Volvo XC90 D5 AWD Inscription

Power 225 HP, Acceleration 0-100 km / h 7.8 s, Price from 4,907,700 rubles.

Audi Q7 3.0 TFSI quattro

Power 333 hp, Acceleration 0-100 km / h 6.1 s, Price from 5,121,275 rubles.

Power 249 hp, Acceleration 0-100 km / h 7.1 s, Price from 5 320 258 rubles.

Range Rover sport SDV8

Power 339 hp, Acceleration 0-100 km / h 6.9 s, Price from 5 896 005 rub.

BMW X5 xDrive 40d

Power 313 hp, Acceleration 0-100 km / h 5.9 s, Price from 6 495 350 rubles.

Volvo XC90 D5 AWD Inscription

Audi Q7 3.0 TFSI quattro

Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 D 4MATIC

Range Rover Sport SDV8

BMW X5 xDrive 40d

Audi Q7, BMW X5, MB GLE 350 D, Volvo XC90 D5, RR Sport SDV8

A full-size SUV of a premium brand is a cherished consumer dream for many. And for many, this dream, alas, remains unrealizable. We believe that dreams should come true, and we collected five cars at the same time and in one place - one is better than the other. Or is it not better? Let's figure it out now!

Text by Vasily Ostrovsky, photo by Artem Popovich

All cars are extremely relevant. The "oldest" - Range Rover Sport: its sales began in the summer of 2013. The BMW X5 appeared at the end of the same year, and the Volvo XC90, Audi Q7 and Mercedes-Benz GLE came to Russia quite recently.

Quite frankly, comparing such cars has more academic interest than practical meaning. Speaking of such a format as an expensive SUV of noble origin, one has to take into account not only the "physical" parameters of the car, but its "mental" qualities. It is hard to imagine that a person who thought of getting behind the wheel of a Mercedes would be able to prefer the blue-and-white propeller of a car with a different ideology to his starry dream. Yes, and an Anglomaniac is unlikely to covet the Teutonic technique: in his view, only an even more expensive Range can be better than the Range.

But "Audi" and "Volvo" are somewhat apart. However, the Q7 was a status thing before, while the XC90 has only now risen to the level of other cars, having significantly risen in price compared to its predecessor. Well, the more interesting our observations will be.

Audi Q7 3.0 TFSI quattro

Nearly ten years have passed between the premieres of two generations of Q7 - a period that is almost prohibitive by today's standards. The new "Ku" differs from the old one strikingly: if the old car seemed like a rounded elephant, now the "Audi" sharpened its edges and ... stopped looking like an SUV. But a big crossover simply has to be impressive!

Impressions from the salon are also mixed. The first score is cool. The climate control knobs are interestingly executed, on which the temperature and operating mode are displayed. Nicely made black wood inserts with a matte texture and thin stripes.

Fully digital devices are also impressive: the graphics are well-developed, and the functionality is the highest. However, the last feature is a double-edged sword: an excess of readings on the display significantly complicates perception. And I was also very surprised by the orientation of the dashboard: it is not facing the driver's organs of vision, but as if tilted down. You get used to it over time, but the question "why?" still remains.

SUV? Rather, a big station wagon. Very big! And also - solid, strict, comfortable. Driving this car, you feel a sense of confidence and invulnerability. Perfect finish, right handling and powerful acceleration of the petrol V6. The space on the back sofa is almost more than necessary! And everything is fine in front: comfortable chairs, a beautiful and, in principle, clear interface. What can you find fault with here? But I would prefer the version with a diesel engine, even to the detriment of dynamics. Then Q7 would definitely be a good option for me.

When the car is unlocked, bright white stripes flash on the front panel and doors, which after a while are replaced by red. Effectively! I liked this performance, but not all experts appreciated this beauty, finding it annoyingly intrusive.

However, when it came to the convenience of controlling the multimedia interface, there was no disagreement: the Germans made a mess. A button-laden touchpad, combined with a circular controller and menu selection keys, is mind-blowing. In addition, the volume knob is located away from the useless touchpad and is also made to rock. As a result, adjusting the volume is more convenient for the passenger than for the driver. Woe from Wit!

"Audi" likes a soft suspension: the car in some incomprehensible way goes through even large irregularities, without shaking the wheels or shaking the body. And the trunk is large, besides, its volume can be adjusted not only by folding the rear row, but also simply by moving its individual parts back and forth. However, I could not find a common language with the ingenious onboard system, no matter how hard I tried: the heap of controls on the central tunnel horrified me. This is some kind of ergonomic bacchanalia, by God! I didn’t like the screen instead of the dashboard: it’s not easy to figure out the numerous numbers, moreover, it remained an insoluble mystery to me why it was installed with a downward slope.

Our copy turned out to be in a strange configuration: in the presence of rather expensive options like the Bang & Olufsen audio system, the car was deprived of the memory of the front seats and climate control for the passengers of the sofa. Steering column it was not electrified at all - as, by the way, and at the "Volvo". Nevertheless, there are no complaints about the chairs - the adjustment ranges are more than sufficient. Rear seats also adjustable: individual parts of the sofa can be moved longitudinally and the backrest can be tilted over a very wide range. In terms of space and convenience of entry / exit "Audi" is beyond competition.

The armrest is divided into two equal parts,

each of which is adjustable in length. At the same time, the "warehouse" itself in its depths is extremely modest in volume

The touchpad falls short of expectations:

the driver wants to use it as a means of navigating through the menu, but it is only suitable for "finger" input, which you rarely use

Very comfortable steering wheel

in places of grip trimmed with delicate perforated leather. A special joy - a dedicated button for adjusting the volume of the navigation system

Of the five cars, only the Q7 was equipped with a 333-horsepower gasoline engine and was inferior in power only to the Range. With dynamics, of course, the crossover is all right. And the most vivid impression was left by the smoothness of the "Ku-seventh". I can't remember a more comfortable suspension! The crossover completely destroys small irregularities, and reduces large ones to frivolous sizes. On it you can drive through the "speed bumps" without reducing the speed at all. Great!

But the handling of the car alerted. On the one hand, the "German" demonstrates an excellent grip in turns - on the other hand, it does not at all seek to put reliable information on the angle of rotation of the wheels into the driver's hands: a light steering wheel does not have sufficient information content, and you have to get into a turn almost at random.

As for the cross-country ability, the "Audi" in this discipline is not strong, even despite the presence of air suspension with the ability to change the ground clearance: a long wheelbase and large overhangs are not the best help on the road.

BMW X5 xDrive 40D

At the end of the last century in Munich, they proved to the whole world that an SUV can have the habits of a sports car: having appeared in 1999, the X5 became the most driver's crossover (there were still three years left before the appearance of the Cayenne). And even now "X-Fifth" still provokes to ride "with a high putter". Another thing is that compared to its predecessor E70 current car the F15 series has become much more comfortable: excellent ride quality is the main acquisition of the X5.

Like the Mercedes, the Bavarian crossover is faithful to tradition: from the boomer's point of view, everything is in its place in the cabin. However, the key difference between Munich and Stuttgart traditionalism is that from the point of view of a normal person, BMW has no problems with ergonomics. With each new generation, "X-Fifth" becomes more and more saturated with electronics, but its high density per square meter of the car does not conflict with ease of use - except perhaps for navigation, which is categorically inconvenient to control with a round controller. Eh, here would be a normal human touchscreen ...

"Ha-fifth" is a certain history and image. He is like a noble horse who dreams of going into a gallop. But what is the boredom in the salon? This is a premium crossover! Where is the deliberate luxury that the closest competitors generously endow? It seems that everything is with him - "both skin and erysipelas." And yet, as if something is missing - some kind of deliberate gloss, or something ... But the trunk with a split door is a convenient thing. If we abstract from the specific image of the "boomer", then the bottom line will be a universal, but devilishly fast car, well suited to the needs of an adult couple with a couple of small children, who will be comfortable on the not too spacious rear sofa.

Compared to competitors, the interior of the "X-Fifth" may even seem a bit conservative: despite the fact that the multimedia interface is endowed with rather extensive powers, the main functions are still hung on the usual buttons. Of the inconveniences, it is worth noting the non-fixed steering column switches (only a person with a well-developed intuition is able to determine in which mode the wipers work) and the same automatic joystick.

BMW's front seats are masterpiece - no exaggeration. In addition to a million of all kinds of customary adjustments in the front seats, the backrest also "breaks" in half: the angle of inclination of its upper part can be set separately. In general, the chair can be easily adjusted to any, even the most non-standard, shape. Bravo!

BMW seemed to me too jerky: it jumps and decelerates too sharply - the brake pedal turned out to be too sensitive. I also did not like the fact that the thresholds are not protected from dirt in any way - in this sense, Audi and Range Rover are preferable. But there are no problems with smoothness. And I was also surprised by the lack of air suspension with adjustable clearance: it seems to me that in this class and for this money, it should be a mandatory equipment.

Bavarians have been equipping their expensive cars with head-up displays for a long time, and the X5 is no exception. In terms of the quality of information presentation, it is impeccable: a clear color image seems to float above the road. Volvo also has a HUD, but the Swedes have a simpler implementation.

Ambient interior lighting

allows you to select the color of illumination at the discretion of the driver - this function is dedicated to the corresponding item in the on-board system menu

Double wing armrest

opens access to the box on the central tunnel, in which a significant part of the volume was drawn by a shelf for a mobile phone. By the way, BMW supports connecting two phones at the same time

The most laconic dashboard

provides a clear perception of the most important information. In addition, some data is displayed on the head-up display.

X5 is not shy about flaunting its athletic skills

Despite the fact that the current "X-5" has settled down a bit, replacing the stiffness of the course for smoothness, he still does not hesitate to show off his athletic skills - especially the modification with a 313-horsepower diesel engine, spurred by a pair of hefty turbines. The motor is crazy! And the box is in his very suit: the programs replace each other quickly but smoothly.

