Today we will consider six crossovers: Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-5, Suzuki Grand Vitara and Ford Kuga. In addition to two very fresh new products, we decided to add the debuts of 2015 to make the test drive of 2017 crossovers more complete. The exception is perhaps yesterday's, but managed to dress up Grand Vitara.

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

However, the Honda CR-V looked amazing. Yes, and the Mazda CX-5 was not deprived of attention, never mind that she would soon hit a year of sales.

What can be said? It can be seen SUVs are becoming more homogeneous.

It's just worth taking a closer look. All elements become monotonous: body pillars, lines of bumpers, lights, headlights - as if they were the same person.

Maybe the main difference is inside? Let's take a look there, maybe we'll find something interesting?

New long forgotten...

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

Yes, and to the rear sofa, you will need to squeeze through if necessary. At the steering wheel, adjustment is carried out only in angle, and the display lights up in sunny weather. However, looking at the Grand Vitara, you feel some kind of indestructible cheerfulness that you will 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, his shortened pillow. Weak car and visibility. However, the diversity of individual elements can, perhaps, be envied. In addition to what has been said, here it is immediately clear:

• the spaciousness of the front of the cabin;
• excellent arrangement of devices;
• the convenience of a pedant.

Summed up the car front panel, which has an unusual shape. The fact is that in it an expensive finish is adjacent to the fading of scales and clocks 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. After all, when you test drive a Honda CR-V, 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 adjustment and plastic in the color of dark black material (it’s good that it’s soft). You feel uncomfortable and oppressed in such an interior.

The effect is also added by the instrument cluster, made in the ASX style (this element is the brightest in the entire interior). And then you begin to understand that the main thing in such a model is functionality. After all, five people can fit freely in the cabin.

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

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

So, what should you choose Ford Kuga or Toyota RAV4? Sad to say, the victory goes to a not-so-famous pedant. It was overthrown from the pedestal by the front panel of an extraordinary shape. After all, it has expensive finishes and is combined with the fading of scales and watches that were fashionable back in the seventies.

The center console is not included in any framework, which, with its massiveness, closes some buttons and toggle switches. We can conclude that it is extremely difficult to find the same heavy interior on any car.

The ergonomics are also pleasing, but the brake pedal is located inconveniently (when the leg is rearranged, the knee “breaks”). Alas, such a car is not without flaws.

They refer primarily to the tight front seating position, which is very tight in the Ford. It's all about the wide center console!

Different roles - same tasks

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

A test drive of the Ford Kuga showed that one has only to press the gas pedal, as soon as you get a real pleasure to drive. Of course it may seem good quality at first. But it is worth driving more calmly, as you understand that it is not so easy to tame the temper of such a horse.

Test drive Ford Kuga:

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

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

The acoustic comfort of the car is also good. But Toyota showed itself as a more balanced car. Great engine and sensitive, competently give a good pressure of emotions and passions like Kuga (but without fuss).

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

Test drive Toyota RAV4:

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

Pendants, of course, are noisy and shaky. You notice this especially on small ones. Not solid on high speed(100 km / h) and the sound from the tires. From such a crossover, I would like to expect something more perfect and comfortable.

Suzuki was considered the third in combat composition. She made 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 a good acoustic comfort.

Test drive Suzuki Grand Vitara:

At Vitara you can find weak brakes and rather difficult behavior on the road. At certain situation such a car begins to scour, as if jumping off the line of motion, with bumps and turns.

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

The fact is that in the adjustments of the machine of such a crossover, the rule of a premature jump to high gears is laid down. For this reason, he “thinks” like that on a sharp pressing of the accelerator pedal.

However, Mazda has in its arsenal:

• sensitive brakes;
• sufficient acoustic comfort;
• assembled suspension, providing good smoothness of movement.

If we compare RAV4 and CX4, then latest model there is not the slightest hint of "syntheticity". 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 lies in the natural demonstration of the principle that the engine is not the main indicator.

Test drive Mazda CX-5:

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

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

• sufficient ground clearance;
• good (steel) motor protection;
• energy-intensive and comfortable suspension;
• excellent brakes, distinguished by reliability;
• stable control.

However, the Mitsubishi chassis turned out to be noisy and rough when driving on small road surfaces. Heard during acceleration and the engine. Adds to this his song and variator with his 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 to the advantages of such a machine, because its motor is not the strongest.

At first glance, it seems that the combination of engine and transmission takes on ideal forms. Even with a slight touch on the gas, the car accelerates assertively and smoothly (without nervousness).

Test drive Honda CR-V:

Interior decoration

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

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

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

Right next to the automatic transmission lever there are two cigarette lighter sockets, and in the trunk there is an individual light. On Suzuki, the developers provided the opportunity to install expensive equipment.

