Safe or not domestic cars? This question causes a lot of controversy to this day, and there are a lot of adherents of both one and the other point of view. Everyone is trying to prove their case, and after the appearance on the market of new cars from AVTOVAZ - LadaVestaLada and LadaX-Ray, the issue has become even more relevant. Information about the safety of the car is collected on the basis of a crash test of station wagons. Under what conditions the tests were carried out, what kind of tests they were, and what is the result - read further in the article.

Pre-series testing of LadaVestaCrossSport

Even before the serial production of cars started, complex tests began. It was May 2017. Analysts from Autoreview were present at one of these tests - this is an authoritative publication that is trusted in automotive world. Then the machine was tested with a side impact on a ram weighing nine hundred kilograms, there was also a removable tip, and the speed was 50 km / h.

The test car was the most complete wagon, in which there were four airbags. The result exceeded all expectations, and AVTOVAZ designers were proud of it. Most of the impact energy was absorbed by the sill, the side airbags were fully in line with expectations, and the rear windows did not suffer in principle, which cannot be said about the driver's window.

The AvtoVAZ reports state that the sensors attached to the driver's dummy did not show excessive loading. According to the HIC (hydrogen cracking) standards, which mark head trauma, a good result is obtained.
One expert of "Autoreview" was noted interesting feature. The manufacturer did not test the Cross wagon version with the luggage compartment loaded, although such a test would seem necessary. Such a test would show how securely the overall load located above the window line is fixed.
AvtoVAZ explained why they decided not to carry out such a crash test Lada Vesta cross sw. The reason lies in the very purpose of the car, because it is not designed to carry goods, but is an SUV that has increased cross-country ability, but no more.

The package does not include rear side airbags, even if we consider the most expensive, top-end versions, there are side airbags in the cabin only on the front row. This was explained by the fact that the final assessment of testing according to EU standards will not change in any way from their presence, if at the same time the appropriate active security systems are not installed in the car.
According to many experts, those who purchase top-end versions would not refuse to pay a little more for the presence of additional rear row protection.

Crash test Lada Vesta SV cross - serial version

As soon as sales of the car started, a test was carried out on station wagons, which belonged to production models. To assess the consequences of a frontal impact, the ARCAP method was used (head-on collision with an obstacle at a speed of 64 km / h), and representatives of the Autoreview publication conducted the test.
The test of the consequences of a side impact was already carried out on a specially equipped territory of the AVTOVAZ plant. Repeated tests in the full cycle were necessary, as the production car increased both ground clearance and weight.

Vesta Cross frontal impact test

Representatives of Autoreview bought a car for 798,000 rubles specifically for testing, which was eventually pretty broken. To assess the consequences, it was necessary to organize a frontal collision with deformable floors, the speed was km/h. Even before the start of the procedure, specialists noted the presence of large wheels, which is a clear advantage of the car. Top version wagon Cross equipped with 17-inch wheels, but the sedan boasts only 15 inch wheels. Experts measured the mass of the car, it turned out that it weighs 148 kg more than the sedan, so the energy absorption was expected to be 13% more.

Experts from the manufacturer's factory were also invited for testing. The first impression after the collision - the car withstood it perfectly. Due to additional amplifiers, the front strut did not move, the left side member was excellently worked out - it turned out to be folded, and this made it possible to absorb a significant part of the impact energy.
One of the cast rims cracked with energy, but also took some of the impact. The excellent work of ERA-GLONASS is noted, almost immediately after the collision, an employee of the company got in touch. To open the driver's door did not have to spend virtually no effort, the airbags can also be set perfectly. About what damage the mannequins received in the front row is shown in the table:

According to the results of this test, the car is resistant to frontal impact, and received a high score. However, if you test a car according to the progressive European Euro NCAP methodology, then the result is not so good, since it is also necessary to evaluate the structural integrity passenger seat in the cabin.
After removing the decorative plastic that covers the area of ​​the thresholds and wings, a number of creases on the metal of the rear and front thresholds are clearly visible.
At the same time, it is known that since 2016, the plant has modified the front sills in cars using thickened metals. Representatives of Autoreview decided to cut the threshold and remove the outer lining - as it turned out, the deformation also affected power unit.

After that, we decided to start removing the floor sound insulation, under which a torn floor appeared, that is, the legroom collapsed, and this is a reason to take one point off. The gaps fell precisely on the points, but there were no complaints about welding. Hence, sheet metal, which is supplied to AVTOVAZ, is not of sufficient quality.
The floor of the car under the driver's seat was also deformed, it turned out to be rearing, and this is an excessive load on the lower leg area. As a result, the crash test of the Lada Vesta SV cross actually failed - she earned only a satisfactory characteristic. The maximum score is 16 points, and Vesta got only 11.7. Cons received for the following reasons:

• Insufficient protection of the lower part of the legs.
• The floor is deformed, according to Euro NCAP standards, this indicates that the doorway is not stable.
• The threshold broke, and the dummy hit the plastic steering column. Although not dangerous, the plastic covers a number of metal components.

The car was given only three stars.

How AvtoVAZ reacted to the test results

The engineers were really puzzled by the results, they decided to buy the car that was broken during the tests in order to investigate it, since there was a possibility of marriage during the assembly process. However, this option was not confirmed. Then they carried out computer simulation, and compared the test results of the test at the plant site and the result of the Autoreview test. It turned out that the cause of this behavior of the car in a collision was the ballast. There is an algorithm for preparing a car for testing.

