The rich interior of the updated Lada Vesta with bronze-colored decor and a climate control unit equipped with large buttons is another step by AvtoVAZ towards a more affluent customer. And probably for the first time, the Tolyatti people with the CVT Vesta made a pretty clear offer to a customer they practically did not have – women.
In the new car, unlike the pre-restyling Vesta, You don’t need to shield the climate control screen from sunlight with your hand and lean towards it to understand what’s actually displayed there. And all because the new car does not have such a screen.
Lada
A large tablet placed above the dashboard, serving as a media system display, looks like a foreign object in the Vesta cabin, but its plus is that this type of multimedia works very efficiently and quickly switches applications. The layout of the virtual dashboard brings to mind Volkswagen and Audi cars: a navigation map is located in the space between the speedometer and tachometer scales – the graphics are clear, there is no glare.
It is still impossible to completely forget that you are driving a Russian car. Lada reminds of itself with some oddities: for example, from time to time the fuel gauge of a car filled to full capacity shows that the tank is empty and at the same time an orange indicator flashes.
Lada
When taking off on steep slopes, you should take into account that the car may roll backwards: this problem is promised to be solved in August, when the stabilization system will appear on Vesta. It will also hold the car with the brakes.
Representatives of the factory say that the time required for the inclusion of the Chinese CVT in Lada Vesta was record short.
About a year and a half passed from the selection of suppliers to the final certification of a car with a 1.8 EVO engine and continuously variable transmission. During this time, 38 component groups were modernized on Vesta, and the number of parts changed was close to a hundred. However, even if you open the hood, you will not be able to notice these developments.
Lada
The engine control controller was recalibrated and fully tested, a new crankcase and additional mounting points were added to the engine, the flywheel was replaced with a drive disc, and the original wheel drives were installed. We also had to rearrange wiring harnesses, pipes, and even replace the battery holder.
What kind of transmission
By design, the Chinese CVT18 CVT CVT is similar to the unit of the Japanese company Jatco, which was installed on Vesta in the pre-sanction period. Steel V-belt pulleys, two-stage planetary gearbox and torque converter, which help the car to start smoothly and lock at a speed of 15 km/h, are classic design solutions for this type of transmission.
Compared to the Japanese transmission, the Chinese transmission has a wider range of gear ratios and 30% more oil volume, which will make it more resistant to overheating.
The maximum torque that the new transmission can “digest” is 180 Nm. One replacement should be enough: a VAZ 1.8 engine with 122 hp. It produces 170 Nm of torque at peak.
Lada
Also, AvtoVAZ promises a three-year or 100 thousand km warranty for the Chinese CVT, as for the entire car. According to the regulations, the transmission requires an intermediate oil change at a mileage of 30 thousand km; In this case, the oil is assumed to last for the remainder of the vehicle’s service life.
minus glass
There are no additional markings on the body of Lada Vesta with CVT indicating the type of transmission. Between the seats is a classic transmission selector with gradual shifting; There are no newfangled joysticks or buttons. To integrate this handle, we had to remove one of the cupholders and use the Granta’s simple buttons to turn on the heated seats.
Lada
Built on AvtoVAZ’s own platform using components from the Renault-Nissan alliance, Lada Vesta was distinguished from the very beginning by a rather simple interior trim. With restyling, the car’s interior has become noticeably more beautiful. A digital dashboard has appeared from Yandex, which can display full-fledged navigation.
How does he drive
While driving, the engine and shifter work very harmoniously. The two-pedal Vesta starts up smoothly and navigates safely in city traffic. This car was distinguished by good handling from the very beginning and did not lose driving habits with the transition to a new component base.
Lada
Vesta responds quickly to the gas pedal and accelerates confidently. On descents, if you use the manual mode of the transmission and reset several fixed “virtual” gears “down”, it effectively brakes together with the engine.
However, during intense acceleration on rutted roads, you need to hold the steering wheel tightly and steer carefully because
Vesta wanders visibly within the track.
The suspension is quite energy-intensive on bumps and speed bumps, but after overcoming a large bump, small vibrations of the body in the longitudinal direction are noticeable. According to passport data, the Vesta station wagon is only 50 kg heavier than the sedan. However, when driving a car with a four-door body, it is perceived as more lively and obedient.
According to subjective feelings, the sedan reacts faster to steering movements, reacts less to ruts on the road and accelerates more easily. Perhaps this is a feature of the two specific copies that the socialbites.ca correspondent tested.
Lada
The fact that AvtoVAZ now cooperates closely with Chinese suppliers is also felt in the brake drive settings. When you switch from a European car to Vesta, you immediately notice the differences. The Lada pedal is pressed with even, light force over a fairly large distance – and only after that the car immediately and immediately brakes intensively. The brakes are configured similarly on expensive Chinese cars; SUV Tank 500.
Who are their competitors?
AvtoVAZ plans to produce over 100 thousand Lada Vestas in 2024, and half of the production volume will be station wagons, including the Cross version. Moreover, the plant sees competitors for its five-door cars primarily in Chinese crossovers, which are bestsellers in the Russian market.
The price distribution is such that Vesta SW Cross in the maximum configuration (2.13 million rubles) is very close to the most affordable Chinese crossovers: Geely Coolray, Chery Tiggo 4 Pro and Haval Jolion with automatic transmission. Recommended retail prices for them are in the range of 2.2-2.3 million rubles. And this does not take into account the special offers and discounts that sellers of Chinese brands have been offering lately become especially generous.
What are you thinking?
Source: Gazeta
Anika Rood is an author at “Social Bites”. She is an automobile enthusiast who writes about the latest developments and news in the automobile industry. With a deep understanding of the latest technologies and a passion for writing, Anika provides insightful and engaging articles that keep her readers informed and up-to-date on the latest happenings in the world of automobiles.