Test drive Lada off-road
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Test drive Lada off-road

Features of appearance and decoration, different types of gearboxes, problems with geometric cross-country ability and other points that you need to know about when choosing a model with a Cross attachment

Last year, the range of Lada models with the Cross attachment was finally formed - a cross-country version appeared in the younger Granta family, and more expensive cars got a continuously variable transmission. We traveled on all possible options and tried to understand whether these cars are really better prepared for off-road and how much you will have to pay for additional features.

They are more attractive in appearance

All models with the Cross attachment rely on increased ground clearance and a more off-road appearance with a protective plastic body kit around the perimeter, door protection, original bumpers and roof rails. Cars painted with the signature orange metallic, which is only reserved for Cross series models, look especially bright. Even the modest Granta with a more solid bumper and two-tone paint looks much brighter.

Test drive Lada off-road

In the interior of such cars, you can find non-marking finishing materials and a whole set of stylistic elements, however, their presence depends on the level of equipment. For example, Granta Cross is equipped with devices with orange edging, orange inserts in door cards and chairs with original finishes.

The XRAY Cross interior is trimmed with two-tone leatherette, door cards and the front panel in some trim levels are made two-tone. At Vesta Cross, leather elements have contrasting stitching, floor mats have orange edging, and the panel is finished with textured inserts. The devices can have different colors depending on the configuration.

Test drive Lada off-road
There are still questions about cross-country ability

In addition to the protective body kit, which covers the body from accidental touches, all "crosses" have increased ground clearance. The XRAY Cross has the highest ground clearance of 215 mm. Taking into account the modest length and very short overhangs, it has excellent geometric cross-country ability and unpleasantly surprises only with the lip of the front bumper sticking out from below, which could well be dispensed with.

Test drive Lada off-road

Moreover, only XRAY Cross has a Lada Ride Select system - a “washer” for selecting driving modes, which helps to adjust the electronics of the engine and stabilization systems to the type of coverage under the wheels. In principle, it does not change the behavior of the car, but it makes it possible to slip, or warm up snow in front of the wheels, or completely turn off the stability control system. And also - sharpen the accelerator a little in Sport mode.

Neither Vesta nor Granta have anything like this, but if the first, when the wheels slip, at least tries to imitate the interaxle locking on the driving axle with the brakes, then the second does not have this opportunity either. But in terms of geometric cross-country ability, the Granta turns out to be slightly better even with a ground clearance of 198 mm, since it is shorter and better protected from below. The Vesta has 203 mm under the bottom, but more solid dimensions, long bumpers and pretentious wheels will force you to be careful off-road.

Test drive Lada off-road
"Robot" is not the best option for off-road

Lada Granta in the Cross version is still equipped with the "robot" AMT-2, which was once again modernized last year. The main advantage of this box is the presence of a "creeping" mode, which allows you to get under way in much the same way as with a hydromechanical "automatic". About a second after releasing the brake, the mechatronics closes the clutch, and the car gently starts off and maintains a speed of 5–7 km / h without driver intervention. After stopping, the actuators open the clutch - this is felt by reducing vibrations and changing the effort on the brake pedal.

However, in not too sterile conditions, the "robot" is lost. For example, on a robotic Granta, it is not easy to smoothly move up a steep hill because the car is trying to roll back. And off-road it is very difficult to accurately dose traction. You can turn on the manual mode, but the process of starting from a place on the bends of the primer in any case seems difficult, and slippage is very difficult to control. A manual transmission is preferable in these conditions.

Test drive Lada off-road
The variator does not overheat when slipping

The two-pedal versions of the Vesta Cross and XRAY Cross from last year are equipped only with a CVT paired with a French 1,6 engine with 113 horsepower. The CVT box is a Japanese Jatco unit that has been installed on Renault and Nissan models for a long time. The variator is able to simulate fixed gears well, does not require maintenance and is designed for at least 200 thousand km of run.

Test drive Lada off-road

The combination of a 113-horsepower engine and a variator does not give good dynamics, but it provides quite decent acceleration and understandable gas responses. For difficult conditions, this option is also suitable. A special feature of the box is a two-stage torque converter in front of the V-belt transmission, and thanks to it XRAY and Vesta can easily move even on steep hills. Overheating with the transition to emergency mode with prolonged slipping, this box is also not afraid.

The variator has only one drawback, but noticeable: with this box, the Lada Ride Select system for selecting the driving modes, which regulates the traction and the degree of wheel slip, is not installed on the XRAY Cross. However, even in this version, the stabilization system still knows how to slow down the slipping wheels.

Test drive Lada off-road
Cross versions are noticeably more expensive

The amount of surcharge for increasing cross-country ability strongly depends on the model and equipment. For example, the Granta Cross in the initial Classic version with an 87-horsepower engine and manual gearbox costs $ 7. - for $ 530. more than a simple station wagon. The cost of the 765-strong version with the "robot" is $ 106. for the performance of Comfort against $ 8 356. the usual model in the same design. The difference is $ 7.

Test drive Lada off-road

XRAY Cross in Classic trim costs at least $ 10, but this is a car with a 059 engine (1,8 HP) and "mechanics". At the same time, the standard XRAY 122 starts with the Comfort package and costs $ 1,8, while the Cross in a similar design is sold for $ 9. - the difference is as much as $ 731. XRAY Cross 11 with CVT and a minimum price of $ 107. there is nothing even to compare with, because a standard car is not equipped with such a power unit. But it can be bought with a 1 motor and a "robot" for $ 729.

The most affordable Vesta Cross SW station wagon is priced at $ 10. for the 661 engine, "mechanics" and the Comfort package. A similar Vesta SW in the same configuration costs $ 1,6. - for $ 9. Prices for cars with a variator differ by $ 626, and the most affordable Cross with a French unit will cost $ 1. At the limit, the Vesta Cross SW in the top version of the Luxe Prestige costs $ 034. more expensive than $ 903.

Test drive Lada off-road

Pepper Vesta Cross

Body typeUniversalHatchbackUniversal
Dimensions (length, width, height), mm4148/1700/15604171/1810/16454424/1785/1537
Wheelbase, mm247625922635
Ground clearance, mm198215203
Cargo space, l355 – 670 Feet361 – 1207 Feet480 – 825 Feet
Curb weight, kg1125Н. d.1280
engine's typeGasoline R4Gasoline R4Gasoline R4
Working volume, cubic meters cm159615981774
Power, hp with. at rpm106 at 5800113 at 5500122 at 5900
Max. cool. moment, Nm at rpm148 at 4200152 at 4000170 at 3700
Transmission, driveRKP5, frontCVT, frontMKP5, front
Max. speed km / h178162180
Acceleration 0-100 km / h, s12,712,311,2
Fuel consumption (mixed cycle), l8,7/5,2/6,59,1/5,9/7,110,7/6,4/7,9
Price from, $.8 35611 19810 989
 

 

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