Skoda Fabia test drive since 2007 -

Peugeot 207, Chevrolet Aveo, Skoda Fabia: Cavaliers invite ladies

Choosing a city, well -equipped car is a responsible business, especially in the spring, and even in a crisis. In the characters, prices and features of three cars, Sergey Voskresensky was versed in. Photo: Alexander Kulnev.
 
Fasted shapes, bright colors, nimble, but economical motorized motor vehicles. And to them compact dimensions and rich (in places even very) equipment. It is easy and joyful to meet spring, smile to beautiful girls, and keep a cheerful mood with such little car. It does not matter that such cars are often considered female. By the way, who decided that it is shameful for men to go to men?
Of course, today's rivals are by no means cheap. The price tags of machines in the database look very tempting: 350400 thousand rubles, but when automatic boxes appear, and the corresponding motors and other bumps appear to them, the price easily exceeds half a million. But they are comfortable, thought out, assertive. So, we, without experiencing complexes, smile at the ladies from Skoda-Fabiya, Peugeot 207 and Chevrolet-Aveo!
GALLANT
He beckons with a promising smile of a radiator lattice, headlights with a slightly protruding ears of external mirrors. It has the softness and charm that attracts attention and gives rise to the feeling that Peugeot-207, even in the Trendy configuration, is a stylish and fashionable individualist. Neat interior, soft plastics, cute devices, which are adjustable in two directions, the steering wheel favorably emphasize the features of the machine. At the same time, we still visit the simple upholstery of the doors, too ordinary front seats, in addition with a short pillow and a flat back. We will reproach this individualist in dislike to the rear passengers, whom he frankly infringes on. But in general, the car does not cause rejection.
The feeling of some artificiality comes a little later, when you gradually get rid of the 207th. You have to reach for the steering wheel, and lower the steering wheel, you cut the devices yourself. I do not always like the logic of steering wheel switches and the increased severity of the steering, constantly emphasized by the electrical power. But all these are flowers against the backdrop of impressions of a robotic gearbox officially called 2-Tronic.
The 90-horsepower engine is simply lost behind the quirks of the transmission. Sometimes it is still possible to feel his convenient painfulness and a completely friendly, hardworking character. He reliably, even with a spin, accelerates the car in higher gears, allowing to avoid unnecessary fussy switches. But all this happens when on a speedometer already a hundred. For starters, Peugeot convulsively twitches during touching (a clutch configured to a lyrical mood does not clearly keep up with an accelerator). Then, at the first convenient case, the box selects the highest, fifth gear and any subsequent acceleration provokes it to the mockingly unhurried switching. Of course, there are also petals with which you can activate the manual control regime. Alas, a small pause after choosing a handful transmission ... and the robot returns to the highest. Dictator!
In our Trinity, the 207th is the quietest: it is well balanced by noise and vibrations. Like the lion cub, even on winter tires, he holds the road perfectly and in turns unequivocally hints at no means mediocre handling. In the Russian reality, his suspensions are perhaps not very comfortable: they repeat the road profile in too detail. But surprisingly, they are surprisingly solid on small irregularities and are suitable for an active driving style. In general, advantages
a lot, but also the shortcomings, alas, is enough.
   
