Home Roses Sale of cars of the Citroen brand. Sale of cars of the brand Citroen What is safer than Toyota Yaris or Nissan Micra

Roses

Sale of cars of the Citroen brand. Sale of cars of the brand Citroen What is safer than Toyota Yaris or Nissan Micra

The formal reason for this test was the debut of the Chevrolet Aveo in a three-door version.

A similar modification of the Toyota Yaris, which has finally appeared in Russia, is also included in the line. And they will be accompanied by the good old Nissan Micra, which has been offering us from three to five doors for six years now.

The updated Chevrolet Aveo looks more solid, or rather, more aggressive than its predecessor. True, the huge shield of the false radiator grille with the hypertrophied family cross would have looked even better if it had not been spoiled by the substrate with the license plate. But the headlights from the flagship Epica sedan and the ventilation grilles at the base of the front struts, borrowed from the Cadillac model range, came in handy. As well as a plastic body kit, which carries not only a decorative, but also an applied function, protecting the thresholds from stones flying from under the front wheels.

The second generation Toyota Yaris, which debuted in Russia in the spring of 2006, and even more so the veteran of the Nissan Micra market, do not need a detailed introduction. (The recent appearance of the three-door Yaris could be considered news, if it differs from the usual version in something other than the price and the number of doors.) Let's just note that ideologically these cars are in many ways similar, offering the maximum internal volume with relatively modest external dimensions (although in In the case of the Micra, practicality was sacrificed in part to the original design).

The interior of the updated Aveo has not changed much. Design breakthroughs are still not noticeable here, and the persistence with which Koreans adhere to traditions in some details, by God, is worthy of a better application. (This is us, in particular, about the paddle shifters that are stubbornly inherited by each new model from the old Nexia.) Although, by and large, there are few complaints about the Aveo's driver's seat. I would like to finally get the steering wheel adjustment for reach, a more ergonomic chair, in which the back would better endure many hours of ordeal in traffic jams. And please tell me, who had the idea to equip the rear-view mirror from the driver's side with a magnifying glass ?!

Against the background of the coal-black "desert" of Aveo, the creamy Micra interior with elaborately decorated and richly decorated door trim and dashboard elements seems like heavenly bushes. (However, only the top Tekna version provides such a striking contrast, and in the cheaper versions the Micra is much more boring). The driver's seat is quite comfortable and may even have an adjustable lumbar support. The steering wheel, however, is only height adjustable.

The materials that make up the interior of the Yaris are not expensive, but the build quality is hard to fault. Not like ergonomics. Despite the ability to adjust the column in two directions, short drivers will want to pull the steering wheel a little more towards themselves, and tall drivers will want to raise it higher. Alas, the setting ranges do not differ in latitude. (However, the very appearance of a telescopic steering column is already a real breakthrough.) But the seats are comfortable, the electronic dashboard, as if floating in the black depths of the panel, inspires a mystical horror (ah, shaitan!), And the number of compartments for small things (at the disposal of the driver and a front passenger of about a dozen of them) makes Yaris a genius of practicality.

In terms of comfort for rear passengers, the Yaris is again in the lead. Here, perhaps, is the most comfortable seat, parts of which can be moved back and forth, and even the tilt of the backs can be changed. The tunnel on the floor is almost invisible, which cannot but please the owner of the central seat (although, if he is not a child among adults, he will still "squeeze" in his shoulders).

The rear seat of the Micra is also "movable" (in the absence of passengers, the trunk can be increased by 120 liters), but it is more difficult to sit back: a low opening and a high threshold interfere with it. And to sit tightly: legs rest on the back, and the head rests on the ceiling. But if the occupants of the rear seats of the Micra and Yaris are hypothetically capable of reclaiming their living space from silent suitcases thanks to the seat settings, then Aveo passengers can only rely on the mercy of the Korean designers. And they, constrained by a rigid budget framework, secured the seats tightly, completely and completely subordinating the interests of the "gallery" to the whims of those in front. Well, at least the wheelbase of the Aveo is slightly larger than that of its competitors ...

However, it is time to announce the results of sea trials, anticipating them, as usual, with a brief description of the Russian lines of power units of our heroes. Good news for fans of Korean Chevrolet: both engines of the updated Aveo have become more powerful. The redesigned 1.2-liter engine produces 84 hp. against the previous 72, and the 1.4-liter top version is boosted right up to 101 hp. This, by the way, is the most powerful unit in our today's trinity. As a transmission, the familiar MKP-5 or AKP-4 pre-styling cars are offered, which have not undergone noticeable changes.

