What to choose from C-class cars: Chevrolet Cruze or Opel Astra? What is better Opel Astra or Chevrolet Cruze What is the difference

Good day!

I want to tell the story of the short-term ownership of the Chevrolet Cruze. The car is not my first, when I chose some experience of owning was already, including the Chevrolet. Only as something bad is quickly forgotten, and I bought into the fact that the last Chevrolet was a Niva, our domestic car, and here it seems like Korea, kind of inexpensive and rich. It turned out to be an erroneous opinion. I will make a reservation - before Cruise there was a Skoda Fabia, maybe a small, but very worthy car in all respects. She set a fairly high bar when choosing the next car. There were quite a few potential candidates, mostly Japanese on the machine, I really liked the Lancer X 1.8 of my now wife. Here are some of the candidates - all in 2009 - Mitsubishi Lancer X 2.0, Mazda 3 2.0, Honda Civic sedan, Toyota Corolla on automatic transmission and certainly not on a robot, Skoda Octavia and many others. The Japanese, in principle, were good, but everyone had their own cockroaches ... Lance scared off the variator, Mazda is very low and tough, Honda is low and there are problems with the steering rack, the Corolla is just cramped, boring, and just nothing. About Skoda Octavia I will say that I liked it very much, but when the purchase was seriously looming, they decided to choose from new cars, and Oktashka came out a little expensive - 640 sput. In the simplest configuration on the handle on the oars, from the options only Conder. ALL! Volga some kind of honest ... And then I began to look from the new, but more stuffed. Hyundai Solaris is dynamic, very comfortable, just appeared, but the suspension is junk and the machine itself, as time has shown, is not very reliable and just not very good in itself. Kia Rio is better but also not great, besides it is cramped and small. I almost bought a Volkswagen Polo sedan, with full minced meat with a machine gun it turned out not too expensive, a new and quite nothing machine. I was already ready to buy it, but then my friend and I went into the next salon and saw IT! Handsome, big, snow-white Chevrolet Cruze, priced like a Polo sedan. It's tempting!

So. Conducted a test drive and I fired up the purchase! The wife dissuaded but backed down, it was useless to argue. A week later he became the owner of this snow-white handsome man. Motor 1.6, automatic, basic configuration which seemed to have all that was needed - air conditioning, electric front windows, electric mirrors, heated seats, and so on. It was euphoria, life was good! Two days later, the seat creaked under me. It happens. Nonsense. I noticed a wild fuel consumption - 25 liters in quiet mode. It happens, running in the same. I remembered that on Skoda, the consumption was immediately low and practically did not change for a hundred thousand kilometers, up to 8-10 in the city and on the highway around 5-7, depending on the speed. I wrote off the expense to the fact that the machine is still completely new and the engine is not Shkodovsky, but the ancient Opelevsky like that of the last Nexia (not a very pleasant comparison), and you need to be patient a little and everything will be fine, including constantly floating engine speed (well, not should be SO on a new car!). I started driving and every day I got pleasure - a big car, beautiful, on the machine, a bunch of all kinds of buttons, they notice a car on the road, they stopped brazenly pushing and cutting, well, Skoda and I got used to it, the costs of the Russian mentality. Over time, I began to notice back pain, the seats simply do not fit. There is no steering wheel adjustment for reach in the initial configuration, the landing is low, there is simply no back support, it is impossible to get a job behind the wheel. It's unpleasant. Two days later, the paint broke off from the front bumper at the junction of the bumper and the wing - they refused to paint under warranty. The manager argued that it was a chip from a pebble, but how could he get there, after all, it is clear to a fool - the bumper is skewed, on the other hand, the bumper does not even adhere to the wing! Nevertheless, the management's argument was iron - the St. Petersburg assembly, on Insignia this is also quite common. Okay, it doesn't matter, we'll get over it. I would like to talk separately about the quality of service in Chevrolet dealerships, we have 3 of them in Yekaterinburg, I will not name them. How competently the manager of the car dealership Dmitry shared a bunch of gifts when buying a car from him and did not fulfill a single promise, just a born huckster. He was just as competently able to steam, yes, steam a deliberately low-quality product. By the way, what is the difference between Ford dealers. The Ford Focus 3 was viewed as an inexpensive alternative to the Cruise, and the quality of finish and workmanship was disappointing for both. About Russian assembly- it all depends on the manufacturer's plant, the Skoda Fabia was assembled in Kaluga and covered 100 thousand km. without a single breakdown, Skoda Octavia I now also have a Kaluga assembly and there are no complaints, everything is at a high level.

Good day to all!

