PEUGEOT 306 Break 1997 test drive - 2002 hatchback

25 doors

I, like many of our compatriots, were puzzled by the purchase of a new car. Suppose we have an amount of $ 17,000 blood (there are almost no crazy money in Russia) and we wish to find reasonable use for them. At the same time, we understand that the operation of the car from the first day promises additional costs.

We have to look for a compromise between the quality of the car and the number of operational problems. It is clear that everyone wants the best car with a lower headache. However, the amount that we have is left no chance to purchase Mercedes or BMW.
A small class car is the maximum of what a Russian citizen can count on with $ 17,000 in a pocket. Thanks to the native government for the wealth of choice, because the small class is so diverse!

Small does not mean small. It will not be about Daewoo CoCo or Fiat 500 minibuses - sooner or later you will all learn about them under the Mildendo heading. We need a larger and more powerful car. Such that four passengers can carry and their baggage without harm and safety at a distance of more than 200 km and with a cruising speed of at least 100 km/h, regardless of the weather. In a word, you need a multifunctional car, not a city scooter. It is clear that for each function you will have to pay extra. We bring to your attention our algorithm for choosing the optimal investment of the above amount in the car. But for starters, we will understand the terms (as one acquaintance from Yekaterinburg used to say: we will deal with the conceptual apparatus).

We will call a new car a car purchased in the first hands. With a modern car, remembering some remoteness of Russia from automobile capitals of the world, we will call a car whose design was first represented no earlier than 1991. Accordingly, outdated - until 1991, and the old one is a design of a ten -year ago. By car of the Lada brand, we will mean only front -wheel drive models of domestic low -profiles.
So, we faced the task with at least 10 unknown. That is how many models of machines of the class of European and Korean production of interest are represented in the car dealerships in Moscow. For a number of organizational reasons, including due to the absence of some of them in lively, the real number of doubled.
Five cars are not more expensive than $ 17000 together - Ford Escort 1.6, Hyundai Accent 1.3, Kia Avella 1.3, Peugeot 306 1.4 and Skoda Felicia 1.3. These cars confidently keep the upper lines in the rating of popularity among users of the computer network Avtodrome, so our test was largely indicative. All models are front -wheel drive. To avoid the incorrect comparison, we requested only 5-door hatchbacks from dealers- not every car has 3- and 4-door versions. With the exception of Skoda, all cars can be equipped with automatic boxes, which costs an additional $ 800-1500 depending on the brand. We decided to take a closer look at standard models with 5-speed manual boxes. Let's start with the favorite of the market - Czech Skoda.

Skoda Felicia
You will not find cheaper than Skoda Felicia, a new car in category 1.3 - 1.6 liters. The price is interesting: the closest relative of the latest Volkswagen cars costs $ 3000-4000 more than a distant relative of the Fiat 124 model of 1964 (do you realize what we mean?). That is, without regretting a relatively small additional amount, you will become the owner of a modern and practical car. Parting - you will stay with Lada or you can buy a 3 -cylinder Daewoo CoCo.

Felicia is a clear example of how important it is to go under the wing of a world company in time. There was a Favorit model in Czechoslovakia, which was never a favorite and could only compete with Lada. The Volkswagen concern, entering the Favorit design of not 800 or 900 changes, presented a new car called Felicia in 1994. For the Skoda and the Czech economy, this was a kind of velvet revolution. However, to turn Skoda Favorit into Skoda Felicia, not only fantastic investments, but also guarantees of the Czech government were required.

The modification presented for the motor test is basic and equipped with an 8 -valve carburetor engine B54 forces. Salon of pleasant light tones with velor upholstery. Hardy seats with good lateral support have two standard adjustments. The height adjustment would not have prevented. The back of the rear seats is thrown back only completely (in the more expensive version you can also throw one of the halves).

Two rear passengers are enough, three will be crowded. Safety belts are adjusted in height.

Management of overall lights and near light is carried out by a multi -position switch to the left of the steering column. In the dashboard there are a tachometer and liquid crystal clock. The back door is unlocking both the cabin from the cabin and the key. The gas tank plug is equipped with a lock. Fighting headlights are included in standard equipment since 1997 of the model year. The appearance of the machine and the interior are made at a high level. Quality is no longer East European, but Western European.

The steering wheel is harsh. The clutch pedal is uninformative, the brake pedal - on the contrary, very clearly conveys the behavior of the machine.