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

Even though it's high-tech, you could expect a better impression from the interior of the RAV4. Toyota test drive RAV4 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 this car you will be happy:

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

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

Toyota's touchscreen looks much larger than the CX-5 and doesn't make any claims. The fact is that in the test machine there were no loaded navigation maps. And what is immovable.

If we consider the Honda CR-V, then it has. Therefore, to run it, you will need a key. 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 this car you will enjoy:

• two-stage heated seats;
• 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 installed a separate block of light.

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. Expensive equipment CR-Vs are equipped with navigation system prompts.

An interesting feature of Honda is its ability to automatically lower the mirror when reversing. Which adds a few points to the convenience of using such a car.

Mitsubishi Outlander offers its owners:

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

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

This modification has a 6.1-inch display that cannot display a route map. Therefore, the multimedia capabilities of the device include only the display of the status of the rear view camera. It is worth noting that the music sounds good, but the rear camera is also stationary.

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

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

The driver's seat is electrically adjustable, and for rear passengers there is an armchair and a 220 V socket with a pair of reflectors. The only disappointment is the multimedia system. The first inconvenience is the system control, which is carried out using a 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 crossover is not smart. However, against the background of Ford, such a car does not show itself as a poor relative. Let the trunk open “without intelligence” in CX - 5, but you can find:

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

The sound of music from the audio system "Bose" will please any lover to listen to. 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 everything listed 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, like in Ford (can be moved).

The limit of possibilities

We evaluated the controllability of machines in limiting modes according to . If we analyze the situation as a whole, then all the crossovers behaved like simple front-wheel drives. The only exception is Suzuki. This is most clearly seen in the example of Toyota and Mitsubishi. Both cars responded equally to rear axle skids and gas release. However, Outlander turned out to be more sensitive to rear axle skidding, while in RAV4, on the contrary, slippage of the front axle was observed.

Hold the Honda on slippery road it was harder. When there was not enough grip on the surface, she could not turn in any way, but only slid her wheels. When you turn off the electronics and want to rock the car to go into a skid, this can be difficult for you.

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 electronics, can take advantage of the moment of response delay. This will give him the opportunity to ride with small drifts.

When you turn on the low gear of the transfer case, then electronic system turn off altogether. In this case, the driver will have the opportunity to move freely. In such conditions, Grand Vitara shows all the advantages.

It allows you to enjoy various steering and throttle combinations to your heart's content. But it is worth remembering that Vitara has a sharp temper and does not forgive gross mistakes. However, our team managed to enjoy driving Suzuki.

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Now there are a huge number of crossovers different models, equipment, characteristics and design. To evaluate the characteristics of the car in more detail and find out which car will be better, official dealers crossover companies conduct professional test drives.

On the Internet, there are a huge number of video test drive crossovers where you can visually consider all the features and characteristics of the car.

Selection of cars for tests

Usually, crossovers of the same class are chosen for a test drive, so let's take a few mid-size crossovers. Among them are 5 models: Honda CR-V, Subaru Forester, Toyota RAV4, Mazda CX5 and Mitsubishi Outlander. Let's take a look at the internals of these units.

• Subaru Forester comes with gasoline engine volume of 2 liters, with a capacity of 150 horsepower. We can remember this handsome man by how cleverly he beat his rivals for the title. The second equipment is a 2.5-liter gasoline engine with 172 horsepower. The third equipment: a 2-liter turbo diesel engine with a capacity of 240 horsepower. The gearbox is mechanical 6-speed, it is also possible to install a Lineartronic variator. The all-wheel drive system comes with active traction distribution.

• The Honda CR-V comes with a 2.4 liter petrol engine and 190 horsepower. The gearbox is automatic in 5 steps. The all-wheel drive system is automatically connected.

• The Toyota RAV4 comes with a 2-liter petrol engine with up to 151 horsepower, a second trim with a 2.5-liter petrol engine with 180 horsepower, and a 2.2-liter turbo diesel engine with 150 horsepower. mechanical box 6-speed transmission, optional 6-speed automatic transmission or Multidrive S CVT. Front-wheel drive system, automatically engages all-wheel drive with central locking.

• Mitsubishi Outlander has a 2 liter petrol engine with 145 horsepower or a 2.4 liter petrol engine with 167 horsepower. Gear box - CVT variator Invecs-III and plug-in all-wheel drive with central locking function.

• The Mazda CX5 comes with a 2 liter petrol engine producing 150 horsepower, or a 2.5 liter 192 horsepower. Gearbox - mechanical 6-speed, or automatic transmission also 6-speed. Front-wheel drive and automatically connected all-wheel drive. Externally, the car is very similar to.

Comparing pricing policy of these units, it is safe to say that the price of the Honda CR-V is the most modest. The basic version of the Mitsubishi Outlander is the most affordable, so it occupies the second position in the price category. After them comes the Subaru Forester, Toyota RAV4 and Mazda CX5. Watch video tests of crossovers Mitsubishi Outlander, Subaru Forester, Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V and Mazda CX5 to get required characteristics and visually distinguish between model data.