From engines of the same volume, "Nissan" still "removes" 80 and 88 hp. respectively. The composition of the gearboxes has not changed either: the basic 5-speed "mechanics" or the optional 4-speed "automatic".

Yaris has one and only 1.3-liter 87-horsepower engine on the Russian market, aggregated with the MKP-5 or (in the "older" trim levels) with a robotic 5-speed MultiMode transmission.

At the bottom, the Aveo 1.2 with a manual transmission is rather weak - there is not enough torque. However, twisting the motor "to the ringing", it is still possible to achieve acceptable agility from the "Korean". Of course, if you manage to intuitively feel the switching algorithm: the lever (what's in "neutral", what's in gear) dangles like a flower in an ice hole.

Yaris delivers no more positive emotions with the "robot", unpleasantly "stumbling" during acceleration on every gear change. (True, if the Toyota box is taken out of the normal, economy mode by pressing the "Es" button, then the changes occur faster, and the gas pedal becomes more responsive.) You can, of course, change gears manually, but why then fork out for a "pseudo-automatic"?

In general, the Micra's four-speed automatic turned out to be the most adequate this time. The box pleasantly surprises with its agility. And having reduced the number of gears to three (the "over drive off" mode is activated by a small button on the selector handle), you can count on a completely dynamic ride.

And the handling is generally good. The key definitions of the Micra and Yaris characters are softness and predictability. Both cars readily enter corners and hold the road well even at the tire grip limit. The only difference is in the nuances. For example, the Micra is more responsive to rough bumps, while the Yaris is more responsive to ruts. The help of the electric power steering in both cars is too intrusive, but the steering wheel of Nissan is still a little more informative.

The steering wheel of the Aveo is frankly empty "at zero", and the reaction force is not entirely natural. However, it is certainly possible to understand where the car is going. In turns, the body rolls more than desired, but the car does not sway on the asphalt waves, and most of the flaws in the canvas are easily "rounded" by a rather energy-intensive suspension.

However, the undisputed champion in ride comfort is Yaris: its ability to overcome deep potholes can be envied by even more "adult" cars. Although Micra cannot be called a "stool" ...

Be that as it may, all subjective assessments of this or that car are objectively covered by one very significant factor - the price. She, as they say, explains a lot. For example, the presence of Chevrolet Aveo in the Top-25 of the Russian market (17th place in the first half of the year with a result of 18,733 cars sold) and the absence of other participants in this test in this rating. And the absence in the body line of the Micra and Yaris sedans, which are so popular in our country (Aveo are taken mainly in this body), cannot be attributed to this incident. Money rules the show. At least in this segment.

And while Chevrolet Aveo hatchbacks will cost from 311,200 rubles, and Nissan Micra and Toyota Yaris - from 400,200 and 480,000 rubles, respectively, the Japanese can hardly hope for a change in the existing status quo.

CRASH TEST CHEVROLET AVEO

The only Chevrolet Aveo crash test according to the EuroNCAP method was carried out in 2006 and brought, to put it mildly, disappointing results: the car could not score even two full-fledged stars. The consequences of a head-on collision were especially devastating (3 points out of 16 possible). The dummy driver hit the hub and rim of the steering wheel with his chest, and his knees against the front panel and the ignition switch. In addition, the legs were threatened by the clutch pedal displaced backward. Fortunately, the Aveo protected the child passengers well (four stars out of five) and successfully withstood a side impact (15 points).

TOYOTA YARIS CRASH TEST

In the EuroNCAP rating, the Toyota Yaris earned five stars with 35 points. Moreover, 15 points (94%) were received for a frontal impact, and 18 points (100%) for a side impact. The car protects children-passengers by three stars out of five, and experts have awarded Yaris two stars out of four for the safety of pedestrians. Already in the basic configuration, the cars are equipped with front and side airbags, belt pretensioners, Isofix and ABS mountings. Safety curtains and a "knee" airbag for the driver - in more expensive versions. There is no stabilization system.