The steering wheel is clear, sharp - and at the same time not annoying with excessive nervousness. The sports mode seemed to be a piece of narrow application: light, unobtrusive imposingness leaves, leaving a bunch of nerves exposed - for each press of the gas, the car jerks forward too actively, sometimes forcing it to brake. The brakes of the X5, by the way, are also very sensitive - you have to get used to this feature.

From the point of view of cross-country ability, BMW is definitely inferior to the leaders: despite a decent ground clearance and a well-functioning imitation of differential locks, the X5 is devoid of both a lowering row and air suspension with variable ground clearance.

Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 d 4MATIC

Normally, the GLE is considered a new model, but in fact, the Mercedes became the oldest participant in our test: in fact, it is a third-generation ML, processed with a restyling.

The interior has not changed too much during the modernization: instead of the display built into the front panel, it has a grown-up "tablet", a new steering wheel appeared, and a small wheel for walking through the on-board system menu gave way to a massive controller with a touch panel hanging over it.

Mercedes seems to be a perfectly balanced car

By inertia, the Swabians exploit the left steering column switch, tortured by many functions, to which you need to adapt for a long time if this is your first Mercedes. It's impossible to get used to the fact that the windshield wipers turn on to the left of the steering wheel, and not to the right. But to the selector "machine", which sticks out of the steering column in place of the lever for the wipers, you adapt instantly. When, after the Mercedes, I switched to a BMW, instead of starting off, I cleaned the windshield.

"Mercedes" is a special brand for me: since childhood, I have a weakness for cars with a three-pointed star. The GLE's salon is like a cozy office that you don't want to leave. Everything here is solid, almost conservative - and at the same time modern, respectable and aristocratic. There are no remarks about driving qualities either - they are polished to a shine. And the brand speaks for itself: the word "Mercedes" does not need to be explained to anyone. I really don't like new system notation - it is now almost impossible to distinguish one SUV from another by ear.

The front seats of our GLE have been electrified to the maximum. They are traditionally controlled by the door, however, there are buttons in the bases of the chairs - in particular, they regulate the lumbar support. By the way, a curious feature: as the seats move back, their head restraints automatically rise - in my opinion, this is absolutely logical.

It's amazing that other manufacturers still haven't thought of doing this. It is no less strange that the Mercedes for some reason did not use the seat to facilitate the driver's landing: when the ignition is turned off, only the steering wheel moves off.

In terms of space on the couch, Mercedes is inferior to Audi and Volvo, but outperforms BMW and Range. There are no inconveniences with entering and exiting, although there is still a chance of getting your trousers dirty - the doors do not protect the thresholds from dirt.

Of all the five cars, it is the Mercedes that gives the impression of the most respectable car. Everything in it is emphasized well: a noble appearance, a comfortable interior, and a roomy trunk. True, with multimedia, it seems to me, the Germans were too smart for themselves: the touch panel on the central tunnel is clearly superfluous here. But the picture on the screen is good: both the image quality is extremely clear, and the font is large enough - no problems with the perception of information. And the work of the all-round view system is beyond praise! I also liked the fact that for the GLE you can order a transfer case with a reduction gear: using it to pull a trailer with a boat out of the water is a piece of cake. Still, other things being equal, I would have preferred the larger GL, solely because of its size.

From the point of view of cargo transportation, the GLE cabin is well tailored. And although the pillows and the back of the back row have to be folded separately, lowering the head restraints to the lower position, this operation leads to the formation of an absolutely flat floor.

Easiest Audio Control

due to the fact that the driver has the ability to choose the way of interacting with it - through the menu of the multimedia interface, the keys on the steering wheel or buttons on the center console

Cool all-round visibility with a clear picture,

which forms a quartet of cameras, is an excellent working tool: to ride in reverse, focusing exclusively on the display, on a Mercedes is as easy as shelling pears

The light skin of the interior turned out to be too brand:

in a completely new car with less than a thousand kilometers of mileage, it has already acquired a distinct blue tint

The steering column is bristling with many levers -

three on the left and one on the right. However, if you get used to the automatic selector quickly enough, the proprietary multifunctional lever with turn signals and windshield wipers is not so easy to learn

The three-liter diesel engine, which revives the GLE 350 d, is neatly included in the "tax" 249 forces (in Europe, the same engine produces 258 hp) and is equipped with a 9-speed "automatic". Such a tandem works great: the set of speed is fast, but Mercedes-like smoothly. Noise isolation has been worked out in the most meticulous way, the suspension is perfectly drilled - the ride is good even in sport mode. Mercedes generally left the impression of a perfectly balanced car.

Yes, he is almost sterile in sensations - there is not a single comment about his behavior! At the same time, it does not turn out to be boring to call the crossover from Stuttgart - the GLE seems to be a very lively and mobile organism. His character is deliberately even, but this is precisely the charm of this car: it is felt throughout that there is a tremendous engineering work behind such restrained behavior.

As for the off-road qualities of the Mercedes, on the off-road it is second only to the Range, and even then only a little: in the arsenal of the GLE 350 d, supplemented by the Offroad package, coupled with air suspension, there is a downshift, forced blocking center differential and adjustable ground clearance, the maximum value of which reaches 285 mm.

Range Rover Sport SDV8

Generation was made from Discovery, then its successor is built on a common platform with a large "Range". During the reincarnation, the RRS became four hundred kg lighter and acquired new engines - in particular, a 4.4-liter turbodiesel, which was just under the hood of our car. Such a mighty "dviglo" and the tank will drag away after itself playfully - not like an SUV! In response to pressing the accelerator pedal, Sport, squatting slightly on the rear axle, goes on the offensive into the space under the uterine rumble of the diesel "eight". And although in the drag "Range" is inferior to both BMW and Audi, the impressions from acceleration are still very strong: you immediately feel yourself in a large and heavy, but at the same time incredibly fast car that generates a feeling of total superiority over other road users.

This illusion is fueled by the high seating position - you look at the neighbors in the stream from above. It provides good visibility, but complicates the access to the car: you don't get into the Range, and you don't even enter, but get up. It will be more difficult for short people to jump into the salon than for people of taller than average height. And the process of landing on the front passenger seat girls in a tight skirt turns into a strip show!

I didn't really like the former "Sport" - for all the pathos, it seemed rustic. Here's a new "Range" - another matter! He is handsome and elegant, although he looks imposing and menacing. In terms of the organization of the interior space, the "Briton" is somewhat similar to a BMW - for example, in the back row with my height I do not have enough space, and it is inconvenient to sit there - the sloping body pillar interferes. In terms of handling, it is inferior to the Bavarian crossover - but it is clearly capable of off-road feats, which I personally will hardly ever be worthy of.

The British SUV compensates for the inconvenience of landing with a full-fledged comfort access system and thresholds that always remain clean - they are completely closed by doors with seals.

Rear passengers "Range" is also not easy: in addition to the high location above the ground, entry-exit is complicated by the protruding wheel arch and the strongly inclined body pillar. And there is less legroom than in other cars, although more than in BMW. And there is also the largest armrest, which also contains the entertainment system control panel - each passenger is entitled to a monitor and a set of headphones.

I liked the English car more than the rest. If you do not pay attention to some inconveniences such as difficulties with the inclusion of seat heating, the "Range" impresses with the convenience of landing. The steering wheel and seat slide away for easier exit, and the sills are protected from dirt by doors. And what a motor here! It not only makes a large car pick up speed rapidly, but also has an exorbitantly low fuel consumption. I am only confused by possible reliability problems.

Life is easier in the front row. Nevertheless, here too it has its own specifics. For example, seat heating and ventilation can only be activated using the touchscreen display of the multimedia system, although you get to the desired menu item immediately - by pressing a special button on the center console. By the way, only in the "Range" you can separately heat or cool the back or seat cushion by pressing the desired zone on the seat diagram with your finger on the display.

Unfortunately, the RRS came out without waiting for the new multimedia system that debuted on the Jaguar XE: the old one has primitive graphics that clearly does not correspond to the status of the car. I also didn't like working with USB drives: the system does not recognize all flash drives and refuses to play individual tracks for unknown reasons.

In general, the interior of the "British" makes an exceptionally pleasant impression - first-class leather is adjacent to polished aluminum and plastic, pleasant to the touch.

Dual-image display

considered a trademark of British cars: the driver and front passenger see a different picture at the same time

Fixed gear selector

quite straightforward to use, but shiny washer. which controls the automaton on other "Ranges" looks more stylish, and in terms of ease of use it is even preferable to a joystick

Displays with outdated graphics -

this is the main problem with Range Rover multimedia devices. However, the virtual dashboard can be abandoned in favor of conventional analog instruments.

Comfort access system

on a British car, it greatly facilitates the process of placing behind the wheel: the steering wheel rises up and is pressed against the front panel, and the seat moves back

The trunk of this "Range" - apparently because it is "Sport" - is not perfect. First, the significant loading height makes it difficult to place heavy luggage. Secondly, if you fold the back sofa, you will not get a flat floor. Thirdly, only a person with good physical fitness can remove a heavy full-size spare tire from under the floor.

Despite powerful motor, Sport does not dispose to driving on race tracks, although it is able to go fast: cruising speed far beyond the "hundred" for him - in the order of things. The ride is not bad, but when driving through more or less large irregularities, an understanding comes of how massive the wheels of an SUV are: the vibrations of the unsprung masses are felt better than we would like.

But in cross-country ability "Range" has no equal! The suspension features impressive articulation and air bellows allow the body to be lifted off the ground up to a record 335 mm. Also in the list of off-road virtues the "Briton" has a razdatka with a lowering, as well as a forced locking of the center and rear differentials.

Volvo XC90 D5 AWD Inscription

Like the Audi Q7, Volvo's flagship crossover was delayed at the start: the first-generation XC90 gave way to its successor only in its twelfth year. However, the wait for the new car was worth it - the "ninetieth" was a success!

Both the petrol and diesel engines that power the XC90 have the same configuration: two liters, four cylinders, plus varying degrees of supercharging.

Looks "Volvo" in a Scandinavian low-key, but at the same time modern and absolutely recognizable. Solid symbolism: the sign of Mars flaunts on the radiator grill, and the headlights are decorated with the hammer of Thor - a T-shaped LED running lights should be interpreted that way. The only pity is that the Swedes, for some reason, did not cover the thresholds with doors: when boarding, it is easy to get your pants dirty due to inattention.