When testing was carried out at the factory, 2 child seats and 2 child mannequins were installed on the back sofa, but in the external test they used metal ingots that were screwed to the floors. The weight of each ingot is 20 kg. Permission to use this approach is given by the Euro NCAP standards only when there is a guarantee that it will not affect the test results.
A mathematical model was created, and the engineers found that the use of two ingots, each weighing twenty kilograms, affected the load of the amplifiers and welds, increasing it by 20%. Therefore, the floors were deformed.

After this fact was clarified, 2 similar procedures were carried out using metal ingots, and the result corresponded to that. What did the representatives of "Autoreview" get. But the 3 test was carried out with children's mannequins, and he gave excellent results. Here, the excellent work of the belts is noted, the absence of folds in the floor, the metal and welding firmly withstand the blow.
It turns out that if 2 mannequins of children were put into the car, then it would have received almost 15 points instead of 11.7. However, the test results prompted the designers to compact the floors, and they succeeded.

Crash test Lada Vesta Cross with a side impact

Once again, the test result is affected by the evaluation criteria, as in frontal collisions. Side impacts were already tested at the manufacturer's premises, they took top-end equipment station wagon. He will participate in a collision with a cart that weighs 950 kg, has a crushable barrier, speed - 50 km / h. For impact chose the central part of the car.
The manufacturer talked about the side cushion, which was sewn into the backs of the seats, in a collision it should open up, block the window opening by almost half, and the protection will affect not only the body, but also the head.

After a collision with the car, ERA-GLONASS representatives contacted after 27 seconds, which is very prompt. Given the shift in the center of gravity closer to the front, a slight turn of the stern was expected. The driver's window was completely shattered, in here rear windows and the mirror was not damaged.
The chief engineer personally expressed his impression of the test, calling it a success. He noted the timely opening of the side airbag, while the experts proceeded to assess the damage in the cabin, fixing the forces when opening the doors and other analyzes. Only then do they start checking the condition of the dummy.
When the project was just being worked out, AVTOVAZ employees decided to strengthen the thresholds, because the car's ground clearance increased, so the threshold will have to receive impact energy. Only with the help of reinforcement it was possible to minimize the effect of the threshold on the central pillars and the likelihood of their displacement.
It was a successful Lada Vesta cross crash test - the video is clear evidence that there were no problems opening the doors after the collision, gasoline did not spill out of the tank, and the dummies did not receive serious injuries, especially since even a tool was not needed to remove them. The battery is intact, there were no dangerous parts in the cabin, according to the injury criteria, they are all below the threshold standards.
Test the car with full luggage compartment or heavy loads, the manufacturer does not plan yet, considering it not so necessary. It is important to note that in the European Union there are already tougher measures for forming an assessment, and Vesta was tested according to standards that were developed back in the eighties.
For example, the use of a cart weighing 950 kg is considered not relevant. Since almost all modern cars weigh over a ton. According to the Euro NCAP standard, a weight limit is set - 1 ton and 300 kg, but the assessment standards are the same.

How are the tests

According to ARCAP, a crash test is a frontal collision of a car at a speed of 64 km / h with a deformable barrier that simulates the front end. passenger car with aluminum particles. Statistics show the rarity of direct collisions, so testing involves hitting the car against an obstacle from the front. Where is the driver. The established overlap size is 40%. This is the possibility of modeling a displaced, frontal collision two Vehicle having almost the same mass.

The total speed is 110 km/h. 2 dummies are seated in the cabin, and with the help of sensors installed on them, information is recorded about the overloads that act upon impact on such parts of the body as the head, shin, chest, kneecaps and hip area.
Research information on the driver-passenger front row by calculating what kind of injury they might get. And with what probability. The movement of the steering wheel, the shift of the front left pillars and pedals are taken into account.
Such testing is possible at AVTOVAZ in Russian Federation, as well as in the Czech Republic, thanks to TÜV SÜD Czech specialists

Security level Lada Vesta Cross

If we evaluate the test result according to the criteria Russian factory with mannequins of children, it turned out to be just fine. There are no floor breaks at the welding points, the thresholds are not swollen or broken. The specialists managed to prove that the unsuccessful scores obtained during the external test were due to the fault of the representatives of Autoreview. The use of 20 kg ingots affected the bottom line as they increased the stress on the floors.
When testing at AVTOVAZ, Vesta SW Cross was able to get not only 14.9 points, but also a maximum of 4 stars. The car has a high safety score, more than Lada Kalina, which scored only 10.1 points, and Grant, with a score of 10.7 points.

Video - Crash test: Lada Vesta SW Cross. Two attempts, three stars. Wagon of the weaker sex

Video - Lada Vesta SW Cross - side crash test. Station wagon with four pillows against ramming at 50 km / h

It's time to quit: all this already bears little resemblance to healthy journalism and even less to work within the framework of the Labor Code. I dream of Vesta. Quite specific - the station wagon SW in the Cross version and in the maximum configuration. Exactly the same one that I first saw in the AvtoVAZ design studio back in May, and then drove it from Tolyatti to Izhevsk, but not in camouflage, but with a thermonuclear orange color. Four months of silence under the terms of the embargo - and these nightly meetings. However, I know how to stop everything, but this is what worries me much more than dreams.

Z and three years since the appearance of the first concept car, I talked so much about Vesta that, according to the laws of the Zhiguli Mountains, I now have to answer for my words and get married. Although "must" is not quite the right word. I'm afraid I really want to buy Vesta.