Assessment of the appearance of a car

So, for example, looking into the interior of cars, you can highlight a number of distinctive characteristics. All crossovers can change the seat adjustment, but the Mitsubishi Outlander and Subaru Forester cannot change the lumbar support, which affects the comfort of landing. The second row of these crossovers can change the backrest slopes, Toyota will have the widest slope.

In Toyota and Mitsubishi crossovers, the backrests fold inside the cabin, as for other crossovers, they can also fold from the trunk side. Honda equipped interesting design, one has only to pull the handle of the chair, as the headrest, cushion and back of the chair begin to take shape.

Toyota, Mitsubishi and Subaru have electric roof actuation luggage compartment, for other crossovers, this option is available in expensive versions. Some even open the lid with an unpleasant creak.

Watch a test drive of the exteriors and interiors of crossovers and compare their capabilities on video comparative test crossover drivers.

In addition, cars have a number of their own features, for example, Honda has a mirror to monitor the rear row of seats. This model has special sensors that signal cars in the "blind zone".

The Subaru crossover has an excellent rear view, plus additional installed cameras help to maneuver well in reverse.

Mazda effectively demonstrates the trajectory of the movement when turning the steering wheel using the front and rear parking sensors. This model also has sensors for passing vehicles, the system not only visually signals moving vehicles, but also transmits a signal with sound. This the only car, which, without turning on the turn signal, when crossing the dividing line, turns on a frightening rumble that will immediately warn the driver about his mistake (if desired, this function can be disabled).

Toyota has rear motion sensors. At Mitsubishi, when the doors are closed, the side mirrors are automatically closed.

The buyer himself must decide what he needs a car for, and what parameters are most important to him: volume, ease of use of some parts, interior space or other possibilities. All the possibilities can be assessed by watching a crossover test drive comparison video.

It is important not to confuse the exercise crossover video with the test drive video of crossovers. This video has nothing to do with pumping the pectoral muscles, the only similarity is that in the test drive the crossover goes through a series of exercises in order to find out the characteristics and capabilities of the car.

Handling and acceleration test

Consider the movement of these cars.

Mitsubishi Outlander likes to drift slowly and evenly with smooth roads. Mazda CX5 has powerful look but on the road it moves neatly, quietly and dynamically. Belongs to the category of leaders in equipping smooth movement. The Toyota RAV4 has a tough ride on the road. The model comes with a turbodiesel. Honda CR-V is designed for the American segment, it is more economical, and is designed for gasoline with a low octane rating.

On patency Subaru Forester affects body rigidity. The 2.5-liter engine can operate in two modes Intelligent and Sport. In sports settings, the car is much sharper, accelerates easily, without stress. With increasing speed this characteristic disappears. With the Intelligent settings, the crossover also takes off quickly and behaves obediently on the road.

Whether Subaru or Mazda stop the farthest when braking, most likely it all depends on the tires of the car. It is better to watch a crossover comparison video, where experts conducting a test drive of cars can show all the advantages of a crossover, and also tell you how to increase its performance. This is called crossover video speed test drive.

These crossovers are designed for driving on asphalt, there are some exceptions to the rules for gentle off-road terrain. So, for example, Toyota and Mitsubishi can block the center clutch. Mazda and Honda are prohibited from driving in such terrain due to low ground clearance, and it is also forbidden to use the all-wheel drive system, as long-term towing can cause the center clutch to overheat.

Only Subaru feels more confident with permanent all-wheel drive, tight overhangs, high ground clearance. X-Mode System, which is activated automatically at a speed of 40 km / h, reconfigures the crossover to off-road mode, where the hill descent system is activated.

Other tests

There are also certain test drives to determine the body and comfort of a car, which include: interior space in front and behind, seating comfort, visibility for passengers, trunk volume, quality finishes and sound insulation, climatic comfort, ride smoothness in a loaded and empty car.

The powertrain test determines how quickly a car can accelerate, top speed, gearbox operation, fuel consumption, range, handling, stability, maneuverability and braking system performance.

Take a test drive at official representative in your city, in order to feel the possibilities of the purchased unit.

Watch the video, off-road crossovers feel great:

Mitsubishi Outlander, Renault Koleos, Subaru Forester, Volkswagen Tiguan and Nissan X-Trail.

On Mitsubishi deep snow crossings are best taken on the move. If you stop, you will surely follow the cable. The CVT smears traction and is prone to overheating.

Variator of our Koleosa overheated after a few minutes of driving through the fields, completely immobilizing the car for a quarter of an hour.

The smallest clearance is not a hindrance: Tiguan under these conditions the best! Praise deserves a wonderful torque motor in conjunction with a sensitive machine. Good and all-wheel drive system.

