Skoda Kamiq
The smallest of the Czech crossovers did not receive any revolutionary changes as a result of the 2023 restyling, and this is good: the car is already quite successful and, with a circulation of 350 thousand copies, bears the title of the most popular Skoda crossover. Inside, the same A0 platform from Volkswagen AG is hidden, but there are some changes to the exterior. At the front there are new headlights, a new bumper and radiator grille, at the rear there are new lights.
The interior of the Kamiq has become richer; now in all its versions, the driver and passengers have a digital 8-inch instrument panel and an 8.25-inch touch screen. For an additional fee, these screens can have a diagonal of 10.25 and 9.2 inches, respectively. The engine line for Ukrainians offers not only supercharged small-volume units of the TSI type, but also old-school 1.6 MPI engines, respected in the country. Transmissions are mechanical and automatic, including preselective DSG units. A full reason has not appeared, but no one is claiming that this is a car for conquering real off-road conditions.
Peugeot 408
The French brand brought to Ukraine a new, in many ways unusual, model. After all, a car is a crossover because it was created at the intersection of three classes: SUV, hatchback and coupe. Perhaps it can be considered a “raised” fastback, but with a shorter rear end. The car is spacious inside, in particular, there is unexpectedly a lot of space for rear passengers. The driver’s area of responsibility uses proprietary 3D i-Cockpit technology with two 10-inch screens.
There is only one power unit offered, but a powerful one – a 1.6-liter gasoline turbo engine with 215 hp, already known from other models. But in general, the technical content of this crossover is similar to the Peugeot 308 model, that is, despite the exclusivity of its form, its content will not be a problem.
Nissan Qashqai
The Japanese brought us their Nissan Qashqai in a hybrid version. Moreover, this hybrid is an interesting, rarely used sequential circuit, also known from another “Nisanov” model, the X-Trail. In it, the gasoline engine in no case has any connection with the drive wheels. All the time it works to drive a generator, which produces energy to charge the battery and the propulsion motor.
Accordingly, the car behaves like a “pure” electric car: it accelerates quietly, smoothly and quickly, and does not require any manipulations with the internal combustion engine and gearbox from the driver. In addition to amenities, the owner of a hybrid receives modest fuel consumption and better environmental performance.
Citroen C5 Aircross
The French brand began selling the already well-known C5 Aircross in Ukraine, but with a special type of power plant. The new car has a plug-in hybrid circuit, that is, it is a hybrid that is recharged from an external source. The car combines the advantages of a classic electric car and a conventional car with an internal combustion engine.
For short trips of up to 55 km, the driver can use pure electric drive by charging the battery, say, at home or in a parking lot at work. And driving on longer routes is provided by a gasoline engine, which is automatically activated after the battery is empty. Actually, the new product has three driving modes: electric, hybrid and sports. In the last two, the “petrol” and the electric motor work in tandem, turning on when necessary together or alternately to achieve the desired result: fast acceleration or economical and smooth movement.
Toyota Corolla Cross
Toyota’s successful worldwide model received a hybrid powertrain in its version for Europe. The fifth-generation Toyota hybrid system operates on board – a 2.0-liter gasoline engine, an electric motor, an automatic transmission and an electronic module. In Ukraine, Corolla Cross is available only with front-wheel drive, but it’s gratifying that there are several driving modes.
It is noteworthy that in addition to Eco and Sport, there is also a purely electric EV drive, although the battery charge will only last for a short distance. The car turned out to be quite economical and very playful, however, the Corolla Cross’ chassis is tuned more for comfort than for traffic light racing.
In short
Have you also noticed that in the top five of the brightest – in our opinion – “crossover” premieres there were as many as three electrified cars? It is unlikely that they are fundamentally better than the good old gasoline and diesel models, but these hybrids do not always even have an alternative. Are cars with internal combustion engines really losing ground to electric traction? This cannot be said yet, because “pure” electric vehicles do not seem to have been found among the hits of 2023.
2023-10-28 04:58:31
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