Lada Vesta SW Cross, 1.8 (122 hp), M5
Manufacturer — AVTOVAZ
Year of issue — 2021In operation “Behind the wheel” – from December 2021Mileage at time of report – 28,000 km
The Vesta SW Cross has been in daily service for half a year, and it has become a practical daily companion rather than a showcase piece. This is a wagon built around a 1.8-liter engine paired with a manual transmission. Owners often ask about a recurring concern with oil consumption, a problem reported by a portion of readers and not experienced by everyone. The question is common: how does this issue manifest, and what can be done to manage it?
Addressing questions about fuel and oil usage has practical value. Early on, the manufacturer and service network took targeted steps to curb oil consumption. The author experienced several long trips in quick succession, two routes to St. Petersburg and a drive to Smolensk, totaling more than 4,000 kilometers under a brisk driving style. Those journeys provided a meaningful field test of the updates and their impact on real-world reliability.
The engine updates and maintenance changes implemented by the oil system supplier included several key upgrades. Seals around the valve stems were redesigned, and the oil deflector design was refined to reduce evaporation and leakage. Improvements were also made to valve quality and the intake stage calibrations to optimize fuel-air mix and combustion efficiency. The recommended grade of engine oil was adjusted from 5W-30 to 5W-40 to better withstand higher loads and temperatures. A short time later, new valve guides were introduced as part of ongoing refinement. Together, these adjustments address oil consumption in a practical, maintenance-friendly way, particularly for drivers who push the car on long, high-speed trips.
On checking the dipstick after the updates, the oil level appeared stable and close to the prior mark, indicating that the changes were effective in mitigating the issue for the tested usage pattern. This observation underscores the idea that oil consumption can be managed with targeted factory updates and appropriate maintenance choices rather than relying on broad, one-size-fits-all remedies.
Readers who want to learn more about the operation of any car in the fleet can pose questions, and the team behind the review will respond with practical insights accumulated from hands-on experience and field data. The experience with the Vesta demonstrates how manufacturer upgrades can translate into real-world reliability improvements for daily drivers.
- Discussion of the Vesta’s top-tier engine issues has been explored, with a focus on practical fixes and maintenance strategies.
- The head of AvtoVAZ has announced production timelines for the next generation of Vesta, signaling ongoing evolution in the model line.
- Updates from Behind the Wheel are also available via Telegram for convenient access to ongoing news and testing notes.