There are a lot of cars in the world that for some reason are not as widespread as their counterparts. And today we will not talk about unknown VAZ models (such as Lada-Nadezhda and so on). In this article, we will pay attention to the Fiat-Albea car. We will consider photos and features of this machine right now.
Description
"Fiat-Albea" is a four-door subcompact sedan, which was developed by the Italian concern specifically for the Eastern European market. The assembly of these models was carried out in Turkey and in Russia (more precisely, in Naberezhnye Chelny). The Fia Albea sedans were produced from 2002 to 2012.
Appearance
Albea looks like a real people's car. So, the car has a classic three-volume body with simple and unobtrusive forms. By the way, the design of this car was developed by Giorgetto Giurjaro himself. At the front, oblong headlights with halogen bulbs and round fog lights at the bottom. There are black protective moldings on the sides and on the bumpers. Regularly put on the "Fiat-Albea" wheels with a dimension of 14 inches. But the arches made it possible to accommodate larger discs.
In general, the design of the car is nice, but frankly outdated by our time.
What do the reviews say about the Fiat Albea car body? The owners note that the metal is well protected from corrosion. On sale you can often find quite whole and not rotten specimens. Holds well on the body and paint. True, on our roads sometimes it begins to become chipped from flying stones. But the enamel itself does not swell, and the varnish does not peel off on the body, which is definitely a plus.
Dimensions, clearance, weight
This car belongs to the B-class and has the following dimensions. Thus, the length of the Fiat-Albea body is 4.19 meters, width - 1.7, height - 1.49 meters. The wheelbase is 2.44 meters. At the same time, the car is well adapted to Russian conditions due to the huge ground clearance of 18 centimeters. According to reviews, Fiat-Albea is able to move without problems both in deep pits and on a primer. The curb weight of the car is 1045 kilograms.
Salon
The interior design is quite modest (however, like the exterior). So, in front there is a three-spoke steering wheel and a simple center console with two air vents and a simple radio. The backlight of the instrument panel is bright orange, but does not blind at night. The seats are surprisingly quite comfortable and have good lateral support. The visibility of the car is also excellent. Mirrors are informative, the instrument panel does not glare.
Among the shortcomings of the Fiat Albea car, reviews note the presence of hard plastic on the front panel. It looks downright cheap. Also in the cabin, budget fabric was used as seat upholstery. Seat adjustment - only mechanical, but with a good range. The rear can accommodate up to three people. But there is not enough space in the back seat, especially in the knee area. The level of equipment "Fiat-Albea" is quite modest. Among the features worth noting is that air conditioning, radio and power windows. However, not every car has this - there are a lot of Fiats with empty equipment on sale. This is one of the main drawbacks of this sedan. Also, the negative reviews include poor sound insulation. On the go inside, you can constantly hear some crickets and an extraneous roar.
Trunk
The trunk volume in the Fiat Albea is 515 liters. At the same time, a full-size spare wheel is located under the floor. You can also expand this volume by folding the back of the rear seat flush with the floor. However, it will not work to transport bulky items - the opening here is too narrow.
Fiat-Albea: specifications
For the Russian market, a non-alternative atmospheric gasoline engine with a displacement of 1368 cubic centimeters was offered. This is a simple eight-valve engine with 77 horsepower. The torque of the unit is 115 Nm at three thousand revolutions per minute. The transmission is a five-speed manual.
As for the dynamic characteristics, in this regard, the Fiat-Albea is clearly not a sports car, the reviews say. Acceleration to hundreds takes 13.5 seconds. The maximum speed is 162 kilometers per hour. At the same time, the car has good fuel efficiency - reviews say. Fiat Albea consumes about 6.2 liters of gasoline in the city.
In other countries, the same machine can be equipped with a diesel or another gasoline engine. The first with a volume of 1.2 liters produces 95 horsepower. The second with a volume of 1.6 liters develops 103 power forces.
In terms of reliability, these engines are quite hardy. The resource of power units is more than 250 thousand kilometers. The same goes for the gearbox. The transmission does not require any maintenance. Although experienced motorists still recommend changing the oil in it at least once every 90 thousand kilometers. The clutch in the Fiat-Albea box runs about 150-200 thousand kilometers.
Chassis
The car is built on a front-wheel drive bogie with a transverse placement of the power unit. Front - independent suspension with MacPherson struts. Behind - a semi-dependent beam. Steering - rack with hydraulic booster. Brake system - hydraulic. Front - disc mechanisms, rear - drums. By the way, this car is not always equipped with an ABS system. It is available only in top trim levels. The luxury version will also have a brake force distribution system.
