Test drive Volvo S40 2004 - 2007 sedan

The national team of the world

Chrysler Sebring
At the Geneva Motor Show in the spring of 2000, the front -wheel drive sedan Chrysler Srybing was shown, which replaced the Stratus/Tsyrrus model. Six months later, a compartment and a convertible appeared.
Engines: gasoline 2.0 2.7 liters (141203 h.
Gearboxes: 5-speed mechanical (except 2.7 l),
4-speed automatic.
Complete: Le and LX.
Price in Russia: 21 90026 350 euros ($ 26 70032 100).

Ford Mondeo
The front -wheel drive Ford Mondeo made his debut in 1993, replacing the classical layout. In 2000, the second generation of the car appeared, updated a year ago. They produce sedan, hatchback and station wagon with bodies.
Engines: gasoline 1.83.0 l (110226 l. P.), Diesel 2.0 l (90130 l.).
Gearboxes: 5- and 6-speed mechanical, 4- and
5-speed automatic.
Complete: Core, Trend, Sport, Ghia, Ghia X, ST220.
Price in Russia: 18 78031 170 euros ($ 22,90038,000).

Skoda Superb
Superb Superb is based on a folkswagen-passage, extended by 100 mm platform, is presented in Frankfurt in the fall of 2001.
Engines: gasoline 1.82.8 l (115193 l. P.), Diesel 1.92.5 l (101163 l.).
Gearboxes: 5- and 6-speed mechanical, 5-speed automatic.
Complete: Classic, Com-Fort, Elegance.
Price in Russia: $ 26 80043 550.

Toyota Avensis
Toyota Ansis debuted in 1997, the current second generation saw the light in
2003. Body sedan and station wagon, front drive, for some modifications and complete.
Engines: gasoline 1.62.4 l (110163 l. P.), Diesel 2.0 l (116 l.)
Gearboxes: 5-speed mechanical, 4- and 5-speed machines.
Configurations: R1 and R2.
Price in Russia: $ 25 900 34 900.

Peugeot 407
PEUGEOT 407 The novelty of the season, made his debut in the spring in Geneva, changing the model 406. It is released with the sedan body, the station wagon and compartment will soon appear. Front drive.
Engines: gasoline 1.82.9 l (116211 p.), Diesel 2.0 l (136 hp).
Gearboxes: 5- and 6-speed mechanical, 4- and
6-speed machines.
Complete: SR Comfort, ST Comfort, ST Sport, SV Executive.
Price in Russia: $ 23 90039 000.

Volvo S60
In the summer of 2000, the Volvo S60 sedan was replaced by model 850. The V70 station wagon using a similar platform is considered an independent model. Front or complete drive.
Engines: gasoline 2.02.5 l (140300 h.), Diesel 2.4 liters (130163 h.).
Gearboxes: 5- and 6-speed mechanical, 5-speed automatic.
Price in Russia: $ 29 40059 900.