As an adult, I understand the delicacy of such a situation, but you know what Stockholm Syndrome is, don't you? Three remarks to understand the scale of the disaster: I update the lada.ru website at least three times a day, I know the location and contacts of the four nearest Lada dealers, and I subscribe to those two messages a month that AvtoVAZ calls the customer newsletter. Almost every evening I torment credit calculator, and in the morning I am glad that I have not yet collected a deposit, because I still do not have an answer whether it is worth buying Vesta.

It is beautiful, but not cheap, it manages well, but it accelerates poorly, it is practical, but gluttonous. In a word, I'm confused. And when there is a mess in the head, the simplest thinker tricks come to the rescue. Last week I took a sheet of paper and drew it in half to write down everything on the left that makes me consider the acquisition of Vesta a good idea, and on the right - the other way around.

And this is what the most frightening part of this outline looks like.

Design Manifesto. Perhaps beauty will not save the whole world, but at least it will render AvtoVAZ a very, very serious service. Vesta station wagon is not just the most beautiful VAZ, it is a car that can return Lada to a society where buying a car satisfies desire, not need. I would even say that the Vesta SW is somewhat similar to the Mini, because I can already imagine a person who will choose it solely because of its appearance. Only to choose, of course, you need the Cross version, because big wheels and wide plastic overlays at Vesta - these are, consider, her heels and bikini. No, the usual Vesta station wagon is also very good, but against the backdrop of a cross-country one ... It's like if you married a supermodel, but you only saw her in the kitchen when she was looking for aspirin on Saturday morning.

Dear drive. Another reason to choose the SW Cross is the new suspension settings. If the chassis of the base station wagon differs from the sedan’s only in rear springs extended by 9 mm, then the “cross” Vesta has its own set, in search of which the VAZ team went through 40 options for shock absorber settings paired with elongated springs. Surprisingly, as a result, Vesta with a cross-suspension suddenly became even more “asphalt”. At the VAZ training ground in Sosnovka, I constantly jumped from an ordinary station wagon to a cross-country one, and the difference between them was like between mineral water and champagne. That is, it’s just that Vesta is still appropriate in 99% of situations and will satisfy most driver needs, but Cross will also add a sense of celebration to this. New suspension denser, faster and more accurate reactions, with her Vesta rolls less and sways less. Such a Lada drives smoothly and expensively - and I did not see a serious compromise in this with smooth running and energy consumption. Yes, it accentuates waves and bumps more strongly, but I waved 700 km from Togliatti to Izhevsk on the Cross-universal, bypassing federal highways - and it was a pleasant trip.

The station wagon driving program was almost completely reduced to finding suspension settings for the Cross version, since the simple Vesta SW differs little from the sedan. "Cross" shock absorbers with an elongated rod - Skopin's company SAAZ-Komplekt, and stock tires- Pirelli Cinturato P7. Excellent duet! Wheels of dimension 205/50 R17 are put on all Crosses, but a 15-inch stowaway serves as a spare. And it’s also worth remembering that beautiful wheels rarely help to drive fast, so Vesta SW Cross 1.6 with “mechanics” according to the passport spends 12.6 s on acceleration to “hundreds”, and SW Cross 1.8 with “robot” - endless 13.3 s !

Clearance. extra 25 mm ground clearance they give the universal Vesta Cross 203 mm under the bottom - Crete never dreamed of this, and Kaptur is only one millimeter higher, however, according to experience, there is more confidence in the Lada's passport clearance. It’s not that I’m going to knead off-road, but in light of the fact that we now have snow even in June, and the well-maintained Moscow streets go under water after every downpour ... In a word, you should not miss the chance to distance yourself somewhat from these troubles.

Even the usual Vesta (178 mm, pictured on the right) has enough ground clearance to almost never worry about curbs when parking. Vesta SW Cross (left) is 25 mm higher. But you need to remember that the black lower lip front bumper- this is not a separate lining, but a single piece together with foglight sockets, a platform for a license plate and a part of the edging wheel arches. But on the thresholds, on rear arches and under rear bumper- separate "unpainted" panels

Smart trunk. Strictly speaking, the Vesta Cross sedan will very soon receive the same suspension, wheels, body kit and clearance, and the station wagon is no different from it in terms of trunk volume under the shelf: the same 480 hp. But I like the organizer with niches, drawers and nets, which the VAZ built inside their "barn". As someone who's scooped wine out of the trunk twice and scrambled eggs and pickles once each, I'm very happy with all those pallets and rubber bands promising that scooter, camera and marinade can now travel around the neighborhood without fear.

The most "charged" Vesta. Of course, you need to take the 1.8 engine, because in a healthy body there must be a healthy mind, and 106 hp. base engine Vestas, in my understanding, do not really fit this definition. Just like the "robot" AMT. Therefore, I have 122 forces with “mechanics”, and in this case it is French, JR5, which automatically insures against howls and “indigestion” of torque. The limit of 200 Nm with a margin covers the capabilities of the motor (170 Nm) - in contrast to the VAZ transmission, designed for 175 Nm. Such a power unit has already been tested on the Lada XRAY, but Vesta 1.8 with “mechanics” is a little heavier, so its passport indicators are more modest: 11.2 s to 100 km/h and a maximum of 180 km/h.

Salon Economy +. Vesta-universal is simply created for those who, like me, fit in the plane only in the seats at the emergency exit. Ergonomics, successful for a tall driver with a long steering column and a large range of seat adjustments, is also good because the ceiling above the second row is raised by 25 mm compared to the sedan one, so that Vesta will no longer embarrass representatives of "high society".