How does this car behave on the go? According to reviews, the suspension is moderately stiff. However, this car enters corners quite difficult, due to the high center of gravity and dependent rear suspension. There are enough brakes, but you should still forget about aggressive driving.
Price
How much does a Fiat Albea cost? At the moment, the release of this model is discontinued, it can only be found in the secondary market.
The cost of the car is from 140 to 220 thousand rubles. The average car mileage is 150 thousand kilometers. And a lot of cars can be found in really good condition.
Summing up
So, we found out what Fiat-Albea has technical characteristics and features. The positive aspects of this car include:
- Ergonomic salon.
- Corrosion resistant body.
- High build quality.
- Reliable engine and transmission.
- Low maintenance cost.
- High ground clearance.
- Good fuel economy.
Among the shortcomings it is worth highlighting:
- Poor interior soundproofing.
- Weak acceleration.
- High windage.
- Modest level of equipment.
In general, the machine is quite well assembled and not particularly demanding on maintenance. This car can be considered as a car for everyday life. The car competes well with such cars as the Hyundai Solaris and Renault Logan (primarily in terms of price).
Fiat Albea is one of the best B-class cars. The main advantages are not only an acceptable pricing policy, referring it to budget models, but also serious technical characteristics. A pleasant moment for travelers will be high ground clearance. In addition, the Albea photo shows practical, refined body lines that will please any driver. The price of Fiat is in the region of three hundred thousand rubles. It is for this price that you can purchase the basic package.
Engine
The machine has a 350A1000 four-stroke engine with four cylinders. The number of valves is eight pieces. The main fuel in most variations is gasoline. But in the modification of the 1.2-liter engine, a diesel was used. The modern unit has a well-developed injection distribution system, vertical liquid cooling, a mechanical and electronic unit. All engines are not only economical, but also comply with European environmental standards (Euro 4).
Fiat Albea enters the markets of the countries of the former CIS with 1.4-liter gasoline engines. and 1.6 liters. Their power is about 76 and 102 hp. A pleasant feature is fuel consumption, which is equal to 8.2 liters. in the city (in the summer, the figure drops to 6.5 liters.) And 5 liters. when accelerating on the highway. The technical characteristics of this plan once again point to significant travel savings. The volume of the gas tank is 48 liters. If we take generalized indicators, then you can drive about 780 km without stopping for refueling.
Based on the feedback from the owners, this unit works stably and reliably for a long time. Judging by the photo of the engine, access for repair is available to each main node. This is especially convenient if you do not have a garage with a special pit. The price for replacing spare parts is not significant and is quite optimal for budget cars. High ground clearance protects the engine from potential damage caused by bumps in the road most cars. The maximum speed of the car reaches 162 km / h, and Fiat picks up a hundred in 13.5 seconds.
Problems with the unit arise mainly due to the use of bad gasoline. There is a rapid clogging and damage to the main parts, as a result of which a visit to the service station cannot be avoided. The best option for engines of this type would be AI-95.
Fiat Albea transmission
The gearbox of the model is a classic five-speed mechanics. The design provides for two shafts and five synchronizers. Reverse gear is not equipped with a synchronizer. Over the years of use, the mechanism has been tested for high loads and durability. As a result, the reviews of the owners confirmed the high-quality study of the design and the endurance of the accuracy of the dimensions of the parts. Wear of the main elements is rare.
The specifications of the gearbox provide for the optimal gear ratio at each lever position. A feature is the absence of a control dipstick that would indicate the oil level in the mechanism. Instead, this function is performed by a hole for pouring liquid. It should be noted that the required capacity is 1.5 liters. The control process is carried out visually.
The oil must comply with SAE 75W-85.
Transmission problems can be expressed in the following situations:
- · high level of transmission noise;
- · Fuzzy gear shifting;
- · Oil leakage through rubber components.
These moments rarely occur, but eliminating them also does not provide for difficulties. The clearance of the car is high, so the repair of easily accessible nodes, even without a pit, can be done independently. The price of a replacement at a service station will not be high, since all parts are available in our region.
Suspension
The technical characteristics of the suspension allow the machine to smoothly overcome various road damage. During the test drives, the Fiat Albea behaved confidently, on the bends there was a good adhesion of the wheels to the asphalt. MacPherson-type assembly, independent, having shock absorber struts, wishbones and a stabilizer bar with springs. High clearance allows you to keep the elements for a long time. The rear part of the suspension is represented by a semi-dependent mechanism. The trailing arms are interconnected by a U-shaped beam. There are also soft springs.