Today's post is probably more like a questionnaire.

In the summer of 2014, I decided to sell my Mazda and buy a completely new car from the salon. Before Mazda, I had a Chevrolet Lacetti, an unpretentious car that has never let me down, actually delighting my father at the present time.

And my choice as it immediately fell in the direction of Cruise, a white sedan in the maximum configuration 1.8 on the machine.

I went to salons, looked, and wanted him more and more.

At the same time selling your previous car.

And now the X hour has come. The car is sold, the right amount is in your pocket. I go to the salon to negotiate a car and leave a prepayment. And in a conversation with the manager, he accidentally wonders why cruise, and not Opel, etc.

Well, I told him that everything depends on money, and that aster is minimum configuration, ends where

cruz in the maximum configuration.

Well, then he quite by accident, lazy on his computer, offers me my aster, with a turbo engine, 17 wheels, with an asset + package and only 15 thousand more expensive than cruise.

The choice was clear, towards the turbo engine and heated steering wheel)))

So what am I all for, I drive an Astra, but I still salivate on a white cruise, and sometimes thoughts visit me, still get it, a white sedan, with a toner in a circle, a black roof and on black wheels ...

Interesting here is the opinion of people who traveled on both, to hear any positive / negative comparisons.

Comments 84

I am also considering buying an Astra. Looked at several reviews and all as one complain about the lack of space in the knees for the rear passengers. Tell me, as the former owner of the nesting dolls, is there less or the same amount of space in the back of the Mazda?

I can say with 100% certainty that there is more space in the hatch from the Opel than in the hatch from the Mazda!

And how is the turbo engine after atmospheric, how is it warmed up in winter, how is the dynamics, the consumption?

Mazda rode better, it was a small rocket.

I drove around the stock GTC 1.4 turbo. Well, there I had 2 liters and 150 horses per manual transmission.

It warms up quickly, in winter I start to move at 30 degrees on the sly. I don’t warm up in freezing temperatures, the food will drop as the turnover will drop.

And so happy with the car, comfortable, quiet and dynamic enough. The only thing is that there are a lot of children's sores, you can read about this in the BZ.

I also considered cruz and Opel. Cruz seemed too bulky. In this price segment, the Opel Astra is one of best cars externally, internally, comfort and ride comfort. I say one of the best and not the best) After the Opel I will only buy a German, tk. the jambs of the Russian assembly come out.

I also dreamed and burned with the purchase of a Mazda 3) and after selling my car I went to buy) but nothing worthy and expected was not found) and the Opel Astra in the cosmo configuration caught my eye) and as soon as I got into it I realized that this was my car and I'll leave on it now) he makes me very happy, but still a dream is a dream) and therefore, as I see a black Mazda 3 in a hatch, I let it spit on it)

with regards to Mazda, the hatch in 1 body is certainly legendary :)

I think he is the most beautiful of all generations!

he rules the ball) in Nizhny Novgorod, a guy was selling a club) at maximum speed, the last restayl but I did not have time ((it was a shame very much) but I am also happy with my purchase of an Opel)

so I just had the last rest, with mp-3, manual transmission-6 and piano black panels

why moved)) of course Opel is more modern and in my opinion more cheerful)) but Mazda is Mazda) even more so it was) better they are already doing it

because she was already 6 years old, and the mileage was 103 thousand, I sold it in half a day and for a very good amount, at a time when the market was in principle.

Opel is a calm and comfortable car.

A 2-liter Mazda is a mad stool, a small rocket :)

Thanks for your opinion.

Now I would consider a new seed, I really like it externally.

And I also considered a Ford, but the reviews about the 3rd focus are already very bad, they say the car was not the same as before ...

As for Ford, I agree, it's not the same, but I'm more of an example, in the context of anything but Opel)))

If I had a choice between Opel and Chevrolet, I would choose Kia. Or Ford.Na kraynyak Lada (as it turned out, Lada is more reliable than Opel). No offense, practice has shown that Opel is not worth its money due to problems with workmanship, and Cruz is 2/3 (if not 3/4) Opel, they have a lot of parts that are interchangeable. Russian market, they have a big problem with selling on the secondary market, a friend who has been trying to merge her GTC 1.4 on the handle for 3 months.

