Test drive by Renault Scenic since 2009 minivan

Relation degree

A family relationship between two completely unlike individuals can sometimes prove the presence of one or two identical genes. Like Honda HR-V and Renault Scenic RX4.
Suppose you decided to buy a car. The selection criteria, as usual, are not the softest: the car should be a new, well -known and respected brand, fashionable, beautiful, original and suitable for use on Russian roads. Traditional cars do not suit you both for practical and aesthetic reasons. The so -called jeeps are also: very bulky and expensive. It would seem that there is a solution - in a large family of all -wheel drive hybrids of the station wagon and SUV, to which the nickname of the SUV was glued, there is something to choose. But here the main limiter is triggered-the amount that you are ready to spend on the car itself should not exceed $ 25 thousand. Until the end of last year, only Honda HR-V fed this framework on the Russian market. Now Renault Scenic RX4 has joined her.
 
   
 
General and private. Click the remote control button of the central lock on the key fob (Honda) or on the key building (Renault) and proceed to study the contents. Honda meets the traditional and familiar layout of a car, which can be characterized as all ingenious simple. However, this simplicity is by no means synonymous with cheapness. European restraint and laconicism with the exact study of all details, as well as the predominance of dark color in finishing materials create a special mood inherent in cars with a sports character. Which is also greatly facilitated by tough, perfectly configured in the body of the seat, relatively low landing and high, as in body -like compartment, side windows.
Honda does not indulge in an abundance of equipment, but everything necessary, by modern standards, is present. Including two airbags and a complete electric package with heated mirrors and front seats. The steering wheel, air conditioning, ABS also, of course, enter this set. Like many other Japanese in this price niche, Honda does not impose a cheap audio system to the consumer, but is limited to audio training for it.
 
 
Having climbed into the RX4 salon (it is climbing, because the floor level in it is noticeably higher than in Honda), you experience diametrically opposite sensations. This is understandable, because it was built on the basis of the SCENIC compact van and the minibus layout in it was completely preserved. The seats are soft, the steering wheel is horizontal, and the landing is tall and vertical, despite the presence of the seats's pillow. For active driving, let's say it does not have it, but the visibility is magnificent. As for the design, the European Renault is just more like a machine of eastern origin by bizarre biological motives of the interior. They are forced to state that the quality of finishing materials, both fabrics and plastic, leaves much to be desired.
 
But inside the RX4, the feeling does not leave that one of its developers clearly began a smugglers. Or his ancestors were engaged in this fishing for a long time. The car deserves to be a secretary on wheels entered in the Guinness Book of Records in the nomination - there are so many all kinds of drawers, shelves, niches, nets and hiding places in it. In terms of multivariation of the transformation of the salon, he unconditionally puts HR-V on the shoulder blades. Just the ideal of a family car.
In addition to the mandatory hydraulic power and a complete electric package with heated front seats in Renault, you will find six airbags, automatic climate control and triple-computer, which will delight you with information about fuel consumption, as well as an audio system with CD and driving control.
 
 
IN REAL TIME. Comparing the dry numbers of technical characteristics, you might think that 1.6 liters and 125 hp. Definitely weaker than 2.0 liters with 140 horses. But in life not everything is so simple. Thanks to the VTEC system, the traction characteristics of the Honda motor are not only no worse, but also noticeably better than the RX4. If the HR-V instantly responds to press the gas pedal even with low speeds in high gear, then Renault, despite the fact that its motor also has a system for changing the gas distribution phase, does this sluggishly, insisting on the transition to the transmission lower. That is, Honda behaves approximately equally responsive in the wide range of revolutions, and Renault begins to live only when the tachometer shooter is about 3,000th mark. The elasticity of the Honda motor was especially noticeable on the snow -littered road - it rode calmly and evenly in second gear, while Renault began to twitch nervously and came to its senses only when the first gear was turned on.
 