Kaizen in a VAZ style is a central box-armrest, updated instrument lighting, three-stage heated front seats, a microlift of the glove compartment lid and colored interior upholstery on the Cross versions in unison with the body color

Electronics - wholesale. Vesta SW Cross, even for the maximum 866 thousand rubles, is a relatively affordable way to purchase heating windshield and rear seats, two USB ports, built-in navigation, color touchscreen, climate control, rain sensor, parking sensors and rear view camera. A little later, AvtoVAZ also promises Apple CarPlay. For any classmates, such equipment will cost at least an extra hundred thousand rubles. At the same time, station wagons will be the first Westies with a front box between the seats, with a three-stage heated front seats, with a rear armrest, with a lockable gas tank hatch and an external trunk release button.

Ownership price. Even expensive Vesta promises significant savings on the cost of maintenance and insurance compared to foreign cars. Thanks to the relatively affordable service rates and cheap body parts that reduce Casco rates. The difference with Solaris and Rio for the year can be 10-20 thousand rubles in favor of Lada.

The indifference of the thieves. You can generally take a chance and refuse insurance in case of theft: according to traffic police statistics, in 2016 only four Vestas were stolen in Russia! Although Priors and Grants are traditionally at risk due to the high demand for used spare parts. Very soon Vesta will also roll back warranty periods, and the owners will be drawn to the showdown, but so far the new Ladas do not promise their owners a restless sleep.

Like the Russian team. The news is ours. I didn't think I'd ever fall for it, but it's silly to say that her background doesn't touch me. With Lada, everything is exactly like with the Russian team: it polarizes emotions. When nothing sticks, we grit our teeth and curse the day when we got involved in this mediocre performance, but if suddenly we are not ashamed of the result ... Vesta Cross is like bronze at Euro 2008 football, when I wanted to scream and run into the street. No illusions, it's not gold at all, but nothing brighter in automotive Russia It hasn't happened for a long time - and it's not a fact that it will happen. That is why it seems to me that such a machine deserves a place under the window. What's more, I'm beginning to think that it's a professional duty of a car writer to buy a Vesta at least as a 2017 trophy. With a bronze tint in the color of "Mars".

This is how I reason every evening, and in the morning I remember that professional duty is still something else, and, say, a sommelier is not at all obliged to empty an uncorked bottle himself. Moreover, Vesta Cross is just one of those pleasures that does not guarantee the absence of a headache at all. And on this occasion I have written all Right side sheet.

Escaped beauty. I wanted to close my eyes every time I caught sight of the freckled bumper of our editorial Vesta: during last year’s resource test, the paint peeled off it right at the sink, and, judging by today’s reviews of many newsmen, in terms of quality paintwork on the plastic parts little has changed. Therefore, you need to prepare for the fact that "Mars" will quickly become covered with dark seas and craters that everyone can observe with the naked eye.

Illusion of power. The VAZ 1.8 motor is a skillful hoaxer: it easily makes all its superiority in power and torque disappear in just one stroke of the stopwatch hand. A little over 11 seconds to "hundreds"? Four-door Vesta 1.8 performed by Exclusive with French "mechanics" and "short" main couple(4.2), which participated, accelerated to 100 km / h in just 11.2 s - only 0.1 s faster than the "mechanical" Vesta 1.6! And, having reached a maximum of 190 km / h, she was helpless against the “Koreans”, who are able to take the 200 mark. The Stuffed Cross-wagon on 17-inch wheels (plus 16 mm to the outer diameter of the tire) is unlikely to repeat this time. There is little torque at the bottom, the tops are dull, the gas pedal is damped. Add to this not the most high definition Logan gearbox and long-stroke clutch - and it turns out that the advantages of the most powerful Vesta come down to good traction at medium speeds, easy road acceleration in fourth and fifth gears up to 120 km / h and top speed, which, according to our measurements, is 12 km / h higher than that of Vesta 1.6.

High consumption. It is doubly insulting that the slow Vesta is gluttonous. I have to look at Igor Vladimirsky, who drives his Octavia 1.8 TSI around the city with an average consumption of 8.5 liters per hundred, as a Bolshevik at a manufacturer: Vesta Exclusive in the ARDC cycle showed a result of 10.2 liters per 100 km. And there is not a single prerequisite for the fact that the Cross-station wagon will be more economical.

Cheap sound. Unexpectedly good sound insulation (in the station wagon is almost quieter than in the sedan) threatens the audience with disappointment: most of the sounds that Vesta makes in motion do not match her expensive appearance. The roar of the motor is insipid, the turn signals click poorly, the horn snarls in the voice of a cold teenager. It is possible that over time, salon crickets with suspension creaks will also be added. In a word, it will not be easy to fall in love with Vesta with your ears.

Tolerance field. Each new Vesta, which participated in the Autoreview tests, slightly differed from the previous one in its driving character: the steering wheel was either full or empty, the handling was either exemplary or “arrogant”. The reason is the acute sensitivity of the Vestov chassis to the characteristics of the tires and to the tolerances in the settings of the electric power steering and the properties of the suspension joints. Vesta Cross was trained for a long time and carefully, but there is no certainty that each conveyor instance will go the same way as the finishing station wagon that I met in May.