Once again, I ask you not to take offense at such an unusual opinion. I recommend that you closely monitor the state of the turbine, engine and cooling system - the most sore spots of this generation

Owned four Opels, from cadet to Jki, only pleased. All cars break down, no exceptions. And in terms of repair, the Opel is very simple and at a price slightly more expensive than a vase, and somewhere about the same. Between G and H I had a focus 2, Spaniard. Well, I'll tell you that he ruffled my nerves like more than one Opel. As I remember now, when I sat down on it after G, I kept thinking that the doors were not closed because it rustled in the cabin so that the passenger was barely audible. Shumki 0, stocks (factory) a bunch, and in the repair only one chassis costs such an amount that it's just tin. Consumption of 1.8 liters. more than H OPC. On Mazda zdil - the same as the focus, only outwardly different.

A paintwork. this is a separate topic altogether. Now on the aster, the door was crushed by the past owner, right from the end (I did not put it on the handbrake, the car rolled and rested the door against the post), so when the metal was planted back, the paint broke off a little. And so far it has remained unfinished. And at the place of the chip (2 thumbs in size), at least the slightest hint of rust, ideally clean metal.

Mileage 150 thousand! Changed after buying coolant tanks, heat exchanger gaskets. Well, the counter at the back is tapping. Compression in all boilers of 13. Here you have "Opil" =)

There are a lot of people who slander them, but there are also those who will also say that this is an awesome car!)

Watch an interesting video on this topic

So, after a long time I decided to unsubscribe. Background: I thought the throttle assembly, then on the sensors, it turned out to be in the ignition module, in the process the flywheel crown was worn out, the gearbox housing was accidentally broken in the starter area And so =) For a long time I did not dare to write T.K. Nothing is as oppressive as a broken car ... Of course, I'm not the first to whom this could happen at the most inopportune moment. But in my case, it was an option to change the position at work and life forced events! Now I am expecting a child and a wedding day, with which you can congratulate me.

So there won't be money for repairs soon, everything is for preparation and a loan for a car! Due to the hopelessness of the situation, a hole was dug. Of course, it is not over, but in full growth (170) you can stand with your head slightly bent under the car. The car was pulled from the house on a cable, but she did not want to start the option was 2 ignition module, fuel. This (2nd) time we were able to push the car in spite of the rain, with the help of neighbors.

The hole seemed a little uncomfortable, or rather short for my car, I had to remember crawling with a machine gun under obstacles. Crawled behind, and was glad that the suspension is not too low =) The starter was removed a long time ago. He removed the crankcase protection (What kind of rubber bands then remained, who knows where to shove from? turn equally =)) The only thing that is needed is to mark with a strip where the connection was, I rubbed straight with a screwdriver on the adhering dirt. Unscrewed the lower clutch housing cover.

Unscrewing the wheels is not a problem, but I will remember the nuts for a long time! The nuts are specially bent so that they do not unscrew themselves. There were no suitable chisels in the garage, and a screwdriver and a chisel (the kingdom of heaven to them) were used. Somehow I coped with the existing tool, but in the future I will grow a small chisel =) Before the further procedure, a 2nd person is required, but where can I get it ?! =) I solved this issue by inserting L-shaped keys from furniture into the disks. Then it was necessary to find a head for 30! On the way to the store, I wandered home and found my father-in-law's (future) suitcase. From there I took (as it seemed to me then) a more comfortable knob, a long handle at the end of the cardan. But in the process, he seemed fragile.

In the vastness of the Internet, they also encountered the fragility of keys in the process of unscrewing such nuts. There were advice to purchase a cylinder wrench from a gazelle or zil. In the morning I decided that if one more existing key does not help, then on the planned trip, for the army boots home, I will buy a new key. I took an ordinary crank (the head mount slides along the piece of iron). Fortunately, it turned out to be stronger, but I didn't jump on it (even the sole on the right shoe came off =)! nothing worked.

Everything was also aggravated by the steering wheel, which turned easily with the drives and was difficult to control. Thus, the key was constantly trying to scratch the wing. Nut did not give in. I found some kind of tube 15-20 cm in order to combine the end of the key and the crowbar in it, but it was only BLOODED =). I accidentally snatched out one of the neighbors and, fortunately, he had a water pipe. Here's what worked for me! I asked my father-in-law for the same by phone (on ferrous metal).

I went shopping. Immediately drove home for shoes, at home my father almost convinced me that I needed a puller to remove the flywheel. Next to the house, I went into the fasteners, the nuts turned out to be 30r each, decided to postpone the purchase until the market. On Antoshka I went shopping first.

The very first seller rushed about for a long time in search of a puller for the flywheel of the VAZ 2110, and asked for help from colleagues. A little later, they realized that he was not needed there =) I decided to buy a puller for the ball t. K., just in case. According to the plan, the removal of the drives! (as it turned out, you don't need to press out your finger to remove it). So many things were offered on the market. Some kind of soldier, (which, as it turned out for the classics) in one place 100r.

