PEUGEOT 306 Break 1997 test drive - 2002 hatchback

Cars for $ 12-13 per kilogram

Three cars are so the same and so different poured on the edge of the Khodynsky airfield in anticipation of the exam. These five -seater, front -wheel drive, vehicles similar in design should have brightly and brilliantly demonstrate their advantages and quietly, without advertising, to close up flaws. In a word, show yourself well done. Moreover, all three models are sold in Russia, and the difference in the price between them is small.
PEUGEOT-306 XR, fiat-brava SX, Kia-Sephia-II are focused on the so-called middle class on those who want to get a good car, but are not able to lay out more than 15 thousand dollars for it. A potential buyer, as a rule, can be well aware of the advantages of a attracted car. But the disadvantages that every model have, for the future car owner, is most often a secret behind seven seals. Therefore, in our test we tried to identify primarily flaws and defects of structures, which became especially visual in comparison.
General assessment of the design
All three cars are family cars with sedan bodies made according to the most common layout now: the power unit is located across the motor compartment and brings the front wheels.
The oldest of the French Peugeot presented by the eighth year has been released. At our disposal was one of the basic four -door modifications of 306 XR (appeared in 1995) with a four -cylinder eight -valve engine (there are engines and more powerful in the family), a power steering and air conditioning.
The second car is Italian fiat. His double, Bravo is a three -door body, our Brava is five -door. Features: engine with two distribution shafts in the cylinder head, steering wheel hydraulic wings, front wings with liners, electric windows, heating the front seats and external mirrors.
The third examinated car South Korean Kia-Sephia-II, the same type of its nodes by the American Mercury Tracer and the Japanese Mazda-323. This is the last model of a company with an updated appearance. The engine is four-cylinder, 16-valve with two distribution shafts in the cylinder head. There is an air conditioner and steering wheel amplifier.
All three cars operate on A-95 gasoline and are equipped with fuel injection, an independent suspension of all wheels and new gas neutralizers. The brakes are disk at the front wheels and drum in the rear. For surcharge, these models are equipped with an anti -lock system in the brake drive.
Summarizing, taking into account modern requirements, the pros and cons, we state a small advantage of the Italian model of 9 points. Two other cars are 8 points. (Recall that we take out grades on a 10-point scale.)
Suitability for Russian conditions
For our roads with potholes, potholes and sewer wells, a rather large clearance is preferred. Therefore, we will immediately pay attention to the small (120 mm) road clearance at Peugeot (in two other machines 150 mm). From the same positions, it should be noted 14-inch wheels on Fiat, very gently overcome irregularities. Another advantage of the Italian car is protective inserts (shelters) in the front wings that are not terrible from under the front drive wheels of the pebble and winter salt slurry.
Peugeot has a fairly large distance between the radiator and the engine is not blocked by a spray (which, by the way, is not on other models) and the oil pipeline hanging above the abyss between the motor and the oil radiator is completely defenseless. They say that the dealer is ready to put a protective tray for an additional fee, but it is obvious that for the Russian market this equipment (or at least a mudguard) should be included in serial equipment. And one more thing: the Peugeot Wheel is suspended under the trunk floor. When the driver takes to replace the punctured tire, it is unlikely that those mud baths that managed to accept the reserve are unlikely to be delighted.
Kia-Sephia-II in spirit closer to the Russian motorist. He raised the hood, lowered the tin to a rattling sound. A similar picture slapped the door. It is good at least that in cold weather (as, however, Peugeot and Fiat), the car starts without problems and does not require painful heating.
In general, Fiat 8 points, Kia and Peugeot 6 looks better here.
Ergonomics. Planting- landing
For all three cars, in the sake of aerodynamics, windshields have a rather large slope. When landing in the front seat, especially for the first time, the driver, as a rule, stuffs a bump on his forehead or leaves a hat on the asphalt. PEUGEOT suffers from this drawback to a lesser extent. Planting, driver and passengers in this machine as pulling on the hand of a comfortable and dense glove: reliable coverage of the body with seats without excessive freedom.
At the same time, the Frenchman is the narrowest and lowest among the trinity. It is not surprising that in the front of the cabin it is cramped in width, the ceiling is low over the rear seats and there is little space for the knees of the rear passengers. But the mutual location of the steering wheel (the angle of inclination of the steering column easily changes), buttons, pedals, levers, the driver's seat are chosen here wisely. By the way, the driver’s seat with two positions of the headrest is adjusted at the distance to the pedals, the back and the height (!) Pillow.
The most spacious fiat, and the back of the rear seat on this machine is made separately in relation to 1: 2. The practicality of such a decision will be appreciated, first of all, fishermen and skiers. And any owner will pay tribute to the trunk to the most in our trinity. I must say that in this car, the driver and passengers are sitting, as it seemed to us, more vertically, and therefore the entrance-output here is most convenient.
But the driver's seat pillow on Fiat is short. During long trips, part of the leg is on weight and the muscles quickly get tired. In addition, the pedals are placed as if designed for a short -haired driver.