It's no secret that this auto assembly needs to be repaired from time to time. But you should know that the replacement of shock absorbers and springs must be done in pairs.
Additional comfort while driving is added by electronic assistants. These are available in the Classic and Comfort trim levels, the price of which is slightly higher than the basic version. To ensure a pleasant driving experience, a brake force distribution system and an anti-lock four-channel system are installed. The front wheels have disc brakes and the rear wheels have drum brakes. This ratio allows you to stop the car in time in any situation.
Safety
Safety is provided by pillows for the driver and passenger in the front seat, as well as electronic assistants. In the basic configuration, there is an immobilizer and central locking, which limits the possibility of unauthorized entry into the cabin. A nice feature is "Take Me Home". It is expressed by the delay in the glow of the dipped beam lamps after the ignition is turned off.
The technical characteristics of the machine are impressive. The car is perfect for both long trips and everyday affairs in the city. Fuel consumption with an impressive size of the trunk is low, which means that financial savings will be provided.
The advantages of Fiat Albea include:
- high ground clearance equal to 180 mm;
- an environmentally friendly engine, which also has a power of 102 hp;
- spacious and comfortable salon;
- acceptable price of the maximum configuration;
- quiet operation of the main units;
- spacious trunk;
- durability of work (in most cases, problems arise after 140 thousand km).
As for the shortcomings of the machine, the following can be distinguished:
- stamped door upholstery;
- at a temperature of -30 in some models, an oil leak from the gearbox was observed.
If we talk about the appearance of the car, then in life it is better than in the photo.
Body and interior features
The developers of the model were pleased with the roomy and comfortable interior. The front seats are spacious, comfortable both due to lateral support and due to the adjustment for the flight. Based on the photo, the back row allows you to place up to three people of average build, which is a significant advantage for this class. In addition, the "Classic" and "Comfort" variations provide for the possibility of folding the rear seats. Now the car can carry bulky goods.
The trunk photo shows one of the main trends in Italian cars - spaciousness. In this model, its volume is 515 liters. Technical characteristics allow you to transport things of great weight, while maintaining high ground clearance. This is true for long trips to the sea or to the forest, when you need to take a heavy load with you.
The front panel is a pleasant surprise. Ergonomics of all devices and keys is at a decent level, and the product itself is made of high-quality and very soft plastic. At hand there is a cup holder and a gear lever, as can be seen from the photo of the cabin. You can, looking at it, imagine yourself inside and realize the level of comfort. In the configuration, convenience is provided by a multifunctional on-board computer, which greatly facilitates the driving process. Accordingly, the safety of the driver is increased, since there is no need to be distracted by unnecessary actions.
Studying the technical characteristics and looking at the photo, we can conclude that the price of the car is fully justified by the wide interior content and its capacity. In cold times, the "winter package" of electronics, as well as the electric drive to the side windows, will be relevant. The music system is represented by six speakers and a CD radio. 
In 1996, the Italian manufacturer Fiat organized the assembly of a global car in Brazil, which was produced in three body types: hatchback, sedan and station wagon. Fiat Albea has not yet been among these cars, but one of them, namely the Fiat Siena sedan, will become the basis for it in the future. Gradually, the assembly of cars was established in Eastern Europe. But with this conveyor, the company did not succeed as well as it wanted - the European Union considered that the cars did not meet environmental requirements. Thus, Eastern European production was curtailed. Already in 2002, on the Siena platform, the designers created a car specifically for Eastern Europe - Fiat Albea. The engines of this car fully complied with environmental standards, and the car itself - safety. From the base model, the car differed in appearance and some technical improvements. Fiat Albea began to be assembled in Turkey. In the winter of 2006, SKD assembly of the car was launched at the plant in Naberezhnye Chelny. And since the end of 2007, the plant has also started small-knot assembly. In addition to Russia and Turkey, the machine is sold in Ukraine, Romania, Poland and Hungary. It is noteworthy that at home - in Italy - the Fiat Albea model is not for sale.
