New "not Vesta". Test drive of the updated LADA Granta

This autumn, AvtoVAZ brought a lot of “fruits” to its consumers - these are new versions of the XRAY hatchback, as well as Lada Vesta, a slightly modernized Lada 4x4, but perhaps the most important event was the appearance updated family Lada Granta. And we have already tested the sedan and hatchback.

The fact that on the domestic platform they began to produce a car under the Japanese brand can be treated differently. Rejoice that, they say, survived at last! The auto industry gave out a suitable platform, which the Japanese liked. You can feel sad that ours were never able to bring their offspring to mind, but as soon as the Japanese took it, how ...

Since its appearance at the end of 2011, Lada Granta has been an active participant in the struggle for leadership in class B. And if at first new model was still inferior to Priora and Kalina, then last year it was the most popular in the segment. Foreign competitors are far from it - Solaris, Logan, Rio, Polo. Moreover, with the advent of the Grant's liftback body, it should become even more popular. And what about reliability?

On May 14, in the city of Izhevsk, the official start was given to the production of the Lada Granta car in the back of a liftback (or, if someone likes it better, they can call it a hatchback). I think I will not open America, saying that the model can be called long-awaited. Indeed, after the start of production of Grants in the sedan body, a lot of gasoline leaked, the head of AvtoVAZ managed to change for the umpteenth time, and the model, contrary to the original “low-cost” concept, acquired luxury trim levels, including those equipped with automatic transmission. According to Bu Andersson, the new director of the car plant, Grant-liftback will be assembled only here, at the Izhevsk site. For this purpose, serious investments were poured into the plant, production was thoroughly modernized.

Let's summarize. Did Granta Sport turn out to be more interesting than Granta? Without any doubt. Did it turn out more harmonious? No and no again. Shapovalov and Co. did violate the grant balance, the delicate balance of all consumer properties of the car. Acoustic comfort "floated away", shaking on rear seats became on the verge of decency, on low revs the car “does not drive” ... And now the question is for backfilling: did the creators of the Grants Sport hit the goal defined by themselves? Certainly!

Stories about road trips on Lada Granta







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The “younger” AvtoVAZ models acquired the single name Granta and the X-shaped front end design, reminiscent of Vesta and Xray. Let's reveal all the secrets of these new "unknowns"

Under the general name Granta, all four bodies will be produced: sedan, hatchback, station wagon and liftback. The original Russian name "Kalina" is a thing of the past, but, I hope, will return. Surely there is a project for it. Or for him. Or it is the best fit for some new project.

The previous design of the front bumpers of the VAZ "babes" was not bad, but with restyling it became, of course, better. Cars now look "older", more solid. With chrome mustaches, a larger boat emblem and a radiator grille with wide slots appeared. Does it help new design gratings better cooling engine? Not sure. Even in not very hot weather, the fan under the hood turned on quite often and buzzed for a long time. However, the temperature of the coolant during the test trips did not exceed the norm.

Without support from the "flanks"

The instrument panel is new, also the same for all models. The backlight turned white with a black background, the on-board computer too. The "circles" of the speedometer and tachometer are white-orange, like Vesta Cross. Beautiful ... but the design of the tidy has become less "home". Although all indicators remained and are read well. Board computer control - from the buttons on the right steering column switch.

The radio tape recorder in test modifications - a sedan and a liftback - was "ordinary", without a touch screen and navigation, but with the ability to play music files from a flash drive and connect a smartphone via Bluetooth. In addition to the units, the configurations also slightly differed, for example, in the liftback, the external lighting devices had the “Auto” mode, while the sedan did not have it. And, having driven a liftback, I simply forgot to turn on the dipped beam in the sedan manually, as a result, I drove several blocks of evening Tolyatti with only daylight running lights. You quickly get used to the good ... But in general, this function should have become the norm long ago, even on budget models.

Let's sit inside. Immediately noteworthy is the fact that the front doors swing open under their own weight to the entire available width. Even on level ground. In the middle positions, they are almost not fixed, and this is fraught with touching neighboring cars if they are nearby. The doors close without undue effort, but with a “tinny” sound, and from inside they hear the rattling of rods central lock and other devices. What the owners of the Grant have been struggling with since the very beginning of the release of the model: they remove the upholstery and soundproof the jingling elements. It's time to start doing it at the factory. Let's just say that the sound of closing the doors does not correspond to the attractive appearance of the models, it betrays their "budget".

