According to statistics, the most popular type of car in Russia is crossovers, and budget crossover– this is the dream of almost every second driver. That's why Hyundai model Creta appeared first on Russian market in 2016, many were looking forward to it.

Let's discuss whether the Korean crossover lived up to expectations. Why Hyundai Greta is good, and also what flaws And weak spots does this model have?

List of obvious advantages

Price

Hyundai Creta Confidently ahead of its competitors in terms of the price of the budget version of the model. This is probably best price There is no car of this quality on the market. You can buy a crossover from RUB 789,000, while main competitor in class Renault Captur offers buyers his car from 879,000 rubles, Kia Sportage- from 1,179,000 rubles, and Nissan, Mitsubishi and Toyota demand even more for the basic versions of their models. Prices are presented according to official dealers for 2017.

Equipment

Paradoxical as it may seem, the equipment of the car is both a plus and a minus. The disadvantage is that most of the even seemingly standard options are present only in the latest version. But we'll talk about this below. In the meantime, let's discuss technical equipment top-end configuration.

In the maximum version of the model, the car owner is provided with the following options:

• Starting the engine with a button;
• Leather seats;
• All-wheel drive clutch lock;
• Electric power steering;
• Descent assistance system;
• Hill Start Assist system.

The latest technology allows you to climb mountains without hindrance with a slope of 50⁰. In this case, you can stop, stand for a few seconds and freely continue moving. This option, as well as the system "GLONASS Era", which allows you to call for help in the event of an accident, comes as standard with the car. The clutch locking function will fully reveal the Greta's capabilities as a crossover. With its help, you will confidently overcome a washed-out dirt road. The Greta's cross-country ability is very similar to that of Renault Captur, the main competitor in the class and price range of the Korean.

Salon

Compared to Renault Captur and Duster, the Korean crossover wins both in terms of aesthetics and interior comfort. Inside Greta you feel like you're driving European car. Despite the fact that the plastic is inexpensive, the finish is attractive, and the textured surface dashboard It even makes you think it's leather.

The steering wheel is adjustable not only in height, but also in reach. Although this option is presented only in the maximum version, the Captur even has a top-end configuration no calibration provided departure. The seats can also be adjusted in height, reach and angle. This versatile setting allows the driver to feel comfortable behind the wheel of the car, and the lateral support of the seats reliably fixes the body in turns. I would also like to note the sound insulation, which is much better in Hyundai.

In terms of trunk volume, the “Korean” is ahead of the Captur: 431 liters versus 378 liters. Moreover, the Greta has a full-size wheel under the trunk, while the Captur only has a stowage wheel. But Hyundai loses in this indicator to the front-wheel drive version of the Duster, where the trunk volume is 475 liters, and for the all-wheel drive version it is 408 liters. But the clear leader in terms of spaciousness was Kia with a volume of 491 liters.

Driving sensations

Why Hyundai Greta is good, so it is a combination of dynamics and smoothness. Here the 6-speed automatic transmission, which comes on crossovers with a 2-liter engine, played its role. Thanks to the perfectly tuned gear ratio the car accelerates faster and more confidently.

It should be noted that the steering wheel is calibrated. At low speeds it is softer, and when you press the gas pedal it becomes harsher. This distribution of force allows you to feel the road better.

Although the Greta is based on the Solaris, it does not have the same suspension problems as its older brother. Multi-link chassis Hyundai Creta quietly absorbs all the bumps in the road, allowing passengers to feel comfortable, as if they were in the cabin of an expensive German car. Something similar happens behind driving a Duster– this Frenchman also confidently absorbs unevenness and freely cuts through dirt roads. But Kaptur engineers cannot boast of such things. Their suspension is more sensitive. By this indicator unpleasantly surprised new Sportage, which overcomes the terrain even tougher than its opponents, although it is far ahead in cost.

Disadvantages and weaknesses

The most striking disadvantage of this model is the configuration. Marketers of the Korean company interested the market with an incredibly low price - 749 thousand rubles (as of 2016). This is the initial cost of the budget version of Greta. But what can they offer for this price? The basic version of the crossover does not even have air conditioning, not to mention heated seats or a lift assist system. Even the original ones LED headlights, which give Hyundai modernity and style, come only in higher trim levels. According to this indicator, Renault confidently wins, which has both air conditioning and heating rear window, and the engine start button.