Specifications Fiat Albea
sedan
city car
- width 1 703mm
- length 4 186mm
- height 1 490mm
- ground clearance 180mm
- places 5
Test drives Fiat Albea
All test drives
Comparison test March 03, 2011 Prices correspond to (Chevrolet Aveo, Fiat Albea, Hyundai Solaris, Kia Rio, Renault Logan, Volkswagen Polo) Experts have long predicted a shift in the consumer interests of Russians to small-class cars, namely, segment B sedans, which are offered at a price of less than 400,000 rubles per "base". At the end of 2009, for the first time, just such a model rose to the top line of the sales rating. Since then, competition in this class has only been growing, which has helped buyers improve the quality of cars, expand their choice..
15 0
Comparison test May 10, 2009 Very Special Offer (Chevrolet Aveo,Chevrolet Lanos,Fiat Albea,Hyundai Accent,Kia Rio,Peugeot 206 Sedan,Renault Logan,Renault Symbol) In eastern countries love sedans. Even in the compact class, which by the standards of Europe is simply unimaginable. And we have small sedans listed in the bestsellers of the market. "Renault Logan" has recently become the best-selling model on the market, released under a foreign brand.
26 0
Bets are made (Fiat Albea,Renault Logan,Skoda Fabia,Ford Focus) 
Comparison test
In this review, we will present foreign cars assembled in Russia that are included in the government program. Recall that the soft loan applies only to those cars, the price of which in the basic configuration does not exceed 350,000 rubles. As you know, the program also included more expensive cars assembled in Russia, but on the condition that automakers reduce their cost to the named level. Therefore, for now, we will consider only those models that unconditionally fall into the list of beneficiaries. Buyers can count on special conditions for the acquisition of the state undertakes to repay part of the bank interest payments and thereby make car loan rates more benign.
Affordable Fiat Trumps (Albea 1.4)
Test Drive This model is famous for being produced and sold in many countries around the world. Among the markets mastered by the Italian concern are Argentina, Brazil, Vietnam, India, China, Poland, South Africa and even North Korea. True, this list does not include the historical homeland of Fiat - Italy, but now Russia is included in it. "Albea" began to be released in Naberezhnye Chelny. So far, cars are made from Turkish car kits, but soon the plant will switch to industrial assembly, which includes welding and body painting. Thus, Albea will become another so-called Russian foreign car. We took one of the first such Fiats assembled in our country for a test.
Low price, beautiful design, excellent technical characteristics... Fiat Albea can be called the standard of the modern state employee. And this is not just an advertising move, but a well-thought-out marketing strategy of the Italian Fiat concern. After all, it was this car that was the first sedan in the history of mankind, which did not have an inflated cost even in the maximum trim levels. The company that produces this new product was not at all going to charge extra money from its customers for the "brand and name".
So, since 2003, the Fiat Albea car has become a cult sedan in Europe and is gradually gaining popularity in the countries of the former USSR. The demand for a novelty in Russia was so great that after 3 years the serial assembly of these sedans was started at the ZMA plant (Naberezhnye Chelny). So, let's look at what kind of miracle machine the Italian concern invented, and what are its technical characteristics.
Fiat Albea and its design
The image of the novelty has a very elegant appearance. Smooth lines of the body, a spectacular false radiator grille and elegant headlights of the main light make the car more expensive - it certainly doesn’t pull on a “state employee”, most likely it is some kind of business sedan.
Inner part
Despite the fact that the interior of the novelty, although it does not have any luxurious details, is made very soundly and functionally. Finishing materials in most cases have light colors without any ambition. The layout of the cabin is made in such a way that even in the back row the car is able to comfortably accommodate passengers of average build. The driver is also not in cramped conditions - there is more than enough free space here. The front row of seats has a rather rigid filling, but at the same time a person is able to adjust it specifically for himself. The comfortable steering wheel deserves special praise, which does not slip on the driver's hands at all and does not cause fatigue. By the way, it has height adjustment.
Fiat Albea: technical specifications
Only one petrol unit will be available in Russia. With its working volume of 1.4 liters, it develops a power of 77 horsepower. If we talk about high-speed technical characteristics, Fiat Albea with such units is gaining a “hundred” in 13.5 seconds. Peak top speed is 162 kilometers per hour. Dynamics, of course, is weak here. Although such modest technical characteristics (“Fiat Albea” is still a “state employee”), the dynamics are more than offset by economical fuel consumption. In mixed mode, the Italian sedan consumes only 6 liters of gasoline per 100 km. In addition, at a speed of 100 and above kilometers per hour, the operation of the engine does not annoy with excessive noise and vibrations.
Price
The initial cost for a new sedan manufactured in 2013 in the basic configuration is about 315 thousand rubles. According to many motorists, this “Italian” is an excellent alternative to the domestic VAZ Priora car, which also has a sedan body and is in the same price category.