Riding in active mode showed the superiority of HR-V. Her suspension is tougher and slightly less comfortable than in RX4, but due to this it better provides exchange rate and more confidently holds the car in corners. The RX4 revealed a very unpleasant feature - it turned out to be rocker in corners and restructuring. In other words, in sled qualities in the city and on the HR-V highway, wins. The drive of both cars is fundamentally the same. This is the so -called Real Time 4wd. It differs from the traditional all -wheel drive in that in normal road conditions up to 95 percent of the torque enters the front wheels. And in the case of their slipping, the interdosex Wigoft directs up to 50% of the moment to the rear axle. This system works for both HR-V and RX4 is approximately the same. The transfer of the moment takes about a minute. Such a full-wheel drive device hardly allows us to talk about any outstanding off-road abilities of both cars, but they don’t pretend to be so. But they will well be able to drive along the road on which the owner of a monoprodic car will already prepare a cable and a shovel. In this, they will help them with still short body overhangs and a large clearance. Renault beats Honda a little in passage. In addition, it has 210 mm clearance versus 190 and a larger angle of the front overview - 29.9 degrees against 20.
 
TO EACH HIS OWN? Putting these two cars nearby, we did not seek to determine which one is better. We just wanted to understand what exactly a person gets in each case. As a result, they came to the following conclusion: despite the fact that they were in the same price niche, RX4 and HR-V are hardly competitors in the literal sense of the word. For a very simple reason. HR-V is a car for a driver created and existing to enjoy management. And utilitarianism and increased cross -country ability are pleasant, but far from the main additions.

Renault Scenic RX4, despite its catchy and off-road-imposant appearance, was made primarily for passengers. The utilitarian in it prevails and is undoubtedly a very strong feature, but it is unlikely to be capable of something more interesting than just a comfortable and safe movement of his riders in space. But many people need it.
 
Text Andrey Timofeev, photo Alexey Ilyin
Cars are provided by FC Motors (095) 486-0663, and Musa Motors (095) 785-1111. Insurance is carried out by Ingosstrakh, (095) 956-5555. Filming carried out on the territory of the residential complex of the estate of the 21st century Pokrovskoye-Glebovo, (095)

Model/Modification Honda HR-V Renault Scenic RX4
Drive-producer Japan France
Body wagon minivan
Number of doors/places 5/5 5/5
ENGINE
Basin type with multi -point electronic injection
The location in front transversely transversely
Working volume (cubic cub) 1590 1998
Number/location of cylinders 4/rowing 4/row
Power, kW (L.S.) at about./Min. 92 (125) at 6600 102 (139) at 5500
Max. torque (Nm at about./min.) 144 at 4900 188 at 3750
Gas distribution system/number of valves dohc/16 dohc/16
TRANSMISSION
Full drive, such as Real Time 4wd
Mechanical gearbox 5-speed
SUSPENSION
Front independent spring, depreciation racks on triangular transverse levers, reptile stabilizer
The rear spring, rear bridge of the De Dion type, the transverse stability stabilizer Independent spring multi -link, reptile stabilizer
STEERING
Type gear rack with an integral type
Min. The diameter of the turn (m) 11.2 11.4
Brakes
Front disc ventilated circular ventilated
Rear disk disk
ABS electronic 4-channel with 4 sensors
Wheels
Tire size 205/60 R16 215/65 R16
6JX16 discs 6.5JX16
Dimensions/volumes/weight
Length/width/height (mm) 4110/1695/1670 (with spoiler) 4425/1775/1720
Wheel base (mm) 2450 2620
Clearance (mm) 170 180
The track front/back (mm) 1470/1455 1500/1470
The volume of the fuel tank (L) 55 60
Equipped mass 1185 1465
Dynamic characteristics
Maximum speed (km/h) 170 180
Acceleration to 100 km/h (sec.) 10.7 11.9
Economy
Fuel consumption (l/100 km):
City/highway/mixed cycle (l) 10.4/7.6/8.6 11.8/8.2/9.5
The price in Moscow is $ 24.9 thousand $ 25.2 thousand.
 

Source: "Autopilot"