The smaller Ladas do not impress with a wealth of finishing materials, but they please with a wide range of various options (of course, in expensive trim levels) and, in general, with a grouping of controls. Everything is at hand, everything is available. True, the paddle shifters - “blades” creak and play ... But this is a trifle.

Nowhere to attach a smartphone? And what is the container with a lid on the top of the dashboard for? We open it, install our device with the screen facing us, and when moving, it almost does not fall, allowing you to use the navigator. The box cover protects the screen from sunlight and does not interfere with the view through windshield. But if the owners of two or more smartphones are in the cabin, only one will be able to recharge the “dead” device, since the 12-volt outlet is the only one here. Or you need splitters.

The seats are nicely upholstered but very flat. The middle part of the back protrudes, the headrest is far from the back of the head. Lateral support is almost zero. This is despite the fact that Lada Granta Sport has magnificent front seats! I want this for myself (in our family Xray, which also does not indulge in the convenience of landing). The driver's seat of the new "Grant" has a height adjustment, but there is practically no point in it (or it makes sense for very short riders). The window sill line in the car is low, this provides good review, but creates a feeling of proximity of the ceiling to the crown. In fact, with a height of 182 cm and an almost vertical position of the back above my head, I had a supply of “air”.

Passport ground clearance "Grants" is 190 mm. Here are some of our measurements, taken by me on an unloaded liftback, standing on the pavement. Under the ends of the semi-dependent beam rear suspension(points of attachment of the hubs rear wheels) the tape measure showed 19 cm, under the muffler 24 cm, under the metal protection of the engine compartment - 20 cm, but this protection has a noticeable protrusion, from which to the ground - only about 16 cm.

The low window sill line creates another feature: the exterior mirrors are almost at the level of the knees. This is not so much uncomfortable as unusual. The eye involuntarily searches for mirrors above ... At the same time, their size is normal, they provide a good view, they are regulated by electric drives and heated, in general, everything we like. Only in salon mirror it is almost useless to look in a liftback: the slanted glass of the fifth door becomes like an embrasure. Parktronic is indispensable here.

Rear landing? Yes, here there is a place for three not too full riders: the cabin width is 133 cm. The distance for the legs when landing “behind me” is 22 cm, and this is also a lot, I myself do not touch the back with my knees front seat if the "gap" is 19-20 cm. The back of the rear sofa is split, but before folding its parts, you need to raise the parts of the pillow. On the left, this is almost impossible with "my" driving position, it is necessary to move the driver's seat forward. Without lifting the pillow, part of the backrest can only be slightly tilted forward, and this will not add any convenience to transporting goods. And the fixation of the head restraints here is truly “dead”. We took them out together. Because if you don’t take them out, you won’t fold the backs, there won’t be enough space.

Spare wheel under the raised floor - temporary use (175/65 R14 against regular wheels"older" versions 185/55 R15). The static diameter of the spare and main wheels is close, we were convinced of this, since during the test they pierced the right front wheel. But for the dokatka there is a speed limit - 120 km / h. However, we practically did not accelerate to such a speed.

Will pull from the bottom

On the test liftback, a 1.6-liter 106-horsepower engine was installed in combination with “mechanics”. An interesting combination for a trip to the Zhiguli mountains. I immediately appreciated the complaisant nature of the motor, even on the streets of Togliatti. He has very good traction from below, to switch up it is not necessary to spin the engine, as, for example, on Xray, up to 3000 rpm. You can switch much earlier, and the car will pull.

On one of the first climbs, I gave it the tough task of climbing up in 4th gear at 1,000 rpm. Mockery! Gearshift prompter suggested 2nd here! However, we moved in. At 1500 rpm, traction improves noticeably, at 2000 rpm - even more. Gear shifts are crisp and error-free. But the noise from the box is noticeable. I remember that in the Kalina of the first generation it was the same (if not bigger), and the owner and I "beat" him by replacing factory oil to an imported transmission of the same parameters.