By the way, Greta’s maximum configuration is slightly higher. An all-wheel drive 2-liter crossover with the Comfort Plus package will cost 1,200 thousand rubles, and a Renault with the same characteristics will cost 1,180 thousand.

Unlike Greta, Captur manufacturers can offer four transmission options - 5 and 6-speed manual, 4-speed automatic and CVT. At Hyundai, things are simpler with the transmission - 6-speed manual and 6-speed step automatic. Due to the CVT, Renault turned out to be slightly more economical than its opponent. The difference of 1 liter is not large, but when calculated over thousands of kilometers it becomes more noticeable. Many buyers in the Greta line do not have enough equipment with 2 liter engine And manual transmission. In this regard, Renault Duster and Kaptur have a huge advantage.

Another disadvantage of Greta In front of the “French” is the ground clearance - 190 mm versus 204 mm for the Captur and 210 mm for the Duster. Considering larger size Renault wheels, Hyundai clearly loses in off-road situations when it comes to overcoming steep bumps and slopes. And when installing a steel crankcase protection, the clearance decreases by another 10-12 mm, which is comparable to the ground clearance of some sedans.

A clear drawback that many Creta users have noted is the lack of a standard option like cruise control. Moreover, this function is not even available in latest configuration crossover, which costs almost 1.2 million. This fact surprised many car owners.

The weak points of the car are the immobilizer and automatic transmission. Many car owners have encountered problems starting the engine. They started it every other time, and when arriving at official dealer, everything started to work. The problem is that the immobilizer and fuel pump need to be given two to three seconds to check after inserting the key, and then turn it. Some car owners fixed the problem by cleaning the contacts on the immobilizer.

Another weak link of the model is the finicky automatic, which seems to tolerate slipping more than others. If the oil is not changed on time, the wear of the clutch and friction donut occurs much faster. Therefore, it is important to monitor the condition of the fluid and replace it in a timely manner. Another problem with automatic transmissions is the hydraulic plates, which quickly fail when overheated or the oil is of poor quality. Moreover, for boxes of types “L”, “M” and “G” this element is not universal, and the driver will have to select the appropriate hydraulic plate for a specific transmission.

Summarize

Considering all of the above, we can say with confidence that the Hyundai Greta is a good crossover that turned out to be a worthy competitor to the Renault Kaptur, and in some respects has surpassed it. He is perfectly prepared for Russian roads and is well equipped with technical side(except for the lack of cruise control). Compared to the Duster, it is slightly less passable, but more comfortable and technically equipped. And minor shortcomings compared to the Sportage pale in comparison to the gigantic difference in price.

Greta is comfortable and modern car, which performs great both on the highway and off-road. There is no arguing about tastes, but one thing is for sure - the Korean newcomer has already occupied a niche in this segment and will continue to surprise consumers.

According to statistics, the most popular type of car in Russia is crossovers, and a budget crossover is the dream of almost every second driver. Therefore, the Hyundai Creta model, which first appeared on the Russian market in 2016, was eagerly awaited by many.

Let's discuss whether the Korean crossover lived up to expectations. Why Hyundai Greta is good, and also what flaws And weak spots does this model have?

List of obvious advantages

Price

Hyundai Creta has confidently overtaken its competitors in terms of the price of the budget version of the model. This is perhaps the best price for a car of this quality on the market. You can buy a crossover from 789,000 rubles, while the main competitor in Renault class Kaptur offers customers its car from 879,000 rubles, Kia Sportage – from 1,179,000 rubles, and Nissan, Mitsubishi and Toyota demand even more for the basic versions of their models. Prices are presented according to official dealers for 2017.

Equipment

Paradoxical as it may seem, the equipment of the car is both a plus and a minus. The disadvantage is that most of the even seemingly standard options are present only in the latest version. But we'll talk about this below. In the meantime, let's discuss the technical equipment of the top-end configuration.