But the seller did not find it at home, he sent 250 requests to the neighbors - it looks like a bolt in a long nut =), In another place they explained to me that I did not need it. A suitable puller for a ball valve turned out to be 100r cheaper than others (250r is also pressed out of the steering wheel by it). On the market, the nuts were at the same price as in the store and bought here. The next day it was necessary to remove the front wheel drives. There are 2 bolts on each side. (only later I learned that it is not necessary to unscrew the nut from the finger =)).

Then putting in all sorts of wooden blocks. I pulled the actuators out of the box with a metal spatula. It was not difficult to unscrew the box (3 bolts and 1 nut from the stud, which seemed to be welded into the box, but there was more). It's hard to shoot it alone! After unscrewing, boards and a jack were placed under the car.

Having slightly jacked up with all the attempts to pull it off, something was in the way. And then I remembered about some kind of left support that seemed right to me =) (and I didn't see any sense in unscrewing the engine.) You can unscrew the support in 2 ways a) unscrew the nut from the top of the support and from the bottom b) unscrew the mount on the box from the support 2 nuts with wheel side and 1a under the clutch cable mount. I chose the first one. Further, the edge of the box brought out above the ball by how much and, lowering the jack, lowered the box onto the boards.

KNOW! Oil remains in the drain box, which flows out of the drive oil seals during removal. When removing the basket, I again faced the problem of free rotation. But the strength to overcome her was enough only the next day. Lightly tapping with a hammer on the old wreath, he did not show off his feet from the flywheel (without any chisels and drilling to which some resorted!). On the same day, while the circumstances were developing successfully, half an hour before arrival, I threw the flywheel into the freezer. And he went to wash in the shower.

After a shower (min 20) I quickly put everything together. The next day I decided to install the flywheel and disassemble the box to separate the part that was broken, so it would be easier to transport it. But nothing worked out the neighbor offered to wait for his friend who said that it is NECESSARY TO UNLOCK the checkpoint FULLY. There you will have to unscrew the tightly tightened nuts, and you need to do this together.

He finally convinced me not to spin too much =) Taking the opportunity, he tried to take the box by car to the nearest service with argon. On the advice of a neighbor's friend, there was a pensioner who cooks well, but I met an inadequate reaction from the workers there. Everyone didn’t care and I was immediately told that they weren’t doing argon anymore (they probably thought they had to remove the box and it broke them) After a little persistence, one master broke loose and chatted with some grandfather and finally said that there were no welders. Having driven around the neighborhood, in the garages I spotted an advertisement with a spray can. On this day, it was not possible to get through and the garage was closed. The next day, having withdrawn the money, I took a walk to double-check the recorded number, phoned, agreed 100r / 1cm.

TK The car was already absent decided to bring the box on the CART =). While it was time, I drained the gasoline from the filter to wash the weld and the splinter.

At the appointed time, I installed the manual transmission in the cart, turned on the 1st speed =) and on the gases! On the same day, before work, they did not have time to finish welding due to the absence of the 2nd person (it swelled after the vacation). On the second day, I took my miracle on the same cart =) that day was after the night shift, so I took everything to the garage and ended there. (in cm there was about 10, but I said that there is no more than 600 rubles and will not be) They cooked more from the inside, from the outside only in the area where the starter does not touch. The next day, immediately after work, I went to Antoshka, the goal was to find a centering mandrel for the clutch, fluid for cleaning the carburetors (clean the box), and a boot for the fork.

Having bypassed the whole of Antoshka, no one had any mandrels! (Someone made a comment but who the fuck needs them? Now the clutch is complete with mandrels!) When leaving, I bought the cheapest carburetor cleaner 100r. (auto repairman like), they asked for 50 for the boot. I went shopping, there I found a boot for 35, one mandrel for 50 and for 150. Slightly doubting the proportions they should be, I went home on the way to the fasteners. Similar proportions turned out to be in the version for 150r (3 levels), but in Krepezhe for 150 it was sold the same as for 50r (2 levels). It was decided to return to the first store and take it for 50 rubles.

Only the edge was 15-17 and not 20. Later in the garage, the mandrel was checked and it was enough. Spun the clutch basket. Started cleaning the box from carbon deposits and dirt adhering to oil drips.

I didn't like the cleaner. Before him I used ABRO, his pressure is 2 times more, you do not need to rub anything, everything fell off almost by itself. (I bought it once for 220 in the fastener of the same 140r) But still it was not bad to clean it. Gram for 300 lighter! =) The next time I decided to install the box, I even called a neighbor who had nominated himself before. Only he did not succeed, he grabbed the oil level dipstick to tighten the box, then otmazalis that his wife was waiting for her to go.