Seasonal change. Not all winter tires are equally useful for Vesta, some can make her handling even dangerous. And it’s not at all a fact that the results for an ordinary Vesta can be extrapolated to a “seventeen-inch” station wagon with a cross-suspension. And besides, big wheels are a serious challenge for Vesta's trunk. I haven't had time to check yet, but I'm willing to bet that I'll take a set of my own winter tires without the transformation of the cabin, Lada will not be able to. However, my wagon Opel Insignia also fails to do the job. Surcharge for "adult shoes" for Cross, compared to ordinary Vests, will be about 8,000 rubles per lap. A seasonal switch to 16-inch wheels will probably help save on tire fitting and save fashionable wheels, but you need to be prepared for an aesthetic compromise and a reduction in ground clearance.

Save money on belts. The spacious rear sofa will accommodate three adults without any problems, but I often need to put three children in the car, and Vesta is not well suited for this. There are only two Isofix mounts here (along the edges of the rear sofa), but they are not more important to me, but the width of the sofa to fit two boosters and one baby seat. Vesta, like many cars, does not allow this, so one child will have to be moved forward. An adult will not be able to sit in the vacated rear seat, but something else is much more unpleasant: AvtoVAZ saved on the length of the rear seat belts, which are barely enough to secure the Maxi-Cosi Tobi seat of the youngest son.

Cushions in front only. Vesta is the safest Russian car and the first with four airbags, but the efforts of the developers were focused on protecting the front riders. Therefore, the functions of the air curtains here are performed by high L-shaped side airbags, which also cover the upper part of the doorway. But there are no pillows for the rear passengers and there won’t be: it was decided not to use a full-scale curtain, since without active systems safety, it still would not help Vesta score a high rating in European crash tests. Not the most reverent approach to a family car.

Winter half package. Even the most expensive Vesta SW Сross is deprived of steering wheel heating, tailgate servo drive and remote engine start. And if the fifth door servo and a warm steering wheel still appear in about a year, then everything is sadder with the launch: there are no such plans yet. In fact, to save from frost in a situation where in the morning you need to quickly jump into the car and be at school in five minutes, an ordinary starter button and central locking, which allows you to lock the car with the engine running and the stove. This is how Opel Insignia often heats up, but Vesta has a key that is stupid to leave unattended in the ignition.

budget paradox. The orange Vesta SW Cross 1.8 MT that bothers me costs 834,900 rubles. An interesting price, but... Firstly, while remaining inexpensive in terms of maintenance compared to foreign cars, Vesta is still potentially the most expensive Lada (the experience of our resource test says that only XRAY will require the same amount of investment). Secondly, pledging almost 850 thousand rubles for the purchase (plus about 100 thousand for maintenance per year), it’s hard not to look towards Solaris and Rio, which can offer a full-fledged “automatic”. And thirdly, the same budget opens the way to the most unexpected options on the used car market, and our "resource" experience with Camry is another evidence of this. By the way, Vesta with "mechanics", according to the statistics of the Auto.ru service, loses an average of 16% of its value per year - that is, minus 200 thousand in the first two years. And parting with the 1.8 modification threatens to be especially difficult, since the market niche of these cars is only 5%, and its epicenter is certainly not within the Moscow Ring Road.

866 thousand rubles is the price of the most expensive Vesta SW Cross, taking into account the "robot" and metallic. And the simplest Vesta SW 1.6 (106 hp) in the Comfort version will cost 639,900 rubles. At the same time, the most affordable Cross with the same engine costs already 755900, because there are no Comfort versions in this case, only Luxe. Surcharge for the engine 1.8 (122 hp) at least 25 thousand, for the "robot" AMT - another 25 thousand, for metallic - from 12 thousand, and the most expensive color is not orange "Mars", but beige "Carthage" for 18 thousand . Most rich equipment The Prestige (only it has a heated rear sofa and rear armrest) will require another 18 thousand, and it is available exclusively with the 1.8 engine. As a result, an ordinary station wagon costs 32-42 thousand rubles. more sedan in similar configurations, and cross version another 43-53 thousand more expensive

Or maybe it doesn't need to be sold? I myself said that Vesta is a trophy.

That's why I'm confused again. Ten pluses for ten minuses is not parity, it is a stalemate. However, just on the day when this issue of Autoreview appears on the shelves, I will go to Sochi to ride on fully serial station wagons and check my ideas. But even after that, nothing will rush me with an answer: the verdict will endure at least until the end of October, when station wagons go on sale.

Acceptance of orders for station wagons started on September 19, but Lada dealers started filling out applications and accepting deposits (usually 5,000 rubles) a month ago, and sales will begin at the end of October

Judging cynically - only in terms of money - the station wagon puts Cross on the shoulder blades with an advantage of 116 thousand. The “off-road” option cannot be taken cheaper than 755,900 rubles, while the SW is available for 639,900 - only 32,000 more than a sedan of a similar content. But there is a caveat: "Cross" is not yet released in available trim levels, the price list starts immediately with the highest performance Luxe. And SW starts with Comfort, where there are no side airbags, foglights, a double boot floor, windshield heating, light and rain sensors, climate control ... On the other hand, a person hardened by the Zhiguli will boldly attribute all these things to excesses. And for a comfortable life in Comfort, even against the backdrop of foreign cars, there is a lot: a pair of pillows, a stabilization system with ABS and anti-slip control, steering wheel tilt and reach adjustment, central locking with a folding key, heated seats, electric windows all around, air conditioning, music and even cruise control. Therefore, the first point goes to the more affordable but not poor SW.

