Test drive Volvo Cross Country 2001 - 2002
Ready for work and defense
Having pretty much flesh along a variety of Swedish roads, we were convinced that the new Volvo Cross Country incorporated the best features of modern solid universals and SUVs. The car is ready for work in harsh conditions and to defense from related problems.The first Volvo Cross Country was presented to the public in 1997. The novelty then accompanied a great success. During the development of CROSS Country 2000, all the advantages of its predecessor were preserved, but numerous modifications of the design, the use of fresh original solutions allow us to consider the current version with a completely new car.
The engine, and this, as before, is a 2.4-liter unit with a low-pressure turbine, underwent large-scale modernization. Almost all of its mobile parts are new. Due to the shortening of the pistons and lengthening of the connecting rods, the friction force that occurs when the pistons move significantly. The motor is equipped with a system of changed phases (CVVT), tested two years ago. She leads the turning of the intake camshaft regarding the graduation, optimizing fuel combustion in various modes. The power unit also received a new fast -acting control system, much more accurately controlling the formation of the working mixture.
Thanks to innovations, the Cross Country engine has become more environmentally friendly, more painful, even quieter in work and more economical. On average, 11.5 l of gasoline needs 100 km, which is 0.3 liters less than the predecessor was required. Moreover, this is an indicator of the machine with an automatic, as in our case, gearbox. A car with a manual KP consumes 10.5 liters. Compared to parquet SUVs of similar sizes and power, the new Cross Country consumes 3-4 liters of fuel less.
A 200-horsepower engine develops a torque of 285 Nm at 1800 min-1. That's why the car is so easy to climb. However, this is the merit of not only the motor, but also the new automatic five -speed KP. The machine is characterized by a clear change in modes - without the slightest jerk and twitching. Transporting relations, compared with the previous four -speed box, became close, electronic control has become much more accurate.
Due to the decrease in the number of first gear, the receipt of the car has noticeably improved. In our case, the GEARTRONIC KP is installed on the car, allowing manual switching and making it possible to slow down with the engine.
On the trunk straight Volvo Cross Country, we will not be finished like an express. True, at speeds above 160 km/h (may the Swedish policemen forgive us!) His run becomes a slightly jacket. However, destabilization is felt more likely at a subconscious level, because, despite the insignificant increase in height, the car retained a low location of the center of gravity, which ensures good sled qualities and stability.
When a forest primer replaced the motorway, the lead sky was disclosed by a plentiful rain. But this was not embarrassed by Cross Country, because wet, slippery roads are his elements. Taking on the hills, clinging the sandy roadside with right wheels, flying into the puddles accumulated in the lowlands, a car completely controlled by the steering wheel, carefully wrote out a winding trajectory.
The new Volvo is equipped with the AWD (All Wheel Drive) system, functionally similar to the one used by first -generation car. As before, on dry asphalt on the front wheels of the car, 95% of the thrust, which Viskoft, is transferred to the rear wheels - up to 100%, if necessary, if necessary.
The AWD system was complemented by the TRACS electronic device operating on all wheels. For example, when weakening the grip of the right wheels with the road (on sand, ice), TRACS slows them down, redistributing the thrust on the left. The device intervenes in the control very delicately and acts at speeds up to 80 km/h.
Cross Country was created as a road car. Indeed, even complex roads obey him, moreover, under poor weather conditions. Is there an off -road universal on the teeth? We turn onto the highway of the impromptu trial. The plot dotted with cobblestones 10-15 cm in diameter, Cross Country flies 40 km/h without any damage to itself. We also do not experience discomfort. The fever is only a suspension, the energy intensity of which is enough to confront the devil's pavement.
The rear Multi-Link multi-winged suspension is almost the same as on other Volvo cars with a large platform (S80 and V70). Nevertheless, the differences caused by all -wheel drive and increased road clearance are: longer than the suspension moves, the shape of some levers has been changed. In addition, the entire back suspension shifted 10 mm ago (compared with the V70 suspension) so that the large wheels 215/65R16 are not crowded in the wheel arches. The front suspension of the Mcphereson type is similar to the S80 and V70 installed, however, here the racks were lengthened due to a larger clearance. Compared to the usual station wagon, the track of the new Cross Country was heard by 60 mm, which required the expansion of the front wings.
Motivars 15-20 cm deep are forced to reduce the pace of movement. Due to the strong vertical buildup, the station wagon clings the ground a couple of times, although its road clearance is 200 mm (in the usual V70 - 150 mm). But the suspension holds well - without a hint of breakdown.
A lowland with a layer of oily dirt with a thickness of about 20 cm is not able to force the car to embarrass. Cross Country, like a real jeep, overcomes this obstacle.
Cool descent forces to use the brakes. They are effective, and ABS works on time. Only now the pedal seemed several cotton (we noted this on the asphalt), and therefore not informative enough.
Ahead is a series of lifting and lowering degrees at 40 and a length of 30 meters. Movement down does not cause trouble, especially when you click on the brakes from the heart, but you have to conquer the tops from overclocking. The ascent of the innature leads to the breakdown of the wheels, and they begin to grind wet sandy and stone soil. However, in the end, the car pulls out, a frantically mutua slope of the Pirelli Scorpion with universal tires with a rather deep tread. By the way, this rubber was surprisingly quiet while driving along the highway.
The car passed the off -road exam successfully. Nevertheless, the place of Cross Country is roads or at least their semblance.
The new station wagon has a high level of security. Support its strong body with a low -formed cabin, belts with pretensors, frontal pillows that recognize the force of impact and, depending on this, filled with air completely or half, the Whips system (protection against a woven blow), side pillows (SIPS) and curtains (IS) of safety (IS) .
The car provides one hundred percent comfort, offering everything that its fellow V70 has (for example, a built -in phone), and that which no one else has. So, for the first time a three -section rear seat was used here, which is folded in a ratio of 40/20/40.
In Russia, sales of the new Cross Country will begin in the fall, and it will cost about $ 50 thousand.
Technical characteristics of Volvo Cross Country
Body - 5 -door station wagon
Number of places, people. - five
Equipped mass, kg - 1630
Dimensions (length/width/height), mm - 4730/1860/1560
Base, mm - 2760
Maximum speed, km/h - 200
Acceleration time from 0 to 100 km/h, s - 9.0
Control consumption of fuel, l/100 km (mixed cycle) - 11.5
Engine:
- Type - 5 -cylinder, in order, gasoline, with a boost of low pressure
- working volume, cm3 - 2435
- Power, L.S. at MIN -1 - 200/6000
- torque, NM at min -1 - 285/1800 - 5000
- power supply - fuel injection
Transmission - automatic., 5 -speed, with manual mode, all -wheel drive with viscous coupling
Tire size - 215/65R16
Wheel suspension:
- front - type Mcpherson, with a reptile stabilizer
- rear - multi -link., springs., With a reptile stabilizer
Brakes (with ABS and EBD):
- front - disk, ventilated
- rear - disk
Steering - such as a gear -rake, with a hydraulic wrap
Road clearance, mm - 200
Text: Igor Kuznetsov
A source: Magazine 5 wheel [08/2000]