Grow to the average
In Europe, such machines are attributed to the average D-class, they have grown a compact golf class, but are inferior to solid business departments. They are bought, as a rule, of the middle -aged people, whose reasonable ambitions are backed up by a good bank account, middle -sized managers, and middle -sized businessmen. Many compatriots already consider themselves such judging by the queues (albeit not alive, but virtual) in car dealerships and the abundance of expensive cars on the streets. What is he, today's D-class?
Its very diverse composition can conditionally be divided into three leagues: in the highest, mostly dear Germans of the premium segment play in the second affordable Korean cars, and in the middle, in the first most large majority of Europeans, Japanese, Americans. It was such an international national team of the world that we called for a test: Chrysler Sebring, Ford Mondeo, Skoda Superb, Toyota Avensis, Peugeot 407, Volvo S60. The volume of engines varies around the most popular two liters in this niche. Prices in the basic trim levels also lay enough in the range of $ 2734 thousand. By the way, you should not think that such cars are not about you, about every third foreign car today they are already buying on credit, paying the initial fee of 2040% of the cost.
A large and squat car of a splary on the road: the design is made in the style of Cab Forward Ahead. Planting is somewhat difficult due to low openings. The driver, even of small stature, however, like the front passenger, is forced to lower the chair to the stop to move away from the solar visor and provide an acceptable review from under the flowing front edge of the roof.
Very soft front seats equally warmly meet the rider of any complexion without imposing a pose; This is a typical American in this Sebring. A set of electro -regulations is standard for the class: in addition to the two main ones, the height and angle of inclination of the entire chair, the back of the back with a lever, manually change.
The steering column can only shake up and down today this is already few, much more modest cars allow you to change its length. Something will have to be used to, for example, the control of lighting of the salon and the head light is concentrated on the left steering wheel switch and you won’t immediately figure it out. The handbrake is unusually located to the right of the central tunnel, next to the passenger. Black during the day, the numbers on the instruments with the inclusion of the backlight turn green like chameleons.
The lowest price is explained by a modest basic levisy lee -like taxi looks like a taxi inside. However, having ruined $ 1600, you can significantly correct the situation: order a leather salon, and you will also receive the front seats and the central armrest behind. But with unpretentious electric windows you will have to put up: they are on all doors, but without the function of the end of the end (shifting glass back when meeting with an obstacle). But there are cruise controls and a radio control carried out on the steering wheel.
The American origin of Chrysler confirms on the road. A soft suspension, without a trace, dissolving tremors from small irregularities, and a light steering wheel with the largest gear ratio (3.3 turns from the stop to the stop) transparently hint this car for a leisurely comfortable driving.
He copes well with domestic potholes, the benefit and tires he has the most tenacious and energy -intensive, dimensions 205/65R15. But you don’t have to rush: several large irregularities in a row can easily swing the car to the clang of pendants about the limiters. Yes, and the slalom is contraindicated in large bodies of body, slow reactions, rude ABS.
The gearbox is clearly working, but in a tandem with the engine, one of them philonite in the exercises for elasticity Sebring lost to everyone else, at least 24 seconds. Alas, it slows down worse than others, although 43 m from hundreds of the result is not bad in itself. I surprised a noticeable ... not even a noise, but some kind of itching of the motor and transmission: perhaps this is a feature of a particular test car.
But Kraisler is undemanding to the fuel AI-91 is always registered, without any reservations, it seems to be allowed as a last resort. In general, like all Americans, convenience in the first place, and driverships later.
Most of his competitors Mondeo puts on the shoulder blades in the nomination the amount of car for one denobe. At the same time, he is also the easiest.
The poor Trend equipment is issued mechanical settings for the driver's seat with an electric drive only to height adjustment. It is quite convenient to get a job, the chairs of medium stiffness, with a good lateral fixation, and about 180 mm remains above the head of the driver. The knees will have to save them constantly clinging to the steering column casing, and a radio remote control is located right above the left.
At first, you get confused with flat buttons of electric windows, the requirement of intuitive understanding is not observed here, but all four have an automatic mode and a survey function. Two things were upset: the central box-fork with a flimsy dangling lid, which seemed to make negligent schoolchildren in the labor lesson, and trembling on the move, like a sheep’s tail, in the end it was finally dismantled.
But no one else has such an exclusive as electric heating of the windshield! However, as well as the sophisticated mechanism of opening the hood with the key with the plus in such a solution, it is difficult to find, but not like everyone else.
On the move, Mondeo is good for neither outstanding qualities, nor obvious failures. A quiet motor is rather a flexible hard worker than a provoking athlete a confident craving in the entire range.
To moderately, a hard suspension skillfully damps irregularities, providing good smoothness, and at the same time allows you to go tenaciously, with small rolls in corners. A distinct steering wheel will not hurt a little more informativeness in this, it looks like a brake pedal.
By the way, the pedals are too close to winter shoes (at least large sizes) will cling. The clutch turns on softly, which is bad with a sharp manner of driving, but very convenient in traction traffic jams. Road and aerodynamic noises in Ford are very noticeable.
