Instead of a banal but fast route along the M-11 Neva highway, we started along the Novorizhskoye highway. The road is of excellent quality, no worse than the paid one, although it is more crowded. It is a pity that it ends only a hundred kilometers from Moscow, turning into an ordinary single-lane road.
As the traffic is still slowing down, we stop at the ancient (first mentioned – 1135) village of Yaropolets, a little way off the highway. There are many attractions here: the first rural hydroelectric power station in the USSR built in 1919, the estates of the Goncharovs and Chernyshevs, now not in the best condition, but with an interesting history, several churches, bunkers of the fortified area during the Great Patriotic War.
To the last we go straight through the field without fear. The TXL’s ground clearance is purely crossover, but the all-wheel drive on the skid helps. It’s good that it’s no longer exotic for Chinese medium and large SUVs. And even if the driver has no additional settings available, in many situations a simple operation of all four wheels is sufficient.
In a single lane form, the M-9 Baltiya highway is also not bad due to low traffic. If you want, use the adequate work of the radar adaptive lane “cruise”. If you want, you can catch up with fellow travelers, enjoying the normally well-fed nearly 200 “horses” and their good coordination with the pre-selective robot. Partly because of this, we turn into Rzhev via a distant exit. But most of all – out of a desire to look at the Rzhev monument opened two years ago. Makes a strong impression!
ASK PRICEEXEED TXL with a 1.6 engine costs 4-4.25 million rubles. The two-liter Sport Edition equipment is estimated at 4.65 million. Private buyers can count on a direct, unconditional discount of 315 thousand rubles, and the maximum benefit, taking into account additional programs, up to 1 million rubles, depending on the version. Business buyers now face the same problems as private buyers: reduced choice. Therefore, their interest in Chinese cars is growing. According to Gazprombank Autoleasing, their share of leasing increased from 9.7% to 26.3% in the first nine months of 2022. The EXEED premium brand is one of the four sales leaders among Chinese brands in leasing arrangements. Leasing companies are now offering significant discounts on several EXEED models and you can choose the option with a minimum monthly payment. For example, on EXEED TXL 2.0, when purchased through Gazprombank Autoleasing, there is a benefit from the manufacturer up to 883 thousand rubles, and discounts from the leasing company – 200 thousand as part of the Preferential Leasing Program campaign and 78 thousand for timely payments. In total, up to 1.15 million rubles are deducted from the official price, so the monthly payment can be reduced to 53.3 thousand rubles.
|
On the Rzhev-Ostashkov section, we expected the asphalt to deteriorate. However, the coverage turned out to be good on not the most popular regionals. Only the surrounding image is depressing: villages are dying out or have long since died out, there are more indications of mass graves than of settlements. Local road builders preferred to sprinkle a lot of salt after a light snowfall over cleaning the track. Mud! TXL liked the fact that the side windows and mirrors don’t like to throw away, preserving the driver’s view. And the stern camera is carefully equipped with a washer – no need to run around the parking lot with a rag.
With the chosen route, it is better to spend the night in Ostashkov. Plus, even on a short winter day, there are chances to arrive before dark and take a walk around town. Despite the abundance of abandoned houses, it is picturesque in its own way. And the nature around and the Seliger lake need no extra compliments.
Further, if you still do not go to the M-11 pay road, the path to Staraya Russa is located. 200 km before is tens of kilometers of unpaved road. It does not need a large ground clearance, and in winter, on rolled snow, it will not be a pity for any passenger car. On broken pavement (a little, but coped with) and speed bumps of various sizes, EXEED TXL surprised with energy consumption and quiet suspension operation. Learned Chinese!
There are two possible routes from Staraya Russa to Petersburg. If you are tired of one-story Russia, go through Novgorod to the Neva highway. On it and the western high-speed diameter to the center of the northern capital is just over an hour’s flight. When you finish the experiment, head towards Luga. By the way, from her to Peter it is correct to include “Alice”, if you have not forgotten about such a rock band. At the time of writing the song “Route E-95” (1996), this index was indeed carried by the highway of the two capitals, but since 1997 it is the road from St. Petersburg to Pskov. You don’t have to be afraid of unlit roads on the TXL: it has good light, with extremely effective fog lights and well-functioning automatic high beam switching.
For the return journey we chose the traditional route. Instead of two days – a few hours on a toll road. Although there are no cameras on the M-11 to solve violations, there is no point in going beyond the unpunished 80 mph: fuel consumption rises too much – and that goes for any car. With the “cruise” kit, the two-liter TXL consumes 11 l / 100 km, acceptable for its power, size and weight at 130 km / h. It’s good that there are no more problems with gas stations, but during the holidays and vacations there are chances of getting stuck in line at rare gas stations.
By the way, advice on the toll road. If there is no acute lack of time, it is better not to go along the segment in the near Moscow region. The cost of its 47 km is 1200 rubles, and to get a discount you need to buy a separate transponder. On Avtodorovskih 567 km, the fare is the same – 2090 rubles.
We took the M-11 detour only because we wanted to see the small towns of Central Russia. The roads are not too good, but with a nice car, which turned out to be EXEED TXL, that is not considered a problem. And when time is running out, we leave for a toll road, 130 on a cruise and in a few hours (with one stop for gas and a bite to eat) you are already in the northern capital. Or in the south. Or (soon) – in Kazan.
NOT JUST “HORSES”The two-liter EXEED TXL 2.0 Sport Edition is 400 thousand rubles more expensive than with the 1.6 engine. The price difference is big. But – not only because of the more powerful engine (197 hp instead of 186 hp). The equipment of the two-liter car is richer with a built-in DVR, extendable footrests, full seat heating (cushions and backrests), a full-sized spare wheel on an alloy rim, acoustic windows at the front and tinted rear, a mixed set of USB ports (two types A each and C). From the “sport” – only red calipers.
|
We thank Exeed Khimki AutoSpecial Center for the car provided.
Advertisement: Gazprombank Autoleasing LLC |erid 4CQwVszH9pSWM8EezMq
We took EXEED TXL with a two-liter engine and drove it to St. Petersburg through roundabouts – without leaving the M-11 scarf.