Trample paths in loose snow X‑Trail does not like and does it clearly without pleasure. In most situations, he will leave the Koleos and Outlander slightly behind, but will eventually wait for the Forester or Tiguan to come to the rescue. As in the case of competitors, no one canceled the risk of overheating the variator.

POLYHEDRON

The old X‑Trail index T31 is very familiar to me. My father has such a car, and from time to time I do not miss the opportunity to ride it. Therefore, from the first minutes behind the wheel of the new X-Trail, I understand: progress is evident. But first, let me tell you about the interior, which is almost exactly like Qashqai's.

I have nothing against the now fashionable unification: modular chassis and modular motors are wonderful. This approach helps manufacturers, and therefore us, save money. But the "modular" front panel is unbearably boring. I sincerely hope Nissan doesn't follow the path of Subaru (Impreza, XV, Forester, WRX - all have the same panel with minimal changes) and we will see something original in other models.

The quality of finishing materials is the best among all Japanese cars in the test. Compliant plastic top of the panel, good skin on armchairs, an excellent multimedia system, to which any phone clings via Bluetooth in no time (ay, Subaru!) Multimedia slots, as it should be in modern car, located at the bottom of the console. Out of habit, I will scold the notorious power windows without automatic mode and the terrible (against the price of the car) quality of the leather on the steering wheel. But, despite the comments, the X-Trail interior, on a par with the Tiguan one, claims to be the best. Choose for yourself what you like.

Nissan X-Trail. Decent leather on the seats, softtouch plastic, convenient controls and intelligent multimedia with a surround view system. Only the absence of automatic glass closers and the rough leather on the steering wheel are frustrating.

Behind - expanse. Compared to the previous generation car, the wheelbase has grown by 75 mm - up to 2705 mm, and this is the best indicator in the test. The rear sofa is now adjustable in length: parts divided in a ratio of 2: 1 move relative to each other.

But there is less space in the trunk (only 348 liters, according to our measurements). And the convenient organizer that used to be under the floor disappeared: instead of it, a “second floor” appeared in the form of a curtain-partition.

However, all this is trifles. The real surprise awaits along the way. The modified motor-variator connection is unrecognizable. From now on, these two live on the same wavelength. The sound of the engine has become more solid and richer - there is no echo left of the tedious "vacuum cleaner" song of the previous units. Yes, and the dynamics are excellent: the exhaust valve phase control system and an increase in the compression ratio from 9.6 to 10.0 revived the engine.

Noise isolation is not bad, but rear passengers are slightly annoying buzz from the road. And although the newcomer is far from the hysterical screams of Mitsubishi, we unanimously recognized Volkswagen as the quietest. Off-road, Nissan is average. Modest angle of entry, CVT. We failed to overheat it, but large stock durability is not to be expected. Nissan creeps on the virgin lands sluggishly and reluctantly, and leaves the snow traps mainly in reverse. Bottom line: off-road, the Nissan lags behind Subaru and VW, but leaves behind Mitsubishi and Renault.

I love tests in which I can’t confidently name a favorite before scoring. The current one is one of them. There was no doubt about the outsider.

Mitsubishi Outlander can be preferred only if the 100-200 thousand rubles separating it from its rivals are of decisive importance. In addition to a large trunk and a spacious rear row, the Outlander has no real trump cards.

Renault Koleos is able to fall in love with a cozy and thoughtful interior. It is comfortable, well equipped and original. However, it is crowded behind, and the age of the car cannot be hidden - it is a pity that these points are not reflected in the price tag.

The Subaru Forester is the quintet's most expensive car. Interesting, versatile, cool rides on the pavement and on the country road. A modest trunk and a lack of interior gloss did not allow him to reach the leaders. I'm not too picky, but the lack of upper air vents for rear passengers in a car worth 1,924,000 rubles is a disaster.

Volkswagen Tiguan surprised on asphalt and off-road. A magnificent crossover with passenger habits and a funky European interior. For all its shortcomings - a cramped second row and a small trunk - I easily close my eyes.

But if these qualities are important to you, pay attention to the Nissan X‑Trail. It's almost as good on pavement as it's capable off-road. Fast, spacious, well equipped. And God bless him, with the “square” design that has sunk into oblivion. Despite the rejection of chopped forms, Japanese engineers and marketers saw the market situation from the right angle. This car has practically no weaknesses, and therefore quite deservedly snatched the victory.