Vesta SW

Vesta SW Cross

When launching the sedan, AVTOVAZ gave the right to the first night of sales of Vesta to the best dealers. In the case of station wagons, this practice was abandoned. Pre-order will be issued in any branded salon, "live" cars are expected by the end of October

Trunk: 3:2

The score difference persists because cargo compartments completely identical. But for the trunks, both Vesta get two points each. I could hardly restrain myself from adding three. After all, nothing like domestic auto industry haven't done it yet. Finally people are thinking! Even Skoda will envy such a competent organization of space with its Simply Clever solutions. Both "Ladas" are full of hooks, nets, there is a socket, lighting, a secret compartment in the wall on the right, a tray for rags and other trifles. And most importantly - Russian know-how: a special pocket for a five-liter bottle of water or a canister with a washer. They are proposed to be placed in a convenient niche on the port side and fixed with an elastic strap. At least put eggs in the trunk: with such a fixation, nothing will fly and break against the walls. The only problem is that there is not enough space. The unification of the floor with the sedan did not allow squeezing more than 480 liters out of the station wagon (like a four-door). And this is taking into account the “two-story” underground: an organizer around the 15-inch spare wheel and removable trays above it. Even in the five-door "Vesta" there is no hatch for long lengths, and the back of the rear sofa, divided in the proportion of 40:60, cannot fold into the horizon.

The fifth door opens with a button, in the future they should also install a servo drive. Maximum volume with folded seats - 825 liters

Permeability: 3:3

Vesta SW is not a puzoterka: 178 mm under the steel protection of the power unit is a normal option for Russia. And Cross is even more versatile. Under a flat belly, he has already 203 mm. Vazovtsy did not embellish, the body was really lifted to a new height - an impartial roulette confirmed it. For comparison, popular crossovers like Kia Sportage, Volkswagen Tiguan or Ford Kuga real ground clearance about 180 mm. That's just all-wheel drive Cross will not have it yet. And together with the road Pirelli tires Cinturato P7 205/60 R17 (for SW - Matador Elite 3 195/55 R16) these are the main restrictions on patency. But as long as there is enough grip and geometry, Cross creeps forward. What we saw for ourselves when the clumsy regular navigation led us to a very rugged dirt road, where, as a colleague recalled, an SUV test had recently taken place Mitsubishi Pajero sport. Raised, the Vesta slid down the slope, jumped over boulders, took a muddy ford and stumbled only on a wet, rutted incline. On the way back, Cross had to be pushed a little uphill, but the main thing was that we got out. Off-road exam passed, get a score in the piggy bank.

Excluding front bumper plastic body kit"Cross" natural, unpainted. Approach/departure angles are about 1.5 degrees greater than the regular SW, even with the extended overhangs. From electronic assistants- imitation of cross-wheel blocking and start assistant on the rise

Engines: 2:2

Perhaps the motors are the most weakness new station wagons, we penalize both cars by one point. We don’t know how SW and Cross behave with the base 1.6-liter 106-horsepower “four” VAZ-21129 - they weren’t brought for a test drive, but Vesta with the flagship engine, to put it mildly, was not pleased. The new VAZ-21179 unit seems to have a solid volume - 1.8 liters, and decent power - 122 hp, the torque due to the inlet phase shifter is not bad - 170 N∙m. But at the very least it all works only on the plain. And when we went deep into the mountains from the Sochi coast, Vesta became completely lethargic: the engine was empty at the bottom, it was sad at the top, the middle was so-so - don’t keep any speed, sometimes the car didn’t want to accelerate on the slopes, demanded to switch to a gear down . Crawling along the country road is doubly stressful - you have to play with jewelry in a clutch. As a result - consumption of 12-13 liters of 92nd gasoline. Below 9 liters, the on-board computer did not show even once for all the time. But station wagons are only 50-70 kg heavier than a sedan ... By the way, according to VAZ logic, SW is a Sport Wagon. It looks like a cruel irony. Well, at least the 1.8 engine no longer suffers from detonation, other childhood illnesses also seem to have been cured, but in the morning the cold engine still upset a couple of times with unexpected traction failures.

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Station wagon Vesta - the car is quiet. Tires, motor, wind are heard about the same, the noise does not press on the ears. And the "crickets" in the hard plastic of the cabin do not chirp even on the primer. I would like to believe that the parts will not loosen up over time and the front suspension will not rattle, as on the sedans of the first releases

Gearboxes: 2:2

The main “transmission” trouble of the five-door West is the lack of a normal automatic box. True, VAZ employees swear that buyers have learned how to deal with obstinate robot AMT (2182) and no complaints about it. But it seems to us that only those people who have never driven a car with a good automatic transmission say so. The skills of the five-speed robot "Lada" are best illustrated by the acceleration figures to "hundreds": it takes an indecently long time for 1.8 automated station wagons - 12.9-13.3 s, while with mechanics the numbers are much more optimistic - 10.9- 11.2 s. Manual boxes, by the way, are different: Vestam 1.6 has a domestic transmission 2180, and modifications from 1.8 have a French JR5. And we liked it: it switches quite clearly, easily, does not buzz or howl. But in general, there is nothing to accrue points for, the score in the battle remains the same.

Vesta SW

Vesta SW Cross

An armrest with a box appeared between the front seats (useful, but it interferes with fastening and shifting gears), seat heating is now three-stage, the glove box lid with a microlift, and the windshield heating is turned on with a separate button. Soon these things will also be transferred to the sedan.