The appearance of the Swedish car seems boring to me. But inside, the second-generation crossover surprised not only with the highly artistic interior design, but also with its convenience: everything is for a person here. And the "tablet" on the center console is quite appropriate here, especially since it is controlled by touches, and not abstruse twists and turns. And what a gorgeous sound of the audio system! It's a pity that Volvo has risen in price so much: if the new XC90 cost the same as the old one, it would definitely become a hit!

Once inside the Volvo, you immediately relax, feeling the very “atmosphere of well-being” that the designers have so thoroughly imbued in the interior. The inner world of the XC90 is made with great taste and full of grace. The interior decoration of the door is worth noting: the sculptural surface, the combination of textures, colors, smooth lines of joining of materials make it a work of art. Individual elements, which are presented as branded chips, do not look far-fetched: faceted "jewelry" for starting the engine and selecting driving modes is not only functional, but also convenient to use. In any case, the XC90's finish is in no way inferior to German and British cars. The only concern is the lacquered black plastic, from which the buttons on the steering wheel spokes and door panel are made, the framing of the climate control vents and the display on the center console. All this looks fashionable, but in fact it turns out to be soiled.

By the way, about the display: the vertically oriented touchscreen tablet with the Sensus interface, the stuffing of which Mitsubishi Electric specialists pored over, is distinguished by good graphics and sufficient performance. It turned out to be easier to understand the menu than it seemed, since the onboard system does not suffer from the lack of logic. But the virtual instruments did not impress - after talking with Audi, the feeling does not leave that the Swedes have mastered only a small part of the potential of such a dashboard.

Today we'll be looking at six crossovers: Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-5, Suzuki Grand Vitara, and Ford Kuga. We decided to add the debuts of 2015 to two very fresh new products, so that the test drive of 2017 crossovers was more complete. The only exception is yesterday's, but managed to dress up Grand Vitara.

As we approached the test drive, we realized that not only the new Kuga, but also the daring RAV4 was in the circle of cars. However, we liked Mitsubishi outlander, which could easily be recognized by the emblem and dimensions than by other characteristic features.

However, the Honda CR-V looked amazing. And Mazda CX-5 has not been deprived of attention, without considering that it will soon hit the year of sales.

What can you say? It can be seen that SUVs are becoming more uniform.

Just take a closer look. All elements become monotonous: body pillars, lines of bumpers, lamps, headlights - as if they were the same person.

Maybe the main difference is inside? We will definitely look there, maybe we will find something interesting?

New long forgotten ...

Maybe a Suzuki Grand Vitara? Surprisingly, it happens that you expect asceticism from the car, but in practice there is some airiness of the surfaces of the upper interior zone and the increased use of beige plastic.

And to the back sofa, you will need to squeeze if necessary. At the steering wheel, the adjustment is carried out only by the angle, and the display is illuminated in sunny weather. However, looking at the Grand Vitara, you feel a kind of indestructible cheerfulness that you can find only in brand new cars.

Analyzing the Honda CR-V, you understand that it will definitely win sympathy. At the same time, the seat in such a car clearly let us down. And to be precise, its shortened pillow. Weak car and visibility. However, the variety of individual elements can, perhaps, be envied. In addition to what has been said, it can be seen immediately:

• spaciousness of the front of the cabin;
• excellent arrangement of instruments;
• convenience pedants.

The car was brought down by the front panel, which has an unusual shape. The fact is that in it the expensive finish is adjacent to the fadedness of the scales and watches that have the style of the sixties.

In addition to this, I would like to emphasize the feeling with which the driver will sit in the CR-V. Indeed, it is precisely when you test drive a Honda CR-V that you feel how the car looks like a simple passenger car.

After analyzing Honda, you start to grumble at Mitsubishi, because it has: the chair has an insufficient range of height adjustments and plastic of the color of gloomy black material (well, that is soft). You feel uncomfortable and depressed in such an interior.

The instrument cluster made in the ASX style also adds effect (this element is the most striking in the whole interior). And then you begin to understand that the main thing in such a model is functionality. After all, the salon can accommodate five people freely.

Test drive Mazda CX-5 showed that the car is more spacious than the Outlander in the front, but cramped in the rear. However, internally it showed itself from a completely different side: both in design and workmanship.

There is also an excellent driver's seat toolkit and. You can only scold devices in which the fuel gauge hurts your eyes.

So, what should you choose a Ford Kuga or Toyota RAV4? Sadly to report, the victory goes to a not-so-famous pedant. He was thrown from the pedestal by the front panel of an extraordinary shape. After all, it has an expensive finish and is combined with the fadedness of the scales and watches, which were fashionable back in the seventies.

The center console, which, with its massiveness, covers some of the buttons and toggle switches, is not included in any frames. It can be concluded that it is extremely difficult to find the same heavy interior on any car.

Ergonomics are also pleasing, but the brake pedal is located inconveniently (the knee “breaks” when the leg is moved). Alas, this car is not without its drawbacks.

They refer primarily to the tight front seating position, which is very tight at Ford. The wide center console is to blame!

Roles are different - tasks are the same

The driving characteristics of cars, as in the army, can be divided into support and capture groups. Chief of all, of course, is the Ford Kuga. After all, it has a 180-horsepower turbine engine, which all the time strives to jump off the spot and rush into the distance.

Test- drive Ford Kuga has shown that as soon as you press the gas pedal, you immediately get real pleasure of the drive. Surely it might seem good quality at first. But it is worth riding more calmly, as you realize that taming the temper of such a horse is not so easy.

Test drive Ford Kuga:

For example, you plan to drive in "tightness" when cornering, but it turns out that the box starts at the slightest movement of the accelerator.

The car also has decent handling (with a twinkle) that allows it to tackle fast corners. Good in it and, which is supported by a good suspension.

The car also has good acoustic comfort. But Toyota has shown itself to be a more balanced car. Great engine and empathetic, competently give a good pressure of emotions and passions like the Kuga (but without fuss).

However, if you press the accelerator vigorously, then everything will happen correctly and quickly. The handling of the RAV4 is well-arranged, which proved to be collected and verified. The only complaint is the slight artificial movement in the reactions.

Test drive Toyota RAV4:

This is very visible when the rest is just flawless. And only after that the driver discovers the work of the stabilizing systems.

The pendants, of course, are noisy and shaky here. Especially you notice this on small ones. Unsolicited on high speed (100 km / h) and the sound from the tires. I would like to expect something more perfect and comfortable from such a crossover.

The third in the fighting lineup was considered Suzuki. She made it to this list thanks to the flexibility of the motor, as well as the responsive and easy-to-use machine. In other matters, such a car, unfortunately, does not compete with new products, even in driving performance. Is that good acoustic comfort.

Test drive Suzuki Grand Vitara:

The Vitara has weak brakes and rather challenging road behavior. In a certain situation, such a car begins to scour, as if jumping off the line of movement, with irregularities and turns.

The suspension here is off-road oriented. She is tough and resilient enough to surprise with her confidence, but lacks a little comfort.

The fact is that the rule of a premature jump to high gears is laid down in the adjustments of the automatic machine of such a crossover. For this reason, he "thinks" so on a sharp depression of the accelerator pedal.

Nevertheless, Mazda's arsenal includes:

• sensitive brakes;
• sufficient acoustic comfort;
• pre-assembled suspensions providing good ride smoothness.

If we compare the RAV4 and CX4, then the latest model there is not the slightest hint of "synthetic". But you can feel a lot of positive emotions from the transparency of the car's behavior. It is the strength of the machine that naturally demonstrates the principle that the motor is not the main indicator.

Test drive Mazda CX-5:

The road struggle between the Outlander and Honda is a battle between practicality and emotion. After all, the capabilities of the CR-V show it as than a real crossover.

Test drive Mitsubishi Outlander showed that the car is designed for mediocre roads, so it is similar to the Suzuki. Outlander features:

• sufficient ground clearance;
• good (steel) motor protection;
• energy-intensive and comfortable suspensions;
• excellent brakes that are reliable;
• stable handling.

However, the Mitsubishi chassis turned out to be noisy and rough when driving on small road trifles. Heard during acceleration and the motor. Adds to this its own song and variator with its annoying sound.

Test drive Mitsubishi Outlander:

Therefore, such a car is not perceived as a comfortable vehicle. However, the CVT responds quickly to driver behavior. Such characteristics greatly add advantages to such a car, because its motor is not the strongest.

At first glance, it seems that the combination of engine and transmission is taking on perfect shapes. Even with a slight touch of the gas, the car quickly and smoothly (without nervousness) picks up speed.

Test drive Honda CR-V:

Interior decoration

Let's start a test drive of the Suzuki Grand Vitara with the design. The developers did not manage to hide the age of the car with any tricks. This set of equipment was popular in the fifties.

Here, simple climate control and no adjustments. The closer is installed only at the driver's window and only works downward. You will not find connectors for connecting external devices in such a car at all.

However, the touches of modernity are also visible. This mainly concerns keyless access through the front doors or trunk, as well as starting the engine with a plastic plug.

Two cigarette lighter sockets are located right next to the automatic transmission lever, and an individual light in the trunk. On Suzuki, the developers have provided the opportunity to install expensive equipment.

However, there is a clear minus - glare in the sun of monochrome monitors climate control and audio systems. Next on the list is the Toyota RAV4.

Even in spite of the high-tech, the RAV4's interior could have been expected to have a better experience. The Toyota RAV4 test drive made it clear that only one glass closer is installed on the most expensive car of the entire test, which says a lot.

But in general terms, his set of equipment is not bad. In such a car you will be happy:

• keyless entry through the front doors;
• two-season climate control;
• electric drive of the driver's seat;
• lane departure control system.

The center console is equipped with a standard music jack and cigarette lighter socket. In addition, the developers installed on the RAV4 electric drive trunk. It only opens in a simple way, but it's a pity that it is not contactless.