Light and shadow

Gennady Emelkin

Mitsubishi (1), Renault (2), Subaru (3) and Volkswagen (4) have xenon headlights, while their rival Nissan X‑Trail (5), starting with the LE configuration, has LED optics. To identify its advantages and disadvantages, we conducted an experiment: we built a corridor of cones and took measurements every ten meters with a luxmeter. Tiguan excelled in low beam mode. It has optimal light distribution and a smooth transition from light to shadow. Not only a wide part of the passing shoulder is clearly visible, but also the oncoming lane with its shoulder. At the same time, he does not blind oncoming people. X‑Trail lost to Tiguan. A sharp black-and-white border causes discomfort. The lighting of the passing roadside is good, but there is a problem with the oncoming one: objects are clearly visible at a distance of no more than 30 m, and then - pitch darkness. If a person enters the road from the opposite side or, for example, a car leaves the intersection, then it will be too late in the field of view. In my opinion, Nissan engineers overdid it in their desire to protect the oncoming driver from blinding. The cut-off line needs to be corrected. Outlander, Forester and Koleos performed evenly. There are no claims to light distribution. Even the driver of Koleos, who took last place, will not feel the lack of light. In mode high beam unconditionally became the best X‑Trail. I did not like only that the automatic switch from far to near is too sensitive to the oncoming flow. Sometimes it even reacts to the reflection of its own headlights from road signs. At the same time, we recognized Forester's light as the most pleasing to the eye. The results of the rest of the participants are clearly visible in the photo. Will LED optics replace xenon in the foreseeable future? Quite possibly. However, as our tests have shown, manufacturers have room for improvement.

If you are looking for a spacious, fast and versatile crossover for big family, then with the release of the new X-Trail, the choice is clearer than ever. Mikhail Kuleshov

Crossovers continue their victorious march across Russia. In January - February, RAV4 became not just the most popular Toyota model, but managed to take seventh place in the overall standings of all cars on the market. Of all-wheel drive, only the much more affordable Duster is ahead, and the Lada 4 × 4 and Chevrolet Niva have moved to the rank of catching up. When else was this?

Honda CR-V also ranks first among the company's models, of which there are only three left on our market, but sales volumes are far from Toyota's.

Who has a chance to reach the “rafik”? "Koreans"! A good move is gaining fresh Hyundai Tucson. But today we are primarily interested in the freshly baked Kia Sportage. Last year, its predecessor was surpassed only by the RAV4. New Sportage the price did not rise very much, and therefore we took it for a test with special enthusiasm. Moreover, we managed to get it even before the start of sales.

All cars are equipped with two-liter gasoline atmospheric engines of similar power. RAV4 - with a variator, the rest - hydromechanical machines. Top-of-the-line kits. In general, everything is on an equal footing.

Fashion is not for everyone

Remember how six years ago the previous generation Sportage made a splash with its extraordinary appearance? The new one also makes you turn around! The bright face with a huge gap of the radiator grille and high-set headlights is aggressive (it just seems to me, or is there really something from the Subaru B9 Tribeca in this “look”?), And the stern is elegant. You leave the car for a minute at the store, and the curious are already gathering.

Built on the same platform is also not a miss. But the updated RAV4 was really surprised: narrow lighting technology captivates from afar. Only the Honda CR-V does not catch on - it has become familiar.

The fourth-generation Sportage debuted at last year's Frankfurt Motor Show, and sales in Russia began in April 2016. For the first time in the history of the model, it is also offered in the sporty version of the GT Line.

Engines:

• petrol 2.0 (150 hp) - from 1,189,900 rubles.
• petrol 1.6 turbo (177 hp) - from 2,069,900 rubles.
• diesel 2.0 (185 hp) - from 1,819,900 rubles.

With its interior, the Sportage makes an even stronger impression. Cockpit! The center console slightly turned towards the driver, the L-shaped selector of the machine, the round hub of the steering wheel and the floor gas pedal create a sporty atmosphere. But most of all, the materials and build quality captivate: like more expensive crossovers. Button switches with verified feedback, decorative overlays with plasma-ion spraying, contrasting piping on the seats. The former modest fellow has turned into a real dandy! And it’s comfortable to sit behind the wheel, except that the seat cushion is a little short. The front seats are equipped not only with heating, but also with ventilation - in this segment, only Tucson can boast of such luxury.

Debuted last year. First korean car tried this type petrol turbo engine And robotic box gears. But the main demand falls on modifications with aspirated and automatic.

Engines:

• petrol 1.6 (132 hp) - from 1,199,900 rubles.
• petrol 2.0 (150 hp) - from 1,400,900 rubles.
• petrol 1.6 turbo (177 hp) - from 1,585,900 rubles.
• diesel 2.0 (185 hp) - from 1,710,900 rubles.

Hyundai, despite the ventilation of the seats, worked out a little easier. Or maybe it was deliberately done so that nothing was evident? Only they forgot to “turn off” the bluish backlight of the devices - it hurts the eye (in Kia it is red). But these are trifles, a matter of taste. And in the "fundamental sciences" - ergonomics, equipment and choice of materials - Tussan's interior is no worse. And how could it be otherwise?

The fourth generation of the Japanese bestseller debuted in 2013. At the end of 2015, an upgraded version entered the market. While RAV4 is imported, but in a few months it will be assembled at a plant in St. Petersburg.

