest. And if you need to switch the transmission or tighten the handbrake is probably precisely to reduce the degree of intima, the gearbox lever and the stretching handle of the parking brakes placed on the console unusually high. Because of this, you have to constantly keep in my head, which gear is included on the position of the curved lever it is difficult to determine.
The seat shifted back will force to move away and sitting behind him in the six-seat configuration both medium chairs shifted back to one and a half dozen centimeters. Due to the fact that it does not have to push the shoulders, threesome are quite comfortable. Here is a completely even floor, the stock of space in the legs and for the head just under a tent of centimeters. In general, Honda car for slender accelerats.
An amazing thing: a two-liter 150-strong engine demonstrated a much more energetic character than that non-vulnerable Sonya, which had a chance to ride in Europe last summer. Most likely, the case in our softer environmental requirements: they make it possible to enrich the fuel mixture harder. The phase control engine and the lifting height of the valve conquers excellent, excellent elasticity, gambling character and very low noise and vibrations. Even on the VI transmission, the machine willingly accelerate and easily takes rise. Under to become and chassis: dense and chain, with a sharp informative wheel, it allows you to go fast enough, confidently, with a loaf only on the energy intensity of the suspension it may not be enough on the waves, and even with the load.
By the way, Honda FR-V is positioned as a sports compact-Ven motor, suspension and management completely comply with such claims. As for the rest on the driver's seat, Honda least you feel athlete.
Toyota Corolla Verso
The combination of the minimum length and maximum wheelbase made the rear swells of a very tiny Toyota Corolla Verso at all like a car, the more seven. Meanwhile, under the hollow of the trunk, two seats are hidden, and completely full! If the middle chairs slightly move forward, seven large men will fit in Toyota.
With the most modest out of the fourth exterior sizes, the car strikes the interior with the front of the interior above the head two dozen centimeters! In the middle less, but you can throw the leg to the leg, behind without frills, but not at all closely. The floor in the cabin is low low, but even without a tunnel, the chairs are worth it. The seats of the second row are almost flat here, as in Opel, you can easily shift to the center. Door openings, without excellence, are huge.
At night, it turned out that the headlights are very good, but the unregulated backlight of the Optitron devices is unnecessarily bright. Another feature of an unusual control algorithm to a robotic machine, which does not have a parking position on the elector line. Instead, neutral should be used with a parking brake. Or does not follow, because the frosty day of the pads were about and had to be disrupted by their strength method. Very harsh winter revealed insufficient calorieness of heating.
On the move Toyota, there is also a completely passenger car with energetic reactions, small rolls, a dense suspension, which, unfortunately, does not disregard the junction of asphalt. The car was the most noisy, the annoying roar of the motor at speeds above 100 km / h makes it comes to regret the absence of VI transmission.
In general, the operation of a manual transmission with automatic switching is a separate song. More precisely, crying: jerks under the Trokhan, especially in the mountain, dips when switching, semi-acean hanging when triggered kick-downs make urban rides just unpleasant. Slightly improves the case of ES mode (Easy Sport Light Sports), in this case the box is not in a hurry to switch up, supporting higher engine speeds, and when it works, then slightly energetic. In general, the Verso is preferable to go through an empty highway. And it is even better to buy a car with a conventional manual box, saving $ 800, and enjoy the elastic motor, which, at a volume of 1.8 l, only slightly inferior to two-liter.
Renault Grand Scenic
When there is a five-seater scenic, the grand is not needed to seem less than it really is. However, the convenience of additional rear places were sacrificed with a form of a decrease in the roof of the roof limited the growth of their passengers at the level of 165170 cm. Yes, and to get out of there through a modest doorway, it is complicated. But such a car is usually family transport: children will be happy to take away.
The Scenic is striking, so it is a variety of diverse tanks for small things more than two dozen! Only for shoes four basements, such a layout made it possible to make the floor absolutely smooth, although it raised its level. Given the very high chairs, the head of passengers of the second row turns out only five centimeters from the roof to look out the window, you need to do. Three equal separatic seats have adjustments to the longitudinal and tilt backs, but if the third row is filled and the third row will have to move forward. However, the man kilograms under the ninety here will quite fit. Yes, and shoulders raised to the widest level of windows Troim do not have to push.
You need to get used to the dashboard with a huge display of the panel panel with a plurality of intricate scales and symbols. Quickly find on it the necessary information at first is difficult.
On the move, Grand Scenic turned out to be a well-balanced wagon-comfortable carriage, quite quiet and at the same time high-speed. It would seem, not the strongest combination of a two-liter motor in 135 hp In a pair with an elderly four-step automatic machine. However, inconspicuous switching is well suited to the soft character of the machine and even some thoughtfulness of the box here quite apologies. However, smooth acceleration does not mean a slow scenic reaches hundreds of 11.5 s.
The steering wheel with the electric powerful is very light, in the turns noticeable roll so car and is not created for pilotage! With a calm mode, the long-time suspension reveals the best quality without a stick swallows the Colds, not disturbed saddles, although it is better to slow down on large waves to avoid the swing. Neighless, the brake pedal appeared.
In general, Renault showed itself the most evenly, almost without punctures than and earned the highest middle score.
Than rich
In our four, 1,8-liter Toyota is most accessible in the initial configuration of Terra $ 26,900. She has electric mirrors and front windows, heated seats, air conditioning, audio system, on-board computer, ABS and five airbags, including the driver's knee. From the options automatic transmission. Prices for three other cars with 2.0 liters are in the range of $ 28,90031 900, and the equipment is richer electrified rear windows, there are inseparable climates control, headlight washers. In addition, Renault (PRIVILEGE) offers alloy wheels, fog lights, parking sensors, six pillows and also automatic. But another pair has traction and stabilization control systems, and Honda (Comfort) has a cruise control and xenon headlights. Opel (Cosmo Sport) has only four pillows, but there are sensors of rain and light, adaptive sports suspension, alloy wheels.
Autonomous swimming
Mini Wenna often buy long-distance lovers, so the requirements for the autonomy of these cars are higher. Both Europeans are content with the usual
92th gasoline, and the Japanese need the 95th here above the risk rushing to surrogate. Two cars outside (at Honda inside) under the floor of the trunk are fixed narrow sits, Opel with a sports package niche for the wheel is completely empty, on board only Remkomplekt. And if in a long road will seriously damage the sidewall?
Honda and Renault have a very good lumen 150 and even 160 mm, and the second car has a powerful steel protection under the engine compartment. In another pair, a modest 130135 mm sports suspension buffers are 10 mm below standard. Toyota requires more careful care, it needs to be serviced every 10 thousand km from the other mileage machines between one and a half times more.
        
