Skoda Octavia test drive since 2008 -

Theory and practice of temptation

Contrary to crisis melancholy, Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback started perfectly on the Russian market. What, in addition to the design, the Japanese hatchback is attractive, is not a handsome man, but a strong business executive Skoda Octavia.
First about the most difficult. Namely about design. There is no objective assessment of this quality of the car. But there are statistics. And it is such that seven out of ten people consider Lancer Sportback more beautiful than Skoda Octavia. And what does that mean? Yes, absolutely nothing. Because even if 99 out of 100 people find the best film 2 interesting picture, then it does not follow at all that it needs to be urgently entered into the gold fund of world cinema. Moreover, mass culture, which, of course, include car in the middle class, contains a lot of vulgar, but few things really outstanding. This is also statistics. And on its basis it is impossible to conclude that Mitsubishi Lancer vulgarity, and Skoda Octavia is an outstanding thing. The opposite statement has no power. I just want to emphasize the conventionality and bias of the aesthetic perception of things once again. Obviously, for many people, the design of the car is the main and sometimes even the only criterion when buying. If you attribute yourself to such people, then no, even the most detailed comparative test between Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback and Skoda Octavia you do not need to read, it will only cause irritation.
The statistical attractiveness of the Japanese hatchback, nevertheless, leaves its mark on the pragmatic world of dry numbers: the car is noticeable, that is, more stolen, that is, the CASCO insurance policy for it is more expensive than for Skoda Octavia. Mitsubishi is more burdensome and the costs of that, but the design here, of course, has nothing to do with such prices, and the future owner of Lancer will have to put up with them.
The cost and equipment of rivals is very close, but Skoda takes variety. And although the range of power units for the Russian market after restyling the model was greatly reduced, the list of additional equipment did not become less, and there you can still find a lot of interesting, for example, ESP, which is inaccessible in principle for Mitsubishi Lancer in Russia. Lancer is sold in our fixed trim levels, and the hatchback is with one single 1.8-liter engine (143 hp), in the pair of which you can choose either a 5-speed mechanics or variator. We got a version with a variator, and it would be good for her to find Octavia with the latest 1.4-liter boiled engine (122 hp) and a 7-speed robotic gearbox with two clutches, but such a machine at the time of preparation of the material in There was no Skoda press park, so it was necessary to be content with a version with 6-speed mechanics. However, running ahead, let's say that we did not have to regret it.
In the town
An elegant plastic body kit along the lower perimeter of the body, combined with a small road clearance, makes the owner of Lancer Sportback Carefully choose a parking lot so as not to damage the fashionable dress about the curb. The abrasions on the body of a test car eloquently say that sometimes there is simply nothing to choose from, and you have to park as it is, that is, an overlap with the sidewalk with all the consequences that arise. It does not contribute to an adequate choice and poor visibility from the place of the driver, due to an uncomfortable low landing (more on this in the section of ergonomics and comfort), and the lack of parking radar.
Mitsubishi's traction capabilities for urban driving are more than enough: the variator settings allow you to make instant overtaking at any speed. The suspension perfectly extinguishes the micro -relief of the roadway, but thunders on large potholes and tram tracks.
The energy intensity of the Skoda Octavia suspension is much better and allows the driver not to stand on ceremony with either paving stones or with the bedroom police. It is also noticeably easier to park on a Czech car: a large road clearance makes it possible to call on a curb or a small snowdrift without harm to the body. Review of backwards is mediocre, but the parking radar is helped out for 10,990 rubles.
The engine of the Czech car at the numbers is slightly weaker than that of the opponent, but in the city it is felt only on steep overpasses, and even if the engine speed dropped below 1,500 rpm, when the compressor turbine does not work at full capacity. Informative grip and precision clarity of the inclusion of transmissions minimize the cinematic ordeals of the driver in traffic jams, and a comfortable chair with a wide range of settings excludes fatigue in the back area even after standing in many hours of jam. In a word, urban operation gives the owner of Octavia less trouble, so the Czech car wins this round.
In the country
On high -speed highways with good asphalt, Lancer Sportback is magnificent, and riding in it resembles a flight on the luxurious compartment of the Gran Turismo class is also smooth, and also rapidly. The engine pleases with instant responses to the gas pedal, and the variator is an inextricable stream of drunk acceleration. Hooster petals made of pure titanium rudiment from birth. With their help, you can choose seven fixed gears generated by the variator, but nothing but the essence of the unaccounted transmission this does not give just the next tribute of the fashion and a funny turquoil for those who like to play the racing pilot on public roads.
On poor asphalt (and by the spring, say, in Moscow and Mo, almost all of the asphalt for some reason it is inevitably turned out to be bad) ride in Lancer Sportback becomes quite nervous: the car does not very willingly keep the straight line and shudders with the whole body at the joints and potholes. The primer should be forgotten immediately and forever the low protrusions of the elegant aerodynamic body kit are not compatible with Russian lane.