There are no questions for the Grant on smooth surfaces, and there are few of them on broken asphalt. The interior does not rattle as you would expect (hello to some "Chinese"), the suspension does not "talk". In turns, rolls are felt, the center of gravity of the car is perceived as high, but largely due to the fact that you are sitting high (relative to the window sill line). In general, you don’t get much drive on the serpentines of the Zhiguli Mountains, but you don’t feel fear either. Comfort and handling - for your money.

Acceleration from 80 to 120 km / h on a horizontal straight line is checked in fourth gear. It turns out a little more than 10 seconds. Passport acceleration time from zero to hundreds - 10.6 s, in general, is also a good indicator. But I would not believe the declared fuel consumption - on average, 6.5 liters per hundred. Without instructions, I did not immediately figure out how to reset the flow meter, and when I received the car, it showed an 11-liter consumption. During the test, the appetite dropped to 10 liters, as for instant consumption, it was at the level of 7.5 liters for a long time, which I would take as an average result for a not too fast track (recommended gasoline, by the way, 95th). And in our case, a trip to Mount Strelnaya, more than 300 meters high, added its “mite”. The road to it until the middle of the almost four-kilometer ascent was the remains of asphalt mixed with soil and gravel, above - only gravel. We moved mainly in second gear at 2000 rpm at a speed of 30 km/h, occasionally including third, increasing the speed to 2500 rpm and accelerating to 40 km/h. It was on this route, already on the descent, that the front left wheel was pierced.

All new "Grants" are painted in seven colors. White (“White Cloud”) and black (“Panther”) are two-layer enamels. The remaining five options (Carnelian red, Blue Planet bright blue, Riesling silver, Borneo silver gray and Coriander golden brown) are metallic, for this coloring an additional fee of 6,000 rubles will be required .

It is noteworthy that just a few minutes before that, I photographed the car next to a large stone, demonstrating clearly the high ground clearance of the Grants (190 mm). Isn't that the stone that damaged the sidewall of the wheel? No, first, the car successfully passed over him. And secondly, the damage was outside, while the stone was able to touch only the inner surface of the tire.

In general, regular ground clearance The “grants” were enough for the car to never “take a hit” on bumps on a rather difficult road to the site on Mount Strelnaya. Here are some measurements I took on an unloaded liftback, standing on the pavement. Under the ends of the semi-independent rear suspension beam (in places where the rear wheel hubs are attached), the tape measure showed 19 cm, under the muffler (by the way, it is covered with black, not silver composition) 24 cm. Under the metal protection of the engine compartment, 20 cm were found, but this protection has a noticeable ledge, from which to the ground - only about 16 cm.

Be careful with the selector!

Second test car on this trip was the Granta sedan with 98-horsepower gasoline engine and a quad automatic. In total, there are three engines in the “arsenal” of the model, all with a working volume of 1.6 liters, but different power: 87, 98 and 106 liters. With. The "younger" motor is combined only with a five-speed mechanical box gears, a 98-horsepower engine is equipped only with a Jatco automatic, and a 106-horsepower engine can be paired with either a “mechanics” or a five-speed AMT “robot”.

A 98-horsepower sedan with an automatic from the very first meters of movement seems more dynamic than a 106-horsepower liftback with "mechanics". "Automatic" Granta very briskly takes the place, but with increasing speed, this feeling disappears. This car is most enjoyable when overdrive is off, that is, when using only three gears out of four. This mode is suitable for an energetic city drive, and I'm sure it would also play a positive role on the serpentines of the road in the Zhiguli mountains. In addition, it is possible to limit the shifting of this box to second and even only first gear. Manual step selection this device does not have.

The “medium” motor is almost as good as the “older” one, 106-horsepower, in terms of torque, it develops 146 Nm against 148, and the maximum speed is almost the same: 4000 and 4200 rpm, respectively. But an automatic sedan is slower than a “mechanical” one in terms of top speed(176 and 184 km / h) and in acceleration from zero to hundreds (13.1 and 10.5 s). It is noteworthy that the liftback with the same engines and transmissions is inferior to the sedan both in “maximum speed” and in acceleration. Strange, because in theory it should be more streamlined.