Realizing the almost hopeless situation, I decided to strain myself and think of something. First, I threw the box under the car on the 1st piece of wood. Then, somehow, he threw the left edge onto the ball, and put a wooden block under the right one.

He put another piece of wood a little to the left and put a jack on it. Raising the left edge with a jack, I tried to push the edge further and further onto the ball, rearranging the bar before taking a breath =). Finally, the left edge had nowhere to move, but there was a place to rearrange the jack closer to the right. Lifting the jack, we managed to hook the box to the left support! This almost meant victory. Further attempts to combine with the engine did not succeed until I decided to substitute the 2nd piece of wood under the engine and raise it with a 2nd jack /. After making sure that both jacks are firmly in place, he unscrewed the support and began to loosen the 1st jack.

After the edge of the box pin appeared a couple of centimeters, I immediately put a nut on it and tried to tighten it. I didn't tighten up until I got the other bolts. Only after that I screwed back the left support and pulled up the box. In the place of welding, there was a small depression under the starter, where I decided to cover it with a sealant. The next time I had to kill a whole day to install the drives! They tortured me on a level with the nuts =) I bought retaining rings for 3 rubles as it was written in the manual.

It's hard to remember all the dances with a tambourine and obscene chants after coming out of the trance =) Stick the right drive into the box as far as it goes, stick the second edge into the disk and screw it to the ball. Then, making a wooden block in size with a chisel, he hammered the drive into the box with a hammer through the nut through the nut (the retaining ring should go deeper and lock). After the hammer, you can also tighten the 2nd. After that, we tighten the unfortunate nuts and bend them in the slots. After assembly, I filled in the drained oil, etc.

K. There is no money for a new one. There was not enough space on the blog for a photo of a bottle with a hose =) I tried to start. The starter turns but the engine does not grasp, from this I made conclusions gasoline or MZ (soldered). So the main goal of replacing the crown and welding the box is completed. Looking ahead, I will say that the car did not start up with gasoline = (a broken wire was again found on the module, which, even after soldering, did not give the same results (drove 200 meters).

In the future, I will conjure over the MZ until money appears, and then either I will buy MZ or I will make a spark of God (for the same money) Article from the site: http://www.drive2.ru.

Your first comparative test Ford focus and Chevrolet Cruze I managed to spend a year and a half ago, when Rostov was covered with the first snow. Disciplines that were then evaluated - work brake system and Focus handling, as well as the geometric cross-country ability and accelerating dynamics of Cruise.

New Year's Eve winter evening. Rostov was covered with the first snow, utilities, as always, can not cope. I'm driving the Focus on the prescribed sixty along Taganrogskaya, in front it is empty, I slightly heat up. Suddenly, from the adjoining street right in front of the nose, a girl on the Cruz is taxiing out - she decided to slip through at the intersection, but the wheels skid in a snowy mess and the Chevrolet simply gets across the road. Steering wheel left, right, skidding, snowdrift ... Everything worked out with a peeled bumper - thanks to the dealer for the winter Nokian Hakka, which kept the car on the trajectory until the end.

And now we have almost summer, and all the same Ford and Cruise - but now all the advantages and disadvantages of cars can be assessed in a calm and relaxed atmosphere, and at the same time we can compare popular models with another classmate - Opel astra.

The appearance of all three test participants is modern, but familiar to the order. It's no joke, for the entire time of the test for our "trinity", the drivers of passing cars paid attention only once - when one of the photographers climbed onto the roof of a high gazebo for a good shot. Nevertheless, each of the models has its own memorable design - the Focus and Cruise emphasize the aggressive front end, and the Astra sedan, unlike the soplatform GTC, looks more imposing.

By the way, Opel Astra and Chevrolet cruze recently underwent restyling, which had a positive effect on appearance models. The Focus is also waiting for an update - and more radical than that of its competitors.

I will say right away that it will not be possible to fully comply with parity during today's test - it was not so easy to assemble three cars at the same time in Rostov, where there are no official representative offices of the companies. We took cars from dealers on the basis of the “take what you give” principle. Hence, there is some variation in the bodywork (Focus is a hatchback, and Cruze and Astra are sedans) and in transmissions (the Ford model is on the "handle", the other two cars are with automatic transmissions).

