Toyota Corolla 2007 test drive - 2009 hatchback

All photos Toyota Corolla 2007 - 2009

Each for himself

In this market segment, the Japanese fight for the money of Russians with other Japanese. Sedans, grown from a golf class, at a price of about 20 thousand dollars, meet a new player: Nissan against Toyota and Mitsubishi. The fight, where everyone for himself, is judged by Sergey Voskresensky. Photo: Konstantin Yakubov.

Mitsubishi Lancer
The tenth generation of Ulan with a body sedan has been sold in Russia since June 2007.
Engines: 1.5; 2.0l (109.150 hp).
Gearbox: 5-speed mechanical, 4-speed automatic or variator with 6 fixed gears (2.0 l).
Summary: Invite, Invite+, Intense.
Price in Russia: 482 000 - 651,000 rubles. ($ 19600-26500).
Nissan Tiida
Our sales of the sedan and hatchback began in the fall of 2007, in the market of America a car under the name of Versa Selling for several years.
Engines: gasoline 1.6; 1.8 l (110, 126 hp).
Gearbox: 5-speed mechanical or 4-speed automatic, 6-speed mechanics (1.8 l).
Complex: Comfort, Elegance, Tekna.
Price in Russia: 499 900-600 900 rub. ($ 20400-24500).
Toyota Corolla
The debut of the next version of the popular car took place in 2006, since February 2007 the new Corolla has been sold in Russia.
Engines: gasoline 1.4; 1.6 l (97, 124l.s.).
Gearbox: 5-speed mechanical or automated.
Complex: Comfort, Elegance, Prestige.
Price in Russia: 529 500-661 000 rub. ($ 21600-27000).

They meet on clothes
It seems to be possible to love with the eyes of Mitsubishi-Lenser. Stylish, rapid contours of the front, expressive profile and feed. Inside the car, you are inertial with your tongue, surveying a spacious interior, paying tribute to a clear scale of the devices. Comfortable seats, low landing, impeccable grip of the steering wheel, lever gearbox are excellent. It seems that the ignition key is touching - and even a modest 1.5 -liter engine with a whirlwind will respond to your mood.
Well done creators of the car! For enthusiasm, you do not notice the taste of synthetics in everything. Do not pay attention that plastics are not only bucks, but also frankly cheap; that the front stands of the body are heavy, and the mechanism of control of the box is noisy and slurred. But Ulan is undoubtedly ready to criticize. Yes, something was saved on, but the rest is a tribute to the alleged five -star security.
Unconvincing? Then pay attention to the elastic motor that easily accelerates the car from 1200 rpm. Of course, it is hard for him to touch 16-inch wheels, it is not easy to be assertive when driving fast. However, for everyday life, the engine and transmission are well balanced. The working range is wide, the transfer numbers are successfully selected. But the noise after 3000 rpm Lancer becomes like a booming metal box, in which it is impossible to talk normally. Saved on shi-mosoleration? Seem to be. Indeed, on the two -liter version there was no such mention of this.
There was no so springy steering. At first glance, it is strict and informative, Lancer again begins to play with muscles. His reactions are fast, temperamental, impulsive, but alas: they are again saturated with synthetics. The steering wheel is clamped on straight lines and requires effort for an almost invisible eye of correction. In a quick turn, an artificial stabilizing effect is almost invariably, so you can guess about the beginning of slipping only by changing the trajectory. And then high suspension springs interfere. Mi-Tsubishi clings very efficiently to the road with powerful wheels, but having reached the limit, limply glides the front axle outward.
In general, Lancer Yarok is charming, but the settings of the budget version are too artificial and may not live up to expectations.

Take it according to manners
In the ingenuous lines of the racks, a high roof, skinny wheels and a large trunk of Nissan-Tiada there is something elusively distinguishing him with a folk Renault. Although the forever changeable tide (as the tiid is translated) is not devoid of pretty branded features.
From the inside, the car is restrained. A wide and flat front panel, a compact, traditional combination of devices, simple steering wheel and lever boxes do not try to take possession of your attention. Only branded circle of climate installation hint at some originality. A little later, pay attention to the good materials of the upholstery, soft plastics, and unexpectedly cozy armrests. And then you will visit an uncomfortable seat - with a short pillow hung up, which is why, by the way, outwardly a high roof suddenly hangs over the crown. Finally, mark the unusual location of the adjusting handles, and with it the obsessive proximity of the passenger sitting on the right. Lancer is much more spacious! And only sitting on the back, where you can throw your foot on your foot, you understand who all this is done. A taxi word flashes in my head.
Behind the peculiar architecture of the tiida body, an enlarged noute platform is hidden. Produce this model in Mexico. So on the move of the tiid it will not decide on the national and class belonging! Hence the shortcomings and omissions in sled characteristics.
An empty power of Nissan’s effort is the exact opposite of Mitsubishi. The reactions of a machine, which is also prone to screening at speeds above 140 km/h, sluggish and thoughtful. In principle, all this can be considered insignificant. Indeed, in the framework of the rules of the road, the behavior of the tiida is quite reliable, understandable, even predictable. And only by crossing the line, you understand what the variety of tide is.
The Commonwealth of a brought gearbox and a flexible motor, on the contrary, looks very impressive. The tiida is light, excellently accelerates from the idle speed. Perhaps the only thing that the motor lacks is brightness, aggression in the high -speed zone. Nissan does not tire with noise accompaniment. The bass notes of the engine penetrate the salon from about 3000 rpm, but it is rather a background that does not interfere with communication.
Eh, there would be more comfortable pendants here! And they are, on the contrary, short -term, as if from a donor class below. The tiida behaves quite hard on minor irregularities, demonstrating jumping and strong vertical swing at good speed.
Drivers without special ambitions - that’s for whom the tiid is made. In fairness: Passengers feel best with these.