Not very pleased with the fuel consumption of the automatic "Grants". When taking pictures while the engine is running for a long time Idling, the appetite of the car reached thirty (!!) liters per hundred. The ensuing trip of several kilometers reduced consumption to 22 liters. A longer urban voyage made it possible to reduce this figure to 11.8 liters. To be honest, it's still too much. But at the same time comfortable. Still, the machine is a very pleasant device. On the "Grant" it works smoothly, without poking and jerking. Only when driving, try not to keep your right hand on the selector handle. He easily changes his position even with slight pressure. You can accidentally move it either to position "2" or to "neutral".

Unfortunately, we were not offered versions with an AMT robotic box for testing. So we cannot tell you about the operation of this device (as we know, recently updated). But this is a matter for the near future.

The press service of AvtoVAZ offered journalists to conduct this test together with their families. We arrived in Tolyatti with my wife and at the end of the trip we discussed cars. What did she like? First of all, a huge and comfortable liftback trunk (of the two proposed liftback bodies, I also liked it more than a sedan, including a more elegant “figure”). And my wife also liked the fact that in Lada, in fact, there is nothing not to like. I mean, for your money.

"Grants" are available in four versions: Standard, Classic, Comfort and Luxe. They come with two packages - Optima and Prestige. In September 2018, the recommended prices for the Grant liftback ranged from 436,900 rubles. up to 553,800 rubles. for versions with an 87-horsepower engine and a five-speed "mechanics"; from 596 500 rub. up to 623,800 rubles. for cars with a 98-horsepower engine and automatic; from 531 500 rub. up to 587,800 rubles. for cars with a 106-horsepower engine and a five-speed "mechanics" and from 536,500 rubles. up to 612,800 rubles for a 106-horsepower engine and a five-speed robotic box AMT. "Grants"-sedans in comparable configurations can be both more expensive and somewhat cheaper than liftbacks.

Specifications Lada Granta liftback 1.6 16v 5MT

DIMENSIONS, MM

4250 x 1700 x 1500

WHEELBASE, MM

GROUND CLEARANCE, MM

CARGO VOLUME, MIN./MAX., L

CURRENT WEIGHT, KG

ENGINE'S TYPE

P4, petrol

WORKING VOLUME, CUBE CM

MAX. POWER, HP, AT RPM

MAX. TORQUE, NM, AT RPM

TRANSMISSION

mechanical, 5-st.

front

MAX. SPEED, KM/H

ACCELERATION 0 - 100 KM/H, S

AVERAGE FUEL CONSUMPTION, L/100 KM

TANK CAPACITY, L

author Andrey Ladygin, columnist for the portal "MotorPage" Edition site Photo photo of the author

This autumn, AvtoVAZ brought a lot of “fruits” to its consumers - these are new versions of the XRAY hatchback, as well as Lada Vesta, a slightly modernized Lada 4x4, but perhaps the most important event was the appearance of the updated Lada Granta family. And we have already tested the sedan and hatchback.

The fact that on the domestic platform they began to produce a car under the Japanese brand can be treated differently. Rejoice that, they say, survived at last! The auto industry gave out a suitable platform, which the Japanese liked. You can feel sad that ours were never able to bring their offspring to mind, but as soon as the Japanese took it, how ...

Since its appearance at the end of 2011, Lada Granta has been an active participant in the struggle for leadership in class B. And if at first the new model was still inferior to Priora and Kalina, then last year it was the most popular in the segment. Foreign competitors are far from it - Solaris, Logan, Rio, Polo. Moreover, with the advent of the Grant's liftback body, it should become even more popular. And what about reliability?

On May 14, in the city of Izhevsk, the official start was given to the production of the Lada Granta car in the back of a liftback (or, if someone likes it better, they can call it a hatchback). I think I will not open America, saying that the model can be called long-awaited. Indeed, after the start of production of Grants in the sedan body, a lot of gasoline leaked, the head of AvtoVAZ managed to change for the umpteenth time, and the model, contrary to the original “low-cost” concept, acquired luxury trim levels, including those equipped with automatic transmission. According to Bu Andersson, the new director of the car plant, Grant-liftback will be assembled only here, at the Izhevsk site. For this purpose, serious investments were poured into the plant, production was thoroughly modernized.