In the maximum version of the model, the car owner is provided with the following options:

• Starting the engine with a button;
• Leather seats;
• All-wheel drive clutch lock;
• Electric power steering;
• Descent assistance system;
• Hill Start Assist system.

The latest technology allows you to climb mountains without hindrance with a slope of 50⁰. In this case, you can stop, stand for a few seconds and freely continue moving. This option, as well as the system "GLONASS Era", which allows you to call for help in the event of an accident, comes as standard with the car. The clutch locking function will fully reveal the Greta's capabilities as a crossover. With its help, you will confidently overcome a washed-out dirt road. The Greta's cross-country ability is very similar to that of Renault Captur, the main competitor in the class and price range of the Korean.

Salon

Compared to Renault Captur and Duster, the Korean crossover wins both in terms of aesthetics and interior comfort. Inside Greta you feel like you are driving a European car. Despite the fact that the plastic is inexpensive, the finishing is attractive, and the raised surface of the dashboard even makes you think that it is leather.

The steering wheel is adjustable not only in height, but also in reach. Although this option is presented only in the maximum version, the Captur even has a top-end configuration no calibration provided departure. The seats can also be adjusted in height, reach and angle. This versatile setting allows the driver to feel comfortable behind the wheel of the car, and the lateral support of the seats reliably fixes the body in turns. I would also like to note the sound insulation, which is much better in Hyundai.

In terms of trunk volume, the “Korean” is ahead of the Captur: 431 liters versus 378 liters. Moreover, the Greta has a full-size wheel under the trunk, while the Captur only has a stowage wheel. But Hyundai loses in this indicator to the front-wheel drive version of the Duster, where the trunk volume is 475 liters, and for the all-wheel drive version it is 408 liters. But the clear leader in terms of spaciousness was Kia with a volume of 491 liters.

Driving sensations

Why Hyundai Greta is good, so it is a combination of dynamics and smoothness. Here the 6-speed automatic transmission, which comes on crossovers with a 2-liter engine, played its role. Thanks to the perfectly tuned gear ratio, the car accelerates faster and more confidently.

It should be noted that the steering wheel is calibrated. At low speeds it is softer, and when you press the gas pedal it becomes harsher. This distribution of force allows you to feel the road better.

Although the Greta is based on the Solaris, it does not have the same suspension problems as its older brother. The multi-link chassis of the Hyundai Creta quietly absorbs all the bumps in the road, allowing passengers to feel comfortable, as if they were in the cabin of an expensive German car. Something similar happens behind the wheel of a Duster - this Frenchman also confidently absorbs bumps and freely cuts through dirt roads. But Kaptur engineers cannot boast of such things. Their suspension is more sensitive. In terms of this indicator, I was unpleasantly surprised by the new Sportage, which overcomes the terrain even tougher than its opponents, although it is far ahead in cost.

Disadvantages and weaknesses

The most striking disadvantage of this model is the configuration. Marketers of the Korean company interested the market with an incredibly low price - 749 thousand rubles (as of 2016). This is the initial cost of the budget version of Greta. But what can they offer for this price? The basic version of the crossover does not even have air conditioning, not to mention heated seats or a lift assist system. Even the original LED headlights, which give Hyundai modernity and style, are only available in higher trim levels. According to this indicator, Renault confidently wins, which has air conditioning, a heated rear window, and an engine start button.

By the way, Greta’s maximum configuration is slightly higher. An all-wheel drive 2-liter crossover with the Comfort Plus package will cost 1,200 thousand rubles, and a Renault with the same characteristics will cost 1,180 thousand.

Unlike Greta, Captur manufacturers can offer four transmission options - 5 and 6-speed manual, 4-speed automatic and CVT. At Hyundai, things are simpler with the transmission - 6-speed manual and 6-speed automatic. Due to the CVT, Renault turned out to be slightly more economical than its opponent. The difference of 1 liter is not large, but when calculated over thousands of kilometers it becomes more noticeable. Many buyers in the Greta line do not have enough equipment with a 2-liter engine and manual transmission. In this regard, Renault Duster and Kaptur have a huge advantage.