Seeing over the mind
Corolla's restraint must be taken without reservations, otherwise it is better to abandon it. Toyota is not going to flirt with you, promising something more. She is as it is.
You can reproach the set of a test machine in excessive fingertips: hand -shaped rear windows, deliberately plastic steering wheel, a knob of the box lever. You can complain on a defiantly bright illumination of devices. Then you will have to stuck on a short pillow of the seat, scolding the landing too high, and pushing the passenger with your elbow a couple of times. Wow! The car seems to be large, but sitting is not very free.
But soon, not even noticing how this happened, you begin to praise comfortable and roomy drawers, the verified clarity of control of the gearbox, informative pedals, the pleasant roughness of the steering wheel, adjusted, by the way, in the longitudinal direction. Each steeper, lever, the button is not only located in the right place, but also pleasant to the touch. And then the car, like an old acquaintance, surrounds with care and attention.
An extra and a half dozen horses under the hood tanged. Of course, they can be reproached for Lenza at small (up to 2000) revolutions. In this sense, the tiid looks livelier, more energetic. But the Corolla engine has no equal as soon as the tachometer arrow runs a three thousandth mark. Behind her is no longer just a solid car: he is a fair, with a spark, in character power, energy and a sense of superiority.
In the leaders of the Corolla and on acoustic comfort. It does not press the sound system with the sound of Lancer; Her motor sings at high speeds quieter than that of the tiid; Aerodynamics are also better than competitors. But there are weaknesses. The wheels react violently to the roughness of the coating, filling the interior with a loud rumble. They definitely need to raise every pebble, grain of sand and blurt out the metal from the road. The ringing is such that you begin to complain on uncleaned roads, and you will cross in another car - the asphalt seemed to be loud!
Dense, elastic pendants manage to treat with comfort. At high speeds, they are slightly tired by a detailed repetition of the profile of the road. But it is worth a little drop in the pace - the waves of the highway seem to be rounded the profile, the car stops jumping along their tops. In this, Corolla is very similar to Lancer, but he is a little tougher on small irregularities.
It is unlikely that this car can be required more solid controllability. Corolla does not bother at all, her steering wheel is accurate and informative, the car is obedient and friendly. The main feeling - I received exactly as much positive sensations for my money as expected. Or maybe even more!
Итак, сегодняшние японцы среднего класса - это уже не бесхарактерный ширпотреб, какими они когда-то слыли. Скорее - весьма разнообразные, с претензией на яркие характеры. Когда автомобили выстраивали для финального группового фото, в голову пришла аналогия из киноклассики: напористый Балбес; осторожный Трус; основательный Бывалый. Remember? Знаменитая троица советского кино - разношерстна, но каждый по-своему обаятелен. Наши автомобильные самогонщики -не хуже!
Сергей Воскресенский: Все чаще задумываюсь: а стоит ли бесконечно увеличивать автомобили в размере и массе, прикрываясь заботой об экологии и безопасности? Наверняка есть другие пути эволюции, причем не менее интересные.
MITSUBISHI LANCER - получив модную униформу и просторный вместительный салон, он подрастерял баланс в ездовых настройках, по крайней мере, в недорогой комплектации.
Общая оценка 7,8
+ Выразителен, удобен для водителя и пассажиров, хорошо оснащен, подвески комфортны и энергоемки.
- Посредственный акустический комфорт, невразумительное багажное отделение.
NISSAN TIIDA - за спорностью некоторых решений скрывается вполне продуманное, хорошо оснащенное и достаточно практичное транспортное средство, с расчетом на рациональных людей.
Общая оценка 7,8
+ Простор для задних пассажиров, вместительный багажник, эластичный двигатель, хорошие отделочные материалы.
- Невыразительные управляемость и плавность хода, неудобная посадка водителя.
TOYOTA COROLLA - кому-то она покажется слишком правильной и от этого неинтересной. Разрушить стереотип можно лишь.. проверив автомобиль в деле.
Общая оценка 8,1
+ Продуманная эргономика, сбалансированные, с огоньком ездовые возможности, вместительный багажник.
- Тесновато, особенно для задних пассажиров, плохо защищена от дорожного мусора.