Each interior is unique, but the leader in terms of equipment and quality is Opel in the Cosmo version

First, I take the Chevrolet Cruze - a feature of its interior in light fabric inserts that enliven the interior. Despite the fact that the model has been produced for a long time, the interior of the Chevrolet is still relevant. The ergonomics of the Koreans turned out to be successful, except that the finishing materials are a little rough. Of the minuses - not very logical operation of the "climate", we took the car hastily and had to understand the temperature settings on the go. It was not possible to do this reflexively. The optional display of the Chevrolet Cruze multimedia system in the LTZ configuration deserves only a positive assessment - it does not glare even in the bright sun, and the performance and interface are not satisfactory.

Opel Astra Ford Focus Chevrolet Cruze

All three cars are available with "automatic", but we got the Focus in the version on "mechanics". It's a pity, because Ford's Powershift is the fastest when it comes to gear shifting.

Transferring to the Astra, you pay attention to the fact that the cars are made, in fact, on the same platform. This is indicated by some details that you notice only when changing from car to car - the same ignition lock, as well as some secondary keys. But in general, the Opel Astra interior gives the impression of more expensive and better quality thanks to the leather-suede trim of the seats, tactile sensations from the buttons and less hard plastic in the Cosmo package. The minus is the same as that of Cruz - there is no "sat down and went" option here, only here numerous buttons scattered on the central panel require getting used to. But everything looks stylish, a kind of oval cabinet on wheels.

Opel Astra Ford F ocus Chevrolet Cruze

Any participant in the test drive can be taken with both an economical 1.6 engine and more powerful versions.

The Focus salon is perhaps the most futuristic of today's "trinity". Of course, adjusted for the expensive Titanium version, there are better finishing materials, but even in the simpler Focus Trend and Trend Sport trim levels, despite the lack of a number of options, the interior is not worse implemented. First place for design. But the back is closer than in classmates - after all, this is primarily a car for the driver.

Landing is most convenient in Astra - because of its steering wheel, having settled down once, and you don't want to get out. The seats are moderately stiff, with good lateral support, and the rear space for the passengers of the Astra sedan, again, looks preferable. Sedan trunks also win in terms of practicality - in Focus it is smaller, which is due to the hatchback body. But for comparison, I looked into the luggage compartment of a sedan in the salon of a Ford dealer, it is longer and more spacious in length, although the loading height is large due to the high line of the raised floor. But in terms of the convenience of opening and closing the luggage compartment, Astra loses to Cruz and Focus, you just can't open the trunk from the outside - either with a key or from the cabin.

The expected outsider in terms of acceleration dynamics is the Chevrolet Cruze. The fact is that for the test we got a car with a basic engine. In tandem with a six-speed "automatic", such an engine has a quiet ride. But Cruz became the most economical according to the test results - less than 10 liters when driving around the city with the air conditioner on!

And for those who want more, we can safely recommend the Cruise with a 1.8 engine - one hundred and forty "horses" under the hood is already enough for those who like to joke.

Opel Astra Ford F ocus Chevrolet Cruze

Cruise and Astra's emphasis on driving characteristics is shifted towards comfort, and Focus - towards driver's ambitions

By the way!

Analysts predict another jump in sales in the golf-class car market - they say that buyers are fed up with emphatically utilitarian "state employees" and the bar of expectations has grown. It is not surprising - the average price of a car sold in Russia over the past year was about 900 thousand, and this is exactly the cost of a well-equipped golf class car.

And the most gluttonous is Ford Focus, the consumption in the city never drops below 11, even in a quiet driving mode. But the Focus is perceived to be more dynamic - and not only the test 125-horsepower, but also weaker, with 105 "horses" under the hood. There are no complaints about the "mechanics", the gears stick clearly, and the clutch is "light" and informative.

I can't help but say a few words about the preselective "robot" Powershift, because after all, this version is more popular in Russia. On the one hand, the box shifts six steps quickly, without delays. On the other hand, during city driving in traffic jams, one cannot do without "kicks" when switching to the second and third, and with an increase in mileage, such a "diagnosis" only intensifies.

Opel Astra with a turbine already develops 140 hp. which in the "absolute standings" makes it the fastest, at the risk of 100 km / h, the speedometer hand closes in less than 9 seconds. The hydromechanical "automatic" is not as agile as the Focus robot, but it copes with its work more smoothly. The manual mode is also implemented best of all - with a forced transition to a lower one, you can safely go for overclocking.

Opel Astra Ford F ocus Chevrolet Cruze

The leaders in terms of multimedia systems are Cruz and Astra

As for the operation of the suspensions, the machines are tuned differently. Astra and Cruz tend to be more comfortable, subjectively cars are perceived to be softer than Focus. Ford is tougher, but more recklessly driven - the chassis is tuned for those who like to drive fast, and not on the best roads. Driving on the track on all three test participants is easy - after all, the gap in the chassis settings is huge compared to the "state employees" here. Soundproofing of all three cars is also at a decent level, but there are leaders and outsiders here. The quietest is still Astra, and then Cruise and Focus go down the wane.