A few words about the body. Steel panels have a galvanic coating. The factory warranty for through corrosion - 6 years, applies to Russia. An additional anticorront is not required - you can save $ 200. The perimeter of the side doors is reinforced, the doors have a system of protection against a side blow.

From a meeting with Skoda, we were waiting for more. Still - almost Volkswagen! But in fact, Felicia turned out to be a simple car, like a Czech tram, it was relatively spacious and comfortable compared to ours. But trams leave the rails. With high -speed entering the perpendicular, Skoda has an extreme situation earlier than classmates. The tires of Matador 165/70R13 do not have enough clutch properties on the turns.

The simultaneous demolition of both axes can occur almost out of the blue - you will not adjust either gas or the steering wheel. So, if a demon is sitting in you, do not bother Skoda dealers in vain. If you move calmly, without making sharp movements by the steering wheel, then for most motorists Felicia will be a profitable replacement for Lada. A motor with a good characteristic of torque and a successful selection of gear rates will not be completely disappointed with you.

The acquisition of Skoda Felicia 1.3 is the path of the least resistance. After the purchase, there will be at least $ 4750, for which you can wash the purchase, buy a set of winter wheels, wash them, and even repair the little things for two years. Moreover, there is where. Almost all car dealerships specializing in Skoda also have a service. Norma at the service stations costs an average of $ 25 - 30.

By the way, there is a modification of Felicia Combi. The motor is the same, but the station wagon is more expensive by $ 1000 - 1100. The first Felicia with Volkswagen 1.6 (75 hp) engines appeared on sale - add $ 3,000 more.

Hyundai Accent
The AcCent model is well known to us. The car is pleasant in all respects, despite the rather amorphous appearance. We almost love her. But with a 5-door modification we are dealing with the first time.

The smallest of the gamut of the engines has a volume of 1.3 liters, a carburetor, 12 valves. The power of the baby is 70 hp.

The standard package includes a steering amplifier, a radio, an electric drive of the front glasses, belts with adjustment of the mount in height. The seats are emphasized in the lumbar region. The steering column is adjustable along the angle of inclination.

The rear seats fold in a ratio of 1: 2. Unlike other tested machines, Accent has a hydraulic, rather than a cable clutch.

The back door and a gas tank hatch are unlocked by levers to the left of the driver's seat. Here, in principle, and all the bells and whistles. There is no point in repeating in the description of the controls, since inside the hatchback is indistinguishable from the sedan (motor 3). However, two versions differ in habits.

At all operating modes, the engine makes a pleasant bass sound. Not even the most powerful motor is enough for sports driving. Accommodation Accent 1.3 was on top. Lower transmission gearboxes allow you to make impudent sprint accelerations. There are no complaints about the information content of pedals. The suspension is hard. It so happened that the Accent rolled the last and made sure that he was the best of the fifth control. All turns the car passes clearly, as by order. If you specifically make errors in piloting, fixing them will not be difficult even within an imaginary track. Rubber Michelin175/70R13 clings to the asphalt and holds the car to the last.

This year, Hyundai pleased the audience with a cheerful raving range of colors. The next year, the gamut of flowers will remain, but the shades of olive will be added.

By acquiring Accent, we overpay (without much enthusiasm) $ 3000-4000 in excess of the price of Skoda. At the same time, we get a more powerful car with a more sports temperament. Accent is offered with three types of bodies-3 and 5-door hatchbacks and a 4-door sedan. The price range for cars with 1.5 l of the engine is $ 16500-18600. The cheap 3-door Accent costs $ 15500. According to Hyundai owners, they do not experience any problems with maintenance and repair of cars in Moscow. If you intend to take the car based on the neighborhood with an authorized service, then the location of the Hyundai, Daewoo or Kia station you closest to you can be clarified in the July Motor issue. There you will also find more detailed information about Korean cars with 1.5 liters of engines (other Korean machines with a higher class fit into the 17 thousandth limit).

Before the New Year, Hyundai is preparing to take a revenge from Skoda an even cheaper model in the same class. The almost forgotten Pony 1.3 sedan is returning to our market - the predecessor of the Accent model. The price of this low -profile will not exceed $ 11800. However, this will be just a Christmas sale of old reserves.

Kia Avella
She debuted in Europe recently, although in the States it has been known as Ford Aspire since 1993. In our market - so far a dark horse. Hyundai Accent is inferior in popularity, although in terms of characteristics it has no equal in class. A baby with 1.5 l of a 16-valve engine has 101 liters under a hood. With. At the same time, the price fits into the allotted $ 17000. The reason for the discrimination is simple - the Kia dealer network cannot yet boast of such a scale as Hyundai. Meanwhile, Avella is a very interesting car, and during the time of overcoming the difficulties of growing a dealer network, she is unlikely to have time to become obsolete. The low-profile is based on the Mazda 121 units and is produced with 3 types of bodies-3 and 5-door hatchbacks and Avella Delta sedan.

