The price scene around the Chinese crossover FAW Bestune T77 in Russia has shifted recently. A leading automotive news portal reports changes that ripple through the market. In a twist linked to the model from the Middle Kingdom, the Lada X-Cross 5 appears as a locally assembled counterpart in Saint Petersburg, though it never reached broad sales channels.
Official price cuts for the FAW Bestune T77 have not been announced. Yet in March a direct discount was introduced, effectively lowering the tag by 50 thousand rubles and bringing the total saving to 350 thousand rubles. This adjustment has reshaped how buyers perceive the model in a market where discounts can influence demand as much as sticker price.
The T77 is offered in two trim levels, and both have seen their price adjusted in step with the direct benefit. The standard Luxury DCT configuration sits at about 2.5 million rubles, while the Prestige Plus DCT flagship version is positioned at roughly 2.66 million rubles. This parity in pricing between trims, driven by the direct discount program, makes the lineup more accessible to a broader audience without altering the lineup’s perceived value.
Meanwhile, the new Lada X-Cross 5 draws directly from the FAW Bestune T77 in design and engineering. Production began in Saint Petersburg in June 2023, with assembly reportedly taking place in the city’s former Nissan facility. Inside and outside the vehicles share many design cues, separated mainly by branding and insignia. The X-Cross 5 represents AvtoVAZ’s effort to introduce a domestically assembled crossover that leverages proven underpinnings from the T77 while aiming to appeal to local buyers through regional production and market-specific pricing. A notable, though controversial, episode involved a batch of 170 units being withdrawn from circulation decisions by corporate customers, reflecting the complexities of launching a new model within a closed distribution network.
In a broader sense, the Russian market has seen a range of substitutions linked to premium-brand moves. Some discussions have touched on how corporate and government-affiliated buyers influence pricing strategies, fleet allocations, and the pace at which new models reach showrooms. These patterns illustrate how cross-market partnerships and local manufacturing decisions can shape consumer options and the overall value proposition of similar vehicles in the same class.
Overall, the situation highlights a shifting landscape where price signals, local production, and strategic branding intersect. For shoppers, the ongoing adjustments to the FAW Bestune T77 and the emergence of the Lada X-Cross 5 offer a clearer sense of value in a market that rewards informed choices and quick adaptation to changing offers and incentives.