Townspeople
Hatchbacks of this “size” are one of the most densely populated niches in the automotive market. Which is not surprising, since the demand for compact and at the same time very convenient cars in urban operation creates an offer. The assets of most modern B-class models are solid equipment, high-quality materials, a completely adult set of safety features. In addition, small hatchbacks are economical and not very expensive to service.
In the presented review there are many famous and beloved by the people names, including Opel Corsa, Skoda Fabia, Mazda2, Ford Fiesta. Complementing the company is the closest relative of Logan, but much more stylish, Renault Sandero. And no less interesting, a whole galaxy of new and bright players was spotlighted here, including Citroen DS3, Audi A1, Hyundai Solaris.
Legend
With similar dimensions, the price range for compact hatchbacks is impressive - from the most affordable Lada Kalina to the noble and expensive Mercedes-Benz A-Klasse, Audi A1. The cost of top versions of the “Teutons” with an additional set of options can exceed one million rubles.
Chevrolet Aveo • 3880 mm
Power, hp: from 84 (1.2 L) to 100 (1.4 L)
Curb weight (kg): 1030–1075
Transmission Options: 5-tbsp. MCP, 4-tbsp. AKP
Options: Base, LS
Price, rub.: 400 400-511 600
Chevrolet aveo
Lada Kalina • 3850 mm
Power, hp: from 80 (1.6 liters of 8 cells) to 98 (1.6 liters of 16 cells)
Curb weight (kg): 1080
Transmission Options: 5-tbsp. INC
Options: Norma, Lux
Price, rub.: 276 900–376 600
Lada kalina
Pros: affordable price, maintainability, low cost of maintenance; Cons: insufficiently informative steering, transmission noise. Pros: affordable price, maintainability, low maintenance cost; Cons: insufficiently informative steering, transmission noise
Mercedes-Benz A-Klasse • 3883 mm
Power hp: 116 (1.7 L)
Curb weight (kg): 1240
Transmission Options: 5-tbsp. INC, CVT
Options: Classic, Elegance, Avantgarde
Price, rub.: 795 000–990 000
Mercedes-Benz A-Klasse
Pros: brand prestige, wide possibilities for transforming the cargo compartment, high passive safety; Cons: premium price, short-stroke suspension does not like bumps Pros: brand prestige, wide possibilities for transforming the cargo compartment, high passive safety; Cons: premium price, short-stroke suspension doesn't like bumps
Mazda 2 • 3900 mm
Power, hp: from 75 (1.3 L) to 103 (1.5 L)
Curb weight (kg): 1035–1045
Transmission Options: 5-tbsp. MCP, 4-tbsp. AKP
Options: Direct, Energy, Sport
Price, rub.: 525 000–694 900
Mazda2
Pros: bright appearance, well-tuned chassis, sharp steering wheel, responsive brakes; Cons: cramped on the second row Pluses: bright appearance, well-tuned chassis, sharp steering wheel, responsive brakes; Cons: cramped on the second row
Citroen DS3 • 3948 mm
Power, hp: from 95 (1.4 l) to 150 (1.6 l)
Curb weight (kg): 1075–1165
Transmission options: 5- and 6-st. MCP, 4-tbsp. AKP
Options: Chic, So Chic, Sport Chic
Price, rub.: 649 000–815 000
Citroen DS3
Pros: fashionable appearance, nontrivial interior, impressive agility of a 150-horsepower turbo engine; Cons: modest capacity of the luggage compartment Pros: fashionable appearance, non-trivial interior, impressive speed of 150-horsepower turbo engine; Cons: modest luggage capacity
Audi A1 • 3954 mm
Power, hp: from 86 (1.2 L) to 122 (1.4 L)
Curb weight (kg): 1040–1200
Transmission options: 5- and 6-st. INC, robotics.
Options: Attraction, Ambition
Price, rub.: 807 800–991 900
Audi A1
Pros: excellent balance of controllability and comfort, an approximate tandem of a turbo engine and a DSG box; Cons: premium price with not the richest standard equipment Pros: excellent balance of handling and comfort, an approximate tandem of a turbo engine and DSG gearbox; Cons: premium price with not the richest standard equipment
Opel Corsa 5D • 3999 mm
Power, hp: from 65 (1.0 L) to 150 (1.6 L)
Curb weight (kg): 1145
Transmission options: 5- and 6-st. MCP, robots., 4-tbsp. AKP
Options: Essentia, Enjoy, Cosmo
Price, rub.: 480 000–689 600
Opel Corsa 5D
Pros: energy-intensive suspension, sharp, with good feedback steering wheel, solid interior; Cons: not the highest acoustic comfort Pros: energy-intensive suspension, sharp, with good feedback steering wheel, solid interior; Cons: not the highest acoustic comfort
Citroen C3 • 3941 mm
Power, hp: from 73 (1.4 L) to 120 (1.6 L)
Curb weight (kg): 1030–1089
Transmission Options: 5-tbsp. MCP, 4-tbsp. Automatic gearbox, robotics.
Options: Dynamique, Tendance, Exclusive
price, rub. 469 000-632 500
Citroen C3
Pros: decent ergonomics and quality of finishing materials, good visibility; Cons: steering lacks transparency. Pros: decent ergonomics and quality of finishing materials, good visibility; Cons: steering lacks transparency
Ford Fiesta 5D • 3950 mm
Power, hp: from 82 (1.25 L) to 120 (1.6 L)
Curb weight (kg): 1041–1092
Transmission Options: 5-tbsp. MCP, 4-tbsp. AKP
Options: Ambiente, Trend, Black & White Edition, Titanium, Titanium X
Price, rub.: 539 000–651 200
Ford Fiesta 5D
Pros: gambling handling, precise and sharp steering wheel, grip brakes, bright design; Cons: an extensive contra-set - only on order. Pluses: gambling handling, precise and sharp steering wheel, snap brakes, bright design; Cons: extensive contra-set - only on order
Volkswagen Polo • 3970 mm
Power, hp: from 60 (1.2 L) to 105 (1.2 L)
Curb weight (kg): 1067–1126
Transmission Options: 5-tbsp. INC, robotics.