Opel Astra Ford F ocus Chevrolet Cruze

As soon as there is a gap in the cars ahead, I sink the gas pedal to the floor, and then I brake sharply - all three cars slow down without surprises, and the ABS grabs on time. It was not possible to make accurate measurements, but subjectively, Astra slows down best of all, a little worse - Focus with Cruise.

It's time to return the cars to dealers, and for us to think about who is still the best in today's trio. Our test did not reveal a clear winner - each model has its own advantages and disadvantages, as well as numerous armies of fans. By the way, the reviews of the owners of Ford Focus, Chevrolet Cruze and Opel Astra on the forums largely coincided with today's impression of the cars.

Opel Astra Ford F ocus Chevrolet Cruze

In terms of convenience and size of the luggage compartment, Cruz and Astra are in the lead

The main trump card of the Chevrolet Cruze is an excellent combination of price and consumer qualities. Modern design, good equipment, and after the recent restyling, also turbo engines as an option - all this makes Cruise one of the best offers in class. Cons of Cruise - an abundance of hard plastic in the cabin and a rather weak engine in the "base".

The Astra sedan is one of the most practical and comfortable cars in its segment. With similar parameters, it is slightly more expensive than the Cruise built on the same platform, but it also wins in terms of equipment and decoration. In a word, if there is an opportunity to pay extra, it makes sense to opt for Opel.

Focus is the choice of the active driver. In terms of controllability, it puts competitors on both blades, competing on an equal footing with the trendsetter of the genre in the class - VW Golf. At the same time, Ford is more noisy, tough and gluttonous. Feels like a more youthful car, especially in a hatchback body.

Who is against?

Today's test did not cover the large family of the VAG concern - Skoda Octavia, VW Golf and Seat Leon (the cost of "medium" trim levels is 800-850,000 rubles, the "top" - around a million). No less weighty competition is made by the "Japanese" with the Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic and Mazda 3 models - on average from 700,000 rubles for the "basic" version, and up to a million for the "full stuffing".

Prices

Specifications:

	Ford Focus 1.6 EcoBoost	Opel Astra 1.4 Turbo	Chevrolet Cruze LTZ 1.4T AT

Body type
Number of doors / seats
Length, mm
Width, mm
Height, mm
Wheelbase, mm
Front / rear track, mm
Curb weight, kg
Full weight, kg
Trunk volume, l
Engine
	gasoline with direct fuel injection and turbocharging	turbocharged gasoline	turbocharged gasoline
Location	front transversely	front, transverse	front, transverse
Number and arrangement of cylinders
Number of valves
Working volume, cm³
Max. power, hp / rpm
Max. torque, N.m / rpm	240/1600-4000 (270/1900-3500)
Transmission
Transmission	mechanical, six-speed		automatic six-speed
	front	front	front
Chassis
Front suspension		independent, spring, McPherson	independent, spring, McPherson
Rear suspension	independent, spring, multi-link	semi-independent, spring, with a Watt mechanism	semi-dependent, spring
Front brakes	disc, ventilated	ventilated disc	ventilated disc
Rear brakes	disk	disk	disk

Performance characteristics
Maximum speed, km / h
Acceleration time from 0 to 100 km / h, s
Fuel consumption, l / 100 km
- urban cycle
- extra-urban cycle
- mixed cycle
Toxicity rate
Fuel capacity tank, l

The editors would like to thank the help in organizing the test drive:

, authorized dealer Chevrolet,
, an authorized Opel dealer
, an authorized Ford dealer

"Wir leben Autos!" - the motto of the company Opel, founded over a century ago in Germany, reflects the responsible attitude of its employees to the development and creation of innovative vehicles. Opel products are always distinguished by a reasonable ratio of quality and price.

ChevroletMotor Division- a leading division of the financial and economic corporation General Motors, which specializes in the production passenger cars and SUVs. Chevrolet cars are considered the most popular among the budget brands of the concern.

Thanks to its powerful engine and balanced chassis, the Opel Astra has attractive dynamic characteristics. Innovative technologies and modern design solutions have created the safest and most comfortable car in three trim levels - Essentia, Enjoy, Cosmo.