KIA, whose salon cannot be called spacious (but after all, the width of the car is only a little more than PEUGEOT), surprisingly a large distance between the front and rear seats. With passengers of medium height between the back of the front seat and the knees of the rear passenger, a fist passes. Adjusting the driver's seat is the same as on Fiat. The trunk is roomy and convenient in shape. The lower part of the side of the body does not protrude, but, on the contrary, is slightly turned up, and therefore there is no need to wipe the body threshold with outer clothing.
Fiat, Kia and Peugeot 7.
Shodal qualities
The wheel suspension on all three machines is acceptable soft. A little tougher and more precisely on fiat, and softer than we would like, on Kia (and even with insufficiently effective shock absorbers). The fiat pendant, as our test revealed, is better than others absorbs the negative energy of the seams and potholes.
The very good characteristics of fiat controllability to a large extent are due to very strict torsion of the body and skillfully selected wheel suspension parameters. Peugeot suspension is best suited for European roads. On Kia, we met with a pendant more designed for roads with an uneven coating, but without sophistication in behavior manners.
The rearrangement at constantly increasing speeds revealed the advantage of Fiat. Peegeot disappointed, in which a somewhat slowed back of the steering did not allow the driver's commands quickly and accurately. Unlike the French car, Fiat instantly thought that and when the driver wanted from him.
The passage of the rearrangement on Kia was accompanied by a noticeable roll of the machine. However, in terms of controllability, the model turned out to be a typical carrier of compromise solutions, without obvious pluses or minuses.
In running qualities, the highest rating received Fiat 8. At Peugeot 6, Kia 5.
High -speed qualities and efficiency
The most alive and at maximum speed and in fosterness has established itself Fiat. In addition to the powerful motor with the largest among our experimental rabbits by the torque, the Italian has a very good gearbox with successfully selected gear numbers.
Peugeot, as already noted, had far from the best motor. Nevertheless, even this engine, according to the test results, showed itself quite flexible. Kia was the weakest potential. Yes, the Korean is designed for an average, not particularly demanding motorist, without high -speed claims, while Fiat and Peugeot are oriented primarily on the so -called active drivers.
In terms of economy, Fiat looks best, then Peugeot and Kia.
The points in this nomination were distributed as follows: Fiat 7, Peugeot 6, Kia 5.
Safety
Inflatable pillows, protective rods in the doors, immobilizers and other devices that provide active and passive safety have long been present as a mandatory menu on most models, the machines we consider are no exception. All three for an additional fee are equipped with an anti-lock system in the brake drive, but there are no extravagant engineering solutions here. Therefore, you can evaluate the troika Troika at a good average level of 7 points.
Aesthetics
The best in styling is Peugeot veteran. It is felt that genuine masters worked on the appearance of the car. On the contrary, the Korean car made in the candy style looks like a face with a faceless plastic soap dish. (True, such a smooth body is easy to wash.)
The design of Brava, although the Peugeot is also inferior, is also made highly professional and gives the model expressiveness and freshness.
If we talk about the upholstery salon, decoration, design style, then here is the leader of Fiat. Especially successfully designed and easily read devices. Despite the beautiful rear lights, and the new, slightly squinting headlights, Kia still looks quite unpretentious.
By the aggregate of design solutions, Peugeot receives 8 points, Fiat 8, Kia 6.
Comfort in the cabin
With the exception of the expensive air conditioner, the rest of the PEUGEOT’s relatively cheap performance was very modest: athermal glasses, radio wiring, anti -loner visors with a make -up mirror, two ashes and a cigarette lighter, as well as a filter of air entering the salon.
The standard Fiat equipment includes: electric windows in the doors, athermal glass, electric heating of the front seats, a filter of air entering the salon. Very convenient is a recreation area for the left leg. A rather large set of options can be installed on FIAT for surcharge.
Kia has at least additional equipment (again not counting the air conditioner), but the smallest weight. This partly suggests that there are few equipment in the car, and individual parts and nodes are facilitated. The well -known economy was apparently made on sound insulation: on the go, the engine works louder than that of Peugeot or Fiat. (Whether the Motor was thunderer initially or is it just in sound insulation that remains to be found out.)
Peugeot 8 points, Fiat 7 and Kia 6.
Price
Fiat is more expensive than other machines of our test, but the advantages of the model cost this money. Peugeot is designed primarily for the connoisseur, but taking into account the balance of pluses and minuses, it is still a little expensive. KIA appeals to the non -inhabitant buyer and generally corresponds to the price that dealers request. It seems that in a year or two you can expect a new Peugeot, say, model 307.
Often you hear that one or another car is excessively expensive. But most of the goods or wide consumption products are characterized by the cost of one kilogram of the product. As can be seen from the table, the specific price of all three cars $ 1215 (7290 new rubles) per kg is a little more expensive than the Braunschweig sausage. This means that thanks to incredibly high mechanization and automation of mass production, cars are quite cheap!
In the first place fiat 7 points, in the second Kia (6) and on the third Peugeot (5).
Bottom line: FIAT-BRAVA-SX-1,6-DOHC-16V 68 points, Peugeot-306xr-1,6 61 points and KIA-SEPHIA-II-1.5-DOHC-16V 56 points.
 