   
RIGHT
He is completely different. And the point is not only in more traditional body contours or emphasized inexpensive interior decoration. Expressiveness, at least external, in this, the most expensive version of Chevrolet-Aveo, is quite enough. But most design solutions are subject to practicality.
Hard, echoing plastics are far from sophistication, as well as a faded combination of devices, a large bagel or key is clearly not the most modern 4-speed machine. At first, here even a climatic installation (in principle, comfortable and logical) looks like an outlandish from another planet. But, settling in a high driver's seat and making several simple adjusting movements, I suddenly understand: more and not required. The seat is right, despite the ingenuous proportions. The steering wheel merged with the hands, and the legs themselves were perfectly placed on the pedals.
Everything is simple, of course, convenient, and even when you sit behind yourself. Here you have a baby! The only thing that is annoying, small, narrow external mirrors and too heavy, massive front struts of the body.
Well, dealers can not without amateur performances! Apparently, from an excess of feelings, the test Aveo tires were equipped with two (!) Sizes larger than the recommended (185/65R15 instead of 185/55R15). With spikes, these tires carefully sawed the lins on almost every serious unevenness, provided Aveo with a record road clearance and, of course, influenced the driving indicators
It is good that thanks to the brisk motor (1.4 liters, 101 hp), the car did not lose agility and soreness. After Peugeot, you rest in it, the duo of the engine and transmission is so logical. Easy start, quick acceleration, confident and at the same time soft gear shift. In this configuration, Aveo seems to be springy from the inside, so willingly follows the gas pedal. There is, true, the annoying factor is an impressive sound accompaniment: the tires noise, the motor sings, with an increase in speed to this choir, the Aerodynamic Aria joins.
Aveo could argue with Peugeot in matters of smoothness with the only difference being that Chevrolet carefully shakes his soul to all kinds of trifles, jumping at the seams and joints, like an elastic rubber ball. But on the waves, the car behaves a little more intelligent, not in such detail repeating the profile of the roadway. And certainly cars will not be able to compete in handling. Peugeot felt a school, style, settings, and solid bodies of the body, an empty, uninformative steering wheel and a great desire to steer the rear axle in a speedy turn, are made of themselves. In general, of course, the Chevrolet holds well for the road, but the pleasure of managing this is about another car.
 
 
LUCKY
Skoda-Fabia in the Sport Edition decoration with a stylish white roof and a neat sports body kit is very noticeable on the road. True, for sports, a 6-speed automatic is not provided ... What if you want to be beautiful and bright, and convenient? We take a complete set Elegance and wind up and wound up. The price of such tuning is 690 thousand rubles. And this is for a fushed, but completely ordinary machine with a 1.6 l/105 hp engine! Another, unfortunately, did not find the Skoda representative office
Expressive anatomical seats embroidered with skin and alcantara, this, of course, is great and very convenient. You sit down, as glued, paying tribute to the form, size and lateral support. Perfectly adjusted to the driver's tools. However, when you face the interior with a look, it seems that instead of a beautiful and probably delicious candy promised by the exterior, they slipped a piece of ordinary, albeit abundantly oiled bread. Gloomy front panel, dull devices and screenwriters of the displays of the stereo system and climatic installation. The feeling of incompleteness of the surrounding space does not leave. For such money and eyes should be interesting.
Engine, transmission and everything else interact almost perfectly. However, the sport is finished on this. The motor reliably performs its work, the machine from the semi -German finds the desired transmission, but in this tandem there is not a gram of aggression. Having spurring Fabia thoroughly, you immediately run into the displeased rumble of the engine, which clearly does not strive for high speeds. It is good in more gentle modes, moment and assertive at medium speeds. But it is worth asking more power all the power goes into the mournful, a monotonous sound, which rather irritates a hearing than amusing pride.
Otherwise, Fabia is worthy of imitation: it is quite comfortable, the pendants do a good job with most irregularities, without causing unpleasant sensations. The controllability is not so protruding as that of Peugeot, but in general, Skoda behaves no worse. At least it’s clear and correct. And this is the main advantage of the car.
 
 
 
 
Synonyms of compact well -being
They say that large cities need small cars. Well, today there are many of them. They are not cheap, but delighted with a variety of forms and freedom of design thought. As well as an individual approach to the philosophy of a compact car. Someone prefers practicality, others stick out bright virtues.
It remains for me to give a few simple recommendations. Fans of Peugeot should be more scrupulous in choosing a gearbox and put up with a rather specific ergonomics. In Chevrolet-Aweo, prefer quality to emotions and try not to pay attention to the noise. Well, it is better to choose a cheaper skeleton. It will not lose much, it will be more rational, and no less convenient.

   




 
 

Source: The magazine "Driving"