Engines:

• petrol 2.0 (146 hp) - from 1,281,000 rubles.
• petrol 2.5 (180 hp) - from 1,829,000 rubles.
• diesel 2.2 (150 hp) - from 1,829,000 rubles.

After restyling, RAV4 finally got rid of the ancient electronic watch that became the talk of the town and got hold of more pleasant finishing materials. Cosmetic repairs were seasoned with all-round cameras, a traffic sign recognition system and an automatic braking system in front of an obstacle. And under the center console provided a platform for wireless charging of smartphones. However, my 5-inch one did not fit there - owners of newfangled phablets are asked not to worry.

The world premiere of the latest generation CR-V took place in 2012. The car was upgraded last spring. At the moment, this is the most compact and affordable Honda on the Russian market.

Engines:

• petrol 2.0 (150 hp) - from 1,399,900 rubles.
• petrol 2.4 (188 hp) - from 1,849,900 rubles.

Honda makes the most modest impression. Thin doors look flimsy. The selector of the machine is based not on the central tunnel, but on the tide of the front panel - a solution that other manufacturers have long abandoned. The multimedia system looks alien, as if it was installed not at the factory, but in a nearby car service. The picture is completed by a thin steering wheel with unsightly buttons. Towards the end, the electric wipers were taken aback by a boring and loud buzzing. M‑yes, salon CR-V nothing can oppose competitors.

Volvo XC90 D5 AWD Inscription

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

Audi Q7 3.0TFSI quattro

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

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

Range Rover Sport SDV8

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

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 3.0TFSI quattro

Mercedes-Benz GLE 350D 4MATIC

Range Rover Sport SDV8

BMW X5 xDrive 40d

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

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

Text by Vasily Ostrovsky, photo by Artem Popovich

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

Frankly, comparing similar cars is more of an academic interest than a practical one. Speaking about 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 "spiritual" qualities. It is hard to imagine that a person who was thinking 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. And the Angloman is unlikely to covet the Teutonic technology: in his view, the only better "Range" can be an even more expensive "Range".

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

Audi Q7 3.0TFSI quattro

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

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

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

SUV? More like a big station wagon. Very big! And yet - solid, strict, comfortable. Behind the wheel of this car you experience a feeling of confidence and invulnerability. The perfect finish, the right handling and the powerful acceleration of the petrol V6. There is almost more space on the back sofa than you need! And everything is fine in front: comfortable seats, a beautiful and, in principle, understandable interface. What is there to complain about at all? But I would prefer the diesel version, even at the expense of dynamics. Then for me Q7 would definitely be a good option.

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

However, when it came to the convenience of managing the multimedia interface, there were no disagreements: the Germans did something crazy. The touchpad burdened with buttons, combined with a round controller and selection keys for various menu sections, blow your mind. In addition, the volume knob is located away from the useless touchpad and also made swinging. As a result, adjusting the volume is more convenient for the passenger than for the driver. Woe from the mind!

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

Our copy was in a strange configuration: with rather expensive options like a Bang & Olufsen audio system, the car was deprived of memory for the front seats and climate control for sofa passengers. 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. rear seats are also adjustable: individual parts of the sofa can be moved longitudinally and the back can be tilted over a very wide range. In terms of space and ease of entry / exit, Audi is unrivaled.

The armrest is divided into two equal parts,

each of which is adjustable in length. At the same time, the “warehouse” itself in its bowels is extremely modest in volume.

The touchpad does not live up to expectations:

the driver wants to use it as a means of navigating through the menu, but it is only suitable for “fingerprint” input, which is rarely used

Very comfortable steering wheel

in places of grip trimmed with delicate perforated leather. A separate joy is a special 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 second only to the Range in terms of power. With dynamics, of course, the crossover is in perfect order. And the most vivid impression was left by the smoothness of the “Ku-seventh”. More comfortable suspension, I do not remember! The crossover destroys small irregularities completely, and reduces large ones to frivolous sizes. It can drive on speed bumps without slowing down at all. Great!

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

As for cross-country ability, Audi is not strong in this discipline, even despite the presence of air suspension with the possibility of changing ground clearance: a long wheelbase and large overhangs are not the best help on off-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-driven crossover (three more years remained before the Cayenne appeared). And now "X-fifth" still provokes to ride "with a stick held high." Another thing is that, compared with its predecessor, the E70, the current car of the F15 series has become much more comfortable: excellent ride is the main acquisition of the X5.

