Test drive by Renault Scenic since 2009 minivan

star Wars

Holland has turned into a country with developed automotive industry. This was especially noticeable after launching Mitsubishi Space Star.
 
Space Star, the second European Mitsubishi product, which has been mastered by the Nedcar joint venture in Holland, continues the space series Space Runner, Space Wagon and Space Gear. But if you turn to etymology, then space has nothing to do with the first meaning of the word Space in English space. It is this term that is played by Mitsubishi specialists in advertising the advantages of a new car. A special concept of five stars was even developed (Mitsubishi Five Star Concept), from where the second word came from the name of the model.
Episode I. Compactness, or Compact Space. By its layout, Space Star resembles the popular Renault Megane Scenic compact minivans in Europe. We brought him out the second character of our star wars, although representatives of Mitsubishi carefully avoid the term minivan in this case. Despite this, authoritative international catalogs such as the Swiss Automobil Revue include Space Star to this type of car.
In terms of its size, Space Star really occupies an intermediate position between 5-door hatchbacks and universals of class C. What guarantees it a number of advantages over classic minivans. For example, Mitsubishi wheelbase is 8 mm shorter than that of Renault. This guarantees Space Star an amazing maneuverability and allows the machine to easily maneuver in a dense city stream, as well as park without problems in the most difficult places.
Today a large group of car owners appeared, to whom the possibilities of ordinary hatchbacks and even station wagons in terms of capacity and practical salon seem to be limited. On the other hand, the transition to minivan seems to be a too radical solution associated with the addiction to a different style of driving and the behavior of the car on the road. In Megane Scenis, the landing is typically a Minivan driver hangs over the steering wheel. In Space Star, it is also more vertical than in ordinary cars, but more relaxing than in Renault. This gives a number of important advantages: improved visibility, there is more space for passengers and baggage with a lower overall length in the cabin, it is more convenient to enter and go out.
Episode II. Spaces, or Maximum Space. The first thing that affects Space Star is numerous closing and open cavities for small things. If you rummage well, you will find a drawer under the seat of the front passenger, a large and small glove compartment on the front panel, a niche on the central console, pockets on the doors and seats, a case for glasses on the ceiling. In Renault Megan, such grater is not observed. But not for the sake of toy drawers they buy such a machine.
Depending on the situation, the space for the rear passengers or baggage in Mitsubishi can be varied due to the rear seat, moved by 150 mm along the longitudinal guides. When accommodating five people in the car, the volume of the Longnaire Space Star, depending on the position of the rear seat, is 370450 liters, and if there are only two people in the cabin, then you can increase the useful space to 1370 liters, folding the rear sofa. These are indicators of the average minivan, although due to the larger length in the Renault Megane Scenic there is always more space for the rear passengers. Nevertheless, five adult passengers Space Star cannot complain about crowding.
The rear seats fold in Space Star completely or in parts in a ratio of 60:40. This is convenient, but not like in Renault. In Scenic, all three rear seats are folded separately, and the lowered back of the middle seat turns into a convenient plastic table. The long journey is very good.
     
Episode III. Economy, or Economical Space. The Mitsubishi Space Star body is distinguished by the Aerodynamics CC \u003d 0.33 perfect for its class. We do not have similar data about Scenic, but even according to external outlines it is clear that it is more massive and the rotary resistance coefficient of Renault is higher. The own test measurements of the autopilot did not count too different cars.
Space Star is available with two four -cylinder gasoline engines of 1.3 liters and 1.8 GDI with a capacity of 86 and 122 hp. respectively. So far, only a five -speed mechanical transmission is provided, but a modification with a strained variator is expected. Only a model with a 1.3 liter engine is delivered to the Russian market. Scenic arrives with more powerful motors of 1.6 and 2.0 liters and with two gearboxes of a mechanical five -stage and automatic. With Mitsubishi, we mated weaker 1.6 with an automatic machine. Fuel consumption, of course, was significantly higher.
Nevertheless, on the straight line, Space Star demonstrated dynamic characteristics very decent for its size and weight, and the average fuel consumption, in accordance with the testimony of the triple-computer, froze at the number of 8.5 liters per hundred kilometers.
     
Episode IV. Driving pleasure, or Space for Driving Enjoyment. We often neglect this factor when writing various test drives. Nevertheless, this is one of the most important indicators, especially for those who spend more than an hour a day inside the car.
Unlike a rather boring and not at all elegant Megane interior (see Autopilot for August 1999), Space Star creates a pleasant, comfortable atmosphere thanks to high -quality, multicolor decoration materials, lovingly selected to the color of the body. Mitsubishi also presents service functions that facilitate the management of the car and its maintenance. They allow the passenger in the front seat not to get bored during a long road. This is a multifunctional display, where data on the air temperature are displayed outside, current time, concentration of fuel consumption, average speed that remains to the given point distance, RDS information from the radio, as well as indication of the audio system modes. Only the Mitsubishi Electric branded devices with AM/FM/RDS with a tuner, the compact cassett and the CD changer distance player are compatible. In the standard Megane Scenic, the triple-computer is not provided at all, and you will have to take a walk for the nearest radio market for a radio tape recorder.
Thanks to the use of modern soundproofing materials on the floor and in the doors, vibration -absorbing inserts of foam in the tapers of the noise level in the Space Star salon in almost all modes are quite low. However, with a sharp acceleration, when the engine works almost on the limiting mode, its strain sound still breaks through the vaunted sound insulation.
Episode V. Security, or Safe Space. Thanks to television advertising, calling for a good half of Renault cars in this life, we know that Megane Classic is the safest in its class. In the rays of his glory, naturally, Megane Scenic is also heated. But in Mitsubishi Space Star, the transfer of security systems also inspires respect. Numerous devices include 4-channel ABS, anterior inflatable pillows, pyrotechnic pools of belts, heating of mirrors, impact-absorbing amplifiers of the side doors, an additional stop symbol. The rear seats are equipped with three -point inertial seat belts and adjustable head restraints.
Based on all this, it is clear why Mitsubishi officially does not officially call his model minivan, but rather emphasizes its focus on Class C. It seems that the main task of Space Star on the market is to reorient part of potential buyers of universals and hatchbacks to more diverse and convenient as a family transportation Funds car.
 
Text Nikolay Kachurin, photo Dmitry Novokreshhenov
 

A source: "Autopilot"