Test Drive Toyota Camry Solara 2003 - 2008

All photos Toyota Camry Solara 2003 - 2008

How will it be in Russian?

These cars combine not only comparable price. In the coming years, they are most likely to be produced in Russia. What are the cars in the Russian conditions? In search of answers to the landfill, Mikhail Gzzovsky went. Photo: Alexander Batyr.

Nissan Teana.
Debuted in 2003 in Tokyo, sold in China under the name of Tian Lai, in Australia as Maxima, in South Korea as Samsung SM7.
Engines: gasoline, 2,03.5 l (136245 hp).
Transmission: 4-speed automatic, variator.
Package: Luxury, Luxury S, Luxury S-R, Premium, Premium S,
PREMIUM S-R.
Price: 811 9381 204 938 rub.
($ 31 60046 900).

Ford Mondeo.
Presented at the 2007 Geneva salon with Hatchback bodies, sedan, wagon.
Engines: gasoline, 1,62.5 l (125220 hp), diesel 2.0 l (130 hp).
Gearboxes: 5-, 6-speed mechanical and 6-speed automatic.
Required: Ambiente, Trend, Ghia, Ghia X, Titanium, Titanium X.
Price: 615 000975 000 rub.
($ 24 00038 000).
Volkswagen Passat.
Celebrated the premiere at the 2005 Geneva Salon, several months later, a wagon appeared.
Engines: gasoline, 1.63.2 liters (115250 hp), diesel, 1.9 and 2.0 l (105170 hp).
Gearboxes: 5-, 6-speed mechanical and 6-speed automatic.
The configuration: Trendline, ComfortLine, Sportline, Highline.
Price: 664 9101 339 672 rub.
($ 25,90052 100).
Toyota Camry.
The sixth generation of Camry made his debut in January 2006 in Detroit. In Russia, the car appeared on sale after only two months.
Engines: gasoline, 2.4 and 3.5 liters (167 and 277 hp).
Gearboxes: 5-speed mechanical, 5-, 6-speed automatic.
Comfort: Comfort, Elegance, Prestige, LUX.
Price: 868 4001 208 600 rub.
($ 33,80047,000).

Prescribed rest
The Teana is an example of point marketing policies. The model is designed specifically for the Chinese market. As it turned out, and Russia is suitable! This is spoken of sales. Yes, the design is difficult to call exquisite or original. The car is heavy, with what angle does not look. But it is precisely that it seems, and attracts buyers.
Swinging the door similar picture. Monumental front panel made in the simplified style of infinity; Restrained dark colors of plastics and leather. Nothing here should not cause irritation or distract. To begin with, take a seat on the back sofa. For some reason, looking at the car, and imagine the average years of a businessman or an official who will not bother himself by control. The chic view of the seat does not deceive here very comfortable, that's just the tilt of the pillow such that in the course of the trip gradually move forward. Touch!
The TEA is removed from the anchor and almost silently floats through the high-speed road of the landfill, perfectly imitating the Russian highway. The driver gradually increases the speed up to 120, and the sensations are practically not changed. The wind seems to bypass the car, the motor is separated from the salon of the lead wall and is listening only when the kick-down is turned on, when the turns are above 4000. The tires are also barely audible and give themselves only muted slaps on irregularities. Impressions complements the lulling smoothness of the stroke. Well, the rear passenger in the Teev grace. And driving?
Customize the seat quickly helped electric drives. A large and solid chair surprises too narrow back, and the legs hang on a rather long pillow. None of the experts complained about the inconvenient location of the steering wheel, but for justice for the sake of: the only of the fourth without adjusting the column on the departure. Strange, right, savings
On straighty Teana is great. Even on the steering rates from the point of view, the steering wheel is absolutely calm, and this calm is transmitted to the driver. Neither rolls, nor vibrations on levers and pedals. But it is necessary to roll to the mountain road, as the Teana is transformed: scaring with rolls and squeaks with tires, literally poured into the turn. The steering wheel is not deprived of informativeness, but that the rear axis is already sliding with might and main, and it is not easy to correct. And then there is a stabilization system with a crunch (and late), the driver of the driver is fully working to work the gas pedal. The appearance did not deceive such disciplines not for Nissan. The owner needs only peace.