Like Mercedes, the Bavarian crossover professes loyalty to tradition: from the point of view of the Boomer driver, everything in the cabin is in its place. However, the key difference between Munich traditionalism and Stuttgart traditionalism is that from the point of view of a normal person in BMW there are no problems with ergonomics. With each new generation of "X-fifth" is becoming more and more saturated with electronics, but its high density per square meter of the car does not conflict with ease of use - with the exception of navigation, which is categorically inconvenient to control through 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 breaking into a gallop. But what is the boredom in the cabin? This is a crossover from the premium segment! Where is the deliberate luxury, which is generously endowed by the closest competitors? It seems that everything is with him - "both skin and mug." And yet, as if something is missing - some kind of deliberate gloss, or something ... But the trunk with a separate door is a convenient thing. If we ignore the specific image of the "boomer", then the bottom line will be 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.

Against the background of competitors, the interior of the X-Fifth may even seem slightly conservative: despite the fact that the multimedia interface is endowed with fairly extensive powers, the main functions are still hung on familiar buttons. Of the inconveniences, it is worth noting the non-fixed paddle switches (only a person with well-developed intuition is able to determine in which mode the wipers work) and the same joystick of the machine.

The front seats at BMW masterpiece - without exaggeration. In addition to a million different customary adjustments, the front seats also “break” in half, the backrest: 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 figure. Bravo!

BMW seemed to me too twitchy: it accelerates in jumps and slows down too sharply - the brake pedal turned out to be too sensitive. I also didn’t 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 smooth running. And I was also surprised by the lack of air suspension with clearance adjustment: it seems to me that in this class and for this money it should be mandatory equipment.

The Bavarians have been equipping their expensive cars with head-up displays for a long time, and the X5 is no exception. It is impeccable in terms of the quality of information presentation: a clear color image seems to hover 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 the illumination at the discretion of the driver - this function is dedicated to the corresponding item in the on-board system menu

Double armrest

opens access to the box on the central tunnel, in which a significant part of the volume was pulled over by a shelf under mobile phone. By the way, BMW supports simultaneous connection of two phones.

The most concise dashboard

provides clear perception of the most important information. In addition, some data is displayed on the projection display.

X5 is not shy about flaunting his athletic skills

Despite the fact that the current "X-fifth" has slightly settled down, changing the rigidity of the ride to smoothness, he still does not hesitate to flaunt his sports skills - especially the modification with a 313-horsepower diesel engine, revitalized by a pair of hefty turbines. The motor is crazy! And the box suits him very well: the gears change each other quickly, but smoothly.

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

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 lacks both a lowering row and air suspension with variable clearance.

Mercedes-Benz GLE 350d 4MATIC

Normally, the GLE is considered a new model, but in fact, the Mercedes became the oldest participant in our test: in fact, this is the third generation ML, restyled.

The interior during the modernization did not change too much: instead of the display built into the front panel, a “tablet” grew up on it, a new steering wheel appeared, and a small wheel for browsing the on-board system menu gave way to a massive controller with a touch panel hanging over it.

Mercedes Seems like a perfectly balanced car

The Swabians by inertia exploit the left steering column switch, tortured by many functions, to which it takes a long time to adapt if this is your first Mercedes. It is impossible to quickly get used to the fact that the 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 I switched to a BMW after the Mercedes, instead of driving off, I cleaned the windshield.

Mercedes is a special brand for me: since childhood, I have had a weakness for cars with a three-pointed star. Salon GLE like a cozy office, from which you do not want to leave. Everything here is solid, almost conservative - and at the same time modern, respectable and aristocratic. There are no comments on driving performance 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 don't like new system designations - it is now almost impossible to distinguish one SUV from another by ear.

The front seats of our GLE were electrified to the max. Their management is traditionally placed on the door, however, there are buttons in the bases of the seats - 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 haven't thought of doing this yet. No less strange is the fact that for some reason the Mercedes 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 entry and exit, although there is still a chance to get your trousers dirty - the doors do not protect the thresholds from dirt.

Of all the five cars, it is Mercedes that gives the impression of the most solid car. Everything is emphasized well in it: noble appearance, comfortable interior, and roomy trunk. True, with multimedia, it seems to me, the Germans themselves were too clever: the touch panel on the central tunnel is clearly superfluous here. But the picture on the screen is good: 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 visibility system is completely beyond praise! I also liked the fact that you can order for GLE transfer case with a reduction gear: with its help, pulling a trailer with a boat out of the water is a couple of trifles. Still, other things being equal, I would have preferred the larger GL - purely because of its size.

In terms of cargo transportation, the GLE's interior is well-cut. And although the pillows and the back row of the back row have to be folded separately, lowering the head restraints to the lower position, but such an operation leads to the formation of an absolutely flat floor.

Easiest audio control

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

Cool all-round visibility with a clear picture,

which forms a quartet of cameras, is a great working tool: driving in reverse, guided solely by the display, is a breeze in a Mercedes

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

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

The steering column bristles with many levers -

three on the left and one on the right. However, if you get used to the “automatic” selector rather quickly, then the branded multifunctional lever with turn signals and wipers is not so easy to master.