Another disadvantage of Greta In front of the “French” is the ground clearance - 190 mm versus 204 mm for the Captur and 210 mm for the Duster. Considering the larger size of Renault wheels, Hyundai clearly loses on the off-road in terms of its ability to overcome steep bumps and slopes. And when installing a steel crankcase protection, the clearance decreases by another 10-12 mm, which is comparable to the ground clearance of some sedans.

A clear drawback that many Creta users have noted is the lack of a standard option like cruise control. Moreover, this function is not even available in the latest configuration of the crossover, which costs almost 1.2 million. This fact surprised many car owners.

The weak points of the car are the immobilizer and automatic transmission. Many car owners have encountered problems starting the engine. They started it every other time, and when we arrived at the official dealer, everything started working. The problem is that the immobilizer and fuel pump need to be given two to three seconds to check after inserting the key, and then turn it. Some car owners fixed the problem by cleaning the contacts on the immobilizer.

Another weak link of the model is the finicky automatic, which seems to tolerate slipping more than others. If the oil is not changed on time, the wear of the clutch and friction donut occurs much faster. Therefore, it is important to monitor the condition of the fluid and replace it in a timely manner. Another problem with automatic transmissions is the hydraulic plates, which quickly fail when overheated or the oil is of poor quality. Moreover, for boxes of types “L”, “M” and “G” this element is not universal, and the driver will have to select the appropriate hydraulic plate for a specific transmission.

Summarize

Considering all of the above, we can say with confidence that the Hyundai Greta is a good crossover that turned out to be a worthy competitor to the Renault Kaptur, and in some respects has surpassed it. It is perfectly prepared for Russian roads and is well-equipped technically (except for the lack of cruise control). Compared to the Duster, it is slightly less passable, but more comfortable and technically equipped. And minor shortcomings compared to the Sportage pale in comparison to the gigantic difference in price.

Greta is a comfortable and modern car that performs well both on the highway and off-road. There is no arguing about tastes, but one thing is for sure - the Korean newcomer has already occupied a niche in this segment and will continue to surprise consumers.

Hyundai Creta, declared as a K1 class crossover (class of compact crossovers) and which appeared on the Russian market not so long ago, has confidently supplanted Hyundai Solaris in a hatchback body, but in its own way overall dimensions never left the B-class, with a height and width greater than that of a hatchback, but with a body length still between a sedan and a hatchback.

At the start of sales, there are four trim levels - Active, Comfort, Comfort+ and Top - with two types of gasoline engines and gearboxes. Like any other car, the Hyundai Greta has its drawbacks.

WITH all-wheel drive Hyundai Creta is available only in maximum Comfort configuration for the maximum price (from gasoline engine 2.0 4WD and six-speed gearbox machine).

Basic equipment Active, with manual transmission and 1.6l engine made in China, has quite rich equipment With the only drawback– the impossibility of improvement, because no one additional package, including cruise control, remote start engine, fog lights, navigation, and even little things in the form of illumination of the “glove compartment” are not yet provided.

The configuration, with a similar engine with an automatic transmission, is already more expensive by almost $1,000 in ruble equivalent.

Top package, with leather interior, 17th alloy wheels, push-button start and with a price tag of almost $27,000 equivalent seems too high for a car of this caliber.

Let's evaluate the Hyundai Creta more systematically, focusing on the key components and shortcomings of the car.

Disadvantages of Hyundai Greta

Despite the fact that Hyundai Creta was conceived as conceptual model, in her appearance details from Accent and Hyundai Santa Fe, and the earlier Tucson crossover, so the car cannot claim clear recognition and unique design.

Beginner's affiliation with Hyundai brand can be guessed by the characteristic radiator grille and optics. And immediately about optics:

• The headlights are not powerful enough;
• LED daytime running lights And tail lights- only in the top configuration.

The body with good aerodynamic capabilities and an aggressive design, announced in a press release as a Fluidic sculpture, is made of metal from a domestic manufacturer and was initially positioned as fully galvanized. But numerous complaints from car owners indicate a lack of protection for the underbody and rear cups. Whether this is a factory flaw or thoughtful savings is not yet clear.