For so far reasons, the supply of hatchbacks with 1.5 liters of engines to Russia has been stopped (last winter we managed to introduce you to this top modification). A one and a half -liter motor has become the privilege of Avella Delta sedanov. The hatchback taken for the test has a 16-valve engine with a working volume of 1.3 liters with distributed electronic fuel injection, which develops 76 liters. With.

The basic version includes a power steering, a radio with automatic antenna, front electric windows and alloy wheels. Neither seat belts nor seats have additional adjustments. The back door and a gas tank hatch unlock in the same way as Hyundai Accent, but unlike the last steering column on Avella is not regulated. The control of the janitor and the washer of the rear window is taken to the steering wheel lever - you do not have to be distracted from the road once again. The instrument panel pleases with three bright spirals of the speedometer, tachometer and combined indicators of the temperature of the coolant and fuel level. This joy is practically not overlapped by the needles of the steering wheel. Comfort the driver and three of his fellow travelers are provided.

Kia just like Hyundai, keeps the way well. But Avella suspension is softer and long -term, which causes a larger and already unacceptable body roll in the point of view of comfort in a speedy turn. Avella braking with a nose, and it takes time to take a normal rack.

Acceleration is fast and confident. The first two programs are enough for separation from the Peleton. In the city stream, you do not often have to act a lever. A very elastic motor and, perhaps, better than all the machines presented, the selectivity of the box lever gives the driver many advantages. Standard Korean tires, this time the Kumho 165/70R13, has repeatedly influenced the assessment of the behavior of cars on the road. Our advice - do not pity $ 200-300 for softer and perfect rubber.

On Avella, you can bet if the KIA service infrastructure is pulled up at least to the level of other Korean firms.

Ford Escort
The current generation of Escort cars has been produced since 1990. At the beginning of last year, the model underwent thorough restyling. It has a wide range of bodies: hatchbacks (3 and 5 doors), sedan, station wagon, convertible and a split van. Gamma of engines - gasoline from 1.3 to 2.0 liters and two diesel engines: atmospheric and turbocharged, both with a volume of 1.8 liters.

The appearance in the Russian market Ford Escort 1.6 at a price of $ 14900 caused confusion among those who laid out about $ 18,000 last year. Friendship of Russia with Ford lasts not the first decade. This year, the fruits were given primarily by the rational pricing policy of the company. Prior to this, no Golf class model could compete at prices with Korean machines. We engaged Escort with a 1.6 engine, fully aware that the difference of 300 cubes can affect the objectivity of comparison. But in reality, no one can delete this modification from the list of cars no more than $ 17,000.

The car stands out primarily in size. As a result, its salon is more spacious and comfortable than other cars. Five adult passengers in it can feel as natural as four in Hyundai Accent. Soft seats with decent lateral support have only two standard adjustments.

But this is enough to find the optimal landing - the visibility in all directions is great. The steering column is not adjustable. Under it, instead of the usual adjustment lever, the hood lock lever is located (attention!) The instrument panel is a traditional combination of quite chosen shirts of the tachometer, speedometer, fuel level indicators and coolant temperature. There is also its own, Ford Mulka - turnout with oval, like emblem, dial. Safety belts are adjustable in height. Standard equipment includes a steering wheel, central locking, audioquitis (antenna and speakers, but without a radio) and mechanical windows.

The back door opens with a lever in the cabin, and the gas tank plug with a key. On cars with a 1.6 liter engine, the bumpers are painted in the color of the body, and on cheaper, with a 1.3 liter engine, just black plastic is used. Perhaps everything. We start the engine.

The tachometer arrow immediately rises to the mark of 3000. Having worked like that for a few seconds, the motor returns to the idle mode. The engine is with a two -chamber carburetor with an electronic suction, after each starter turning on, the ledge is triggered and the engine speed increases. At the same time, the engine works very noisy.

Touching smooth. With all the desire, a low start without a clutch slip will not work. The engine is clearly not enough for quick overclocking. His reaction to the pressing of the gas pedal was too slow. However, a decent cruising speed Escort 1.6 can boast. At the same time, it is not inferior to the medium -sized machines by smoothness. Excess speed is easy not to notice, relaxing in comfortable chairs.

