New models appear on the vehicle market every year. Both motorists and specialists have long been accustomed to this process. However, some "old" cars continue to be used by their owners. Among such vehicles is the Kia Retona off-road vehicle.
Car evaluation criteria
It is not so easy for an inexperienced driver who is just going to purchase a vehicle to navigate the stream of offers. Advertising messages not only carry useful information, but can also create in a potential buyer not entirely accurate ideas about a particular car. As the first step, the future owner should carefully study the technical characteristics of the car, see the photos and read the reviews of experienced drivers.
Young and ambitious drivers often choose a brutal and outwardly clumsy SUV. When stopping your look at kia retona, you need to remember the criteria that modern consumers are guided by. If the car is to be used in urban environments, the following parameters are important to the owner:
· Comfortability;
· Safety;
· Profitability.
Urban SUVs, or, as they are also called, SUVs equipped with automatic transmissions, meet the most demanding requirements.
However, even with a superficial examination of the Kia Retona, one can understand that it is undesirable to choose this all-terrain vehicle for driving around the city. In the dense traffic of cars on the central streets and when driving along narrow lanes, a maneuverable car is convenient. The bulky "Retoshka" in the narrow streets resembles an elephant in a china shop. A powerful engine means a lot of fuel consumption. All-wheel drive for city cars is generally considered overkill.
Driving performance
It will be interesting for the future car owner to know that the Kia Retona was created on the basis of a military off-road vehicle. This is partly due to the disadvantages and advantages of cars. A jeep for use in combat conditions has the following properties:
· High cross-country ability and carrying capacity;
· Simplicity in service;
· Simplicity of design.
The passability of the machine is determined by the value of the ground clearance. The ground clearance of the all-terrain vehicle is 200 mm. This allows the jeep to move over rough terrain in the absence of a roadbed.
The maximum boot capacity is over 1200 liters. Reviews of sophisticated travelers, fishermen and hunters indicate that all the necessary equipment is placed in the cargo compartment, which is used for recreation in natural conditions. When the machine is used under normal conditions, the cabin can comfortably accommodate five people. At the same time, there will be more than thirty liters of free space under the trunk.
The length of the all-terrain vehicle is 4000 mm, the width is 1745 mm. For reference, the length of the UAZ Hunter is 4170 mm, the width is 1785 mm. The length of the "Niva" is 3740 mm, the width is 1680 mm. Often the dimensions of the vehicle have to be taken into account, since the operating and maintenance conditions are always individual. The front suspension is designed as a wishbone. The rear suspension uses coil springs. This solution has proven itself in practice.
Power unit
As part of preparing the model for launching on the free market, the manufacturer's specialists conducted mandatory test drives. In order for the consumer to have the opportunity to choose a jeep according to his needs, he must be given the right to choose. To this end, four engine modifications were included in the Kia Retona SUV line. Two diesel engines with 83 and 87 horsepower. And two gasoline engines with a capacity of 128 and 136 horsepower. Each option has its own pros and cons.
Diesel allows you to reach speeds of over 120 km / h on the highway. The model, equipped with a gasoline engine, accelerates to 150 km / h. The average consumption of the salary is ten liters per hundred kilometers in mixed operation. Gas consumption on the highway is nine liters, and when driving around the city - sixteen. To increase power and save fuel, Kia has supplied turbocharged models to the European market. The demand for cars remained at the same level, and the engine became more capricious.
Power distribution between the front and rear axles is carried out using a differential mechanism. The manual gearbox allows you to select the speed mode when driving in certain road and weather conditions. On the highway, it is more convenient to disable the front axle. In this case, the power take-off is reduced, which reduces fuel consumption. When driving off-road, four-wheel drive is engaged. In this mode, more fuel is consumed, but the car remains stable and "obeys" the steering wheel.
Safety and comfort
The first Kia Retona models that appeared on the market were equipped with a minimum set of passive safety. Airbags, depending on the place of installation, have the following names:
· Side;
· Frontal;
· Central.
The side airbags are located in the front seat backrest. Designed to protect the chest and pelvis. Frontal airbags are located in the center of the steering wheel and on the dashboard on the front passenger side. Protects the driver's face and head from direct collisions with hard surfaces.
The center cushions are located in the armrests of the driver's seat and in the center of the rear sofa. Their function is to protect passengers from injury inside the cabin. Depending on the place of installation, the pillows can have several degrees of expansion. Anyone who is going to buy a jeep needs to determine whether the passenger compartment is adequately equipped with airbags. The number of airbags does not affect the comfort of the passenger compartment. For passengers sitting in the back, a sofa with soft armrests and a backrest is installed.
This sofa can be easily transformed, allowing you to increase the volume of the trunk. The front seats are designed taking into account the anthropometric parameters of the driver. The position of the front seats can be easily adjusted to suit the person's build. All seats can be easily transformed into a wide bed. The cabin has an air conditioner. It is not hot in the cabin in summer, and not cold in winter. If desired, a radio tape recorder can be installed on the driver's panel. Such devices are not included in the standard package.
Maintenance and repair
The compact and balanced all-terrain vehicle "Kia Retona" was assembled on the conveyor from 1997 to 2003. Initially, the retail price of the car was calculated taking into account the financial capabilities of the youth audience. The designers had to make great efforts to "give out" the consumer a reliable and easy-to-use vehicle. Numerous reviews indicate that the all-terrain vehicle can withstand colossal loads. And if a minor breakdown occurs, then repairs can be carried out in the field.
Spare parts and consumables were produced within ten years after the main conveyor stopped. To date, maintenance and repair of Kia Retona require certain efforts and material costs from the owners. Large logistics companies supply units and parts to Russia.
At the same time, the shortage of spare parts is closed at the expense of the sites for parsing cars. On such sites, you can find both body elements and units for the engine of the Kia Retona all-terrain vehicle. Many owners are engaged in current repairs on their own. The Korean jeep will travel on Russian roads for many years to come.