Let's summarize. Did Granta Sport turn out to be more interesting than Granta? Without any doubt. Did it turn out more harmonious? No and no again. Shapovalov and Co. did violate the grant balance, the delicate balance of all consumer properties of the car. The acoustic comfort “floated away”, the shaking in the rear seats became on the verge of decency, the car “does not drive” at low speeds ... And now the question is for backfilling: did the creators of Grants Sport hit the goal defined by themselves? Certainly!

Stories about road trips on Lada Granta

After many years, serial domestic car finally got a decent one automatic transmission gears. Such an event could not stay away from motorists, so we present to your attention a test drive Lada Granta video.

In fact, attempts to implement the "machine" have been made for many years. Unfortunately, they all ended in nothing due to the fact that they did not correspond to the given specifics: among the options that were considered, many transmissions did not fit constructively, others were designed for more power engine, the rest were too expensive and would increase the overall cost of the car. Whoever seeks will always find, and Lada found her salvation in Japanese company Jatco. Although the name of the company is not well-known, but for more than two decades it has been putting its four-stage “hydromechanics” on passenger cars. Nissan models and managed to prove itself only from the best side.

If speak about appearance, then the box as a whole is unremarkable. It is worth noting only the handle, which both in appearance and in touch gives tactile pleasure. The lever itself is not whimsical, and even if, while driving, you accidentally move the selector from position "D" to "R", the box will react as it should - turn on reverse only after a complete stop.

It is outwardly impossible to distinguish Lada Granta with mechanics and automatic. What can not be said about the internal filling, which, although it did not exceed expectations, did not remain unchanged. Of the innovations, it is worth noting the airbag for the front passenger, the ability to use air conditioning and, of course, an indispensable set of two pedals. Otherwise, everything remained in its place: all the same seats, all the same landing, and even vibrations and engine noises that operate at frequencies native to the car. But what is so special about the box itself?

Japanese box on a domestic car

The box exceeded all expectations. Gear shifting occurs smoothly and without any inhibitions, even provocations from the driver in the form of a sharp increase in speed and braking could not cause seizures of “slow thinking”. The point here is that, in connection with new box, the most powerful of the available 16 valve motors. Therefore, do not be surprised by the fact that even with its 98 horsepower on board, the slightest press on the gas pedal makes the car want to rush forward. It is this style of driving that is suitable for long traffic jams in the city. It seems like the disadvantages include the fact that several additional features like a transition to manual control or sport mode, but even without them, the car feels great. To learn more about everything, a test drive Lada Granta liftback video will help.

Automaton and appetites

Even despite the appearance of automatic transmission, fuel consumption is comparable to the model on the mechanics, and does not exceed the passport 7.8 liters per 100 km. An example would be driving on country roads, where speed mode can exceed 100 km / h, while the tachometer does not exceed the mark of more than three thousand revolutions and at the same time on-board computer keeps count of each “drunk” liter of fuel and keeps around 7, although it runs on expensive 95 gasoline.

A spoon of tar

Despite all positive traits car, there is one “but” that can destroy all positive emotions, and this includes the brake system. Imagine this situation - you are driving along a country road at a speed of 100 or more kilometers and you notice how the Gazelle slowly starts to slow down ahead, naturally, you start to slow down and press, no, depress the brake pedal to the stop and stop already near the car in front, crossed several times. Although this situation is very exaggerated, it conveys the constant shock experienced by the driver, who at least once encountered the control of not only Grants, but also domestic cars in general. Learn more about Lada Granta liftback test drive video 2016.

The main question at the moment is the following - will the new gearbox take root on domestic cars? It should be understood that all the sins of this car are forgiven only because the Grant is worth its money, and its maintainability can cause envy among many owners expensive foreign cars. But here, too, there is a problem - how the box will show itself after a long time of using "automatics", because it is clear that the price of both the machine itself and its maintenance will become higher.