CRASH TEST NISSAN MICRA

Nissan Micra passed EuroNCAP tests in 2003. The car received a four-star rating, receiving a total of 25 points, of which 9 (56%) were awarded for a frontal impact, and 15 points (83%) for a side impact. The relatively low head-on test results are attributed to the “penalty” for the airbag's failure to prevent the driver's chest and head from contacting the steering wheel (thankfully not strong). The experts assessed the safety of pedestrians at 12 points (33%). In this discipline, the Micra earned two stars out of four. "Children's" tests were not provided for by the then regulations.

Chevrolet aveo

Interesting design, decent engine, rather spacious trunk.

- Informative clutch pedal and manual gear lever, mediocre ride.

Toyota Yaris

Practical and roomy interior with compact dimensions, generous equipment.

- Robotic transmission, boring gray interior, small trunk.

Nissan micra

Decent dynamic qualities, nice design, practicality.

- "Automatic" without manual control, non-optimal transformation of the rear seats.

Text: Andrey Tsybulsky

Test drive cars: Citroen C3, Toyota Yaris, Nissan Micra.

Koloboks in the big city

"What car should I give you, dear?" - "Little red ..."

The five-door hatchback debuted in 2001 and was restyled in the fall of 2005. The open C3 Pluriel is considered an independent model.

Engines: petrol 1.1-1.6 l (61-110 hp), turbo diesel 1.4-1.6 l (70-110 hp).

Transmissions: 5-speed manual or robotic Sensodrive.

Complete set: basic.

Price in Russia: $ 15,200–20,500.

The second generation model debuted in 2005 with 3- and 5-door hatchback bodies. In some markets it is sold as Vitz, there is an all-wheel drive version.

Engines: 1.0-1.5 L (69-110 HP), 1.4 L turbodiesel (90 HP).

Transmissions: 5-speed manual or robotic Multi-Mode, stepless variator.

Complete set: three basic options.

Price: $ 17,390-20,450.

The third generation appeared in 2002. A 3- or 5-door hatchback is produced, as well as a coupe-cabriolet "Micra C + C". Sold as "March" in some markets, there is an all-wheel drive version.

Engines: petrol 1.0–1.6 l (65–110 hp), turbo diesel 1.5 l (65–82 hp).

Transmissions: 5-speed manual, 4-speed "automatic".

Options: Comfort-M, Comfort, Luxury, Tekna.

Price: $ 12,990-18,530.

Unfortunately, there was no red in our test, but in all other respects, Citroen-C3, Toyota Yaris and Nissan Mikra are just those cars that women like - forehead, pop-eyed and damn pretty. And not the cheapest - however, ladies rarely save on purchases, so all three cars are presented in rich trim levels: electric power steering, audio system, climate control, albeit inseparable, electric mirrors and front windows, heated seats, ABS, four airbags ( Yaris even has seven, including the driver's knee!) and something else. Motors with a volume of 1.3–1.4 liters are the most common in this class; in our trio they are practically the same in power. The gearboxes are, of course, automatic - the usual hydromechanics for "Mikra" and robotic mechanical for the other two machines.

CITROEN-C3

In line with modern trends, all three little cars were above one and a half meters, which provided an enviable height of doorways and, accordingly, a comfortable fit. Only individual representatives of the taller and more well-fed half of humanity will pick and choose, catching the "stern" on the middle rack in the "Citroen".

Tall domed ceilings made it possible to seat passengers vertically, and still there was a sufficient gap above the driver - more than others for the "Frenchman", almost fifteen centimeters. A graceful lady will want to raise the chair, but for this she will have to jump completely unaesthetically in a sitting position. The backrest tilt is adjusted by hard-to-reach handles-commas on the inner side of the seats. Heating controls are located on the sidewalls of the seats - their scales are visible only when the doors are open. The roof handles do not fold, although the handrail for the front passenger is at the very head.

The character of the C3 is not at all as "plush" as the exterior. The noisy engine at idle is audible even in the street noise. Suspensions seem to have gotten from rally "chevrons" - rigid and energy-intensive, they perfectly keep the car on the waves, in turns, providing quick and accurate responses. It is a pleasure to grab a bunch of turns, clinging to a comfortable, with protrusions, steering wheel bagel, so as not to fall out of a comfortable, but completely amorphous chair. And better on a closed track - the wide arched front pillars interfere with peering into the turn, especially the left one.