Toyota's touchscreen looks much larger than the CX-5 and does not create any complaints. The fact is that the test car did not find any loaded navigation maps. And that which is motionless.

If we consider the Honda CR-V, then it has. Therefore, you need a key to run it. In addition to this, such a crossover lacks:

• electric seat adjustments;
• keyless access;
• navigation systems.

But everything else is at the level of competitors. In such a car you will enjoy:

• two-stage seat heating;
• dual-zone climate control;
• closers of all glasses.

The rear passengers of the CR-V, as in the Kuga, are provided with deflectors. In the armrest you will find the AUX and USB inputs. And in the trunk there is a separate light unit.

A five-inch screen located at the top of the panel displays information about the status of the crossover, time and video from surveillance cameras. High-end CR-V trims are equipped with navigation prompts.

Interesting a feature of Honda its ability to automatically lower the mirror when reversing is considered. Which adds a few points to the usability of such a car.

Mitsubishi Outlander offers its owners:

• keyless entry through the front doors;
• two-stage seat heating;
• dual-zone climate;
• electric drive for driver's seat.

You will not find modern security systems and popular "chips" on Mitsubishi. But one difference can be found. Such a car is equipped with paddle shifters for adjusting the variator. In addition to this, a third additional light can be found in the trunk.

In this modification, a 6.1-inch display is installed, which cannot display a map of the path. Therefore, the multimedia capabilities of the device include only displaying the status of the rear view camera. It's worth noting that the music sounds good, but the rear camera is also still.

The number of additional "chips" and electronics Ford Kuga is ahead of all debutants. Here you can notice the presence:

• automatic valet parking;
• keyless access;
• smart trunk;
• closers of all doors;
• dual-zone climate control;
• a custom Sony system that is connected to the (AUX and USB) sockets in the armrests.

The driver's seat is electrically adjustable, while the rear passengers have a seat and a 220 V socket with a pair of reflectors. Chagrin is delivered only by the multimedia system. The first inconvenience is the control of the system, which is carried out using the joystick located on the console.

The second drawback is the display resolution for displaying navigation maps. It has a 5-inch screen size and the picture looks primitive and undignified. The same can be said about the display of the rear-view image - a very small image!

The Mazda CX-5 crossorver is not smart. However, compared to Ford, such a car does not show itself to be a poor relative. Let the trunk of the CX - 5 open “without intelligence”, but you can find:

• strip control system;
• monitoring of inaccessible visibility zones;
• "Start-stop";
• turns of headlights;
• a set of closers for all glasses;
• keyless opening of the trunk and front doors;
• in the center armrest AUX and USB inputs;
• cigarette lighter socket;
• electric drive for the location of the driver's seat.

The sound of music from the Bose audio system will delight any listener. The multimedia screen does not exceed 5.8 inches, but it is much more convenient to use it, and the touch screen gives additional convenience.

In addition to all of the above, on such a car, control can be carried out using a convenient controller, which can be found between the seats. The rear view camera is movable, as in Ford (can be moved).

Limit of possibilities

We evaluated the controllability of the machines at the limiting modes by. If we analyze the whole situation, then all the crossovers behaved like simple front-wheel drive vehicles. The only exception is Suzuki. This is most clearly seen in the example of Toyota and Mitsubishi. Both cars reacted in the same way to rear axle drifts and throttle release. The Outlander, however, was more sensitive to rear axle skid, while in the RAV4, on the contrary, the front axle slipped.

Keeping the Honda on the slippery road was harder. When there was not enough grip on the surface, she could not turn in any way, but only slipped on the wheels. When you turn off the electronics and want to rock the car to go into a skid, you can hardly do it.

Suzuki and Mazda in normal modes have non-switchable stabilization. Therefore, when sliding, they very boldly upset the car. But an experienced driver, playing with the electronics, can take advantage of the time lag. This will give him the ability to drive with slight drifts.

When will you turn on downshift transfer case, the electronic system will shut off altogether. In this case, the driver will have the opportunity to move freely. In such conditions, Grand Vitara shows all the benefits.

It allows you to truly enjoy the various combinations of steering and throttle. But it is worth remembering that Vitara has a harsh disposition and does not forgive gross mistakes. However, our team managed to get pleasure from driving Suzuki.

• news
• Workshop

Nissan will resume assembly of one of the models in Russia

Roman Skolsky, Director of Public Relations of Nissan Representative Office, told Auto Mail.Ru about this. Nissan Tiida has been sold in Russia since 2007. In January 2015, the assembly of the new generation Tiida began at the Izhevsk plant. The car was offered with a 1.6-liter 117-horsepower engine in combination with mechanical transmission or a variator. However, already in August 2015 ...

Russians will be offered to buy Dakar Renault Duster

As stated in the official announcement of the manufacturer, new episode crossovers - "This is a joint project between Renault and Dakar, which aims to strengthen the position of Duster in its segment." You can distinguish the Renault Duster Dakar Edition from the regular version of the car by special plastic protection for the wheel arches, a chrome-plated protective pad on the rear bumper, ...

The number of non-payers of traffic fines has sharply increased in Russia

Thus, in comparison with January-June 2015, the number of persistent defaulters has doubled. This is reported by TASS with reference to the Federal Bailiff Service (FSSP). At the same time, restrictions on traveling abroad were imposed on two-thirds of the hard-core non-payers of fines. As a rule, debtors on fines for drunk driving under Articles ...

Delimobil canceled thousands of fine for crashed Solaris

Delimobil's official statement says that the company has revised the rules of financial responsibility of clients. Now the maximum amount of payments for car sharing users in case of an accident will be 150,000 rubles. In addition, since June 1, 2016, Delimobil has a new tariff, according to which the cost of a minute of car rental is 10 rubles. Rate...

Experts: boom in sales of credit machines will repeat again

In 2011, the share of cars purchased with borrowed funds was 40%, in 2012 - 45%, in 2013 this figure reached its peak: 50% of cars were sold using bank money. Izvestia writes about this with reference to a study by Sequoia Credit Consolidation. Now analysts of Sequoia again note ...

Cars are not for everyone: what is most often bought in Moscow?

In just five months of this year, 920 such cars were sold in Moscow, which is 19.5% more than in the same period in 2015. About this with reference to its own research reports the agency "Autostat". In second place among expensive cars Mercedes-Benz GLC turned out to be in the capital with the result of 819 units, sales of which started in the second ...

Such a proposal is contained in a bill on amendments to the Administrative Code, prepared on behalf of the first deputy chairman of the Russian government Igor Shuvalov and published on the portal of draft regulations, Interfax reports. The purpose of the bill is to establish administrative liability for dangerous driving, the ban on which was introduced in the traffic rules on June 8, 2016. Recall, under the dangerous ...

The most powerful Italian supercar. Photo and video

The car will be based on the Mazzanti Evantra coupe, which the Italian company has been "refining" for the past three years. But if the supercar Mazzanti Evantra is equipped with a seven-liter eight-cylinder engine with a capacity of 751 hp. (860 N ∙ m), then the Mazzanti EV-R coupe will receive a 7.2-liter twin-turbo "eight", developing torque ...

Choosing a car: "European" or "Japanese" new car, the car enthusiast will undoubtedly face the question of what to prefer: the left steering wheel of the "Japanese" or the right - legal - "European". ...

HOW to choose a car, Buying and selling.

How to choose a car Today the market offers buyers a huge selection of cars, from which their eyes simply run up. Therefore, before buying a car, there are many important points to consider. As a result, having decided on what exactly you want, you can choose a car that will ...

2018-2019: rating of CASCO insurance companies

Every car owner seeks to protect himself from emergenciesrelated to road accidents or other damage to your vehicle. One of the options is the conclusion of a CASCO agreement. However, in conditions when there are dozens of firms providing services for ...

HOW to choose the color of the car, choose the color of the car.

How to choose a car color It is no secret that the color of a car primarily affects road safety. Moreover, its practicality depends on the color of the car. Cars are produced in all colors of the rainbow and dozens of its shades, but how to choose “your” color? ...

HOW to order a car from Japan, a car from Japan in Samara.

How to order a car from Japan Japanese cars - sales leaders all over the world. These machines are valued for their reliability, quality, maneuverability and trouble-free repair. Today car owners want to be sure that the car came directly from Japan, and ...

The most stolen cars in Moscow in 2018-2019

The rating of the most stolen cars in Moscow has remained almost unchanged for several years. About 35 cars are hijacked in the capital every day, 26 of them are foreign cars. The most stolen brands According to the Prime Insurance portal, the most stolen cars of 2017 in ...

HOW to choose and buy a car, Buying and selling.

How to choose and buy a car The choice of cars, both new and used, on the market is huge. And not to get lost in this abundance will help common sense and a practical approach to choosing a car. Do not give in to the first desire to buy the car you like, carefully study everything ...

Which sedan to choose: Almera, Polo Sedan or Solaris

In their myths, the ancient Greeks talked about a creature with the head of a lion, the body of a goat and a snake instead of a tail. “The winged Chimera was born as a tiny creature. At the same time, she sparkled with the beauty of Argus and terrified the Satyr with the ugliness. It was a monster of monsters. " The word ...

Cars for real men

What car can make a man feel superior and proud. One of the most titled print editions, the financial and economic magazine Forbes, tried to answer this question. This print edition tried to determine the most men's car according to the rating of their sales. According to the editorial board, ...

What did the stars ride in the 20th century and today?

It has long been understood by everyone that a car is not just a means of transportation, but an indicator of status in society. By car, you can easily determine what class its owner belongs to. This applies to both the common man and pop stars. ...

• Discussion
• In contact with

The modern technology market with increased cross-country ability quite full of great offers. You can search for Korean, Chinese, European, or classic Japanese sentences, and spend comparative test drive crossovers are difficult enough. This will take a lot of time, because there are a lot of representatives in each country. In 2015, the market was replenished with new products and received even more interesting competitors.

Chinese brands were especially active in the 2014-2015 season, sensing the rise in prices for the classic leaders in the segment. If you want to buybest crossover in its class, you will have to take more than one test drive. Modern proposals so interesting that you don't want to study them for a couple of minutes. So it will take a lot of time for test drives. We offer you to see a test drive of a crossover of the brand you are interested in in our review.