No, Superb is not at all like a dachshund at all, although he uses a passata plate elongated by 100 mm. The car looks quite harmonious, it is not even the longest in our company 81 mm shorter than Chrysler. Of the structural features, we note a simple and reliable rear suspension on longitudinal levers connected by elastic cross -member, competitors have more complex multi -link structures. But the front one is one of the most tricky. Another difference inherited from a platform donor located longitudinally an engine. He is small, but it was removed 1.8 liters, five valves per cylinder, turbocharged and 150 horses.
The even joints of the body panels, the high quality of the color, a carefully assembled salon, thought out by the ergonomics of Skoda, reminiscent of eminent Germans, Volkswagen specialists worked for fame. True, it seems that the car was deliberately impoverished: there are nests and wiring for washer washers, but the standard slots in the bumper are covered with plugs, the seats were removed, but the five -stage heating remained ... The radio will have to be ordered additionally: it is convenient for the music love to the music love, but most would be satisfied with full -time music, happily avoiding the burden of the choice.
From lengthening the salon, not only the rear passengers fell, but also the driver's dome roof was raised above it by 190 mm. The seats, again, are tough in German, with developed lateral support, and a short lever of the box is simply a standard for the clarity of moves and selectivity.
On the move, Superb gives rise to only positive emotions: a magnificent sound insulation, a powerful perirable motor with an excellent pickup in the region of one and a half to two thousand and a well-set voice, a small steering wheel poured with elastic power, albeit slightly rustic in shape. The machine gradually starts, provokes vigorously driving. And now you forget about the enormous salon from behind, and the suspensions slightly harsh at first are just right, so that under the squeak of the tire to carefully prescribe turns.
Japanese cars traditionally differ in high quality manufacturing, and Avensis, in principle, confirms the rule. It is all the more annoying to feel tight door handles and hear the interior elements creaking and itching on the move.
In the top configuration, R2 is only $ 2.6 thousand more than Skoda, but how richer it is equipped! What is not: xenon headlights, stabilization system, automatic box, nine airbags, including a knee for the driver, leather seats, audio system, separate climate control ...
The landing is generally comfortable, the chairs are soft, comfortable, but perhaps a little small for a large rider. The driver's knee clings to the hard casing of the steering column, and under the massive torpedo there is almost no room for the legs of the right passenger.
When starting the engine, the starter should work a couple of seconds. The two -liter motor is quite alive, but its impulses largely damps a four -speed machine. The suspension is dense, comfortable and has a good energy intensity. A light steering wheel is logically heavy in the parking lot with speed, although the tremors on potholes still reach it. In corners, thick front racks are somewhat interfere with the review, two rear headrest looms in the inner mirror, and a light noise from the wheels is noticeable on the move.
In general, an ambiguous car: everything seems to be fine, but you constantly have to do some reservations.
The latest car in the test, its sales began only in the summer. The most noticeable features of the appearance is an breathtaking front overhang, due to which almost 2/3 of their own mass falls on the front wheels, giant front-scale photographs 750 mm long and the enormous mouth of the air intake, which in the winter should be covered with a special plastic damper. The practicality of these solutions is not obvious, originality is undeniable.
SV Executive is very rich: among other things, xenon light, parking sensors, light and tire pressure. For the surcharge, two -layer side and rear windows that provide magnificent sound insulation, metallic color, skin. The salon is beautiful: soft embossed plastic, wood, graphite, chrome. Alas, right in front of the passenger on the glass there is a spider of the rain sensor.
The range of adjustment of very soft imposing seats is shifted back in the extreme position, even a tall driver will not reach the pedals. To the typically French digitization of the speedometer by odd dozens (70, 90, 110, etc.), you need to get used to it. The inclined front racks that go into the distance resemble the arch of the bridge ... Monsieur is undoubtedly the original!
The Frenchman has the largest engine as much as 2.2 liters. Alas, this did not give almost any advantages on the dynamometric road most likely, the matter is in a slow automatic box. The suspension was perhaps the most rigid: they are well felt, including on the steering wheel, small pits and chips of asphalt. The car is very confident in corners, demonstrates quick reactions and is accurately controlled, and from the revaluation of it and its own! Opportunities are saved by an unlotted stabilization system.
Manufacturers position the model in the premium segment. And if so, please overpay for a design capable of taking a three-hundredth engine, for the ability to place a richest set of equipment, for various know-how, behind a renom, after all. These costs are thin (and not so) layer fall on the price of all nodes, hence a considerable basic value. Moreover, plus additional equipment, one built -in phone pulls nine hundred, and all options will stand under 10 thousand.
As a result, Volvo has the most luxurious equipment, the maximum of comfort, which is composed of pleasant trifles such, for example, as a memory for three adjustments to the driver's place.
However, there are spots in the sun: unexpectedly simple, without hinges, electric windows, sticking opposite the knee of the ignition, a low steering column casing, a dangling lever of a handbrake, sometimes jerks when switching gear.
Volvo turned out to be the most original and powerful power unit five cylinders across the compartment (!), Budgeted and 180 liters. With. Hence one of the best indicators in longitudinal dynamics, although the character of the car is by no means racing, it is rather a high -speed liner with a rather soft and very comfortable suspension. However, the Swede holds well in corners, the main thing is not to rush it at the entrance and not to overestimate the unexpectedly modest grip properties of Continental Premium Contact tires. And the steering wheel from a polished tree is not for the racer.