By the way, the Citroen's turning radius is one meter larger than that of its rivals, which is understandable, France is much more spacious than Japan. As usual, they pay for the sporty character with comfort: the driver's "fifth point" with absolute certainty receives information about the smallest defects in the coating, and the "lying policeman" not noticed in time responds in the stomach.

Such a chassis and a hotter motor! Alas, 88 "horses" in line with the environmental requirements of Euro III are more like mules, and this is a drawback of almost all modern machines. And then there is a weak harness - a robotic box "Sensodrive". Triggering is accompanied by a jerk (be careful in a traffic jam!), And switching is accompanied by such painful pauses that the driver has time to lean forward in an involuntary desire to speed up the process. Overtaking with a kick-down is an empty idea: while the "robot" switches, it's time to catch up again. The paddles on the steering wheel help out: they are also active in automatic mode, so you can switch down ahead of time. Better yet, on the track, move the selector to the left (manual mode) and go in a fixed gear, relying on the engine's good elasticity and only occasionally touching the petals. It is a pity that they are located on the stationary part of the column and run away from under your fingers when you turn the steering wheel.

"TOYOTA-YARIS"

The most modern car of the trinity, in theory, had to take into account the shortcomings of its predecessors and turn out to be the best, but in reality everything is not so simple. We will not repeat the praise of the spacious interior - this is the order, although the falling ceiling almost touches the back of the heads of the rear passengers. But what are the eight boxes for every little thing in the front panel - remember what you put where! A miniature display replacing the instrument panel is located in the middle here, the engine in rich trim levels is started with a button. But with the seat adjustments in this test, it is fatally unlucky: to change the backrest tilt in the Yaris, you need to release the lock with your left hand, and pull it towards you with your right hand!

However, the most noticeable drawback is the tiny trunk. There is a full-fledged spare wheel in the shallow niche for the "stowaway", but the floor is raised even higher, by as much as 150 mm! Toyota YarisIn the "European" configuration, we measured 200 liters, in the "Russian" - only 156. True, the volume can be increased to almost a quarter of a cubic meter, if you move the sofa and significantly squeeze the rear passengers.

On the move, the little Toyota is the complete opposite of the Citroen: quiet, soft and comfortingly comfortable, perfect for a relaxed everyday ride. She objects to sharp aerobatics with noticeable rolls and swaying. When braking in a corner, it strives to throw the stern forward and fall into a deep skid, which requires a sweeping anticipatory steering correction.

The "Yaris" also has a robotic "automatic" MultiMode in its transmission - in fact, "mechanics", only with automatic switching. The box works a little faster than that of the Citroen, and much better than its predecessor on the Corolla Verso. At idle, a small thrust appeared - a similar "creeping" mode, convenient in traffic jams, is available in any hydromechanical transmission. There is also a "sport" position Es - in this case, when the throttle is released, say, after acceleration, there is no upshift.

There is also manual control, but here - only with the selector lever. By the way, in a left turn, full drivers kneel out this mode on both Toyota and Citroen. A common drawback is that when switching down, the motors automatically add and hold speed - it seems that the "robots" are not able to brake the motor in principle. But what about, say, in the mountains? And leaving the car in gear is problematic, you have to constantly use the parking brake - in winter, because of this, our pads froze (ZR, 2006, No. 1).

"NISSAN-MICRA"

What can you say about your slippers? Well, comfortable ... that's all! Approximately the same impression was left by "Nissan-Micra" - except for a big-eyed face and a neat interior with nice embossed plastic, there is nothing extraordinary in it. No abstruse robot, no displays, no dubious revelations of ergonomists. But nothing squeezes, does not interfere and does not rub corns. On the move, the machine is understandable and adequate, agile (in overclocking even a little faster than competitors) and at the same time does not annoy with either shaking or swinging. In general, a successful compromise - one should not be afraid of this word, if the compromise is found correctly.

Say, the hydromechanical transmission is outdated? No manual sequential mode? This is true if ambition, multiplied by power, does not fit under the hood. And if you just drive quietly, and even in traffic jams, there is nothing better and more convenient. Let's reveal a terrible secret: the only real advantage of the "robot" over much more complex "hydromechanics" is cheapness and slightly better efficiency, everything else is from crafty marketing. And if this difference is not reflected in the price of the car, it means that they are trying to foist a penny on you for the ruble.