Opel Zafira.
The second-generation seven-party CD in the elongated Opel-Astra platform debuted in 2005.
Motors: gasoline 1,62.2 l (105200 hp), turbodiesels 1.9 and 2.2 l (100150 hp).
Gearboxes: 5- or 6-speed mechanical,
4-speed automatic. Front drive.
Hardware: Essentia, Enjoy, Cosmo.
Price: $ 19,75031 900.
Opel Zafira contradictory wagon with a sports character. Choosing a city rider, burdened by transport service.
Total rating of 7.9
+ Excellent dynamics, high salon, good equipping, spacious trunk, rich selection of versions, 92th gasoline.
- Uncomfortable steering switches, big moves of the KP lever, too light brake pedal, continuous seats of the second row, rigid suspension, small ground clearance, no spawning.

Honda FR-V
The six-seat CD-VEN with the original two-row layout of the cabin made his debut in 2004. Built using the platform elements of the CR-V model.
Engines: gasoline 1.7 and 2.0 l (125 and 150 hp), turbodiesel 2.2 liters (140 hp).
Gearboxes: 5- or 6-speed mechanical, 4- or 5-speed automatic.
Front drive.
The configuration: Sport-Compact, Comfort, Executive.
Price: $ 28,900 (in Russia only 2.0 l, M6, Comfort).
Honda FR-V could be an excellent car, as it should be Honda, if it were not for a controversial six-seater concept.
Total rating of 7.9
+ Relatively compact sizes, good dynamics, powerful elastic motor, dense and chain suspension, comfortable steering, excellent noise and vibration insulation, wide salon.
- The driver is too strongly shifted to the door, closely for complete people's armchairs, limited suspension energy intensity, the only fixed equipment in Russia.

Toyota Corolla Verso.
The seven-party second-generation CD on Toyota-Avensis platform was shown in 2004.
Engines: gasoline 1.61.8 L (110135 hp), turbodiesel 2.0 l (90 hp).
Gearboxes: 5-speed mechanical, 4- or 5-speed automatic.
Required: Terra, Sol.
Price: $ 26,10028 900 (in Russia only 1.8 liters).
Toyota Corolla Verso by nature and perception of almost passenger car, about the seventeent essence of which are only dedicated.
Total estimate of 8.0
+ Compact sizes, very high salon, huge doorways, fast reactions on the road, elastic motor, powerful headlights.
- unsatisfactory work of the gearbox, too bright backlighting devices, no selection of modifications, noisy engine, small ground clearance, small mileage between that.

Renault Grand Scenic.
The second generation CD on the Renault Magan II platform debuted in 2003, and in 2004 his elongated seven-known version of Grand Scenic was presented.
Engines: gasoline 1.6 and 2.0 l (113163 hp) or turbodiesel rails 1.5 and 1.9 l (101 and 120 hp).
Transmission: 5- and 6-speed Mechanical or 4-speed automatic. Front drive.
The configuration: authentique (not supplied), Expression, Privileg.
Price: $ 22,60028 500 (in Russia only 1.6 and 2.0 l).
Renault Grand Scenic The most balanced car, whose few disadvantages are perceived, rather as features.
Total rating of 8.3.
+ Excellent visibility, comfortable suspension, big ground clearance, good noise insulation, abundance of tanks and comfort elements, spacious trunk, 92th gasoline.
- Difficult for reading the instrument panel, non-optimal driver's seat adjustments, too light brake pedal, the third row is only suitable for small passengers.

Yu. Netches: The perfect CDN for Russia could look like the running part of Renault to put the Honda power unit and cover the Opel body with the laying system from Toyota and the numerous scenic boxes.
 
 

 

 

 
 
 
 





Yuri Neduchov
 

A source: Journal "Behind the wheel"