Even despite the emergence of new difficulties with the "overseas" system, this should not cause any special problems. Firstly, in almost every city you can find service stations that are able to provide an automatic transmission oil change service, and according to the passport, an oil change occurs no more than 60 thousand kilometers. Secondly, we can note the earlier success of Lada Granta, even without the "automatic". Therefore, it is not surprising that the Volga Automobile Plant decided to postpone possible risks and initially produced only about 10 thousand Grant models with an “automatic” on board.

At the moment, everyone has the opportunity to purchase Grant in the "Standard" version. Its cost is 259,000 rubles, for which you will receive a basic sedan, with a manual transmission and an 82 horsepower engine.

But Lada Granta already with automatic transmission will cost 373,200 rubles. For that price, you get a 1.6-liter engine and 98 indomitable horses, all available in the Norma package. Such a Lada Granta automatic test drive video will be equipped with: ABS systems and BAS, a trip computer, electric power steering, frontal airbags, front power windows and 14-inch steel wheels with a full spare. Well, for those who want more luxury, the “Lux” package is available with a cost of 408,200 rubles. Already in here additional functions, such as heated front seats, a decent audio system, alarm and even parking sensors.

Even having got an automatic transmission at its disposal, Grant has not changed much. This is still the same car familiar to many, with its inherent pluses and minuses, which has acquired a fan base and found ill-wishers. What conclusions can be drawn by riding the "new" Grant:

  • The car has received a long-awaited improvement in the form of an automatic transmission that does not “stupidly”, even with direct provocations.
  • There was an opportunity to compete with foreign analogues, which raise prices for their models with an "automatic".
  • The brakes are far from ideal and require additional skill and reaction from whoever is behind the wheel.
  • It is worth noting the roomy trunk, designed for 480 liters. And even this is an inconclusive figure, because the capacity can be increased by manipulating the rear seats.

To make your own verdict, you should familiarize yourself with the Lada Granta sports test drive video.

I confess honestly, the last time I sat behind the wheel of a domestic car ... uh ... I don’t even remember when. Therefore, with great curiosity, I went with my family to test drive the updated Lada Grants in Togliatti.

We tested two cars - a liftback with a four-speed automatic (1.6 l. 98 hp) and a sedan with a manual (1.6 l, 87 hp).

On the "face" of the new "Grants", which went on sale on September 1 this year, the same chrome boomerang or the letter X flaunts, like the "Vesta". Therefore, apparently, they are confused with it. From the design of the abolished "Kalina", on the basis of which the "Grant" was made, almost nothing remained. It's no joke, 150 new parts! Head optics, bumpers, radiator grille, door shape, body contours - everything is different. Slightly lengthened the hood, changed the trunk lid. Washer nozzles - "fan", spraying liquid not pointwise, but over the entire surface of the glass - are now under the windshield. The rear number is no longer located on the bumper, but on the trunk lid. The bumpers themselves are in body color. Large mirrors with turn signals look like those of a foreign car. There is no larva for the key on the trunk. Instead, an electromechanical button. But the lid still has to be accompanied by hands.

Photo: LADA

What's inside? Not to say that the interior looked very rich. Budget, of course, but not detrimental. Chairs have become more comfortable. The steering wheel is adjustable only in tilt angle, that is, up / down. At the same time, the steering wheel has electric amplifier. So you can drive a car if you wish, even with one little finger. There was also a height adjustment of the driver's seat. The backlight of the instrument cluster is pleasant - neutral white.

By uploading to spacious trunk(520 l) a picnic basket, in a car with a robotic transmission, we went along one of the proposed routes - to Garibaldi Castle.

Garibaldi Castle. Photo: / Vladimir Polupanov

Castle on the defensive

Yes, yes, in the Samara province there are castles in the geo-Gothic style. This masterpiece of architecture is located just 40 kilometers from Tolyatti in the village of Khryashchevka and belongs to the local businessman Oleg Kuzichkin. It took us a little less than an hour to get to the end point of the route.

Khryashchevtsy showed the road to the castle with pleasure. We are glad that they have their own attraction in the village. And they also hope to receive income from tourists. “Grant”, of course, you will not surprise local Khryashchevites any more. Seen, they say, more than once. And at first they even confused it with Vesta. Painfully similar.