Nomination asphalt all -terrain vehicle
No one will seriously check the all -terrain abilities of ordinary cars, but bad roads, deep potholes, high borders make me meticulously count the millimeters under the bottom. Here is the unconditional leader of Skoda Superb, who has a standard package for bad roads in Russia, increased the lumen under the protection of the engine to 160 mm, and the angle of the front overweight to 17. The outsiders are the brand new Peugeot 407 and Chrysler Sebring, guaranteeing only 120 mm under a motor compartment, and even then in the empty machine. The Frenchman has another trouble giant front overhang with an angle of only 11, which will make the park with the stern to the curbs and whisper to enter the ramps.

Nomination for itself a truck
The role of the carrier rarely falls out the D-class sedan, however, to deliver suitcases to the airport or skiing at the camp site no, no, and it will have to. Here, the unexpected leader was one of the shortest cars, the spacious rectangular trunk of Toyota Aventh placed 428 liters of polystyrene blocks. You could and more, but the lids protruding inside the loops prevented.
In second place is Ford Mondeo: I shortened 50 liters because of the inserts around the niche with a full-fledged spare wheel. The smallest compartment, and even with a small opening, has only 380 liters of Volvo S60. Only four liters were more spacious by the trunk of Chrysler-Sebring and Peugeot 407.
To transport something long and flat, the cut back of the rear seat in all cars can be folded in parts or completely, sometimes opening a rather large opening into the salon. Exception of Skoda Superb. However, the skis will not prevent this from transporting this in the niche of the rear armrest, like most others, has a hatch, and even with a cover.

Nomination of a traffic light racer
An unexpected result: the most spacious car with the smallest working volume turned out to be the most speedable Skoda Superb accelerated to 100 km/h for 10.3 C and developed a maximum speed of 210 km/h! She also demonstrated the best elasticity (acceleration without switching on IV and V transmissions) among machines with mechanical boxes.
However, let's not forget that the more powerful Peugeot 407 and Volvo S60 are heavier than 100 and 170 kg, respectively, also equipped with automatic transmission boxes. However, even this does not explain the slowness of the Frenchman by acceleration to hundreds took as many as 13.6 s! But according to the inhibitory qualities, Peugeot turned out to be a record holder, having managed to meet 39.7 m when braking with 100 km/h, by the way, only he has two -piston calipers in the front brake mechanisms.

Nomination member
It is difficult to find equal to Skode-Superb in front of a passenger’s knees 180 cm tall more than a quarter meter to the front back, although it touches the roof slope with his head. And a huge door not only accommodates an umbrella, but also allows you to enter the car, without losing dignity only bending. Ford Mondeo and Chrysler Sebring are very spacious to the same passenger guaranteed 170 mm of space and the ability to throw foot on the leg. Others also have a good 100120 mm, however, in Toyota Avention, the crown rests on a low roof slope, and Peugeot 407 subjectively seems closer than others. The widest salon of Volvo S60.

SUMMARY
Chrysler Sebring is soft and comfortable, it is most
like a calm driver of short stature, not very spoiled by expensive foreign cars.
+ Attractive price, unpretentiousness to fuel, soft comfortable suspension.
- Low salon, poor equipment and decoration, a tendency to build -up and body rolls, slow reactions, a sluggish engine, a small road clearance, noise.

SUMMARY
Ford Mondeo is one of the best offers in the class in terms of price/quality ratio. A solid average car that will satisfy most drivers.
+ Attractive price, a nice neat interior, a spacious interior, a convenient driver's place.
- Separate flaws of manufacture and ergonomics, a cramped pedal node, a fairly high level of noise.

SUMMARY
Skoda Superb is a unique combination of a huge salon, a clockwork nature and excellent adaptability to Russian conditions.
+ Very good manufacturing quality, a giant salon, a comfortable driver’s place, a powerful traction engine, excellent dynamics, a large road clearance.
- some inconsistency of the configuration, a non -transformed trunk,
insufficient promotion of the brand in the D-class.

SUMMARY
Toyota ANENSIS Leader in the number of security funds and attributes of comfort per unit value.
+ High assembly quality, rich equipment, reasonable price, spacious interior and large trunk, live motor.
- creaks in the cabin, some disadvantages of visibility and ergonomics, slowed down engine start, noticeable noise from the wheels.

SUMMARY
Peugeot 407 A stylish car with a bright appearance that can give pleasure to a skilled driver.
+ Memorable, original and bright appearance, rich equipment, excellent sound insulation, accurate reactions on the road.
- Poor geometric patency, mediocre dynamics, small external mirrors, crowded doorways.

SUMMARY
A volvo 60 small limousine: rich, solid, soft, comfortable, speedable.
+ Rich equipment, comfortable suspension, comfortable chairs,
powerful engine, good dynamics.
- High price, low door openings from the back, modest lines of tire properties, significant body rolls.
 
 
 

 

 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Yuri Nechetov. Photo: Alexander Batyr

Source: The magazine "Driving"