Test drive vaz Kalina 1118 sedan since 2004 sedan

Lada Kalina with a new engine. The first test in Russia

The fact that the conclusion to the Lada Kalina market was frankly failure is not hidden even in the leadership of AvtoVAZ. And, indeed, the cars that appeared a few years ago had a lot of flaws, and besides, the price of the first Kalina was out of place for more than 300 thousand rubles, which at that time was a very large amount. As a result, almost all publications wrote extremely negative materials about Kalina, which, of course, did not affect sales in the best way (for example, Kalina received the lowest assessment among all the tested [email protected] of cars).
However, AvtoVAZ representatives assure that the Lada Kalina that descending now from the conveyor has become noticeably better, and the cars themselves have undergone many constructive changes. This, by the way, is confirmed by the masters of service centers of warranty breakdowns, there are fewer complaints about the quality of cars. Therefore, it was very interesting for us to travel to Kalina again, especially since AvtoVAZ began to install a new engine with a volume of 1.4 liters on this model. Interestingly, Kalina 1.4 costs more than the same car with an unit of 1.6 liters. Paradox? What is the meaning of buying a car with a less voluminous unit? This is what we tried to find out during the Lada Kalina test in Karelia.
Now a 1.4-liter engine is installed on cars in the most expensive version, which is called a very strange norm with luxury elements. Most likely, this mysterious name will soon be changed to normal + or something like that. This version differs from the norm by the presence of two airbags and paratroopers, velvet upholstery of the seats and alloying discs of 14 inches. Well, immediately about prices. If the basic configuration of the Kalina sedan without a steering wheel and electric drives of glasses with a 1.6-liter unit costs 238,300 rubles, then the version we tested in the body of the hatchback with a 1.4-liter engine. Sold already for 271,416 rubles. And this, by the way, is almost $ 11,000!
It’s not cheap, it’s not cheap, because Chevrolet Lanos in the configuration with air conditioning (!), But with one pillow is sold for 289,000 rubles. (and a car without a conde and electric drive of the front glasses costs 270,000 rubles). It is running out by Lada Kalina and the larger Renault Logan, the base price of which is 263,000 rubles. Logan with a 1.6 liter engine. (87 hp), the steering wheel amplifier, the electric drives of the front glasses, one pillow of safety costs 303,000 rubles. Of course, almost 30 pieces are the difference. However, it depends on what to compare with. If we talk about some insignificant things, then the amount of 30,000 rubles. It seems huge. But we are now discussing the car. And here is the difference of 30,000 rubles. It doesn’t look some huge one in a conditional concept no longer looks a little more.
Well, let's see what the eleven thousandth Kalina will please us. The design of the car, and now we will talk about the hatchback, does not cause complaints. In fact, a 5-door car looks very good. Of course, Kalina does not look as modern as the new generations of Opel Corsa or Fiat Grande Punto, but the appearance is very good. The sedan’s hatchback is more beautiful or not, everyone decides for himself. But in our opinion, a 5-door car is much more interesting. And certainly Kalina’s hatchback wins in its design such machines as Daewoo Nexia, Chevrolet Lanos or Renault Logan (although rivalry with such hits of the Russian market as Hyundai Getz or Chevrolet Aveo is already with difficulty).
Yes, and in the Kalina salon there is very nothing (we repeat it exclusively about design). Of course, we can say that inside Kalina is made in the style of cars of the mid-90s. This is true, although there is nothing wrong with that. The quality of the supervision of the insides was much more interested, because the last time this car with almost zero mileage surprised several blunders, such as falling off parts in the cabin, creaking passenger chair or almost broken gearbox cover. In fact, Kalina from the first parties made a gloomy impression, confirming one of the folk nicknames of Kalina, which opponents of the domestic auto industry call Fecaline.
