Test Hyundai Veracruz, Nissan Murano. The impressive Nissan-Murano Hyundai-Veracruz crossovers sold in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus (however, as well as more compact ones) spend most of their lives in wealthy, large, cramped cities.
Our language is changing at the same rate as life. So the term "crossover" has taken root in the Russian automobile industry. Describing such a car, you will often have to repeat the phrase "but not": very powerful, but not sporty; tall and four-wheel drive, but not an off-road vehicle; roomy, almost like a small truck, but does not dispose to transport cement or bricks. Well, what are the strengths? They are the continuation of the weak.
URBAN BLUES
Impressive crossovers sold in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus (however, as well as more compact ones) spend most of their lives in wealthy, large, cramped cities. Constructors and designers, realizing this, try to adapt huge machines to conditions that are not very natural for them. By the way, the Hyundai Veracruz track is 40 mm wider than that of the GAZ-3307. Does it inspire? High seating position, large glazing surface, generous mirrors allow you to move around the city with confidence. The Nissan Murano also has a rear-view camera that projects an image onto the dashboard display. It is not harmful even for an experienced driver, and even more so for a beginner.
The wide seats of both cars will respectfully accept solid bodies. Around it is very spacious, rich, elegant. Sitting in the back of the Hyundai, you can cross your legs - almost an executive sedan! In addition, there is a third row of seats. However, they are, perhaps, for children. But I haven't even seen babies in these places. So the third row is rather a stock that does not hold a pocket, but is forgotten as unnecessary. In "Nissan-Murano" in the second row it is more crowded, but not enough to complain about it. In ergonomics, Hyundai is in the lead by a wide margin. All buttons are compact and understandable, the eye immediately grabs the right one, and the finger hits it unmistakably. The Murano driver is a victim of a violent design fantasy.
SONG OF WANDERINGS
These cars are for traveling! After all, there is plenty of room for riders and luggage. By the way, in the trunk (over 600 liters!) "Hyundai" is almost the record holder among the cars that have passed through our hands. In "Nissan" there is much less space. Settled and decomposed? Then in the run of five hundred kilometers. The route is the metropolitan and adjacent regions, the roads of which will make the cars tell a lot of new and interesting things. While both station wagons are flying on a flat track, like a courier on new rails. Only occasionally do the huge wheels spank small grooves and patches. Overtaking - seeds! Both cars accelerate intensively from any speed (reasonable, of course).
IN FIELD
Of course, they are not off-road vehicles in the classical sense. The rear wheels of both cars are connected automatically only when the front wheels slip. You can block the interwheel clutch, but it's still not worth forcing our classic lane in the spring. Yes, this is unlikely to occur to the owner of a car sparkling with beautiful bumpers and mirrored sidewalls. Spray on the rolled, dry and hard primer? Please! The ground clearance, especially at the Hyundai, is quite decent. True, our grandfathers considered it normal for cars as well. In general, you can go to the nearest village, or even to the river, without fear of trouble. The main thing is not to lose the well-trodden road and head.
ON THE SAME WAVE
The result is quite logical. The machines are very close ideologically, conceptually, constructively. Americanisms have long taken root well in our market. The main thing is not to overestimate the capabilities of even such universal cars, not to set impossible tasks for them. Well, the choice strongly depends on the specific operating conditions, life priorities and subjective assessments. Let's say that one of the rivals seemed to me more interesting in appearance. But this is certainly a matter of taste.
Sergey Kanunnikov: “The stronger the competition, the closer the cars. And yet there is a difference: in Hyundai Veracruz, universality is in the foreground; "Nissan-Murano" is more athletic, athletic - of course, adjusted for the possibilities dictated by class requirements."