Handling: 2:3

For the SW station wagon, engineers defined special rear springs in order to adapt the chassis to the different stiffness and weight of the five-door body. Therefore, the behavior on the road, this version resembles a sedan. It spreads just as tightly, with passion, twists into a turn under the gas release and pleases with a lively response to steering turns. Never before Russian station wagons did not go so "delicious". But the high Cross turned out to be even more interesting! Vazovtsy chose a difficult but correct way to increase the clearance - they completely replaced the springs and shock absorbers, widened the track by 14 mm, spending a lot of time on fine-tuning driving performance. As a result, the “off-road” version did not become more rolly, retained an acceptable ride on low-profile 17-inch wheels, and even won in handling: the “Cross” has a cleaner steering wheel, juicier effort on it, the car is more stable on an arc in a turn. Only the edging of the instrument dials was painted red in vain - the numbers are hard to read. But still, Cross deservedly takes the lead in points. A small remark: on the studs of the serpentine, the front tires of the Cross rubbed against the support cups of the suspension springs. We hope this is an isolated problem of our car, as well as a decorative engine cover that has come off the mounts ...

Everyone knows that Russia has historically been a country of sedans, as well as the fact that recently the fashion has switched to crossovers, and it seems to be not bad, but does everyone need a “medium scary” elevated station wagon (or hatchback) called a crossover when on the market the beauty Lada Vesta SV appeared? Even the regular version has a clearance of 178 mm, Creta is only a centimeter higher, and the Vesta SW Cross version has an impressive 200 mm under the body, but we will return to this choice very soon when reviewing the cross version of Vesta, and now we will focus on sedans.

People, why do you need a sedan? That's real, after a pickup truck and a convertible, the most inconvenient body type. And there is no need to talk about "prestige", what prestige in budget sedan? Here in Mercedes-Benz S-class there is prestige, but not in Solaris.

And what to buy instead of a sedan? Universal! It is useful even when it is ugly, and if it is beautiful, then the choice is obvious.

Just look at our test subject, this is the most beautiful Lada ever! And then they kept saying about Tolyatti that the place is cursed ... A normal place, if you work as you should.

Thanks to Steve Mattin for the design: floating drop roof in budget segment a rarity, and this move seriously highlights the car and increases its price in the eyes of consumers.

There are changes in the interior of the car compared to the sedan: a comfortable armrest with a box appeared on the first row, the instruments have new scales, but the second row got more attention. Here it became possible to proudly sit with my head up, the ceiling became higher, and even with a height of 188 cm, I can easily accommodate myself, even if I sit down behind myself, everything is fine in the legroom in Vesta in the sedan. Another of the joys of the second row is a heated seat, a USB port for charging devices, a 12-volt outlet and a very comfortable armrest with two cup holders. Heating should soon appear on the sedan, but the space above your head will not appear for sure.

Let's move on to the most interesting - to the trunk. Vazovtsy did not promise a record volume, but they promised an unprecedented ease of use for the class. And they didn't cheat. There is a double floor with two organizers, bag hooks, net attachments, a dedicated space for a washer canister! There is also a very convenient luggage rack with rails on the sides, even in cars whose cost is five times higher than the cost of our sample, this is not always the case.

Of the minuses of the trunk, one can note the volume, it is only 480 liters, as in a sedan, but it is much more convenient to use these liters.

Since the car is not just a beautiful thing, but also a means of transportation, it's time to go.

For the test, we got a version with a 1.8 liter engine. 122 HP paired with manual transmission Renault. A lot has been said about how the Vesta sedan behaves on the road, in short, it rides very well. What is it in good roads, and bad ones. With the station wagon, the situation is the same, despite the extra pounds, the handling was not affected, the car also willingly “dives” into turns, “floats” bumps and “stands” on a straight line. Individually, competitors also have these qualities, for example, Logan is the king of primers and broken asphalt, the Polo sedan is good for flat road, and Vesta feels good everywhere.

There are complaints about the dynamics of the car, from the 1.8 liter engine. you are waiting for more "quick", and he rides like competitors with 1.6 liter engines, but he does not forget to eat for the entire volume. At a dynamic level of 10.9 s. in acceleration to 100 km / h, a consumption of 11.6 liters per hundred is a bit much.

It is impossible not to mention the fat minus in the form robotic box gears with one clutch, it is not convenient to operate and slow, here Lada has nothing to oppose to the automatic machines of competitors. So, choose a mechanic, it's from Renault and works well.

Let's move on to the most important thing - prices. Base station wagon Lada Vesta SV with a 1.6 liter engine. 106 HP and mechanics estimated at 639,900 rubles. This is 22,000 rubles more than for a similarly equipped sedan. Maximum equipment costs 804,900 rubles for a 1.8 liter engine. with robotic box.

Photo Gallery

At some point, I even closed my eyes, and inside everything shrank to colic. Not from fear of falling into the abyss, but from the confidence that on this deep asphalt gully of a fast mountain turn, we will not only finish the front wheels, but also leave both front suspension struts. And there - yes, through a stone chipper and head over heels down. There is room to fall.

Having practically chosen the compression stroke, the Cross jumps up at the exit from the pit.

And once again - fuck! It was already after a sharp compression that the rear wheels went into a light jump. The turning radius “blossomed” a little - and the car went wider, out of the turn ...

With the update

There is nothing worse than carrying someone else's secrets inside. I drove this pre-series station wagon Lada Vesta SW Cross back in the first half of summer, and I can only share my impressions now. While you keep your mouth shut, the nuances are forgotten, the exciting feeling of “the right of the first night” disappears, emotions subside. However, there are pluses in this too: the main thing is cemented in the memory, and I will tell about this main thing.

