Test drive VAZ Kalina Sport since 2009 hatchback

Another Lada Kalina- What's new?

AvtoVAZ completed the formation of the lineup of the Kalina family, starting the production of the long -awaited station wagon. However, the reason for collecting journalists was not only the emergence of a cargo -passenger version. Another innovation air conditioner. Summer is nearing, and it is difficult to overestimate the importance of this option.
The format of the event was chosen very unusual: rally-raid. For two days - 1200 kilometers in the territory of Kazakhstan: from Astana to Almaty, as well as several special stages on the steppe. The tests were for every taste. And on the interaction between the pilot and the navigator, and to work with navigation, and, of course, for the skill of driving
Cars in this mileage got pretty. The route was not at all like an ordinary greenhouse test drive in a hundred or two kilometers for good asphalt. The Astana -Almaty highway itself initially amazes the imagination of the Moscow driver with its quality - perfectly even asphalt, not a single pit, very few cars and many places for overtaking, wide curbs of truth, and closer to Almaty, and waves and repaired areas appear. But the main load on the car lay, of course, on special stages. Nobody defeated the steppe primers in front of us, and when completing tasks it became clear that the supply of the suspension is very large. For all the time, the suspension was pierced only once! And this despite the fact that the car was well loaded: four people plus baggage. So for Russian (and Kazakh!) Conditions what is needed.
At the end of the soil, I expected to hear the discordant choir of all the panels of the cabin upholstery, because the plastic is hard everywhere. No, everything was not so bad. Say that the cabin is perfect, I will not become, creaks all the same, they are heard. But in general, the level is quite worthy. But what will happen after 50 thousand kilometers in Russian areas, will the plastic fasteners be loose? So far, no one will give an answer to this question.
At high speed in the cabin is noisy, and the engine soloes. The vibration is still annoying when the speed is gained on the gearbox lever and even sometimes on the seats pillows, it subsides only when driving at constant speed. This is due to the unsuccessful design of the supports of the power unit, but, according to the representatives of the plant (also participating with us in the run), active work is being carried out in this direction, and soon in the cabin, Kalin will become noticeably quieter. Let's wait and be sure to check!
How universal was the new station wagon? At first glance, the volume of the trunk of 350 liters under the shelf is not large. Even in the framework of the class to a non -record. You can fold the rear seats, since they fold in parts, according to the classical scheme, the pillow leaning forward, the back lies, forming an even floor. In this case, the volume will increase to 650 liters, but this is also when loading to the windowsill. It is quite convenient to use the trunk: there are loops for fastening the cargo, the fifth door is equipped with a handle for closing the hand in cleanliness. Only the rapids in the opening interferes with the load.
By the way, when folding seats, the rear head restraints in the car plays on the hand. However, their design is now being developed, and soon they will appear on serial machines. It is expected that the headrests will be a M-shaped type, that is, they can be lured almost flush with the edge of the back of the seat, and in the lower position they will not interfere with the review and transformation of the cabin. Rather, when hitting behind passengers in the back seat, you won’t envy without a headrest, the likelihood of neck injuries increases repeatedly.
And what about the second novelty, air conditioning? A Japanese Panasonic Japanese brand is placed on the Kalina family. The Kalina heater was originally designed for the installation of the air conditioner, so there was nothing to radically change in it, the implantation was painless. The climate installation uses a temperature sensor the air in the cabin and the electric drive of the hot air flap, so the system in the cabin monitors the weather automatically, with an accuracy of 2 degrees.
In our run, the computer did not show higher than +24 degrees overboard, but in the cabin there was a comfortable coolness. So in this column we set off the car.
But in general, the car left a rather pleasant impression. The seats, despite the amorphous form at the first glance, did not lead to 700 km of run a day to back pain. Remembering the seats of the nine and dozens are a step forward. And big. And sitting behind is quite convenient: even with the growth of the driver for 185 cm, the rear passengers are enough.
The motor, of course, by modern standards, is rather weak from 1.6 liters can be removed more. But even with full load on the highway, you can move without problems, and the average consumption was 7.3 liters per 100 km. By the way, according to the chief designer of the Kalina project, the appearance of a version with a 1.6 16V engine is also expected. Here he has a dynamics it will be just right! And soon the car will receive useful options such as parking sensors and rain sensor.
The suspension, as already said, is very energy -intensive. You can’t call the honed manageability, but on a high -speed snake on the soil the car obeyed the steering wheel and gas, although without excitement, but quite
What is the price?
The minimum price of the station wagon is 246,809 rubles. For this money, a car with a 1.6 liter engine is offered in the Standard: Alarm with remote control, steering wheel adjustment, front door windows. We tested the most expensive version of Lux, which stands with the air conditioner 301 135 rubles. For this amount, the buyer will receive a car with two airbags, ABS, an electric packet, heating seats and several more pleasant options.
So far, only machines with a 1.6 liter engine are equipped with air conditioners, but soon the turn will reach the engine of 1.4 liters.
Competitors:
And with which of the competitors can you compare this car? The market analysis shows that from foreign cars - with anyone. There are small station wagons on sale, but they will all be much more expensive, and the configuration will be poorer. The comparison will be incorrect.
Another thing is domestic cars. There is a choice of station wagons. If cheaper, then this is a VAZ 2104, from 180,000 rubles. As they say, cheap and cheerful. If it is more expensive, it is LADA-111, a representative of an obsolete tenth family (the retail price recommended by the plant is 271,510 rubles, but there is no airbag and air conditioner in it). Plus, compared with Kalina, a slightly larger luggage volume (426 liters with the upsed rear seats). But, in my opinion, aesthetically, and in comfort of the salon, and in terms of reliability in the operation of Kalina will be preferable.
 
Leonid Aizikovich
 
 
 

Source: Auto.mail.ru