Blockbuster
If in front of the creators of the Mondeo set the task to make a car memorable, then they earned their premium. All in its appearance from the head optics, the profile to the shape of the rear lights allows you to identify Ford instantly. Marketers also noted, sowing raise the fur around the car long before its appearance in stores. The participation in the next series of bondian casino piano affected.
The interior indifferent leaves: one will seem too elegant and playful, but many exclaim: Finally, at least someone made an original salon! Here it is for what to cling to the eye from the aluminum decor of the console and doors (in the Titanium configuration) to the unique combination of instruments.
After some time, the visual effect retreats, I begin to notice other features. To regulate the tilt of the driver's seat (with a claim for sportiness!) It is extremely inconvenient to survey your hand in the gap between the chair and the door. Open the ashtray from the first time could not be able to anyone. It was not necessary to fold in response to pressing, she did not want: they tried to pick up an uncomfortable handle from below without any sense. Only a post in the upper part leads to the result: clamping finger
Managing the Mondeo, saw a comical picture in the salon mirror: three passengers rear resemble Chinese chicks, synchronously swinging heads from side to side. Passengers also noted significantly higher than the noise level compared to Nissan mainly from tires. On fast direct mondeo, it seems to help to help the driver, barely visible. You are not going to change the course, and the wheel slightly deviates from the zero mark: the chassis and body seems to be detached apart from each other. Strange feeling.
The situation radically changed, it was worth going on the verge. The only serious claim is too lightweight spoils mutual understanding. But this can be forgiven for the ugly championship in turns to dump the gas and unobtrusive, but timely work of stabilization systems.
By the time of the test, the Mondeo with automatic transmission was not yet, we were content with five-speed mechanics. Such Ford on acceleration dynamics was not worse than Teana, in whose Arsenal at 28 hp. more. In the city, the motor is not too comfortable lucky only with 3000 rpm. Intensive accelerations revealed a fuzzy inclusion of a third transfer with quick work by the lever.
When I went out of the cinema, looking at the casino Piano, the audience vigorously discussed the new adventures of the agent 007. Many were sad in Pierce to throw, someone recalled Sean Connery. I liked the film. He is modern, dynamic, does not fly out of his head the next day, remembered as the Mondeo.

European School
They say Europeans and Asians build cars completely differently. Asians first put on the imaginary driver's seat and furnish the space around it, covering all the body. Europeans paint the body, then rolling the chassis for him and only then put inside the person and surround it with a salon. Of course, this is a joke, but there is some truth in it. I remember it, sitting down in Volkswagen.
At the first moment from the driver's seat, it seems that the front panel turns the front panel in a mistake; Pretty narrow interior is Passat or Jetta?! The body squeezes the rollers of lateral support, hands fall on a simple, optimal cross section Barank, eyes run on informative scales, the most strongest impression achieved!
Let the motor, having a key chain-key in the panel, and go. I immediately feel how tough the competitors go to Volkswagen, passing each joint of the asphalt fabric to the steering wheel and shuddering on the bumps. With increasing speed, the move becomes smaller, but the noise increases the mirrors, the tires sound ...
But by 140 km / h, the steering wheel is accurate and intuitively understandable, and there is no nervousness and in risen. And what will happen on the mountain road? And here the Passat demonstrates an exemplary stepper. It seems that he is one third easier the Teana and the heels of kilometers per hour faster in the hairpin than the Mondeo. Finally, in the hands of exactly the steering wheel that you are waiting! Tight, informative in any mode and allows you to set a trajectory with an accuracy of a millimeter.
I really liked the six-speed automatic machine (it allows you to switch to stealing petals, however, it moves to the next transmission in addition to the driver's desire) in combination with the algorithm of the operation of the gas pedal. The moment of inclusion kick-downs feel unmistakably due to the step through which the pedal needs to be sold. Alas, all these advantages are not ready to fully implement a two-liter motor. In the sprint, the Passat is also inferior to the least powerful in the company Mondeo.
Please slow down! The rear passengers prayed after the next arrival in the serpentine. Wednesday of this car is a good asphalt. It was taught to ride it canceled, but in terms of vibrations passengers in Volkswagen get the most.