Another drawback is that the Hyundai Creta has fragile bumpers, which, in the absence of a rear view camera as standard, makes any parking risky.

Interior, safety and convenience of the driver and passengers and other disadvantages

Minor flaws in the interior reduce the overall positive impression of the car:

• A fairly wide interior allows three passengers to sit comfortably in the rear seat, but the lack of a middle headrest reduces comfort. The cut top window line interferes with planting;
• The cheap appearance of hard plastic cannot be saved even by embossing, which is more impressive than that of Solaris;
• The driver's seat does not have a plastic pad on the back, and the armrest is hard and uncomfortable;
• The Creta's doors do not have additional lower seals, which, combined with high plastic thresholds, do not help maintain cleanliness;
• The Creta's glove box is a modest flip-up tray without backlight;
• In the cabin, instead of a cigarette lighter, there is another socket, apparently Hyundai for a healthy lifestyle.

Other disadvantages of the Hyundai Creta: depressing blue backlight, white only on the Supervision dashboard, the electronic clock in the center of the front panel is also puzzling. The only drawback of the standard radio (head unit model Incar AHR 2463, with Internet access and adaptation of steering control buttons) is the small screen size of 5 inches. No built-in navigation.

Creta's speakers leave much to be desired; they should be replaced, ideally along with standard radio, to more functional ones.

The driver's seat is only adjustable top version assembly, basic models only have steering wheel height adjustment.

Good visibility when driving without precipitation is noticeably impaired due to the fact that the windshield wiper blade has insufficient movement area, seriously increasing the blind spot.

The ground clearance of 190 mm is excellent for a crossover, it decreases to 186 when the driver and passenger are seated, but, in general, it does not interfere with overcoming road unevenness well, but be careful with curbs, due to the soft spoiler in front of the front bumper.

The trunk, which is small in height but deep and wide with a volume of 402 liters, does not cause any complaints, but its lock sometimes begins to malfunction after the first 10 thousand kilometers.

Hyundai Creta engine and chassis, steering

The Chinese-made Gamma G4FG, 1.6-liter and Nu G4NA, 2.0-liter gasoline engines have long been known to Hyundai owners and, in general, do not cause any complaints. An individual feature of Creta engines - a cylinder block made of aluminum - can be considered both as a plus and as a disadvantage. A timing chain will undoubtedly please more long term operation.

TO indirect disadvantages This can be attributed to a common disease characteristic of Hyundai - excessive noise in the cabin when the engine is running.

Despite the relatively low speed acceleration of 12.1 seconds for a 1.6-liter engine and 10.1 with a displacement of 2, the car is very dynamic. Due to the overly sensitive gas pedal, the car literally takes off.

On basic models Cretas are equipped with power steering, electric power only in top models with a 2-liter engine, but this does not interfere with soft handling with smooth cornering.

The Creta's suspension has a small stroke, so you should forget the habit of not braking when overcoming speed bumps.

In order to objectively evaluate the steering rods, ball joints Not enough time has passed since the start of operation of the model. The lightness of the steering wheel, especially noticeable when parking, is frankly pleasing, but it becomes heavier with increasing speed.

The independent MacPherson front suspension does not have enough travel; the driver and passenger feel stiffness when driving also due to the fact that the front-wheel drive Hyundai Creta has a beam at the rear.

In general, the chassis, in combination with Korean Nexen tires, pleases with its resistance to poor-quality roads.

Alloy 17-inch wheels are currently available only in the top-end configuration.

By general reviews Hyundai owners Creta comfortable car for the city, with decent equipment for the price.

General dissatisfaction is caused by:

• High cost of undergoing maintenance at official dealers;
• Expensive spare parts;
• Some carelessness in body assembly in models manufactured in St. Petersburg.

Judge for yourself - by default, the “Korean” is equipped with electric windows on all doors, a height-adjustable multifunction steering wheel with a control interface wireless communication and an audio system with the ability to connect additional USB devices, as well as minimum set auxiliary electronic assistants. In particular, the hill descent assist function and the distribution system braking forces. Front airbags, ABS and exchange rate stabilization system are responsible for safety.