In the complete set Essentia a wide range of body colors and several interior trim options are presented. The basic equipment consists of the following elements:

Heated exterior mirrors.
Front door window lifters with electric drive.
Remote control of door locks.
Power steering.
ABS is a system that prevents the wheels from locking.
Audio system CD 300.
ESP®Plus stability control system.
Function of separation of the pedal assembly in case of an accident.
Airbags for driver and passenger.
Wheel disks 16 inch.
Folding rear seats ( 60:40 ).
Anti-theft alarm.

Standard equipment of the complete set Enjoy makes the trip more comfortable, and includes, in addition to the base:

Cruise control.
Audio system CD 400.
Fog lights.
Wheel disks 17 inches.

You can equip the car with an adaptive headlight system, which is triggered when a sharp turn. Available in the Enjoy package and the Opel chassis control system - FlexRide... She adjusts the car's suspension, and changes its stiffness for eleven speed modes.

Astra cosmo- a complete set for discerning customers who consider luxury to be an integral attribute of the car. You can improve standard elements with additional equipment:

On-board computer.
Climate control with two zones.
Electric parking brake.
The function of preventing the car from rolling when starting on a slope.
Heated front seats.
Steering wheel control keys.
Electrically operated rear view mirrors.
Parking system.

Opel Astra cars are presented with gasoline engines in two versions. The first motor has a modest power of 115 Horse power , and the second is already capable of 180 horsepower... Cars are produced with different types of transmissions.

One of the most successful Chevrolet models. All cars are equipped with modern equipment for safe driving:

ESC stability control system.
Cruise control.
Anti-lock braking system ABS.
Rear view parking camera.
Six airbags.

With the help of a special key fob, you can control access to the car and control the doors. The Start / Stop button is used to start or stop the engine.

The Chevrolet Cruze has an infotainment device MyLink... It makes it possible to control all multimedia devices and be always connected. Using a USB connection, you can easily connect to a smartphone and display the necessary information on the touchscreen display of the car.

Chevrolet Cruze is available only with gasoline engines. Two motors have a volume 1.6 liters, power 109 and 113 horsepower... More powerful version of the engine displacement 1.8 l possesses 141 h.p..

What common

Chevrolet Cruze and Opel Astra are developed on the same platform Delta II... The front-wheel drive Delta II was designed by Opel's German engineers. The platform rear suspension is positioned as semi-independent, and is considered more durable than fully independent.

Chevrolet Cruze and Opel Astra have engines with turbocharged- an effective measure to increase engine power, based on the compression of the incoming air using the energy of the exhaust gases.

What is the difference

The Chevrolet Cruze is slightly inferior to the Opel Astra in terms of speed performance. On the Opel track technical specifications acceleration and overall speed wins with a clear advantage, because it is focused on swiftness. Acceleration to hundreds at Opel 2.3 seconds faster than the Chevrolet.

The directional stability of the Opel Astra in special modes, for example, when cornering at high speed, is much more stable than that of the Chevrolet Cruze. The risk of skidding or demolition of the car at Opel is significantly lower. The handling of the Chevrolet, especially at top speeds, leaves much to be desired.

The amount of fuel consumed by a vehicle is influenced by the quality of the gasoline and the driving conditions. In all cases actual expense fuel for Opel Astra 2% lower than the Chevrolet Cruze.

The interior of the Opel Astra is made using quality materials, looks expensive and noble. The assembly is not satisfactory, which is a good tradition for German cars. The interior of the Chevrolet Cruze looks simpler plastic is soft, and scratches quickly appear on it.

If we compare the luggage racks, then the Chevrolet is more roomy, and has a volume of 500 liters. Opel's luggage compartment is a quarter less, and is presented in a volume of 375 liters.

The larger the minimum turning radius, the worse the vehicle's maneuverability. The parameters of the Chevrolet Cruze in this indicator have an advantage over the Opel Astra by 15%.

Which car to choose

For traveling on motorways, especially at high speeds, the Opel Astra should be preferred. The car clearly holds the road and is easy to control. In urban conditions, you can choose a more budgetary Chevrolet Cruze. There will be savings both during the purchase and during operation, if it becomes necessary to replace any unit.

If quietness in the cabin plays an important role, then the Opel Astra will more than satisfy this need. External noise during the trip is not a concern. But the Chevrolet Cruze, on the contrary, pesters the driver with the roar of the suspension. The shock absorbers are not finalized and are a source of noise.

Chevrolet's door seals squeak on rough roads.

For trips to the dacha, you need a large luggage space, which is present in the Chevrolet Cruze. If fast driving is not a priority, and it is planned to get to the summer cottage in a quiet mode, then Chevrolet will be the best option compared to Opel.