AVERAGE
In the Russian press conference of Ford, where they announced the plans for the production of Mondeo in Russia, among the economic indicators and forecasts flashed the words: we wondered the Mondeo as a direct competitor to Toyota-Camry.
Already from twenty steps, standing side by side of the car caused doubts about this statement. Toyota is not at all similar to Ford: Outwardly, it seems more massive and more friendlier. Inside, too, the earth and the sky! This does not mean that one car is worse than another. As often happens, the color of the interior is strongly affected. Beige trim Camry in combination with a massive front panel creates an atmosphere of lightness and at the same time protection.
To sit in Toyota is the most convenient extensive opening of doors and seats without expressed, like the Teana and the more Passat, side support. At the first moment covers light disappointment. Against the background of the stylish minimalism of the Teana, the brightness of the Mondeo and the refinement of the trade wind here is too common. But gradually you begin to celebrate the little things that create a pleasant aura. These are comfortable, almost homemade armchairs, and large visual appliances, and the steering wheel with climate control keys.
The disharmony makes a rather noisy against the background of the other machines, whose specific timbre resembles a sewing machine (no wonder on the emblem of the checkered ear!). But soon with this you get drunk and cease to notice how airplanes coming to landing over your cottage.
The brightest feature of Camry is a reference softness. Only in it you realize that the term smoothness comes from the verb to float. At any speed and with almost any relief under the wheels, Toyota continues to go, as if on rubber coating. Probably not to cause the driver of temptation to work as a slalom, the steering control was given amorphous character: Intuitively understand how to turn the steering wheel, but absolutely you do not feel resistance. So, on intuition you can go for quite a long time, the benefit of the inclinations to the early drift, no demolition. Nevertheless, experiments with a snake is better to postpone, pleaseing the fact that Camry is good in a set of speed and elasticity. This insists on an unleated stabilization system, whose work is so accurate that it can not be noticed at all. It turns out, Ford and Toyota Antipode.
Black left, white to the right, commands the photographer, building a title frame. And really! Cars were divided into two camps: black is more suitable for active drivers; But white will be perfectly cope with the role of a comfortable limousine.
Mikhail Gzzovsky: Close like cars turned out to be oriented to absolutely different audiences. Drive around mostly alone. Look at the Passat and Mondeo. Thene and Camri will especially like those who are usually placed from behind. Toyota's victory for us was not obvious before calculating points. The essential advantage of Camry is an outstanding smoothness. But the strongest side of the model is the lack of weaknesses.
Nissan Teana is far from ideal for driving disciplines. The mission of this car to provide peace of the rear seat passengers.
Total estimate of 8.0
+ Good smoothness, excellent sound insulation, charismatic interior.
- Pensive automatic, leaning to the drift, non-seized rear seat back, lack of steering wheel adjustment.
Ford Mondeo car with character and good ride deposits. I am glad on serpentine, but tires shaking on the highway.
Total rating of 8.1
+ Good overclocking dynamics, reliable behavior in turns, spacious interior, understandable brakes.
- Shaking suspension, pretty strong noise, mediocre visibility, plastic screens.
Volkswagen Passat strict in everything from the interior design to the riding manner. Loves good roads and knowledgeable sense.
Total rating of 8.3.
+ Holdback handling, fast gearbox operation, informative steering wheel, high quality finish, comfortable trunk, presence of motor compartment protection.
- hard suspension, narrow salon, not enough engineer, uncomfortable landing on both rows of seats.
Toyota Camry bribes simple, but efficient solutions: spacious interior, ease and predictability in management, friendly design.
Total estimate of 8.4
+ Magnificent smoothness, good dynamics, fast box job, good stabilization system, space in the back seat.
- Not enough informative steering wheel, limiting the volume of the trunk loop of the lid.