The basic version of the car is powered by a 1.6-liter gasoline engine, aggregated with a six-speed “mechanics”. 123 “horses” is not enough for you and you want an “automatic”? Please! We are ready to please both - under the hood there can be a 150-horsepower 2-liter engine, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. In addition, the list of standard equipment will be supplemented climate system, heated front seats and mirrors, parking sensors, fashionable alloy wheels and side airbags. Add all-wheel drive here, and you will be happy!

If all this wealth does not greatly affect the price of the car, then Hyundai Creta has every chance to win a leading position in the market. By the way, according to the price list for the new product, it will start at approximately 800,000 rubles. In the top version, including an additional optional package with leather mug, rear view camera, Supervision cockpit and heated steering wheel, windshield and rear seats, the car will cost no more than 1,200,000 rubles. What are your closest competitors ready to offer?

RENAULT DUSTER

Five months from the beginning of the year French crossover sold 19,417 copies - yes, not bad, but with its utilitarian appearance it is unlikely that success will last forever.

The standard version of the car for 630,000 rubles cannot boast of anything remarkable: there is only one airbag - a reward to the driver for choosing this car, and anti-lock braking system brakes This is where the delights of life, in fact, end. Although no: the gas tank flap of the Duster can now be opened without using a key!

You can’t really count on the price mentioned above: dealers sell cars with a frankly dead 114-horsepower engine and a five-speed manual transmission - a rarity, and if they do, get ready to shell out money - you won’t see a car without extra charges.

More with a 2-liter 143-horsepower engine, all-wheel drive and a six-speed manual transmission will cost at least 876,000 rubles. Plus 30,000 - installation of air conditioning, 16,000 - metallic color, 10,000 - fog lights with cruise control. There's a lot of running, right? And if you want an “automatic machine,” you will have to take almost 1,000,000 “wooden” coins out of your wallet. Naturally, without taking into account options. What can I say, even if you have to pay extra for floor mats. By the way, a “security package” would not be out of place, and that’s another 8,000 to 17,000 rubles.

RENAULT CAPTUR

Cunning Europeans, deciding to play on the trust of omnivorous Russians, dressed up the notorious Duster in a fashionable suit, gave it a couple of fresh options and passed it off as new model. Whether you like it or not, the result is obvious - welcome! The platform, units and gearboxes, except for the Nissan variator, are all borrowed from the donor. This, of course, did not make the newcomer any worse, but is it worth the overpayment of 200,000 rubles? Probably, if you appreciate the fact that the brand’s Russian marketers have already included in the initial 860,000 the installation of “music”, air conditioning and the Start-Stop system.

If you want to ride the two-pedal version, you will have to pay at least 120,000 rubles. But if you want to be rowed by all the leading ones, then get ready to shell out 1,100,000. For this money you will get a “Capture” with an engine of 143 “horses” and an old brooding four-speed automatic transmission. Cruise control, navigation and heated windshield will cost another 60,000. Does “renault” beauty really require such serious sacrifices?

TOYOTA RAV4

The Japanese Rafik is the second most popular crossover on the Russian market: between January and May, 14,152 people became its owners. What's the secret? Probably, only in the myth widespread among our compatriots that Toyota is almost. One can argue with this, as, by the way, with the sanity of the price tag.

The car itself simple version execution (of course, not as simple as Renault Duster) will cost fans of the model nearly 1,300,000 rubles. Expensive? Yes, expensive! Even despite the availability and decent functionality. The only thing missing here is Bluetooth, cool multimedia, dual-zone climate control and a multifunctional steering wheel. However, all this can be found in older versions. The CVT will require an additional payment of 200,000 rubles, and they will be forced to pay the same amount for all-wheel drive.

And if you have a more powerful 180-horsepower gasoline engine and a six-speed automatic transmission, it’s time to run for a loan - dealers will demand at least 2,016,000 “wooden” from you. Sorry, but for this money you can look at something much more prestigious and premium! Diesel will ask for even more - as much as 2,138,000 in Russian currency. In general, the Japanese believed in themselves... Perhaps we’ll wait until we get better than Hyundai.