New offers from Lada - a lot of crossovers for your test

Everyone is expecting a brand new car that has promised to hit the market in 2015 or next season. This is the Lada X-Ray - until recently, the car was a concept and did not plan to enter the conveyor, but the plant's management decided to start mass production of a completely domestic car.

While it is not possible to test drive this crossover, the factory testers have already run in the production car and made their own conclusions about the necessary changes. At the moment, the car is being prepared for presentation at one of the nearest car dealerships, so soon we will have a full-fledged crossover in Lada's offer.

New Tiguan - interesting update 2015

It is not so interesting to look at this crossover just in the video. It will be much more fun to do a comparative test drive of its old version with the new one. You will see how seriously Volkswagen took the renewal of the sold and popular model. The car received many interesting technologies that have not yet been installed on other cars of the concern.

Interestingly, the Volkswagen Tiguan has hardly changed in the technical part. The configuration was slightly changed, but in general the crossover remained the same. Already today, the 2015 version is available for test drive in official showrooms, but there are practically no differences in appearance and in the video in the car.

Chinese novelties - testing a completely different class

If you want to make sure that completely different cars have begun to be produced in China, just take a test drive of modern crossovers from China. You will find many exciting features of the machines that you will love and enjoy testing. Among the most interesting updates of the 2015 season are the following cars:

• - compact and stylish SUV with excellent interior quality;

• Lifan X50 - a completely new design, excellent economical engine and increased comfort;

• Geely EX7 - the updated Emgrand SUV will surprise you with the build quality of the cabin and the power of the power plant;

• DongFeng AX7 is a great car with a stylish appearance and very interesting configurations;

• Changan CS75 is a premium segment of Chinese technology for lovers of excellent technology.

As you can see from the videos and expert reviews, the machines of China manufacturers are worthy of your purchase today. You can buy both ordinary budget options for the usual transport, or give preference to more modern and well-equipped equipment options - the choice is only yours and your budget. Even those car buyers who previously scolded Chinese production are now looking closely at these inexpensive and high-quality offers.

KIA Soul - an updated version of the light crossover

The small SUV from KIA has received several fresh updates. The car is worthy of a full-fledged upgrade, since in the technical part and on the comfort of the trip, the buyers had practically no complaints. But the appearance and performance of the salon should have been done better.

And in 2015, fans of Korean SUVs will receive a wonderful update KIA Soul, the cost of which will increase by only a few percent. The novelty offers a completely redesigned interior and a more stylish design of the outer part of the body. On a test drive, you will notice that the vehicle's technique remains the same.

Summing up

You can conduct more than one test drive of excellent crossovers and find several dozen suitable models for yourself. But today it is simply impossible to decide on the best market representative in terms of objective parameters. For each expert and buyer, the list of optimal cars in this difficult class will be their own and independent. That is why it is so important to choose a car that suits your needs.

When buying a crossover, you can use existing test drives or make your own acquaintance with each of the applicants. The salons will be happy to provide you with information about all the options present and will give you a test drive, which will become the main factor in the selection of your car in the future.

"Really turned out to be severe: frost -10-15 degrees (at night it was -20) plus a lot of snow. But you can't miss something like that: three days in a variety of cars and driving in a variety of conditions - all in order to answer the question: who drives off-road how? In this article, you will not find a detailed overview of any particular model, but you will find a “quick glance” and features of the off-road systems of many crossovers and SUVs.

But the company has gathered notable: BMW X3, Ford Ranger, Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-5 and Mazda CX-9, Mitsubishi pajero Sport, Renault Kadjar, Subaru Outback, Suzuki Vitara S and Suzuki SX4, Toyota Land Cruiser prado and Toyota Highlander. As you can see, typical light crossovers and full-fledged frame SUVs and pickups are mixed in one bottle. Therefore, the organizers prepared two tracks at once: a relatively light one for crossovers, and a heavier one for frame SUVs and pickups. An easy track included X-shaped beams (imitation of protrusions-bumps on the road in a checkerboard pattern), a "bench" for driving on one side of the car (the front / rear wheel is alternately hung out on one side), and a snowy-icy "snake", where you could slide to your heart's content. It all started from this track ...

Bmw x3

It just so happened that I spent the morning of the test day driving a BMW X3 and on interesting serpentines near the Bukovel resort. Sitting in comfortable soft-brown leather chairs, gripping a heated M-steering wheel in your hands, enjoying the turns (I can't believe that a crossover can drive like that!) Switzerland? Unfortunately, but bMW price The X3 is also far from the reality of the Ukrainian middle class: a test car - which you like and gives the impression “this is how the BMW X3 should be, if you don’t save money” - costs almost UAH 2 million.

CrossoverBmw X3 new generation clearly claims the title of "one of the stars" of the event. But the presented car is estimated at almost 2 million UAH, which is due to the equipment: cool seats, heated steering wheel, many M-parts, a powerful engine (2.0 liters and 252 hp); for each such "Wishlist" and an extra "sneeze" in the packageBmw you have to pay pretty much. In the car settings, there is no special regime off-road, but the X3 passed the test track without any problems: a minimum of slippage in the snow and a rear-wheel drive character on the "snake".

Mazda CX-5 and Mazda CX-9

“OK, Google,” but there is something like a BMW X3, only cheaper - for the rest of the middle class? The Mazda CX-5 crossover is aimed at this segment, which has already been written about twice: and. This event was decorated with a "fire-red" Mazda CX-5 with a 2.5 liter gasoline engine: everything is good and excellent, except for the point noted earlier - for such a chic chassis, and even on mountain serpentines with a lot of ascents, I want to " more »motor. There is enough of it on the highway and in the city, but the feeling of “give more power "And the Mazda CX-5 will become the BMW X3 for the people."

And after all, Mazda already has a similar engine - the older model CX-9 proved: similar four cylinders and 2.5 liters of volume, plus a bonus in the form of a turbine. Power has increased from 194 hp. up to 231 hp, but most importantly - the torque has increased from 257 Nm to 420 Nm! This motor "headlong" is enough for a huge 5.1-meter 7-seater crossover, which I will describe in detail in a separate article in the near future - wait, it will be interesting.

Mazda CX-5 there is a reason - this is the newly-minted winner of the title "Car of the Year 2018 in Ukraine" among all crossovers! There is a reason: the car is commendably agile on the road, quite comfortable and spacious. WhereinMazda CX-5 in the maximum version is estimated at just over UAH 1 million. and offers an all-inclusive package. Elder sister"Mazda CX-9 is remembered for its size outside, spaciousness inside, and also a powerful turbo engine. Both cars ride on a special track in the same way: a short slip of the front wheels and the subsequent quick connection of the rear wheels; neutral and understandable behavior on the snake.

Subaru outback

Among the competitors of the Mazda CX-5 is the Subaru Outback, and for the Mazda CX-9 - the Toyota Highlander. What can I say about these cars? Crossover-station wagon Subaru Outback is called "station wagon" for a reason: initially (from the mid-1990s) it was an off-road version of the Legacy model; and let in last generations the car was singled out as a separate model, but the essence of the station wagon remained. For example, the Subaru Outback is smaller in dimensions than the Mazda CX-5 and Honda CR-V, but offers the highest ground clearance in this trio due to the very "raised" body position. The suspension is commendably energy-intensive and, it seems, is simply "impenetrable" - in this, only frame crossovers can compare with the Subaru Outback model. And in general - the essence and strength of the Subaru Outback is that "I'll take you out": do not expect smart passenger habits on the road; but the confidence in achieving the final goal of the route is colossal here. Upon first acquaintance, Subaru Outback reminds: a very soft, comfortable, confident car. But the remark is the same - I would like more power: the question is not in fast driving on serpentines, but in confidence when overtaking. Although 2.5 liters was enough: the "forester" is 100-130 kg lighter.

Subaru Outback - this is space and comfort, driving at a leisurely and medium pace; plus a huge sense of confidence "we'll get there." On the crossover track in normal modeOutback behaves like many other crossovers: initially riding on the "front end" and connecting the rear wheels after the front wheels slip. But the button changes everythingX— MODE - the car preemptively, in advance, prepares for off-road, sending more torque to the rear axle: in the endOutback turns into thatSubaruwhich we are waiting for! Plus there is a system of assistance when descending from a slope and a large ground clearance (213 mm).

Toyota Highlander

Large toyota crossover The Highlander is a little longer than the Outback and noticeably less than the CX-9, a seven-seater saloon, "automatic", a 3.5-liter V6 engine and four-wheel drive... It seems that there is everything here to become a "Ukrainian dream": an ideologically correct crossover, which, at first glance, does not have weaknesses... On the second - too. Adequate habits on the track (although I note that I did not ride on it very much), good comfort, passing obstacles without problems, understandable behavior on the "snake". And the technique is interesting: combined injection fuel D-4S (distributed and direct), variable valve timing system VVT-i, as many as eight steps in the automatic transmission ...

CrossoverToyota Highlander - large, roomy, powerful. There is a blocking of the "center", assistance when descending from the mountain, automatic transmission sport mode. The track passes without problems, the suspension is energy-intensive. In a word, everything is fine. In addition to the fact that in the entire company of carsToyota Highlander, perhaps, causes the least emotions, questions, reflections. Maybe I "rolled in" a little? Or maybe someone will decide that driving without emotions is a blessing? Maybe so…

Renault Kadjar

Honestly - it even leaves behind a more noticeable mark in the memory. Moreover, the Renault Kadjar was front-wheel drive, powered by an EDC "robot", with a 110-horsepower 1.5-liter turbodiesel. The weakest car in the company. Along the way - and one of the most affordable: 770 thousand UAH. But it’s far from the worst! Moderately comfortable on the road, with a pleasant interior, amazing economy (on the highway it consumed 5-6 liters versus 8-10 liters for other compact crossovers). Clearly, with front-wheel drive, the Renault Kadjar simply didn't stand a chance even on the light SUV track; the organizers initially did not even want to release it further than the snowy "snake". But then - everything went: with the hanging of the wheels, slippage, flying flakes of snow! To the credit of Renault Kadjar, he drove the track in the hands of each of the test participants. Moreover, from what I saw, Renault Kadjar was desperately skidding, but never demanded to be pushed out of the snow captivity.