However, let's not idealize Mikra, it has its own shortcomings. The most noticeable is the cabin, which is rather low in the rear, the tall passenger rests his head against the junction of the glass and the roof. The position can be corrected by sliding the sofa forward until the knees touch the front backs. The longitudinal adjustment of the front seats is short, and the skinny passengers strive to push the soft velor to the frame. The selector scale glitters, but there is no indicator on the dashboard - at first you switch the automatic modes especially carefully. The ground clearance is too small, only 130 mm.

Useful information

All three cars need AI-95 gasoline, although in principle they can also digest the 92nd. All have helpless engine compartments, but there are full-fledged spare wheels, with the exception of "Mikra" - for a purely city car, the disadvantage is insignificant. The guarantee extends for 100 thousand km, but the "Frenchman" is likely to have a two-year term, and the "Japanese" have another year in reserve. The frequency of annual service varies significantly in terms of mileage: cautious 10 thousand km for Yaris, average 15 thousand for Mikra and excellent 20 thousand for Citroen.

Yuri Nechetov:

“Somewhat unexpectedly, the best car in the test was not the newest and not too full of advanced solutions. The success was brought by even indicators in all nominations, only two "sevens" against four or five from competitors (see the expert assessment) ".

CITROEN C3 - CUTE APPEARANCE AND CONTRACTUAL CHARACTER: ALMOST SPORTY CHASSIS DOESN'T MATCH WITH A FLEGMATIC POWER UNIT.

Excellent road behavior, quick reactions, spacious interior, high mileage between maintenance.

Too stiff suspension, noisy engine and wheels, wide A-pillars, ergonomics errors, a "brooding" gearbox, a large turning radius.

TOYOTA YARIS - BRIGHT, RICHLY EQUIPPED, WITH FINE EDUCATION NUTS. GOOD AS A LADY BAG, BUT NOT AWOSKI.

Overall rating 8.0

Excellent sound insulation, comfortable suspension, a huge number of boxes, rear seat adjustable in parts.

The tendency to skid, the ventilation control is difficult, a somewhat brooding "automatic", a tiny trunk, low mileage between TO.

NISSAN MICRA - STYLISH, COMFORTABLE AND DYNAMIC. FRUIT OF REASONABLE COMPROMISE BETWEEN COMFORT AND DRIVING QUALITY.

Overall rating 8.1

Rich equipment, a good combination of comfort and pleasure for the driver, adequate operation of the transmission, adjustable rear seat.

The opening of the rear doors is narrowed, the interior is low in the rear, and the ground clearance is modest.

Despite the fact that the entire civilized Europe has long been "addicted" to all sorts of "compacts", the domestic consumer still treats small cars with extreme caution, preferring larger counterparts. Here, of course, there is a homespun truth, since, despite the size, "kids", as a rule, do not have the most democratic price tag.

However, the demand for them has grown lately. Moreover, in large cities like Moscow or St. Petersburg, their "services" are often used not only by the fairer sex, but also by quite courageous individuals who prefer greater mobility to their status and, of course, some parking handicap. At the same time, not only "decent" MINI Coopers or the newly minted FIAT 500 and Alfa Romeo MiTo are used, but also much more affordable Peugeot 107 and even Daewoo Matiz, in comparison with which the heroes of our today's material look like mastodons. Nevertheless, it is they who can be considered the ancestors of the class, because they were one of the first to form the Russian B-class, forming a company for the then dominant line of Avtovaz. True, recognition came to them more than once. Toyota Yaris, for example, was not sold at all for several years due to pathologically low demand. But the Nissan Micra has survived the period of oblivion stoically. However, today few people remember this, and the results of the car show approximately the same: about five thousand copies a year. On the other hand, both models are the first candidates for replacement, so if nothing serious happens, in a year and a half we will see either their new generations or potential replacements.

In a word, the second generation Toyota Yaris, which debuted in Russia in the spring of 2006, as well as the current interpretation of the Nissan Micra, does not need a separate introduction. The only thing that can be noted separately is the relatively recent restyling of the latter, as well as the beginning of sales (last summer) of the three-door modification of Toyota. Today, however, we will focus on the most demanded five-door versions.

In terms of external performance, the Micra stands apart, and the nickname "Pokemon" was given to her not as an offense, but rather in confirmation of its originality. Note that while she was never in the center of events, at least she was not equal. At the same time, Nissan is still very good even against the background of more recent classmates, like the Peugeot 207 or Ford Fiesta, and in fact it is five or six years older ...