The castle is not an architectural monument (they didn’t build it like that in Ancient Russia), although it looks like a real antiquity, even though it was made of real stone (slate). Let it be a remake (construction began in 2006), but, on the other hand, it is not a copy of a specific European castle, but an original architectural fantasy on the theme of European Gothic and Romanticism, which absorbed all the most beautiful and interesting elements of European architecture of the Middle Ages, the Renaissance and the Victorian era. Designed by our architects.

Why, in fact, the castle is named after Garibaldi? Oleg Kuzichkin dedicated it to his father Garibaldi Kuzichkin, who is not even the most distant relative of the hero of Italy Giuseppe Garibaldi. They just call him Garibaldi Arkadyevich. Lucky with the name, one might say.

Alas, they are not allowed inside the castle, there are still ongoing construction works. The guard even threatened to set fire to the brand new "Grant" if we did not leave voluntarily. I had to listen. The guards of the Khryashchev castle are very fierce people, as it turned out. But outside you can admire the architectural beauty as much as you like. They don't take money for this.

Good agility

The road leading to the castle, although not very picturesque, like a Khryashchev attraction - entirely "six-hundred" cottages and farmland - is smooth, without unpleasant surprises in the form of pits, cracks and potholes. She allowed to test the chassis. The current "Grants" have an energy-intensive suspension, one might say, omnivorous, with gas-filled shock absorbers. The ground clearance is high, so we drove along the dirt road without fear of getting bogged down in the pits.

The new "Grant" is now equipped with a magnificent Japanese Jatco four-speed automatic. This unit has long been placed on the twin "Grants" - a sedan Datsun on Do and has earned recognition as a reliable and adequate unit. The transmission is well matched to the 98-horsepower engine and even emphasizes its advantages at speeds up to 80 km/h. The cost of such a box is about 30,000 rubles. True to high speeds the machine is no longer enough 5 and 6 steps. Because of increased speed fuel consumption is growing, although the trend remains.

Outside the city limits, they allowed themselves to accelerate to 110 km / h. The car behaved very steadily and, when overtaking, even showed agility unusual for cars with small engine sizes.

On the dashboard you can see online the speed, revolutions, current time and mileage. Additionally, using the button on the right steering column switch, data on the engine temperature or the weather overboard are displayed on the screen.

Photo: LADA

A mechanical car is more mobile. When starting and overtaking behaves better. Switches without delay, easily. We realized this the next day when we tested the second car.

The Grant now has good sound insulation, which is facilitated by the new fender liner in wheel arches made from fluffy soft material. KIA Rio sounds about the same, but at the same time it is 2 times more expensive.

In general, it's time to take stock. There are so many jokes about the domestic auto industry that at first I wanted to ride a Lada and laugh with the people. In practice, it turned out that cars from Togliatti have stepped far ahead. "Grant" is quite a modern and comfortable domestic car. And when compared with foreign "classmates", then it is not much inferior to them. So all the bearded jokes about the Zhiguli seem already archaic. Only the prices are ridiculous.

Judge for yourself: the price tag on new LADA Granta starts at 420,000 rubles (in the Standard configuration on a 5-speed manual with an engine of 87 "horses"), with a more powerful engine (106 hp on a 5-speed "robot" in Optima configuration) the car will cost about 570 thousand rubles.

Specifications Lada Granta

Model Lada Granta
Dimensions (length / width / height), mm 4268 / 1700/ 1500
Wheel base, mm 2490
Curb weight, kg 1160
Trunk volume, l 520
body type Sedan
Number of doors / seats 4 — 5
Engine 4-cylinder, in-line
Working volume, cm³ 1596
Maximum power, l. With. / rpm 98 / 5600
Max. torque, Nm / rpm 145 / 4000
Transmission 4-speed, automatic
Drive unit Front
Fuel AI-95
Volume fuel tank, l 50
Acceleration up to 100 km/h, s 13,1
Max. speed, km/h 176
Fuel consumption (mixed), l/100 km 7,2
car price 608 800 rub