Small, soft, EuropeanRenault Kadjar with turbodiesel and "robot"EDC - this is about the "ECO" button and multi-colored devices, and not about hanging the wheels and sliding on the "snake". All I can do off-road is to manually select the appropriate gear. But, to our creditRenault Kadjar, the car did it - which, in the conditions of its front-wheel drive version, is comparable to a small feat.

Ford ranger

The complete opposite is the large frame models: Ford Ranger, Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, Toyota Land Cruiser Prado. Their own route was prepared for them: a steep descent; slippery climbs (snow and ice); pits and bumps in a checkerboard pattern, where the car rides on two wheels; a couple of additional obstacles. The first model on my list of frame vehicles was the Ford Ranger pickup. There were no questions on the off-road track: it goes down without any problems, goes up, hangs the wheels. The only question was in size, since the Ford Ranger pickup truck with a length of 5.36 m is a good half a meter longer than the already rather big Mitsubishi Pajero Sport and Toyota Land Cruiser Prado. Okay with the size, you can get used to; but what about the behavior on a good road? The Ford Ranger pickup feels very heavy: weak acceleration, unhurried turns, simple interior trim. Of course, the suspension is impenetrable on any irregularities, but other pickup trucks can drive through holes just as well.

PickupFord Ranger - this is a cool exterior design and unusual solutions in the cabin: for example, a dashboard with a round speedometer and two LCD displays on the right / left. Drive system - with three operating modes (2H, 4 H, 4 L, i.e. lowered row); there is a rear differential lock and a downhill assist system. Off-road - king-king, but on ordinary roadsFord Ranger seems too "cargo": there are pickups that cost only a little more, but go much better; there are pickups, which are also "cargo" in habits, but their price is much less. The place forFord Ranger I haven't found it yet; if it works, we will return to this model in a separate article.

Mitsubishi Pajero Sport

The next full-fledged SUV was - and with only a slightly higher price than that of the previous pickup (both cars 1.1-1.2 million UAH), this car gave completely different impressions. Firstly, it already drives well on a normal road: it turns, accelerates, does not shake. Secondly, in his salon at least creates the appearance of what more than 1 million hryvnias were paid for. Thirdly, the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport off-road track passed not that easily, but generally openly playing giveaway. Example: at some point, the car hovered on two wheels and stopped; what to do - rear diff lock? No, I just hit the gas harder. Downhill Assist System? Yes, it is; but why, if the car crawls down / up very slowly on the "lower". Climbing a steep slope? No problem at all! “A-ah-ah, what, hung the wheels? No, I haven't heard of that with long suspension travels. " The Mitsubishi Pajero Sport model has many interesting off-road systems, but in the case of all-wheel drive with center locking, a lowered row, huge toothed wheels - all of them serve as "additions", and not "determining factors" of cross-country ability, as in the case of light crossovers.

SUVMitsubishi Pajero Sport - this is, first of all, an initially huge reserve of cross-country ability "on iron": permanent four-wheel drive, blocking of the center and rear diff, lowered row, long suspension travel. And alsoMitsubishi Pajero Sport I like the ratio of the feeling of the car and the price: simple, clean, no overpayments.

Toyota Land Cruiser Prado

It should be admitted that the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado looks even more epochal, in terms of the degree of "steepness" Prado is only half a step lower than the LC200. And it rides on the road in a similar way: measuredly, slowly, with dignity. The salon is similar in space to a small apartment; taking into account the finishing - it becomes clear that this is a trendy studio apartment in the city center. And there are also many, many road systems: air bellows on the rear axle for adjusting the fit of the body (useful for heavy loads); buttons behind the automatic transmission lever for complex car settings (comfort, eco, normal, sport, etc.); smooth and soft 6-speed "automatic". And there are many, many off-road systems: permanent all-wheel drive plus a low range; type selection system road surface MTS (Multi-Terrain Select, choice of "dirt", "stones", "bumps", etc.); Crawl Control function (maintaining a constant speed off-road); video review of MTM (Multi-Terrain Monitor), where it is especially worth noting the front camera plus a drawing of the position of the wheels.

SUVToyota Land Cruiser Prado cool, what is already there. Off-road passes easily; but there is a feeling that his place is in the parking lot of some ministry or near a business center. Indeed, with the price of the maximum versions of the car about UAH 1.6-2.1 million. - namely, these versions include systemsMTS, Crawl Control - you will think a hundred times before going off-road, where these systems will really come in handy. To select the desired system and its mode of operation, you must first press the appropriate button, and then rotate the upper drum knob. And here is an overviewMTM (Multi— Terrain Monitor) Is a real little revelation: you can immediately see where the nose of the car is going, whether the wheels are in a rut or not, that is on the right / left. In my opinion, there is more benefit from this than fromMTS andCrawl Control.

According to the plans of the organizers, after the main program, an optional course was envisaged - a ride along a mountain pass: not a special track, but there were enough snow-covered ascents and descents there. Again, according to the plans of the organizers, only three frame vehicles, described above, were supposed to go to the pass. But there were a lot of people willing, so a couple of crossovers went too. It is interesting that where the Subaru Outback could prove itself best, he just did not go - the problem is in the long overhangs, which could interfere with the bend-pits (and there really were such places).

Honda cr-v

But suddenly a couple of other crossovers drove to the pass, one of which is a Honda CR-V. It would seem to be just an urban crossover, where items such as a touchscreen display, interior spaciousness, rear seat adjustment, lED headlights mean much more off-road capability. So, in the morning on the crossover track, the Honda CR-V model skidded a lot with its front wheels, waiting for the tailgate to be connected; and there is no separate mode (button) for locking the central clutch. All I could do was put the automatic transmission lever into sport mode so that the variator would not be in a hurry to change the gear ratio ("upshift") and would not fail the engine speed. But in the end, how many times did we push the Honda CR-V out on the pass? Zero! We drive carefully, we do not reduce the speed, we try not to "bury ourselves", there is enough geometry with beveled bumpers - this is the result.

CrossoverHonda CR— V I went where, in theory, I shouldn't have gone. Drove and drove! And it also has an unusual interior trim, an interesting LCD display for the driver in front, backrest adjustment and heated seats in the rear, a proprietary "blind spot" viewing system on the right, plus the mentioned LED headlights - all this creates an impression very modern model... At the same time, under the hood - a traditional "aspirated" (2.4 liters and 186 hp) paired withCVT- variator. Deserves analysis in a separate article ...

Suzuki Vitara S and Suzuki SX4

The second crossover, which passed the pass, turned out to be "kid". Strongly knocked down, angular, tucked in from all sides (except that the "lip" of the front bumper protrudes slightly). But under the hood - a lively 1.4 liter turbo engine; paired with him - automatic transmission and all-wheel drive ALLGRIP. Along the way, another Suzuki car was presented at the event - an updated SX4 with a similar engine and transmission configuration.

In short, the Suzuki models are a small revelation that many people are not looking forward to. On the test track for crossovers, they are doing well: yes, the ground clearance is 18 cm, but the overhangs are short; the all-wheel drive system has a LOCK mode to lock the center differential clutch. On ordinary roads they drive briskly and incendiary: the power (140 hp and 220 nm) is quite a lot for such light cars (1.26 tons). Of course, a simple salon and the lack of any unique equipment ... But this is explainable by the price (650-700 thousand UAH), and in its own “ automotive essence»On the highway and off-road cars work off the money paid in full.

CarsSuzuki Vitara S andSuzuki SX4 are identical in technology: motor, automatic transmission, four-wheel drive. But they differ in layout:Suzuki Vitara S - shorter, but higher, there is a more vertical fit;Suzuki SX4 - longer and lower, more traditional fit. And they also differ in the mood in the cabin:Suzuki Vitara S with red details "lights";Suzuki SX4 with a more traditional finish soothes. Although both on the track and off-road, both cars go commendably boldly and boldly.

As you can see, some of the cars are already well known to the readers of the site, others were passed only in a “quick look” format. So in the future I will try to return to some of the cars from this report and talk about them in more detail. Don't switch!

Volvo XC90 D5 AWD Inscription

Power 225 HP, Acceleration 0-100 km / h 7.8 s, Price from 4,907,700 rubles.

Audi Q7 3.0 TFSI quattro

Power 333 hp, Acceleration 0-100 km / h 6.1 s, Price from 5,121,275 rubles.

Power 249 hp, Acceleration 0-100 km / h 7.1 s, Price from 5 320 258 rubles.

Range Rover Sport SDV8

Power 339 hp, Acceleration 0-100 km / h 6.9 s, Price from 5 896 005 rub.

BMW X5 xDrive 40d

Power 313 hp, Acceleration 0-100 km / h 5.9 s, Price from 6 495 350 rubles.

Volvo XC90 D5 AWD Inscription

Audi Q7 3.0 TFSI quattro

Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 D 4MATIC

Range Rover Sport SDV8

BMW X5 xDrive 40d

Audi Q7, BMW X5, MB GLE 350 D, Volvo XC90 D5, RR Sport SDV8

A full-size SUV of a premium brand is a cherished consumer dream for many. And for many, this dream, alas, remains unrealizable. We believe that dreams should come true, and we collected five cars at the same time and in one place - one is better than the other. Or is it not better? Let's figure it out now!

Text by Vasily Ostrovsky, photo by Artem Popovich

All cars are extremely relevant. The "oldest" - Range Rover Sport: its sales began in the summer of 2013. The BMW X5 appeared at the end of the same year, and the Volvo XC90, Audi Q7 and Mercedes-Benz GLE came to Russia quite recently.