Lev Shugurov

Classmates
Alexander Potekhin
 
The muscular raspberry-metallic fiat of Brava through the narrow gaps of the headlight examined his today's rivals, a white blasphemy-flush Kia Sephia and the French silver Franti Peugeot 306. The nationality of rivals was easily guessed under the rays of the spring sun. The KIA bio -design, a nostalgic, slightly diluted, the angularity of the French Peugeot and the Italian wedge -shaped fiat, mixed with the same ubiquitous bio -design and poured into a new, memorable muscular style, characteristic of the Far East.
All people-graders are approximately the same in size of the salon and trunk, comfort.
Unlucky machines have manual adjustment of the seats along the length of the legs and the corner of the back of the back, and in Peugeot and the height of the seats pillow. All rivals enable the driver to adjust in height very similar steering wheels with airbags. The most noticeable and, accordingly, easily readable combination of devices in fiat.
The radio training of Kia and Peugeot (there are speakers and electrical wiring, but there is no radio), in my opinion, it loses its built-up fiat steremagnetle built into the upper central part of the console, which will surely not like the sound abductors from cars quickly, and there is no one to sell it in a shame. And I don’t think that it is necessary to force a car of this class by sound.
French machines can immediately be distinguished from competitors in the location of the spare wheel. And at Renault and Pyo, the spare spots are attached outside under the trunk of the trunk, therefore, I know by itself, the replacement of the punctured tire immediately turns into a serious business for a real man, it is extremely inconvenient to work on a real man, and the conscience does not make pants to kneel. (In Kia and Fiat, the fifth wheel, like the eight, is located in the niche of the trunk.) A special lodgent is installed in the Fiat spare, in which, in addition to the jack and normal, there is also a universal screwdriver and a towing eye. I note that in Peugeot, this part is somehow very strongly issued from the left side of the front bumper. I think that even after a slight frontal blow, Peugeot will not be bought towards ...
In all machines, folding hind backs of the seats and a holey back partition, significantly increasing, if necessary, the volume of the luggage compartment.
Now about road tests.
Motors. The most noisy and low -power engine was at Kia. Despite the impressiveness of the slab of the sixteen-valve head of the cylinders of the 1500-cubic CIA motor with multi-point injection, the usual eight-valve 1600 cube engine Peugeot turned out to be more acceptable, although the maximum power units are approximately equal. The multi-valve Fiat-1600 cm3 slab worked with less noise and with a much greater dedication, which immediately affected the excellent dynamics of acceleration and maximum speed. The Italian infinity in the engine turnover will delight young drivers, and a good middle of those who do not like to rush. Transfer relations in the transmission changes correspond to the characteristics of the engines. The KIA gearbox control lever is long -term and cotton, the Peugeot is optimal by strokes and clearly fixed, but is very low, the fiat has no shortcomings.
The engines of examiner machines rotated fourteen -inch tires with smaller wheel discs simply cannot be placed in the brake mechanisms of the required size. The brake efficiency is in direct accordance with the size of the brake disk and caliper. Kia, Peugeot and Fiat does not have an ABS system, but everyone has a well -balanced brake system. On all cars, steering hydraulic boards are installed. The lightest steering wheel, strongly reminiscent of Americans, is in Fiat, but Peugeot is better in information content. However, in a 12-meter stop, a pronounced insufficient rotation of Peugeot left the Frenchman at the same high-speed step with Kia. Fiat in this exercise ahead of competitors by 10 km/h. The same was confirmed both in the snake and in motion in a circle. Naturally, I am aware that in these tests the characteristics of tires can play a decisive role. Peugeot was shod in French Michelin, Kia in Korean Kumho, and Fiat ... in American buzz! But we did not have the right to change the terms of testing, because it was in such a configuration that these cars are delivered to our market.
Kia on its tires turned out to be the most noisy and in normal traffic modes. Fiat was quieter and a little tougher than Peugeot, who delighted me with the best smoothness and less noise in the cabin, which, as you know, especially like people of middle age. In general, riding on these cars does not leave any unpleasant emotions, although thoroughbred is visible and felt strongly. True, I am not very clear why Fiat has such short and uncomfortable pillows of the front seats? The absence of the protection of the oil pallet of the engine is surprising and the lack of protection, and this is on our roads, to put it mildly, not useless. (In Peugeot, protection is set for an additional fee.)
Let's summarize. Classmates turned out to be similar and dissimilar at the same time. Kia Sephia noisy middle peasant on the motor, suspension, with some gray salon. Peugeot 306 is elegant outside and inside, quite fast and comfortable. The main difference between the fiat brava is sports posture and gait.
 

Source: Cars