Carscape Team
Top 5 comfortable compact cars in Kenya
When out shoping for your next compact car, comfort for you and your passengers is definately one of the considerations. Below is a list of the top 5 most comfortable small cars in Kenya
Each person has different points to consider when choosing a car. Interior and exterior design, safety equipment, interior and luggage space, driving performance, etc. However, what everyone in a car cares about is “ride comfort”.
What is a good ride? What determines ride comfort?
Even if you say “a comfortable car”, there is a big difference between the driver and the person sitting in the back seat. What kind of car is a car that everyone who rides feels comfortable to ride? I think that it is “to suppress unnecessary movement in the front, back, left and right, and to converge in a short time while suppressing the input from the road surface”.
Achieving a comfortable ride depends on various factors, such as the rigidity of the body frame, suspension settings, and engine characteristics. affect.
In particular, the small body size of the compact car featured in this article has a short wheelbase, which is the length between the front and rear wheels, so it is important to optimize the suspension settings. This is because the combination of the input from the front wheels and the input from the rear wheels tends to amplify unpleasant vibrations.
In addition to the hardware aspects of the car mentioned above, the seat is an item that affects the ride comfort. If the seat firmly supports the body, it will be less tiring and the car will be less swaying. There is also an effect that the seat surface acts as a cushion and suppresses the input from the road surface. Therefore, it can be said that the use of good seats is one of the factors of a comfortable car.
Top 5 comfortable compact cars
In 2020, the main models of domestic compact cars underwent a full model change, and many new models appeared. Starting with the Toyota Yaris and Honda Fit in February 2020, the Suzuki Swift underwent a minor change in May, and the Nissan Note underwent a full model change in December. I didn’t test drive only the Nissan Note, which ranked first among the five models that were ranked, but the Renault Lutecia, which adopted the same body skeleton, was very comfortable to ride, so I put the Note in the No. 1 position with high expectations. I ranked.
1st place “Nissan Note” (100 points) Expectations are high for the comfort of the ride due to the newly developed platform
●Length 4045mm, Width 1695mm, Height 1520mm
On November 24, 2020, the new third-generation Nissan Note was announced, and sales began in December. The new Note adopts a newly designed platform based on the concept of “advanced compact packed with driving comfort and fun beyond the common sense of compact cars”. The e-POWER of the installed powertrain has evolved into a second-generation system that has undergone a major overhaul, realizing a smooth and desired acceleration feel and smooth deceleration control, as well as improved quietness unique to an electric powertrain. I’m here.
Nissan’s proud driving support technology “ProPILOT”, which is installed for the first time as a compact car, is equipped with Nissan’s first navigation link function to improve functionality. In addition, advanced safety technology such as “360° safety support” is also available.
The reason why I chose the 1st place even though I haven’t test-driven the new Note yet is that I was surprised at how flat the Renault Lutecia, which uses the same platform, feels like a compact car. The input from the road surface was also suppressed, and there was little unpleasant shaking, and the driver was able to control the car as he intended. The interior space and quietness are also at a high level. I felt that the strength of this platform was considerable. You can expect the ride comfort of the Note.
2nd place “Honda Fit” (95 points) Smart ride with no corners makes it comfortable for anyone to ride
●Length 3995 mm, Width 1695 mm, Height 1515 mm
The current fourth-generation Fit was released in February 2020. The current Fit is based on the performance and functions built up by successive models, and features “four comforts” that cannot be expressed numerically.
The four comforts include “sitting comfort” and “riding comfort”. Despite being a compact car, the rear seats are equipped with thick, soft padding that allows adults to sit comfortably. A body with high rigidity and strength and a suspension that quickly absorbs shocks and grips the road surface provide a comfortable ride. I gave it a high score of 95 because I can certainly feel the comfort of the two, which I thoroughly studied Citroën of France, which has a reputation for ride comfort.
There are two types of powertrains: a 1.3L inline 4 engine and a hybrid system that combines a 1.5L engine called e:HEV and two motors. In addition to the advanced safe driving system “Honda Sensing”, it is equipped with the next-generation connected technology “Honda Connect”. It is also attractive that the current fit can be selected from 5 types according to your lifestyle.
3rd place “Mazda 2” (88 points) Features a high-quality ride that is particular about the position of the pedals
●Length: 4065 mm, Width: 1695 mm, Height: 1500 mm
The Mazda 2, which was launched in July 2019, is a model that has been renamed from the Mazda Demio that appeared in 2014. When the name was changed to Mazda 2, the interior and exterior were changed, and the interior in particular uses colors and carefully selected materials that balance quality and playfulness, and is built to match the diverse lifestyles of users. In terms of quietness, we researched how people hear sound, and incorporated ideas to improve it to a quieter, higher-quality level.
One of the reasons why the Mazda 2 is so comfortable is that you can drive with the natural feeling of becoming one with yourself. The seat, suspension system, pedal position, etc. incorporate the concept of the vehicle structure technology “Sky Active Vehicle Architecture” adopted in Mazda’s new generation products, and it is characterized by a tight suspension and little unnecessary movement. is.
There are two types of engines installed, 1.5L in-line 4 gasoline and diesel turbo, and the mission is mainly a 6-speed AT, and a 6-speed MT for 2WD vehicles is available in almost all grades.
4th place “Suzuki Swift” (85 points) European-made undercarriage that achieves both maneuverability and ride comfort
●Length 3855 mm, Width 1695 mm, Height 1500 mm
The current Swift was launched in January 2017. By adopting the new platform “HEARTECT” that combines light weight and high rigidity, the handling performance that successive Swifts have continued to refine is further improved, and the new suspension designed for this new platform improves ride comfort. also have a positive impact.
Among them, the RS grade, which assumes the high-speed European road environment, is tuned to demonstrate a flat, firm ride and straight-line stability. Special parts tuned in Europe are used for the shock absorbers and tires to suppress vertical movement, improve body controllability, and improve grip.
In addition, by optimizing the seat surface shape and spring arrangement of the front seats, using high-performance low-resilience urethane, and raising the side bolsters, etc., the fit when seated, vibration absorption, and hold when turning are strengthened. It has to do with the comfort of the ride. The Swift is also attractive in that it achieves both excellent driving performance and fuel efficiency with a 1.2L naturally aspirated dual jet engine that pursues low fuel consumption by adopting two types of hybrid systems and improving thermal efficiency.