Made in the spirit of the first generation, Yaris is a kind of perky domestic animal that slays everyone with a mischievous "smile" and large, slightly squinted "eyes". However, the familiar features here are just a tribute to the traditional Toyota continuity. In general, the "kid" looks more serious than the opponent, there are more dynamics and swiftness in its contours, thanks to which it is perceived as an older and more versatile car in terms of gender.

Nevertheless, ideologically, these machines are very similar. This is especially noticeable when getting into the salon: despite the relatively modest external dimensions, both participants offer the maximum internal volume, however, in this component, albeit by a small margin, the Toyota Yaris still excels.

Its steering column, like that of "adults", is adjustable in both reach and tilt. The seats are quite comfortable, besides, the driver's seat, in addition to elementary adjustments, also has a "height" setting, even in the basic version. The only thing you can find fault with here is the setting ranges. In fact, they are not very wide - a tall driver wants more. We'll have to put up, however, the average driver will be enough and this.

The same reasonable sufficiency could explain the use of “toy” plastic in door trim, and even with poorly processed edges, but, alas, this theory does not stand up to criticism, especially when there is a no less eminent Japanese opponent in front of our eyes. Interior designers of "Nissan" did not allow themselves such blunders. The quality of the materials, of course, is comparable, it could have been better, but there are no questions about assembling or manufacturing panels, as in general there were no before.

But in terms of ergonomics, the Micra is inferior to the compatriot. The seats are comfortable, but the steering column is adjustable only in height. Thus, the driver is literally doomed to a vertical landing, since there is enough space above his head. Nevertheless, the author of these lines would call the landing proposed by Nissan a compromise - it is comfortable, but still far from ideal.

For the comfort of the rear passengers, there is again Yaris in front. A movable rear sofa, the ability to change the backrest tilt ... Perhaps, a couple of adult passengers will still fit here. Tellingly, after landing the front ones, there will be room for the legs of local riders (of course, excluding those cases when the front seats are pushed back all the way). Another significant plus is the low central tunnel. Not that it didn't exist at all, but in Nissan it is much higher.

Higher in the Micra and a threshold that makes it difficult to sit down normally. The process of immersing a mortal passenger body in the bowels is not too simple for the inhabitants of Toyota, but in this case its appearance plays against the "Pokemon", more precisely - the sloping roof. As a result, in order to sit in the salon, the applicant has to bend almost twice, which, given the high threshold, believe me, is not very convenient. Otherwise, there is almost complete equality - the same mobile seat (the range of displacement here, by the way, is a little more), a living space close in volume and the same ceiling that is not “hostile” to the heads of tall people. In principle, the cargo capabilities of our heroes are also equal. Of course, it is foolish to expect any impressive capacity from such machines, but in practice they are able to accommodate items that are noticeably larger than the size of a ladies' cosmetic bag and even a full-size reticule.

The stylistic and functional merits of both machines are worthy of approximately the same characteristics. In the cabin of both hatchbacks there are a dozen different containers for storing small items. On the front of the Yaris, for example, there are three glove compartments. In Nissan, he is alone, but the Micra easily parries the attack, due to the presence of a "secret" box under the cushion of the front passenger seat. In turn, having a rather modest gray interior, Toyota, at first glance, is inferior to the opponent's interior decorated in rich cream colors. But due to the location of the instrument board, which is not quite familiar to us, and the original shape of the center console, again, he compares glasses without any problems. In addition, the basic version of Toyota is slightly better equipped, which, however, does not affect the cost in the best way.

Even worse, its price tag is affected by the presence of the optional MultiMode robotic transmission, which is installed by default in two versions out of three possible. And this despite the fact that the basic Yaris configuration costs at least 60,000 rubles more than the starting Micra. It is clear that for the most part these versions are present in dealer price lists only for beauty, but this remark would be relevant only if the versions that were similar in characteristics were equal in value, but here the difference declared at the beginning remains in the future. ... In particular, both test versions were not top-end, but very close to them, and based on today's prices, we would give 612,000 rubles for the Micra, and 665,000 for the Yaris.