Skoda Octavia is more tolerant of anything uncovered, other crossovers will envy its road clearance. Skoda is also good on the asphalt, and is completely insensitive to its quality and pleases with good smoothness and exchange rate stability both on the licked Rublevo highway and on the puppy backwills of the Mytishchi near Moscow.
A 1.4-liter boost motor, with skillful use of six gearboxes of a mechanical box, shows an excellent agility, allowing you to easily perform the overtaking of plague strings. You can go without fear on a long road on such a car, but the Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback travel range is better to limit the roads of more or less decent quality.
Controllability
Those who carefully monitor Mitsubishi Lancer test battles in the automobile press probably know that the sedan version of the sedan caused a lot of complaints from the controllability. The hatchback, according to representatives of Mitsubishi, the chassis settles slightly from the sedan for the better. I did not ride a sedan, but the hatchback seemed to me indeed a very obedient car. Some complaints, and even then not every driver can cause a only light and insufficiently informative steering. In combination with excellent sharpness and accuracy, it makes riding at high speed too nervous, but, say, almost all BMW owners live with a similar steering wheel and do not complain. It feels from the handling of Lancer Sportback is generally very close to thoroughbred German machines, which probably is only good for its image. But what definitely does not strengthen his reputation is the mysterious, unremarkable absence of ESP in the machines of the Russian specification. But the brakes are quite informative and do not require much effort on the pedal even in emergency modes.
Skoda has no problems with slowdown, and controllability in terms of security is even better. Firstly, for any configuration, you can order ESP, and secondly, the VW Golf chassis on which Octavia is built is rightly considered the standard of handling of the front-wheel drive car. The heavy steering wheel provides excellent information content, the reactions are accurate and predictable so that the gambling driver at the wheel of Octavia becomes bored too well and correctly. Lancer Sportback is more interesting, although more nervous, and we would be happy to give the opponents the equally high grades for controllability, if not for the absence of stabilization systems in the Japanese machine. The position of the HZR in this matter remains unchanged: the buyer of a modern car should at least be able to order an ESP that can save his life in an extreme situation, so Mitsubishi Lancer lost again.
Ergonomics and comfort
In the representative office of Mitsubishi, I was told about the strange feature of all its models: in no steering column, it is not regulated by departure. I did not go to all Mitsubishi models, but with respect to Lancer I can confidently say that this ridiculous flaw seriously complicates the driver’s life: three people from the test department of our newspaper could not choose a convenient landing at the wheel. True, all three supporters of the correct, academic landing, requiring the back of the chair to stand almost vertically. It is impossible to sit in Lancer because of the missing adjustment of the steering column by departure and the narrow range of the chairs, after an hour of drive, the lower back begins to whine and the knees flow. But lovers of the sofa drive, when the pillow of the chair lies almost on the ground, the back is littered back, and the top of the steering wheel is on the height of the forehead, they will be satisfied. It is only a pity that the developers of Mitsubishi encourage such an unsafe (poor visibility, increased risk of diving under the seat belt during collisions) a pose behind the wheel.
The requirements for landing in the back seat are less strict, the supply of space in all directions is primarily important here, and on Lancer Sportback it will not have two people here on long trips will not be exhausted from tightness, but the third is better to leave at home. The noise level at high speed is moderate, in the acoustic picture, aerodynamic noises prevail and creaking interior details when hitting potholes and garbage lying on the road.
Skoda Octavia is a little quieter, but not thanks to the best aerodynamics, but due to better assembly of the cabin. Despite the smaller wheelbase, the supply of passengers space in the rear seat of the Czech car is even larger than that of the opponent. The driver, especially moving to Octavia from Lancer, completely ride like cheese in oil: the ranges of the steering wheel and seats are enormous to choose a convenient landing in a matter of moments, and the chair with developed lateral support better distributes the load on the body.
It is gratifying that both Lancer and Octavia are equipped with quite high -quality audio systems for this class of cars with quite decent sound and a good reserve in volume. But according to the sum of impressions of the quality of life on board, Skoda breaks forward again. On its side, exemplary ergonomics, while Lancer literally fetters the driver hand and foot.
Practicality
The stronger side of the hatchbacks always considered the best in comparison with sedans the ability to cargo transportation. However, if the hatchback has a deliberately sports accent, as in the case of Lancer Sportback, then few people are seriously interested in his talent to reincarnate. Therefore, it is not surprising that the trunk of the Sportback version by the standards of the class is not very large, with a volume of only 288 VDA-liters. Its form, however, is close to ideal and is devoid of protrusions that interfere with the loading of things. Having folded the whole back seat in its entirety or partially, the useful area can be significantly increased, and this is done, as they say, in one touch the corresponding handles are put to the edge of the luggage door.