Quite frankly, comparing such cars has more academic interest than practical meaning. Speaking of such a format as an expensive SUV of noble origin, one has to take into account not only the "physical" parameters of the car, but its "mental" qualities. It is hard to imagine that a person who thought of getting behind the wheel of a Mercedes would be able to prefer the blue-and-white propeller of a car with a different ideology to his starry dream. Yes, and an Anglomaniac is unlikely to covet the Teutonic technique: in his view, only an even more expensive Range can be better than the Range.

But "Audi" and "Volvo" are somewhat apart. However, the Q7 was a status thing before, while the XC90 has only now risen to the level of other cars, having significantly risen in price compared to its predecessor. Well, the more interesting our observations will be.

Audi Q7 3.0 TFSI quattro

Nearly ten years have passed between the premieres of two generations of Q7 - a period that is almost prohibitive by today's standards. The new "Ku" differs from the old one strikingly: if the old car seemed like a rounded elephant, now the "Audi" sharpened its edges and ... stopped looking like an SUV. But a big crossover simply has to be impressive!

Impressions from the salon are also mixed. The first score is cool. The climate control knobs are interestingly executed, on which the temperature and operating mode are displayed. Nicely made black wood inserts with a matte texture and thin stripes.

Fully digital devices are also impressive: the graphics are well-developed, and the functionality is the highest. However, the last feature is a double-edged sword: an excess of readings on the display significantly complicates perception. And I was also very surprised by the orientation of the dashboard: it is not facing the driver's organs of vision, but as if tilted down. You get used to it over time, but the question "why?" still remains.

SUV? Rather, a big station wagon. Very big! And also - solid, strict, comfortable. Driving this car, you feel a sense of confidence and invulnerability. Perfect finish, right handling and powerful acceleration of the petrol V6. The space on the back sofa is almost more than necessary! And everything is fine in front: comfortable chairs, a beautiful and, in principle, clear interface. What can you find fault with here? But I would prefer the version with a diesel engine, even to the detriment of dynamics. Then Q7 would definitely be a good option for me.

When the car is unlocked, bright white stripes flash on the front panel and doors, which after a while are replaced by red. Effectively! I liked this performance, but not all experts appreciated this beauty, finding it annoyingly intrusive.

However, when it came to the convenience of controlling the multimedia interface, there was no disagreement: the Germans made a mess. A button-laden touchpad, combined with a circular controller and menu selection keys, is mind-blowing. In addition, the volume knob is located away from the useless touchpad and is also made to rock. As a result, adjusting the volume is more convenient for the passenger than for the driver. Woe from Wit!

"Audi" likes a soft suspension: the car in some incomprehensible way goes through even large irregularities, without shaking the wheels or shaking the body. And the trunk is large, besides, its volume can be adjusted not only by folding the rear row, but also simply by moving its individual parts back and forth. However, I could not find a common language with the ingenious onboard system, no matter how hard I tried: the heap of controls on the central tunnel horrified me. This is some kind of ergonomic bacchanalia, by God! I didn’t like the screen instead of the dashboard: it’s not easy to figure out the numerous numbers, moreover, it remained an insoluble mystery to me why it was installed with a downward slope.

Our copy turned out to be in a strange configuration: in the presence of rather expensive options like the Bang & Olufsen audio system, the car was deprived of the memory of the front seats and climate control for the passengers of the sofa. The steering column was not electrified at all - as, indeed, on the Volvo. Nevertheless, there are no complaints about the chairs - the adjustment ranges are more than sufficient. The rear seats are also adjustable: individual parts of the sofa can be moved longitudinally and the backrest can be tilted over a very wide range. In terms of space and convenience of entry / exit "Audi" is beyond competition.

The armrest is divided into two equal parts,

each of which is adjustable in length. At the same time, the "warehouse" itself in its depths is extremely modest in volume

The touchpad falls short of expectations:

the driver wants to use it as a means of navigating through the menu, but it is only suitable for "finger" input, which you rarely use

Very comfortable steering wheel

in places of grip trimmed with delicate perforated leather. A special joy - a dedicated button for adjusting the volume of the navigation system

Of the five cars, only the Q7 was equipped with a 333-horsepower gasoline engine and was inferior in power only to the Range. With dynamics, of course, the crossover is all right. And the most vivid impression was left by the smoothness of the "Ku-seventh". I can't remember a more comfortable suspension! The crossover completely destroys small irregularities, and reduces large ones to frivolous sizes. On it you can drive through the "speed bumps" without reducing the speed at all. Great!

But the handling of the car alerted. On the one hand, the "German" demonstrates an excellent grip in turns - on the other hand, it does not at all seek to put reliable information on the angle of rotation of the wheels into the driver's hands: a light steering wheel does not have sufficient information content, and you have to get into a turn almost at random.

As for the cross-country ability, the "Audi" in this discipline is not strong, even despite the presence of air suspension with the ability to change the ground clearance: a long wheelbase and large overhangs are not the best help on the road.

BMW X5 xDrive 40D

At the end of the last century in Munich, they proved to the whole world that an SUV can have the habits of a sports car: having appeared in 1999, the X5 became the most driver's crossover (there were still three years left before the appearance of the Cayenne). And even now "X-Fifth" still provokes to ride "with a high putter". Another thing is that compared to its predecessor E70, the current car of the F15 series has become much more comfortable: excellent ride quality is the main acquisition of the X5.

Like the Mercedes, the Bavarian crossover is faithful to tradition: from the boomer's point of view, everything is in its place in the cabin. However, the key difference between Munich and Stuttgart traditionalism is that from the point of view of a normal person, BMW has no problems with ergonomics. With each new generation, "X-Fifth" becomes more and more saturated with electronics, but its high density per square meter of the car does not conflict with ease of use - except perhaps for navigation, which is categorically inconvenient to control with a round controller. Eh, here would be a normal human touchscreen ...

"Ha-fifth" is a certain history and image. He is like a noble horse who dreams of going into a gallop. But what is the boredom in the salon? This is a premium crossover! Where is the deliberate luxury that the closest competitors generously endow? It seems that everything is with him - "both skin and erysipelas." And yet, as if something is missing - some kind of deliberate gloss, or something ... But the trunk with a split door is a convenient thing. If we abstract from the specific image of the "boomer", then the bottom line will be a universal, but devilishly fast car, well suited to the needs of an adult couple with a couple of small children, who will be comfortable on the not too spacious rear sofa.

Compared to competitors, the interior of the "X-Fifth" may even seem a bit conservative: despite the fact that the multimedia interface is endowed with rather extensive powers, the main functions are still hung on the usual buttons. Of the inconveniences, it is worth noting the non-fixed steering column switches (only a person with a well-developed intuition is able to determine in which mode the wipers work) and the same automatic joystick.

BMW's front seats are masterpiece - no exaggeration. In addition to a million of all kinds of customary adjustments in the front seats, the backrest also "breaks" in half: the angle of inclination of its upper part can be set separately. In general, the chair can be easily adjusted to any, even the most non-standard, shape. Bravo!

BMW seemed to me too jerky: it jumps and decelerates too sharply - the brake pedal turned out to be too sensitive. I also did not like the fact that the thresholds are not protected from dirt in any way - in this sense, Audi and Range Rover are preferable. But there are no problems with smoothness. And I was also surprised by the lack of air suspension with adjustable clearance: it seems to me that in this class and for this money, it should be a mandatory equipment.

Bavarians have been equipping their expensive cars with head-up displays for a long time, and the X5 is no exception. In terms of the quality of information presentation, it is impeccable: a clear color image seems to float above the road. Volvo also has a HUD, but the Swedes have a simpler implementation.

Ambient interior lighting

allows you to select the color of illumination at the discretion of the driver - this function is dedicated to the corresponding item in the on-board system menu

Double wing armrest

opens access to the box on the central tunnel, in which a significant part of the volume was drawn by a shelf for a mobile phone. By the way, BMW supports connecting two phones at the same time

The most laconic dashboard

provides a clear perception of the most important information. In addition, some data is displayed on the head-up display.

X5 is not shy about flaunting its athletic skills

Despite the fact that the current "X-5" has settled down a bit, replacing the stiffness of the course for smoothness, he still does not hesitate to show off his athletic skills - especially the modification with a 313-horsepower diesel engine, spurred by a pair of hefty turbines. The motor is crazy! And the box is in his very suit: the programs replace each other quickly but smoothly.

The steering wheel is clear, sharp - and at the same time not annoying with excessive nervousness. The sports mode seemed to be a piece of narrow application: light, unobtrusive imposingness leaves, leaving a bunch of nerves exposed - for each press of the gas, the car jerks forward too actively, sometimes forcing it to brake. The brakes of the X5, by the way, are also very sensitive - you have to get used to this feature.

From the point of view of cross-country ability, BMW is definitely inferior to the leaders: despite a decent ground clearance and a well-functioning imitation of differential locks, the X5 is devoid of both a lowering row and air suspension with variable ground clearance.

Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 d 4MATIC

Normally, the GLE is considered a new model, but in fact, the Mercedes became the oldest participant in our test: in fact, it is a third-generation ML, processed with a restyling.

The interior has not changed too much during the modernization: instead of the display built into the front panel, it has a grown-up "tablet", a new steering wheel appeared, and a small wheel for walking through the on-board system menu gave way to a massive controller with a touch panel hanging over it.

Mercedes seems to be a perfectly balanced car

By inertia, the Swabians exploit the left steering column switch, tortured by many functions, to which you need to adapt for a long time if this is your first Mercedes. It's impossible to get used to the fact that the windshield wipers turn on to the left of the steering wheel, and not to the right. But to the selector "machine", which sticks out of the steering column in place of the lever for the wipers, you adapt instantly. When, after the Mercedes, I switched to a BMW, instead of starting off, I cleaned the windshield.

Mercedes is a special brand for me: since childhood, I have a weakness for cars with a three-pointed star. The GLE's salon is like a cozy office that you don't want to leave. Everything here is solid, almost conservative - and at the same time modern, respectable and aristocratic. There are no remarks about driving qualities either - they are polished to a shine. And the brand speaks for itself: the word "Mercedes" does not need to be explained to anyone. True, I do not like the new designation system - it is now almost impossible to distinguish one SUV from another by ear.