Pleasantly surprising Russian fans of the brand. A car that will appear on our market no earlier than August can be purchased at quite reasonable cost- from 749,900 rubles. The Koreans do not hide that their main rival for the attention of car enthusiasts will be another new product - the Renault Kaptur. It is obvious that the prices for the compact SUV were formed under the influence of competition with the stylish “Frenchman”. However, experts are confident that the Creta will be compared not only with the Capture, but with at least three more models. An analysis of price lists and configurations was prepared especially for RG by Dmitry Rybalchenko and Kira Kaddaha (car aggregator Autospot.ru).

Playing for a fall... and for a decrease

Renault managed to successfully enter the same river twice. Once upon a time the French presented the most affordable SUV(albeit compact), and now - an affordable urban crossover. But it won't be long for Capture to rest on its laurels. Barely the first happy customers received their cars, a serious competitor loomed on the horizon - Hyundai is preparing to launch the new Creta. The battle for the wallets of car enthusiasts will unfold in an epic way. Despite the fact that this market segment is already teeming with several Chinese, the domestic Xray and Ford's Ecosport.

In general, the trend is clear. Firstly, people want “jeeps” (small ones that cannot drive off-road, without all-wheel drive - it doesn’t matter), secondly, people want affordable “jeeps”. This means that soon we will see new ones compact crossovers from a range of players. But marketing accessibility is not a guarantee of a truly low price. Let's see how much small SUVs actually cost and what joys are hidden inside the cute Renault bodies Captur, Hyundai Creta, Lada Xray, Ford Ecosport and Lifan X60.

Size matters

First of all, let’s compare the numerical parameters, because we will get the dimensions and ground clearance regardless of the configuration.

So, the Kaptur confidently crushes its rivals in terms of anthropometry. It also leads in size ground clearance(by the way, Renault has always prepared cars perfectly for Russian conditions). The most “parquet” one was the “Chinese” one, and the most compact one was the domestic Xray.

Is everyone equal at the beginning?

To be extremely objective, let’s break down all the pros and cons of the basic configurations, because it’s no secret that only the most budget version of a car can tell more about it than any other!

With the appearance in Russian Hyundai market Creta has made it clear that the Koreans are determined to change the direction of their lineup, taking compact crossovers as a basis. At the same time, the car cannot be called small, because it is only five centimeters shorter than the Hyundai Tucson.

What can I say, basic Hyundai equipment Creta (Start) with a 1.6 engine with 123 horsepower in terms of price starts at 749,900 rubles. For this money you buy not only a high-quality Korean crossover, but also a proprietary audio system with USB, AUX and Bluetooth connectors, adjustment of the steering column, front seats, power windows, power steering and other attributes of a comfortable and safe ride.

The price for the brand new Renault Kaptur (1.64, 114 hp) is offered at 859,000 rubles - a noticeable difference with the Korean new product, don’t you think? At the same time, the French crossover in the Life configuration (not to say that it is basic version- the manufacturer basically renounced budget options"Kaptyura") is already equipped with air conditioning, and electric windows, and a key card, and a system directional stability, and two airbags... By the way, the Creta also has two of them, but in the maximum configuration - six (due to the curtain airbags), and not four.

The domestic Lada Xray (1.6 engine with 106 horsepower) compares favorably with the proposed new products in terms of price: AvtoVAZ asks only 589,000 rubles for the Optima package. For this amount, the car enthusiast receives not only a miracle of Russian engineering, but also a whole set of pleasant options such as a Bluetooth channel, front electric windows, adjustable steering wheel and seats, two airbags, road stabilization system, remote control of the lock and access to satellite system"ERA-GLONASS". For a domestic car - not bad at all!

But Ford Ecosport 2 with a 1.6 122 engine horsepower fits well into the segment pricing policy"Cretes" and "Capture": basic equipment"Trend" is valued at 909,000 rubles, taking into account the offered discount. And in terms of options, it is not one iota inferior to new crossovers: the “base” already has a powerful air conditioner, side mirrors with the possibility of electrical adjustment, LED optics, electric windows and many different smaller “amenities” for the driver!