As you can see, the Fiat Albea sedan is not made for racing. This is a car for those people who value comfort in the first place. And at the moment, the Albea model can rightfully be considered the standard of the modern "state employee".
Which was created to conquer the budget segment of the automotive market in Eastern Europe, this is Fiat Albea - a car previously produced by the company.
Before the existence of this model, the manufacturer had already produced a car for Eastern Europe, but after some time it ceased to comply with environmental standards and production was discontinued. Fiat was not upset and released a new model. Its serial launch was launched in 2002, the model was originally produced in Turkey, after which production was also organized in Russia.
In 2004, the car was restyled, which slightly changed its appearance and interior. They produced cars in three types of bodies, these are a sedan, a hatchback and a station wagon, but only a sedan body was supplied to our country for sale. In 2012, production was discontinued.
Design
The front of the car got small halogen headlights connected to a rectangular grille. The bumper of the sedan received, painted in body color, at the bottom with air direction grilles and two round foglights.
From the side, a strong depression is immediately noticed between the swollen wheel arches. There is nothing more for the profile to stand out.
At the back there are narrow lights, part of which is located on the trunk lid, which has a shape with recesses. At the bottom of the massive bumper, obviously nothing stands out.
The model belongs to class B, it is a budget small family car, which can be used safely in the city.
Fiat Albea dimensions:
- length - 4186 mm;
- width - 1703 mm;
- height - 1490 mm;
- wheelbase - 2439 mm;
- clearance - 180 mm.
Specifications
The manufacturer offered 4 types of power units with simple characteristics for this model, including one diesel, but the manufacturer supplied models with only one type of engine to our country. This is a 1.4-liter gasoline 4-cylinder unit that produced 77 horsepower and was paired with a 5-speed, which in turn transmitted to the front wheels. There is little power and therefore there was no talk of speed, but this was quite enough for the city.
Dynamic performance left much to be desired, it is 13.5 seconds to 100 km / h and a top speed of 162 km / h. But fuel consumption was not so high, in the city it would take only 8 liters, and on highway 5 it would be a good result.
The rest of the engines, which you are unlikely to find on the secondary market, were slightly worse, these are 3 versions of the 1.2-liter unit. And only a 1.6-liter engine with a capacity of 103 forces could boast of acceleration in almost 11 seconds, but at the same time it was very upset by high fuel consumption.
Suspension Fiat Albea is ordinary, it is MacPherson strut on the front, it is independent. At the rear, a semi-independent suspension with a torsion beam is installed. This makes the car acceptable in terms of comfort, and at the same time repairing it will not be very expensive. The car stops with the help of front ventilated disc brakes, and drum brakes at the rear. A rack and pinion mechanism equipped with a hydraulic booster also helps in management. In expensive equipment there is ABS.
Interior
In the cabin, passengers and the driver will not get too much space and comfort, and in terms of functionality, it will receive everything you need for a normal ride. Firstly, the driver, he received power windows from all windows in a rich configuration. A 3-spoke steering wheel with a slightly unusual design fell into his hands, behind which a completely ordinary dashboard was hidden.
The center console of the Fiat Albea is equipped at the top with a head unit, and at the bottom with air conditioning and stove control selectors. Throughout the existence of the car, the owners have had different impressions, however, they managed to provide information about the main problems of the car. The interior problems include the fact that the door upholstery is too easily soiled and constantly had to be removed and cleaned, there is no Russian language in the on-board computer, some cars had coolant flowing from the pedal in severe frost, which is bad for Russian conditions.
There is not so much space in the interior, it is more or less enough in front, but the back row will cause a little discomfort. The front seats are uncomfortable, although they have a fair amount of mechanical adjustment. The skin leaves much to be desired, as does the lateral support, which in principle is not needed here.
There is more than enough space in the trunk, the volume is a little more than 500 liters, and at the same time there is a full-size spare wheel under it. If you fold the rear row of seats, you get an almost flat floor and increase luggage space.
Price
The release of the Italian ended in 2012, so you can only buy a model in the secondary market. There are enough offers with an average price of 200 thousand rubles, which is inexpensive for such a sedan.
As a result, we can say that it was a good car for the budget segment, but it’s acceptable for him with any shortcomings, you can buy a Fiat Albea for yourself, but in case of any problems it will be difficult to find a company store or a service center, especially in a small city, due to the fact that the brand is not very popular.
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