Test drive by Renault Clio 5 doors 2001 - 2006 hatchback

"Cliosophabia"

Do not complex when choosing a baby



Renault Clio debuted in 1990, the second generation was presented at the 1998 Geneva Salon, and updated last year. A front-wheel drive car is produced with bodies of a three- or five-door hatchback. Equipped with 1.2 gasoline engines; 1.4; 1.6; 2.0 liters and diesel 1.9 liters of various capacities.
 



The five -door hatchback of Skoda Fabia was represented in Frankfurt in 1999. A year later, a sedan and a station wagon appeared. Drive - front, power units - gasoline 1.0; 1.4 (four engines); 2.0 liters or diesel (1.9 l) of varying degrees of force.



Recently, we introduced readers to the new hatchback Renault Clio (ZR, 2001, No. 9), intended, unlike the Clio Symbol Sedan, exclusively for Europe. Then it was not believed that this car would soon appear in Russia.
 
Unlike the Turkish fellow, Klio II is by no means cheap. With a price of 14,500. e, he easily invades the more popular classes of cars in our country. Dealers offer one of the most expensive versions of a small hatchback, most fully equipped with additional equipment. Full electric package, air conditioning, ABS, radio, front and side airbags, electric hatch, on -board computer, fog lights and many other little things installed, as a rule, for an additional fee, are included in the basic configuration. The company's marketers believe that a similar approach will appeal to young customers who prefer a dynamic lifestyle (rich, apparently, the French have young people).
 
So, the initiator of the test is the three -door Renault Clio in the modification speaker: engine - 1.6 liters, 110 hp. He picks up a couple of a bonfire from among the popular ones with us-Skoda-Fabia. But we will not focus on the classic configuration - it is much cheaper: $ 9500-10000. With a staging Volkswagen engine, electric windows and a central lock, air conditioning, ABS, ASR anti-wings system, rear disc brakes, and even in versions comfort or eleganes, the price of Skoda increases to 13500-14000 green and is almost compared with the Frenchman. It is characteristic that Fabia in such a configuration positions about the same discussions about comfort and dynamic life. And if so, then, having made a small correction for a different number of doors, we will begin to get to know each other closer.
 
Music forms
It is customary for compact models to assign the role of female - they say that they are not capable of real riding. Looking at the stylish dynamic silhouette of Clio, you understand that there are plenty of masculine in this car. Strings on large fifteen -inch wheels are made not only for the beautiful half of humanity. Of course, the sport is still far from Clio, but the notes of individuality sound.
 
In the interior, expensive upholstery materials and soft plastic are successfully combined with embossed seats, saturated with a central console and a convenient combination of devices. With the car you quickly find a common language, saturated with the style of design solutions. The driver is convenient here - large ranges of seats adjustments and skin sheathed with skin allow you to sit as you want. Services and steeps always find themselves at hand - they are located logically and functionally. True, there is a feeling of some constraint: the roof with the protruding seam of the hatch presses on the head, and if the passenger sat next to it, it is no longer so convenient to manipulate the gearbox lever. The knees of the rear passengers rest on the backs of the front seats, and the roof is stylishly falls ... almost on the top of the head.
 
Fabia may not look so expressive. The creators gave preference to rationality by choosing the fashionable style of unisex, equally acceptable for everyone. Indeed, the Czech car captivates with thoughtfulness: the main thing here is convenience and comfort. True, at first glance, it is empty inside: a poor palette of flowers, the front panel and the central console are stingy. Against the background of the stylish clio Fabia, modesty itself. Nevertheless, you find the necessary quickly, and some details here are even more advantageous. It doesn’t matter, for example, how many people are in the car - you easily sit in the driver's seat the way you want, without amendments to winter clothes. A few extra centimeters appeared over your head - and you can already use the seats vertically or drive back so that you will not reach the pedals. The farm is far away? Put it on to yourself: unlike the Frenchman, the designers took care of this too. The seats securely fix the body, and the controls delight with convenience.
 
What to prefer is a delicate issue, it is solved individually, but Skoda’s rear passengers are more convenient in all respects, and it is not only among the doors.
 
Magic of a hundred horses
Only 110 forces, but how are they felt in a compact class car. Here for a second you will not doubt the purpose of Renault Clio. As if pushed by a powerful spring, it shoots from traffic lights, easily laying on the shoulder blades more powerful opponents. In French, the short first gear, then more flexible second, third. Now the speedometer arrow jumped over all permissive marks, but he doesn’t care - the nimble and dynamic sneaker rides faster and faster. The engine is surprising with elasticity: you can turn on the fifth - motor, rumbling at 1000 rpm at 1000 rpm, it will be necessary to disperse the car. Approximately 2000 rpm of discontent, they will be replaced by a bass roar and Clio will turn into an elastic rubber ball: an instant rebound for all the driver’s commands.
 
Dense, at times even hard suspensions reliably damp the majority of irregularities. Of course, on serious obstacles, their European destiny is felt and the machine strives to clang limiters, but in general there are no problems. Good and handling: quick reactions, small body rolls and high clutch properties of tires make you the owner of a sensitive and accurate tool, which allows you to enjoy the results of joint sled creativity. Unless the engine at high speeds is noisy, but the desired gear does not always enter by itself.
 
Skoda Fabia, unlike Klio, does not break into the fighting club. She cools the driver’s excitement with a sluggish motor at low speeds. The difference is only two hundred cubes of the working volume and nine horsepower, but how much more lazy this car travels until the tachometer arrow reaches 2500-3000 rpm. Only here the engine wakes up and begins to react more actively to the gas pedal. In general, these hundred horses are not taking you not so exciting.
 
But the pendants of Fabia did not disappoint. Even against the backdrop of a sports-trendy Renault, Skoda looks very worthy. The car is not so harshly shaking its riders, allowing you to enjoy comfort. He does not like only a all kinds of trifle, too noisily passing it to the body. Perhaps in the management of Fabia is more universal. In the chassis settings there is no excitement inherent in the Frenchman, but the reactions of the machine are reliable, understandable and very stable. With a quick ride, Skoda is already a little lacking of the clarity of reactions, the rolls of the body are growing. In a word, Fabia clearly makes it clear that riding on the verge is not her role. But become a little more condescending - you will get a comfortable and comfortable car again.
 
What to choose?
The cars are different - they cannot bring them closer to the price or the variety of options. Renault Clio is primarily the pleasure of driving. Fast and temperamental, he campaigns for the same lifestyle - emotional, but very individual. It is unlikely that such a car will be the first in the family. Most likely, he will appear later when he wants something extravagant for himself, loved one, or beloved. By the way, there is a similar equipment with an automatic and engine of 98 hp.
Skoda Fabia is a convenient car for everyone. It is comfortable to go to work on it, to the cottage, anywhere, but you will receive a little less adrenaline.
 

The editors thanks the company Autoframos and Pelican Auto for the cars provided.

 
Text / Sergey Voskresensky
Photo / George Sadkov
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
    
 
   
 
 
 

Source: The magazine "Driving"