Only a warning by headlights from oncoming vehicles about radar in the bushes made me look at the speedometer: 120, but it seems that 60. We slow down and after a hundred meters we decorinely show our loyalty to the road rules. The operation of the brakes is fast, the pedal is informative. The same can be said about the operation of the steering. The controllability of the machine can come at the time of fans of fast, but not extreme driving.

In favor, Ford Escort speaks first of all his brand. Ford is Ford. Therefore, when purchasing a car with a blue oval, even the cheapest one, you become the owner of the prestige brand, which is unlikely to happen in the case of Korean and Czech cars. A spacious salon and first -class mechanics are attached to the prestige. However, the life of a motorist is full of ambitions. The blue oval, alas, will not protect the car from possible malfunctions. What then? The Ford service network in Russia has been developing for 5 years.

There are 7 authorized stations in Moscow: on the Birch Alley, Tula Street, Ryazansky Prospekt, Gorbunov and Pererva streets, at the beginning of the Shchelkovsky and the end of the Dmitrovskoye Shosse. The path to the nearest service from anywhere in the city will not take more than half an hour. The Escort version presented for the test can be purchased for $ 16,000. On the remaining thousand you can stock up on a set of winter wheels and a radio.

PEUGEOT 306
The French set off in pursuit of the Russian client, giving a significant and, as it seems, unjustified handicap to competitors.

The price of $ 17000 for a 5-door hatchback of the 306th model in the basic configuration can only be explained by the Peugeot brand and European quality. By the way, cars of this brand are considered one of the most reliable and durable: in almost every Senkevich’s programs about Africa in the frame no, no, may Peegeot flicker 20, or even 30 years ago. Perhaps the French did not cheat this time - it began to reach our fellow citizens that they were not so rich as to buy cheap cars.

Strict, verified by generations of Peugeot machines, the design of the 306th model immediately answers the question of a relatively high price. Classic cannot cost cheaper than the avant -garde. Perhaps this is the most stylish of five cars taken for a test. As well as Escort, Peugeot 306 without any stretches refers to the GOLF class. Indeed, in terms of the number of places for passengers and comfort (though in more expensive trim levels), PEUGEOT and FORD was honored by three other cars. The 306th also has body modifications-a 3-door hatchback, a sedan and a convertible, by the way, is very beautiful. 6 gasoline engines are offered to choose from (from 1.4 to 2.0 liters, and, accordingly, from 75 to 152 hp), as well as 1.9 liters of diesel (69 hp) and turbodiesel (92 l. .). Only the most modest Peugeot 306 - with a 1.4 -l carburetor engine is fed into the monetary limit set. Its carburetor is single -chamber, with a manual suction. If you forgot how to run the engine on the Lada, such a modification is just for you.

On this, all similarities with the Russian folk car ends. Peugeot is made very high quality. At the beginning of the path, the 306th, as it were, apologized for his standard equipment, it was not to blame that it would take a car in the S16 configuration, he would show ... However, he did not have to shake for a long time, even with the most frail Peugeot engine showed good Acceleration.

The wealth of color and selection of options in the cabin did not acquaint acquaintance with standard equipment. But comfort, first of all at the wheel, left a good impression. The steering column is adjustable along the angle of inclination, security belts - in height. Front door windows have an electric drive. In general, everything is very convenient. The costs of standard configuration are compensated by the interior design and high assembly quality. The costs of the absence of a tachometer (the only of five cars), in its place, can be called the cost. The equipment of the salon includes audiokin. The radio will have to fork out additionally.

Although the steering wheel without hydraulic power, with the controllability of the machine, there were no problems. In high -speed turns, Peugeot in a corporate style wrote out an extremely clear trajectory, without the slightest hints of the demolition of one of the axes.

Michelin 165/70R13 tires, despite the modest size, was enough to hold the wheels in the framework of the trajectory set by the steering wheel. The only claim to the behavior of the car is the large free stroke of the brake pedal.

PEUGEOT 306 - only one car of five (with the exception of Ford with a locking of the central lock), the rear doors of which are equipped with the so -called children's lock - the simple latch does not allow the door to open from the inside, so that parents may not worry and not look back at the youngsters who love to add buttons .

Peugeot infrastructure in Russia is just beginning to develop. At the company's representative office, we were recommended to repose on Altufevskoye Shosse. Normal work at the station will cost $ 55. But by the end of autumn a new technical center will open in the Schmidtovsky passage. The service will become cheaper for $ 15.

Source: Motor magazine [No. 7/1996]