Skoda Fabia Combi 2000 test drive - 2007 -

Small but proud

The idea to turn a passenger sedan into a station wagon, capable of transporting a much larger volume of cargo in a wide range of models, ripened 40 years ago. But to small, compact hatchbacks, this fashion has reached noticeably later. And now modifications with a five -door cargo -passenger body almost crowded basic passenger models, and trunk reaches a truly hypertrophied size.
PROLOGUE
Three countries. Three manufacturers. Three schools. But the layout and dimension is one class B, the universal body. What is characteristic, all these models appeared recently and declared themselves (at least in the basic version) very loudly and successfully both ours and in the world market. In order to decrease, the price list is the list of sheds: Peugeot 206 Station Wagon 1.4 74 hp. (2002), Skoda Fabia Combi 1.4 75 hp (2000) and Kia Rio Hatchback 1.5 108 hp The last car just survived a deep restyling and, by the way, has such a voluminous trunk that it can only be called a hatchback with a big stretch.
   
FRENCHMAN
PEUGEOT is the newest of the Trinity Universal, although the usual 206th is more than four years more than popular among those drivers of all countries who rightly believe that they have been able to manage no worse than representatives of the opposite sex. The SW modification did not turn a peppy car into a boring shed for the transport of a junk into the cottage and vice versa, but, on the contrary, in some ways emphasized the original and memorable aesthetics of the pepper. From the design of the rear, an unusual, but still not sucking shape of the lanterns, a branded third stop in the bumper, and not on glass, is obviously not striking. The American glass itself rises separately from the entire lid of the trunk, allowing to minimize the number of procedures for throwing a pair of packages from a supermarket into the womb. In addition, the end glass is tinted, and its lower edge is located deeper than the so -called waist line, which, of course, improves the review. And this would not interfere with the lion cub, because his beautiful oval mirrors are not too informative.
Salon 206 SW is not new. But so kind and convenient that, of course, deserves several kind words. Massive, deeply profiled armchairs and a thick sports trowel would have looked worthy and in a larger class say, in C or even in D. A concisely executed, elegantly curved, dash panel is just as good as the instrument panel is as primitive. Its faded scales look archaic and came here obviously by oversight of the picky designers. Other obvious inconveniences include internal door handles, they are small, and in order to close from the car, you have to clumsily bend your hand in the elbow, the absence of a door handrail, now widespread everywhere, someone's specific miss. I did not like the fact that the buttons of lifting the glass between the seats. On the doors is more convenient!
But still annoying trifles in the general series of the advantages of Peugeot only emphasize the boring comfort of this machine. Here, with the help of an adjustable steering column, it is easy to achieve optimal landing and accurate execution of a hard working algorithm in a quadrangle seat the steering wheel of the KP lever. Switching transfers can be called extremely clear and most informative. No less responsive and gas pedal. The capacity of the 206 SW motor is enough to confidently stay in the stream and do not rape the motor to the maximum. The wheels widely placed in the corners allow Peugeot to hold on to the road canvas and adequately respond to the movements of the steering wheel. And all this happens with an almost inaudible accompaniment of the power unit and oncoming air flow. And plastic is completely quiet and silent. The price of the Peugeot issue in this configuration is $ 14,500.
CZECH
Skoda has long been seriously fell in love with our citizens. A considerable share in the model line is also occupied by the well -recognized Fabia Combi. If you don’t know that they will never guess the common platform with VW Polo, although the kinship with Volkswagen is now prestigious and honorable. The Czech-German station wagon, despite the modest size, is the most spacious salon and trunk. A lot of space and air everywhere above the head, at the elbows, in the legs, including in the second row of seats. To do this, special recesses were selected in the backs of the front seats. The niche for luggage with low loading height is especially impressive. What does not fit here! Surprisingly, this was achieved through the rational use of space, without much sacrifice. Say, the thickness of the doors and their linings is not too small, and the seats are quite capacious and ergonomic. Although in German you can’t fall asleep on the road. And the rest of the Skoda is soaked in and through by Teutonic asceticism and minimalism. This is especially noticeable in the decoration of the instrument panel. Torpedo Fabia is smooth, like a table, to catch the eye simply for nothing continuous and endless plastic plane. At the same time, clear and clear circles of the shield, ergonomic, easily found keys and buttons. But still, the feeling that you are in an excessively utilitarian crew, high-quality, but boring, do not leave you.
In the management of Fabia continues to show its Nordic, slightly indifferent character. Clear moves of the steering wheel, pedals and lever KP are not complicated, except that the inclusion of the rear gear does not differ too much in the effort from the first I had to miss more than once. The absence of a kondeus absolutely did not cause me protest, even vice versa. The regular heating of the front seats warms the soul and body, but the stove here, on the contrary, is less powerful than that of Peugeot and Kia. In a twenty -degree frost, the fan copes with the heating function only at the second speed. But the most interesting thing is that the unobtrusive sound of a blowing even clogs the noise of the engine working at medium speeds! And on the idle you can’t determine at all, you stand or turned off.
In the movement, Combi does not show any heroic features. The car is moderately informative and responsive. In order to get an acceptable engine reaction to the work of the pedal, it is necessary to hold the momentum in the range of 4-5 thousand per minute. But in a hill or under load, even this does not save a weak engine quickly hesitates and requires a decrease in the transmission. So the active work of the lever of the Skodovsky box is inevitable. But Fabia has a disconnected ASR. It is worthwhile to spin the snake intensively, as the system begins to think that they are mocking the machine, and noticeably strangles the supply of fuel. Then click the ASR button on the panel and allow yourself to delinquent and feel the border of the demolition of the front axle from the trajectory. You will have to pay for the standard of quality and composure in this configuration $ 13,800.
KOREAN
Rio has become a lot. It was difficult to confuse him before with other, often faceless, cars from the east. The new facade made a little Kia similar to Shuma's middle brother. And the unusual aerodynamic silhouette of the back is perceived in different ways as the angle of observation is changed. From the point of view of equipment, RIO can pamper sledges with an abundance of containers, including for bottles in the doorway, as well as a simple air conditioner button. At the first, fugitive, look at the car, the Korean pleases with the unusual visual integrity of the light gray salon. During the more close consideration, what seemed cute and pretty begins to slightly annoy, not to the same extent, of course, as in a dozen, but for the same reasons. The edges of the plastic parts, including the overlays on the steering wheel, are sharp and poorly processed. The creaking details are not perfectly fitted to each other perfectly and during frost in the bumps they begin to live a separate life and enmity with each other.
Another flaw of the design can be called crowded. Nothing is ahead, but the high passenger will have a hard time behind. The low, aerodynamically mowed ceiling and the lack of legs space did not allow me to take an acceptable position in the second row (185 cm). But in the cabin, it heats up quickly and efficiently, the stove fries directly specifically for Russian frosts. The noise of the KIA engine will not allow you to forget about the revolutions that the motor spin on, which will definitely delight the active driver. A light pickup, a noticeable craving already at low speeds and a certain similarity not only in the layout and size, but also in the style of driving on the injector Samara, will allow domestic drivers to quickly get used to the characteristics and character of Rio. Many will be especially pleased with the price. $ 10 thousand with kopecks is slightly separated by the Korean half-a-shackback-semi-poluniversal from the Vazovsky trough at least not at times.
EPILOGUE
As always, the reader concludes final conclusions. Or a buyer. But about each car, as well as about every person, you can more or less exhaustively speak out in two or three words. And a potential client or simply curious will only have to attach the data obtained to his coordinate system or correlate it with a personal scale of values.
 