The front seats of our GLE have been electrified to the maximum. They are traditionally controlled by the door, however, there are buttons in the bases of the chairs - in particular, they regulate the lumbar support. By the way, a curious feature: as the seats move back, their head restraints automatically rise - in my opinion, this is absolutely logical.

It's amazing that other manufacturers still haven't thought of doing this. It is no less strange that the Mercedes for some reason did not use the seat to facilitate the driver's landing: when the ignition is turned off, only the steering wheel moves off.

In terms of space on the couch, Mercedes is inferior to Audi and Volvo, but outperforms BMW and Range. There are no inconveniences with entering and exiting, although there is still a chance of getting your trousers dirty - the doors do not protect the thresholds from dirt.

Of all the five cars, it is the Mercedes that gives the impression of the most respectable car. Everything in it is emphasized well: a noble appearance, a comfortable interior, and a roomy trunk. True, with multimedia, it seems to me, the Germans were too smart for themselves: the touch panel on the central tunnel is clearly superfluous here. But the picture on the screen is good: both the image quality is extremely clear, and the font is large enough - no problems with the perception of information. And the work of the all-round view system is beyond praise! I also liked the fact that for the GLE you can order a transfer case with a reduction gear: using it to pull a trailer with a boat out of the water is a piece of cake. Still, other things being equal, I would have preferred the larger GL, solely because of its size.

From the point of view of cargo transportation, the GLE cabin is well tailored. And although the pillows and the back of the back row have to be folded separately, lowering the head restraints to the lower position, this operation leads to the formation of an absolutely flat floor.

Easiest Audio Control

due to the fact that the driver has the ability to choose the way of interacting with it - through the menu of the multimedia interface, the keys on the steering wheel or buttons on the center console

Cool all-round visibility with a clear picture,

which forms a quartet of cameras, is an excellent working tool: to drive in reverse, focusing exclusively on the display, on a Mercedes is as easy as shelling pears

The light skin of the interior turned out to be too brand:

in a completely new car with less than a thousand kilometers of mileage, it has already acquired a distinct blue tint

The steering column is bristling with many levers -

three on the left and one on the right. However, if you get used to the automatic selector quickly enough, the proprietary multifunctional lever with turn signals and windshield wipers is not so easy to learn

The three-liter diesel engine, which revives the GLE 350 d, is neatly included in the "tax" 249 forces (in Europe, the same engine produces 258 hp) and is equipped with a 9-speed "automatic". Such a tandem works great: the set of speed is fast, but Mercedes-like smoothly. Noise isolation has been worked out in the most meticulous way, the suspension is perfectly drilled - the ride is good even in sport mode. Mercedes generally left the impression of a perfectly balanced car.

Yes, he is almost sterile in sensations - there is not a single comment about his behavior! At the same time, it does not turn out to be boring to call the crossover from Stuttgart - the GLE seems to be a very lively and mobile organism. His character is deliberately even, but this is precisely the charm of this car: it is felt throughout that there is a tremendous engineering work behind such restrained behavior.

As for the off-road qualities of the Mercedes, on the off-road it is second only to the Range, and even then only a little: the GLE 350 d arsenal, supplemented by the Offroad package, coupled with air suspension, includes a downshift, forced locking of the central differential and an adjustable ground clearance, the maximum value of which reaches 285 mm.

Range Rover Sport SDV8

Generation was made from Discovery, then its successor is built on a common platform with a large "Range". During the reincarnation, the RRS became four hundred kg lighter and acquired new engines - in particular, a 4.4-liter turbodiesel, which was just under the hood of our car. Such a mighty "dviglo" and the tank will drag away after itself playfully - not like an SUV! In response to pressing the accelerator pedal, Sport, squatting slightly on the rear axle, goes on the offensive into the space under the uterine rumble of the diesel "eight". And although in the drag "Range" is inferior to both BMW and Audi, the impressions from acceleration are still very strong: you immediately feel yourself in a large and heavy, but at the same time incredibly fast car that generates a feeling of total superiority over other road users.

This illusion is fueled by the high seating position - you look at the neighbors in the stream from above. It provides good visibility, but complicates access to the car: you don't get into the Range, and you don't even enter, but get up. It will be more difficult for short people to jump into the salon than for people of taller than average height. And the process of landing on the front passenger seat of a girl in a tight skirt turns into a strip show!

I didn't really like the former "Sport" - for all the pathos, it seemed rustic. Here's a new "Range" - another matter! He is handsome and elegant, although he looks imposing and menacing. In terms of the organization of the interior space, the "Briton" is somewhat similar to a BMW - for example, in the back row with my height I do not have enough space, and it is inconvenient to sit there - the sloping body pillar interferes. In terms of handling, it is inferior to the Bavarian crossover - but it is clearly capable of off-road feats, which I personally will hardly ever be worthy of.

The British SUV compensates for the inconvenience of landing with a full-fledged comfort access system and thresholds that always remain clean - they are completely closed by doors with seals.

Rear passengers "Range" is also not easy: in addition to the high location above the ground, entry-exit is complicated by the protruding wheel arch and the strongly inclined body pillar. And there is less legroom than in other cars, although more than in BMW. And there is also the largest armrest, which also contains the entertainment system control panel - each passenger is entitled to a monitor and a set of headphones.

I liked the English car more than the rest. If you do not pay attention to some inconveniences such as difficulties with the inclusion of seat heating, the "Range" impresses with the convenience of landing. The steering wheel and seat slide away for easier exit, and the sills are protected from dirt by doors. And what a motor here! It not only makes a large car pick up speed rapidly, but also has an exorbitantly low fuel consumption. I am only confused by possible reliability problems.

Life is easier in the front row. Nevertheless, here too it has its own specifics. For example, seat heating and ventilation can only be activated using the touchscreen display of the multimedia system, although you get to the desired menu item immediately - by pressing a special button on the center console. By the way, only in the "Range" you can separately heat or cool the back or seat cushion by pressing the desired zone on the seat diagram with your finger on the display.

Unfortunately, the RRS came out without waiting for the new multimedia system that debuted on the Jaguar XE: the old one has primitive graphics that clearly does not correspond to the status of the car. I also didn't like working with USB drives: the system does not recognize all flash drives and refuses to play individual tracks for unknown reasons.

In general, the interior of the "British" makes an exceptionally pleasant impression - first-class leather is adjacent to polished aluminum and plastic, pleasant to the touch.

Dual-image display

considered a trademark of British cars: the driver and front passenger see a different picture at the same time

Fixed gear selector

quite straightforward to use, but shiny washer. which controls the automaton on other "Ranges" looks more stylish, and in terms of ease of use it is even preferable to a joystick

Displays with outdated graphics -

this is the main problem with Range Rover multimedia devices. However, the virtual dashboard can be abandoned in favor of conventional analog instruments.

Comfort access system

on a British car, it greatly facilitates the process of placing behind the wheel: the steering wheel rises up and is pressed against the front panel, and the seat moves back

The trunk of this "Range" - apparently because it is "Sport" - is not perfect. First, the significant loading height makes it difficult to place heavy luggage. Secondly, if you fold the back sofa, you will not get a flat floor. Thirdly, only a person with good physical fitness can remove a heavy full-size spare tire from under the floor.

Despite the powerful engine, Sport does not dispose to driving on race tracks, although it is able to go fast: cruising speed far beyond the "hundred" is in the order of things for him. The ride is not bad, but when driving through more or less large irregularities, an understanding comes of how massive the wheels of an SUV are: the vibrations of the unsprung masses are felt better than we would like.

But in cross-country ability "Range" has no equal! The suspension features impressive articulation and air bellows allow the body to be lifted off the ground up to a record 335 mm. Also in the list of off-road virtues the "Briton" has a razdatka with a lowering, as well as a forced locking of the center and rear differentials.

Volvo XC90 D5 AWD Inscription

Like the Audi Q7, Volvo's flagship crossover was delayed at the start: the first-generation XC90 gave way to its successor only in its twelfth year. However, the wait for the new car was worth it - the "ninetieth" was a success!

Both the petrol and diesel engines that power the XC90 have the same configuration: two liters, four cylinders, plus varying degrees of supercharging.

Looks "Volvo" in a Scandinavian low-key, but at the same time modern and absolutely recognizable. Solid symbolism: the sign of Mars flaunts on the grille, and the headlights are decorated with the hammer of Thor - the T-shape of the LED running lights should be interpreted that way. The only pity is that the Swedes, for some reason, did not cover the thresholds with doors: when boarding, it is easy to get your pants dirty due to inattention.

The appearance of the Swedish car seems boring to me. But inside, the second-generation crossover surprised not only with the highly artistic interior design, but also with its convenience: everything is for a person here. And the "tablet" on the center console is quite appropriate here, especially since it is controlled by touches, and not abstruse twists and turns. And what a gorgeous sound of the audio system! It's a pity that Volvo has risen in price so much: if the new XC90 cost the same as the old one, it would definitely become a hit!

Once inside the Volvo, you immediately relax, feeling the very “atmosphere of well-being” that the designers have so thoroughly imbued in the interior. The inner world of the XC90 is made with great taste and full of grace. The interior decoration of the door is worth noting: the sculptural surface, the combination of textures, colors, smooth lines of joining of materials make it a work of art. Individual elements, which are presented as branded chips, do not look far-fetched: faceted "jewelry" for starting the engine and selecting driving modes is not only functional, but also convenient to use. In any case, the XC90's finish is in no way inferior to German and British cars. The only concern is the lacquered black plastic, from which the buttons on the steering wheel spokes and door panel are made, the framing of the climate control vents and the display on the center console. All this looks fashionable, but in fact it turns out to be soiled.

By the way, about the display: the vertically oriented touchscreen tablet with the Sensus interface, the stuffing of which Mitsubishi Electric specialists pored over, is distinguished by good graphics and sufficient performance. It turned out to be easier to understand the menu than it seemed, since the onboard system does not suffer from the lack of logic. But the virtual instruments did not impress - after talking with Audi, the feeling does not leave that the Swedes have mastered only a small part of the potential of such a dashboard.