I happened to get acquainted with the pre-production Cross in the vicinity of Sochi, where VAZ testers live for months, replacing each other and rolling thousands of kilometers along the roads different types, including mountain serpentines (they are used only for certification tests). The cars are in camouflage, because there are still almost six months before the start of sales. The interior is non-serial in places: some panels are made of smooth modeling plastic. But - and this is the main thing! - almost complete "driving" freedom. If you want - a spur along the smooth Olympic roads. But no - scurry along the mountain serpentines.

The white Cross, from which I took the keys, is the dream of many. Because it is roomy, with an impressive ground clearance (203 mm!), with a 1.8 engine (122 hp) and a five-speed mechanical box gears. Over time, they will acquire such a power unit, but so far the combination of an “older” motor and mechanics is a curiosity. And this Cross 1.8 has disc rear brakes. Drums are not as effective? Less reliable? Haven't heard of such problems. But the fact that disc brakes are more expensive to maintain is a fact. But if the consumer wants - voila. Marketing ploy: now like the "Koreans"!

Only 17-inch wheels with 205/50 R17 tires are put on the Cross. Ordinary station wagons have smaller wheels - 15 or 16 inches in diameter, like on a sedan.

Walking around the car, I noticed a lot of changes - we have already talked about some of them (ЗР, No. 7, 2017). Vesta is being gradually modernized (for example, several powertrain calibrations have been carried out); some innovations will be introduced first on the station wagon, and only then they will migrate to the sedan.

It is clear that the XV is from a different price league, but from a technical point of view it is a direct competitor: the same size, a motor similar in power (we are talking about 1.6). Unless Vesta has no all-wheel drive. But on asphalt, it is not needed.

All the way I could not recover from this "subarovskogo" feeling. The strength of the Cross is also in the fact that it is perfectly controlled - better than a sedan. The full feeling that even the ESP works later than on the sedan, allowing you to drive a little more actively and slide longer without the intervention of an electronic watchman. Special calibration for Cross?

No. The setting is universal for sedans and station wagons, including Cross,  - there are only different presets depending on the power unit (motor and gearbox type) and type rear brakes(disk or drum). And the effect of the shifted threshold is created by tires. They are low-profile, with a stiffer sidewall, so you deflect the steering wheel at smaller angles in turns - the car changes course more readily and is more actively screwed into the turn than on taller and softer tires. And since the ESP is triggered, among other things, also by the steering angle sensor, the smaller the angle of rotation of the wheels, the later it is excited, believing that before dangerous moment still far. Here the threshold of operation is also pushed back. And I completely agree with this soulless lady, who has only numbers in her head. I don’t know how it will be in winter, but in summer it’s a thrill.

In addition, the grip properties of these tires are slightly higher, and the steering wheel becomes more “weighty” and understandable due to the increased lateral forces. The main thing is not to be impudent and frankly not to go overboard with the speed at the entrance to the turn. After all, ESP works mainly on drift, and when you start to slide off smoothly with all four wheels, it takes it more calmly.

Active drivers will like it - you can afford a little more than usual. Live car!

Speaking of brakes. For ESP operation, disc brakes are preferable: they have faster response, especially on rough roads. So replacing the rear brakes with disc brakes in cars in top versions is not just a whim

And how does a regular Vesta SW wagon ride - on standard 16-inch wheels and with rear drum brakes? Do not know. But just the other day, Kirill Mileshkin has already traveled on serial station wagons - I hope he will share his impressions.

Of course, the testers drive not only on asphalt, but also on gravel, on frankly broken roads and on the ground. And to assess the reliability of the suspension, they also go to the cobblestone. I also shook the SW Cross on a large cobblestone of a shallow mountain river. So, if you do not fool around, the car allows a lot. It would seem that you are about to scratch your belly over the stones - and there is still a supply! Of course, this is not a full-fledged crossover, but with such a suspension and with such a clearance you feel very confident. Put a self-block here, and it would be absolutely wonderful. But this is from the category of off-road Wishlist.

Finally, I hung the station wagon on a steep bend in the asphalt - so that the rear right wheel was slightly off the ground. The tailgate opening has retained its geometry, the door rises freely, the side doors also open easily. The torsional rigidity of the body is sufficient. But this is on an empty car - but will the body withstand the load? Let's check on the serial Cross.

What about the price?

Perhaps this is the main question. A few months ago, I assumed that Vesta SW Cross in the top version (with the AMT robot) would reach 850 thousand rubles. And at the end of the summer, Nicolas Maure told me that the car would be. (Prices announced on September 19. The basic version of the station wagon in Comfort configuration will cost 639,900 rubles. - Ed.)

The start date for sales is most likely November.

For most buyers, the capabilities of the Cross will be enough for the eyes. And the sum of its consumer qualities - capacity, cross-country ability, handling, design, and so on - allows us to confidently say that it will more than work out every ruble invested in it. And it is already obvious that the demand for the West SW station wagon and its SW Cross version will be higher than originally expected. AVTOVAZ is already reviewing the ratio of production of sedans and station wagons.

And if, in principle, a station wagon is not needed, but you certainly want something more “elevated” and a little more passable, there is an elegant solution -. With black bumpers and "raised" suspension. I have already seen such machines on the assembly line - during the pilot assembly. Look - waste. So it makes sense to wait.

Lada Vesta SW Cross - first test drive