But, let's leave the torment of choice to the readers and move on to describing the running capabilities of the "Japanese women". In the arsenal of Nissan there are two power units with a working volume of 1.2 (80 hp) and 1.4 (88 hp) liters, which are aggregated both with a 5-speed "mechanics" and with a 4-band " automatic machine ". Yaris also has two transmissions (the already described MultiMode and a 5-speed manual gearbox), but there is only one engine - a 1.3-liter "four" with an output of 87 hp.

On the go, the Yaris is not bad, but only on condition that the driver initially forgets about his driver's ambitions. No, the car stands very well on the road, perfectly obeys the steering wheel, bumps smoothly, rolls in turns are noticeable, but not critical; he is noisy, of course, but this is one of a series of shortcomings characteristic of the class as a whole. The main problem with the Yaris is the transmission. First, her behavior is very difficult to predict. The automatic gearshift mode defies any logic: when the accelerator is squeezed to the floor, the car accelerates to 80 km / h in the first two gears. At the same time, in a calm rhythm, the fifth stage can turn on already at 65–70 km / h. It is clear that the KP was initially "sharpened" not for "formula" driving, but for the maximum fuel economy, but it is not appropriate to scoff at the driver. Nissan's “automatic” works more reliably and more logically, especially when it is coupled with a more powerful 1.4-liter engine.

More logical, but not faster. The car goes well, but with a complete lack of temperament. For the city, his agility is enough, for the highway - not enough. But in any case, the driver should not count on more or less dynamic movement with sharp accelerations and slippage. But Nissan can boast of a strong suspension and excellent handling. But the acoustic comfort is lame - the Yaris is clearly quieter, right there at high revs the engine fills the cabin with a rather unpleasant buzz. And at high speeds, the monotonous hum of tires and the whistle of the wind are added to it. However, the presence of the last two problems is typical for the Yaris. As, however, and for most of these machines.

Specifications


Length (mm)
Width (mm)
Height (mm)
Wheel base (mm)
Weight (kg)
Trunk volume (l)
Slave. engine displacement (cm3)
Max. power (hp / rpm)
Max. torque (Nm / rpm)
Transmission type
Max. speed (km / h)
Acceleration 0-100 km / h (s)
Average consumption (l)
Price, rub.)

Japanese small cars on the Russian market

Small cars (European size segment B) from the Land of the Rising Sun are renowned all over the world for their reliability and endurance. However, reliability alone is not enough for modern buyers, give them a stylish appearance, spaciousness and functionality. Such cars are quite widely represented in our secondary market, and the most common of them are Toyota Yaris (1999-2005), Nissan Micra of the latest generation (from 2003 to 2005 modernization) and Mitsubishi Colt, which has been sold with us since 2004.

All cars were produced as three- or five-door hatchbacks. In the Yaris model range, in addition, there was also a compact van. And the Mitsubishi Colt existed for several years (in Japan it has been sold since 2002) only in the form of a five-door, and only by 2005 a three-door modification appeared. All three were officially sold in Russia. All of these models have front-wheel drive and transverse four-cylinder (Mitsubishi also has three-cylinder) engines.

Expert opinion

Small cars seem to have been specially created for megacities - in big cities they feel like a fish in water. Places on the road take up a little, if necessary, they can turn around on any patch, and there are fewer problems with parking. On the other hand, following automotive fashion and trying to please customers, manufacturers are doing everything to make these compact cars not too inferior to models of a higher class in terms of convenience and spaciousness. For the sake of this, dimensions cannot be significantly increased - you must observe the boundaries of this size segment. As a result, small cars began to grow upward and in appearance now resemble more compact vans than hatchbacks. For example, if you take the same Toyota Yaris, Nissan Micra or Mitsubishi Colt, then their body heights are 150, 154 and 155 cm, respectively.For comparison: this figure, say, for an executive sedan does not exceed 145 cm.

Therefore, with modest external dimensions, modern small cars have relatively spacious interiors and trunks. In addition, their assets, as a rule, have a striking design, an affordable price, a fairly high level of passive and active safety, inexpensive maintenance and, as practice shows, quite "adult" reliability.

Salon

Toyota Yaris looks catchy on the outside and futuristic on the inside. The front panel is unusually made: it seems to hang in the air, not reaching the central floor tunnel. The electronic instrument panel, located at the top center, is slightly turned towards the driver.

