There are conditions in Japan that encourage the purchase of small, but functional machines. There are few places on the islands, gasoline is not cheap. Before buying a car, the Japanese must obtain permission, convincing the authorities that he has somewhere to store the vehicle. So cars are becoming popular, about which they say that they are inside more than the outside. For example, the Nissan Cube.
Not very long, but a tall and rather wide car lives up to its name at least in proportion. Capacity? Here it is free to the shoulders of passengers of medium build, free to the heads; however, the main thing is that the car is produced not only in five-, but also in seven-seater version. In this case, the five-seater version has a turning radius of only 4.4 m, seven-seater - 4.7 m, being 140 mm shorter than the VAZ Kalina.
In combination with a 1.5-liter engine (without options), a Japanese automatic transmission or CVT is offered to the Japanese buyer (there are no “mechanics” at all!).
Of course, a half liter is not very incendiary, but Japanese drivers do not drive fast and are disciplined. This is probably partly why the transmission ratios are selected so as to provide ease of traction control in the first hundred. When you cross 100 km / h, the motor spins tightly, resembling a sound: it is not customary to rush here. The suspension is similarly tuned: at a speed of half maximum it is comfortable, at seventy percent it is hardworking, even closer to the limit it is zealous.
Functionality? The car is made front-wheel and all-wheel drive. The fuel consumption declared by the manufacturer is about 5.5 liters per hundred (Japanese cycle). Should there be flaws? It seems that the one I know is load capacity. For five Japanese people - 275 kg, for seven - 385. In both cases - 55 kg for each.
[caption id = "attachment_187928" align = "aligncenter" caption = "Nissan Cube
Small but square. Rather, cubic. "]
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Stop, stop … wait to smile. It is possible that the adapted "Cube" with other characteristics will someday appear at the Russian official dealers. At least the head of the Russian representative office of the company, Mr. Toru Saito, in an interview with reporters did not deny this possibility. The main condition: marketers must promise to sell at least 3 thousand cars a year. Considering that last year the total sales of new “Nissan” were close to 50 thousand, by the end of 2006 arithmetic could be in favor of the “cube”.
[caption id = "attachment_187924" align = "aligncenter" caption = "Nissan Lafesta
Station wagon for seven people with sliding rear doors.
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[/caption] Generally the saying "seven on the benches" is about many machines of the Land of the Rising Sun. The compact wagon Lafesta is barely longer than our ten, but it has seven seats and not the smallest trunk. Recipes for designing such machines have not been a secret for a long time: a high roof and a low floor make it possible to accommodate people without losing in convenience. A short engine compartment, in which you do not need to push large motors, allows you to gain space in the compact class for the third row of seats. Of course, adults are cramped, but children do not complain. To make it easier to climb through the gallery, the rear doors are sliding.
Try to remember how many similar station wagons you saw on Russian roads … Help: I have already announced the start of official sales of another similar "Japanese" in Russia - Mazda-5. This is probably another example of the fact that a European buyer is ready to accept Japanese car values. Europeans in this case - and we are with you.