The three-liter diesel that animated the GLE 350 d is neatly inscribed 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: speeding up is fast, but Mercedes-like smoothly. Noise isolation is worked out in the most thorough way, the suspension is excellently trained - 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 on his behavior! At the same time, the language does not turn boring to call the crossover from Stuttgart - 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 to everything that behind such a restrained behavior is a grandiose engineering work.

As for the off-road qualities of the Mercedes, off-road it will yield 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 reduction gear, a forced locking of the central differential and an adjustable ground clearance, the maximum value of which reaches 285 mm.

Range Rover Sport SDV8

Generations was made from Discovery, then its heir 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 powerful "dviglo" and the tank will drag away effortlessly - not like an SUV! In response to pressing the accelerator pedal, Sport, slightly squatting on the rear axle, goes on the offensive on the space under the guttural rumble of the diesel G8. And although the Range will yield to both BMW and Audi in drag, the acceleration impressions are still very strong: you immediately feel like you are in a big and heavy, but at the same time incredibly fast car that generates a feeling of total superiority over other road users.

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

I didn't really like the former "Sport" - for all the pathos, it seemed rustic. Here is the new "Range" - another matter! He is handsome and elegant, although he looks impressive and menacing. By organization inner space The “British” is somewhat similar to a BMW - for example, in the back row I don’t have enough space with my height, and it’s inconvenient to sit there - the beveled 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 able to do.

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.

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

I liked the English car more than the others. If you do not pay attention to some inconveniences like difficulties with turning on the heated seats, then the Range captivates with the convenience of landing. The steering wheel and seat move off, making it easier to get out, and the thresholds are protected from dirt by doors. And what a motor! He not only makes big car rapidly gain momentum, but also differs by prohibitively low fuel consumption. I'm only embarrassed possible problems with reliability.

Life is easier in the front row. However, there are specifics here as well. So, for example, seat heating and ventilation can only be activated using the touch screen. multimedia system, although you immediately get to the desired menu item - by pressing a special button on the center console. By the way, only in the "Range" can you separately heat or cool the back or seat cushion by pressing the desired zone on the seat diagram on the display with your finger.

Unfortunately, the RRS was released without waiting for the new multimedia system that debuted on the Jaguar XE: the old one is characterized by primitive graphics that clearly do 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 that is pleasant to the touch.

Split Image Display

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

Non-fixed gear selector

quite understandable to use, however a brilliant washer. which controls the machine on other "Ranges", looks more stylish, and in terms of ease of use, it is even preferable to the joystick

Displays with legacy graphics –

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

Comfort Access

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

The trunk of this "Range" - apparently because it is "Sport" - is not made perfectly. Firstly, a significant loading height complicates the placement of heavy luggage. Secondly, if you fold the rear sofa, you won’t get a flat floor. Thirdly, only a person with good physical fitness can extract a heavy full-size spare wheel from under the floor.

Despite powerful motor, Sport does not have to drive 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: vibrations unsprung masses feel better than you would like.

But in terms of cross-country ability, the Range has no equal! The suspension is impressively articulated, and air bellows allow the body to be raised above the ground up to a record 335 mm. Also in the list of off-road virtues, the “British” has a razdatka with a lowering, as well as a forced locking of the central and rear differentials.

Volvo XC90 D5 AWD Inscription

Like the Audi Q7 flagship crossover Volvo was delayed at the start: the first generation XC90 gave way to its successor only in the twelfth year of life. However, the expectation of a 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-litre, four-cylinder plus boost of varying degrees of audacity.

Volvo looks discreetly in Scandinavian style, but at the same time it is modern and absolutely recognizable. Solid symbolism: the sign of Mars flaunts on the grille, and the headlights are decorated with Thor's hammer - the T-shaped shape of the LED running lights should be interpreted in this way. The only pity is that the Swedes, for some reason, did not cover the thresholds with doors: when landing, 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 highly artistic interior design, but also with its convenience: everything is here for a person. Yes, and the “tablet” on the center console is quite appropriate here, especially since it is controlled by touch, and not by abstruse twists and turns. What a great 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 carefully saturated the interior with. The inner world of the XC90 is made with great taste and is full of grace. What is it worth interior decoration doors: sculptural surface, combination of textures, colors, smooth lines of joining materials make it a work of art. Separate elements that 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 quality of the XC90 finish is in no way inferior to German and British cars. The only concern is lacquered black plastic, from which the buttons on the spokes of the steering wheel and door panel are made, framing the climate control vents and the display on the center console. All this looks fashionable, but in fact it turns out to be easily soiled.

By the way, about the display: a vertically oriented touch pad with Sensus interface, which Mitsubishi Electric specialists pored over, has good graphics and sufficient speed. Understanding the menu turned out to be easier than it seemed, since the on-board system does not suffer from the lack of logic. But the virtual instruments did not impress - after talking with Audi, the feeling that the Swedes have mastered only a small part of the potential of such a dashboard does not leave.