Folding the rear seat of Skoda is not so convenient: you have to open the rear doors to free the latches in the upper back. But the trunk itself in Octavia is almost more than 560 VDA-liters. More in the Skoda salon and places for trifles, which, together gives the Czech a small advantage over the opponent in terms of practicality.
Results
So what? TKO? Dressing? Skoda better than mitsubishi?
If you make a choice between these hatchbacks with a mind, and not in heart, then, of course, Octavia is better, and in all respects.
But if you ask the author what car he would choose, then, without hesitation, I will answer Lancer Sportback.
How so? And why?
And because I love beautiful things. And also because the car is not a matter of first necessity for me. I do not drive by car every day, I like to walk a lot, so some drawbacks of Mitsubishi, so annoying during everyday use, worry me little. I'm not going to ride it every day. Neither on it, nor on any other car. Therefore, I can forgive a lot if I really like the car. Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback is precisely from these.
Brief characteristics
Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback
Power unit: Benz. 1.8 l, variator
Power, L.S. at a rival - 143 at 6000
Max. torque, NM at rpm - 178 at 4250
Maximum speed, km/h: 183
Acceleration 0-100 km/h, s - 11.7
Fuel consumption, l/100 km
city - 11.1
highway - 6.2
mixed cycle - 8.0
Length / width / height, mm
4585 / 1760 / 1530
Wheel base, mm 2635
Equipped / complete mass, kg 1505 /1900
Version: 1.8 Invite MT
Assembly: ABS, front and lateral airbags for the driver and front passenger, a knee airbag for the driver, the central lock, the steering amplifier, the steering column adjustable in height, the external rear -view mirrors with the electric drive and heating, the electric winding of the windows of all doors, the air conditioning, the air conditioning , seats heating, on-board computer, audio system with CD/MP3 player and four loudspeakers
Price: 617 000 rub.
Version: 1.8 Invite+ CVT
Complexation (additionally): fog lights, leather steering wheel, wheel wheels made of light alloy
Price: 680 000 rub.
Version: 1.8 Intense CVT
Employment (additionally): window pillows, climate control, audio system with CD/MP3 player, chainer at 6-disks, six loudspeakers and control buttons on the steering wheel
Price: 750,000 rubles.
Car content
Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback
Number of dealerships in Moscow: 16
Frequency then, km: 15,000
Queue for that and repair: 2-3 days
Delivery time of spare parts (maximum) - 3 months
The cost of service (100 thousand km), rub. 90,000
Fuel cost (100 thousand km), rub. 170 000
CASCO + OSAGO cost (per year), rub. 69 750

Brief characteristics
Skoda Octavia
Power unit: Benz. 1.4 l, 6-st. Manual transmission
Power, L.S. at rpm: 122 at 5000
Max. Torque, NM at rpm: 200 at 1500
Maximum speed, km/h - 203
Acceleration 0-100 km/h, C - 9.7
Fuel consumption, l/100 km
city - 8.8
highway - 5.3
mixed cycle - 6.6
Length / width / height, mm
4569 / 1769 / 1455
Wheel base, mm - 2575
Equipped / complete mass, kg - 1340 /1925
Version - Price:
Ambiente 1.6 (5 -st. MKP) - 625 000 rub.
Ambiente 1.6 (6 -st. AKP) - 660,000 rubles.
Ambiente 1.4 TSI (6 -st. PMP) - 665 000 rub.
Ambiente 1.4 TSI (7 -st. RCP) - 715 000 rub.
Assembly: ABS, climate control, frontal airbags for the driver and the front passenger, external rear-view mirrors with electric drives and heating, steering amplifier, rain sensor, on-board computer, steering column height and departure, electric windows of front door windows, electric drives. Seats heating, central castle, audio system with CD/MP3 player and eight loudspeakers
Version - Price:
Elegance 1.6 (6 -st. AKP) - 704,000 rubles.
Elegance 1.4 TSI (6 -st. PMP) - 709 000 rub.
Elegance 1.4 TSI (7 -st. RCP) - 759,000 rubles.
Elegance 1.8 TSI (7 -st. RCP) - 799,000 rubles.
Complexation (additionally): Side airbags for the driver and front passenger, which automatically folding when locking the car, external rear-view mirrors, 2-zone climate control, cruise control, electric windows of the rear door, fog lights, security alarms, wheel wheels from the lung alloy
Car content
Skoda Octavia
Number of dealerships in Moscow: 12
Frequency of then, km - 15,000
Queue for that and repair: 2-3 days
Delivery time of spare parts (maximum) - 1 month
The cost of service (100 thousand km), rub. - 71 500
Fuel cost (100 thousand km), rub. - 140,000
CASCO + OSAGO cost (per year), rub. - 53 650
Andrey Yezhov

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Source: The magazine "Driving"