The stylish interior is trimmed with rather slippery and hard-to-touch plastic of not the highest quality. However, this is not the only problem with the Yaris: similar materials are used in most compact cars. But in "Yaris" there are many compartments and shelves, on which you can arrange all sorts of small things - from a mobile phone and glasses to a road atlas. Almost like a compact van.

Slightly less than in a compact van, and interior space. For its modest size, the car is quite high (150 cm), and in terms of free space at shoulder level it can compete with golf-class cars. Therefore, a small Toyota comfortably accommodates five people of average build. Moreover, even a tall driver can sit freely in the driver's seat - a wide range of adjustments in length and height makes it possible to adjust the seat to any figure. The rear seat can be moved forward and backward by 15 cm. This allows, if necessary, to almost double the volume of the trunk, which in its usual form holds only 205 liters, not exceeding the size of a large suitcase. Or vice versa - to expand the space for rear passengers, sacrificing space for luggage ...

The compact MPV Toyota Yaris Verso is 20 cm higher than the hatchback. It has a wheelbase increased to 250 cm and an extended rear overhang. This fairly roomy city car has a spacious interior and a huge trunk, the maximum volume of which (with the rear seats folded down) reaches 2.160 liters.

Equipment

The Yaris equipment consisted of several levels, which traditionally for this brand were called Linea Terra, Linea Luna and Linea Sol and differed from each other mainly in finishing materials. The first version was considered basic and included ABS, front and side airbags, on-board computer, built-in audio system, electric power steering and central locking with automatic locking. The second was finished a little richer, but in terms of the set of equipment it repeated the standard version. Linea Sol was additionally equipped with electric drives for front windows and heated mirrors, and the interior was decorated with velor ...

A twin of the Yaris called the Echo was produced in the United States in the form of a two- and four-door sedan. These cars in our secondary market, as a rule, come with a 1.5-liter engine, power accessories and "automatic", but without ABS.

On the run

Toyota Yaris is equipped with McPherson struts at the front, a semi-beam at the rear, and anti-roll bars. It looks like the Japanese paid a lot of attention to the chassis settings. With decent comfort, the Yaris handles very well. This manifests itself in small body roll when cornering, and in the car's quick response to steering actions, and in the Yaris' complete disregard for minor road irregularities. Excellent smoothness is inherent in all Toyota models, but such a balanced suspension on compact cars is quite rare.

Sharp in handling, the Yaris constantly provokes the driver into a spirited ride. In terms of dynamics, it has no equal in our top three competitors - with a standard 1.5-liter engine, the small car accelerates from zero to 100 km / h in just 9 seconds.

According to mechanics

The body of the Yaris successfully resists external influences. All modern Toyota models are well protected from corrosion, and the little Yaris is no exception. If the car has not been in a serious accident, then it is almost impossible to find rust on its body. When it comes to electrical equipment, its systems are reliable and unlikely to present any unpleasant surprises.

No less reliable are the engines, of which four were offered for Toyota Yaris: three gasoline volumes of 1 liter (68 hp), 1.3 liters (86 hp) and 1.5 liters (105 hp), as well as 1.4- liter 75-horsepower turbodiesel. The latter is practically not found on the secondary market. The most common Yaris with engines of 1 and 1.3 liters. In addition, 1.5-liter sedan cars (where they are called Echo) are brought from the USA. The gas distribution mechanism sets in motion a durable chain, which has not yet been changed on most machines. Candles last an average of 20,000 km, replacing them costs $ 35-40. Due to the low quality of Russian fuel, it will be necessary to periodically, after about 30,000 km, clean the throttle valve assembly and injection nozzles. On a specialized service, this operation is estimated at about $ 30-35. From time to time, electronic engine speed sensors (from $ 45) and an air mass meter ($ 214) fail ...

All petrol engines combine one of three types of transmission: a conventional manual transmission, a four-speed "automatic" and a robotic "mechanics" with automatic clutch release Free-tronic. There are no complaints about the first two checkpoints. But the "robot" can upset with breakdowns. The hydraulic control unit of the robotic box - the actuator - failed on some Yaris after 50,000-70,000 km. Replacement is by no means a penny - about $ 2,200 with work.

A simple suspension requires almost no attention. The main expenses begin when the small car runs more than 100,000 km. The only thing that fails before this date is the front anti-roll bar bushings. They serve an average of 50,000-60,000 km.