Options: Trendline, Comfortline, Multicolored
Price, rub.: 480 000-634 000
Volkswagen Polo
Pros: verified ergonomics, excellent driving habits, Volkswagen image; Cons: many key options - only for a fee, unimportant sound of the audio system Pros: well-proven ergonomics, excellent driving habits, Volkswagen image; Cons: many key options - only for a fee, unimportant sound of the audio system
Skoda Fabia • 4000 mm
Power, hp: from 70 (1.2 L) to 105 (1.6 L)
Curb weight (kg): 1065–1135
Transmission Options: 5-tbsp. MCP, 6-tbsp. AKP
Options: Classic, Ambiente, Elegance
Price, rub.: 399 000–619 000
Skoda fabia
Pros: solid interior, correct handling in German, clear manual gearshift; Cons: modern turbo engines are the property of Scout modification Pros: solid interior, correct handling in German, clear manual gearbox switching; Cons: modern turbo engines are the property of Scout modification
Renault Sandero • 4020 mm
Power, hp: from 75 (1.4 L) to 102 (1.6 L)
Curb weight (kg): 975–1172
Transmission Options: 5-tbsp. MCP, 4-tbsp. AKP
Options: Authentique, Expression, Energy, Prestige
Price, rub.: 337 000–481 000
Renault Sandero
Pros: attractive price, spacious interior, energy-intensive suspension, smooth ride; Cons: the specifics of French ergonomics, too long clutch pedal Pros: attractive price, spacious interior, energy-intensive suspension, soft ride; Cons: the specifics of French ergonomics, too long clutch pedal
Renault Clio 5D • 4027 mm
Power hp: 105 (1.6 L)
Curb weight (kg): 1150
Transmission Options: 5-tbsp. MCP, 4-tbsp. AKP
Options: Dynamique
Price, rub.: 631 000–671 000
Renault Clio 5D
Pros: generous equipment, comfortable suspension, spacious and comfortable luggage compartment; Cons: overpriced, the engine range is exhausted by the 1.6 engine Pluses: generous equipment, comfortable suspension, spacious and comfortable luggage compartment; Cons: overpriced, the engine range is exhausted by the 1.6 engine
Fiat Grande Punto 5D • 4030 mm
Power, hp: 77 (1.4 L)
Curb weight (kg): 1040
Transmission Options: 5-tbsp. INC, robotics.
Options: Dynamic
price, rub. 515, 000–555, 000
Fiat Grande Punto 5D
Pros: clean lines of silhouette and interior, good chassis settings; Cons: most of the essential functions are included in additional options. Pluses: clean lines of the silhouette and interior, good chassis settings; Cons: most of the essential functions are in additional options
Kia Rio • 4025 mm
Power hp: 95 (1.4 L)
Curb weight (kg): 1064–1154
Transmission Options: 5-tbsp. MCP, 4-tbsp. AKP
Options: Comfort, Luxe, Prestige
Price, rub.: 469 900–565 900
Kia rio
Pros: successful ergonomics, a stylish interior, a gambling motor, a quick "machine"; Cons: cheap plastic in the cabin, cramped sofa Pros: successful ergonomics, stylish interior, a gambling motor, quick "automatic"; Cons: cheap plastic in the cabin, cramped sofa
Peugeot 207 5D • 4030 mm
Power, hp: from 90 (1.4 l) to 120 (1.6 l)
Curb weight (kg): 1223–1321
Transmission Options: 5-tbsp. MCP, 4-tbsp. Automatic gearbox, robotics.
Options: Access, Active, Sportium, Allure
Price, rub.: 414 000-594 000
Peugeot 207 5D
Pros: decent handling, a comfortable driver's seat, stylish controls; Cons: stiffer suspension Pros: decent handling, a comfortable driver's seat, stylish controls; Cons: stiffer suspension
Hyundai Solaris • 4115 mm
Power, hp: from 107 (1.4 l) to 123 (1.6 l)
Curb weight (kg): 1115–1135
Transmission Options: 5-tbsp. MCP, 4-tbsp. AKP
Options: Classic, Active, Style, Dynamic
Price, rub.: 443 000–649 000
Hyundai Solaris
Pros: bright design, commendable balance of handling and comfort, a rich set of options; Cons: wide front struts worsen visibility Pros: bright design, commendable balance of handling and comfort, a rich set of options; Cons: wide front struts impair visibility
In my opinion…
Oleg Getmanenko
- Affordable price - a powerful trump card of Lada Kalina and base versions of Renault Sandero, Skoda Fabia, Chevrolet Aveo. But fans of the latest model may need to wait a bit with the purchase - in early 2012, sales of the new Aveo will start in Russia. In the lower price segment, AvtoVAZ products compete with the Chinese hatchback Lifan Breez, with its initial version for 315 thousand rubles. It has air conditioning, front air bags, four power windows. Lovers of the expensive and prestigious in compact design have one road - to car dealers selling Mercedes-Benz A-Klasse and Audi A1. The list of cars from the golden mean, offering a good balance of consumer qualities: Hyundai Solaris, Citroen C3, Ford Fiesta, Skoda Fabia, Mazda2, Volkswagen Polo, Opel Corsa. Standing apart is a bright Citroen DS3 lighter that captivates with its non-trivial design and fiery turbo engine.
Oleg Getmanenko, editor