Very popular in Russia Chinese Lifan The X60 (1.8 engine, 128 “horses”) in the “base” costs from 629,900 rubles, which, I must say, sets it apart from other crossovers. In the “Basic” version (why bother with the name of the basic configuration?) the car is equipped with power steering, two airbags, the ability to adjust the steering wheel and seats, and remote control central locking, multimedia system, etc.

We shell out money... And for what?

Ford Ecosport. Photo: https://media.ford.com.

So, front-wheel drive cars with manual transmission in basic configurations generally cost around one million and are equipped with the same features. Maybe there will be significant differences in the luxury versions of these crossovers?

Hyundai Creta with all-wheel drive, automatic transmission and 2.0 engine with 149 hp. costs from 1,139,900 rubles. If in ascending price, then for Korean crossover, literally “breathing down his neck,” are followed by Renault Kaptur (1,149,990) with a 2.0 engine of 143 hp and Ford Ecosport for 1,379,000 rubles with a 2.0 unit of 140 horses and all-wheel drive (though with a manual transmission). And here the Lada Xray (with a price for the most advanced configuration of 742,000 and a 1.8 engine with 122 “horses”) and the Lifan X60 costing 819,900 rubles, equipped with a 1.8 unit with 128 hp, stand out from the general order.

Ground clearance (very important factor in choosing a crossover) for all models to conquer Russian off-road acceptable, but “Capture” stands out especially in this regard with its record-breaking 205 mm!

It’s a pity, of course, that even in the luxury version, X-Ray does not have all-wheel drive. This fact and the presence of a relatively weak engine do not allow a domestic car to show itself at its best as an SUV. But he has the most big advantage in terms of fuel consumption in mixed cycle- only 6.8 liters per hundred! By the way, “Creta” has this indicator - 7.5, and Lifan - even 8.2!

In general, the cars are worth each other in terms of saturation maximum configurations. And the creative Chinese even provided for multimedia system the new X60 has the ability to play games, being slightly inferior in terms of quality interior design to the same Crete, for example.

Lifan X60. Photo: CarzClub.

Final score

Well, in the “base” our rivals are not poor, but nothing more. And if you imagine that these are cars with one and a half liters under the hood, front-wheel drive and manual transmission, then why not take a closer look at the “fat” hatchbacks and sedans of the same class? Lifan turned out to be the “emptiest” in this series, while Xray looks very convincing, pushing ahead of newfangled competitors with a multifunctional steering wheel, GLONASS, alarm system, etc. Ecosport looks the most balanced, Kaptur is focused on utilitarianism, and Creta is focused on active safety(and the mountings for child seats in modern family car must be in any case).

The "richest" again was "Capture". However, a description of a “secret super-Creta” of a top-end configuration is circulating on the Internet, which is not even in the descriptions yet. It is also worth noting that the Lada does not look like a “poor relative” at all, especially considering the cost of 742 thousand (this is almost 40% cheaper than the Creta). Unfortunately, the ultimate front-wheel drive, in our opinion, is generally a reason for disqualification from the competition of both “X-Ray” and “Lifana”.

For a visual comparison, there is a plate with three options: the basic configuration with a manual transmission, a minimal engine and front-wheel drive; medium with automatic transmission and front-wheel drive; maximum version with all-wheel drive, flagship engine and automatic transmission. Xray, Lifan and Ecosport stood out. The first two do not have an all-wheel drive version at all, the third has an automatic transmission in conjunction with all-wheel drive.

And one more thing

Let's not forget about bonuses. So, domestic crossover may become 40-50 thousand cheaper under Trade-in / recycling programs. Lifan also offers approximately the same discounts. Renault offers to discount up to 70 thousand under the same conditions (and some dealers offer a direct discount). Interesting? But here we look at Ford's proposal and whisper our thanks to the company for its controversial SUV design. Currently, discounts on Ecosport reach 170 thousand rubles, not counting program bonuses.

Let us remind you that the Creta will go on sale only in August. And now we can only assume that the basic Hyundai programs will apply to this model as well.