Text Vladimir Smirnov
Photo Alexander Nozdrin
 
How do they look:
Nikita Rozanov
 
 
 
OUTSIDE:
The fact that the cargo -passenger body of the station wagon should no longer cause longing and despondency today the fact is universally recognized. And at this peculiar parade of vanity, both their leaders and outsiders are already standing out. PEUGEOT 206 Leader. Rio breathes him in the back of his head and acts very assertively. For example, the debut of a machine made in the New Edge style took place in 2000, and two years later, a facilifting operation was undertaken, and the design style of all hinged panels approached the bestseller of our time to the techno. Superior! Fabia in the cargo -passenger version makes a very serious impression. I would say that the design is serious in size, and if you recall how the hatchback looks fervently, then, looking at the station wagon, you can inadvertently yawn. The championship in recognizability, determining the brand and purpose of the car remains with Peugeot. What is at least the view of the headlights, a multifunctional 5th door or a drawing of the rear lights. Fabia is also not far behind, and Rio, of course, distinguishes the will to win, which, however, manifests itself a little naively. So, in my opinion, it will be honest.
Results:
Kia Rio is a fashionable design, which in comparison with these competitors can look a little naive, but quite modern.
Peugeot 206 SW behavior of a leader in all indicators.
Skoda Fabia Combi The time of the transition period between the bio and the techno has gone, and the plastic design key selected four years ago indicates age.
INSIDE:
The correspondence of the style of what can be seen inside is most organically manifested in Fabia. Everything is just as strict, definitely and clean. Not lags behind the leader and Peugeot, where each nuance of the relief of the instrument panel is consistent with the exterior and every detail in general. Suddenly, the modernized Rio interior began to look brightly and stylish. Plus Korean accuracy and it turned out very pretty. It is known that the car dignity of the station wagon is located behind. Here is the leader of Peugeot, which has the most vertical fifth door and the maximum size of the opening of the opening.
Results:
Kia Rio inside the car is different, bright and stylish. Schirpotreb in the good sense of the word.
Peugeot 206 SW is a very modern and stylish solution. The machine looks especially successful when the body color is repeated in the tissue inserts on the doors, the instrument panels and the ornament of the upholstery.
Skoda Fabia Combi The design is clean and functional. This is leveled by excessive utilitarianism and instructive correctness of style.

Source: Cars