But the Kalina tested now looked much better. It is clear that we had a new car, and it is not known in what condition it will be in 3-5 years. But what we saw made a very good impression. At least for the entire trip, not a single part broke and fell on the floor (and AvtoVAZ brought 10 cars at once). All switches worked clearly, the glove compartment closed/opened without problems, the on -board computer regularly showed the run, and the pretty rounds of the heating system did not jam. In general, boring, without a scandal. In addition, there are no complaints to ergonomics, the rear sofa can be laid out in parts, and the seat has a really large supply for adjusting Kalina’s wheel, a tall person can calmly get a tall of two meters. Perhaps there is only one point that did not like the glass in the front doors do not fall to the end. This is largely due to the high line of the roof, so that the feeling of spaciousness is created. But the fact remains to stick out the elbow from the cabin. In addition, they look some kind of bewilderment of the internal handles of opening the doors, they look some kind of flimsy and are constantly afraid to break them (though it is worth noting that there are still few complaints about the reliability of these elements).
Now as for the suspension. Russian cars have always been famous for good smoothness, because without a comfortable running running, which copes with our directions, it is simply impossible to drive on many roads. In its class, Kalina is one of the softest cars, but with the energy intensity it has some problems if you get into a more or less large fossa at speed, then the suspension is still breaking through.
I remember that Lada Kalina from the first parties scared their disgusting handling. The car was very tapping in corners, and the driver simply did not feel where he was going. Now the situation has become a little better. Of course, Kalina did not control as the best representatives of the European or Japanese auto industry. However, the car has become much more adequate, although there is still a problem.
Well, now the most interesting. The 1.4-liter engine, despite its more modest working volume, has become better than an old 1.6-liter unit. According to the passport data, Kalina 1.4 accelerates a little faster than the Kalina 1.6, and its maximum speed has become higher (the maximum speed increased from 162 km/h to 167 km/h, and the acceleration time 0-100 km/h decreased from 13, 3 sec., Up to 12.5 seconds). True, the new engine has become more cool and it requires the driver to press the gas pedal a little more. So, if the Kalina 1.6 begins to accelerate very well already somewhere by 3000 rpm, then the new motor shows all its best qualities for about 4000 rpm. However, in fact, it is very difficult to feel the difference in the behavior of two different machines. and 1.6 l. If it differs, then only a little bit. It is more important than something else. AvtoVAZ assures that the 1.4-liter engine has become noticeably more economical (it was 7.8 liters per hundred, and it became 6.7 liters). And in the cabin of a car with a new unit less vibrations. Alas, but 1.6 liters. This sins at idle by the salon, although not very much, but still unpleasantly shakes.
All these miracles are explained quite simply a 1.4 liter engine. It has 16 valves, and the 1.6-liter engine is only 8. And besides, the engineers have seriously worked on the insides of the unit, which has many new details. As a result, engine power is 1.4 liters. It is 90 hp, and its maximum torque is 130 nm. For this volume, more than good characteristics at the level of world analogues. But, the most important thing for us is that the 1.4-liter engine exceeds its more voluminous counterpart, which has 81 hp. and 120 nm.
Although another question arises. Why AvtoVAZ is now selling cars with two different engines, which in their behavior are very similar to each other. At the same time, the new engine has a smaller volume and at the same time costs more. After all, many buyers of Russian cars will perceive Kalina 1.4 as a less steep model compared to Kalina 1.6 (and this will actually be completely natural). Probably, it would be more logical to simply remove the old 1.6-liter unit and that’s all.
It is scary to say, but Lada Kalina 1.4 turned out to be a decent car to which no serious claim arose. However, one important remark must be made here. All the words said above relate only to the cars provided for the test. We do not know how other Kalina will behave. Representatives of AvtoVAZ swear that all cars are now produced equally reliable, and this is very carefully monitored at all levels. However, we do not believe this. At least for now, because how many times representatives of the Russian automobile industry talked about reaching a new level of quality, although in fact nothing changed. Whether AvtoVAZ will be able to fulfill its promises or not, only time will show.

Source: Auto.mail.ru