In this article, we will figure out why the ZAZ Vida model is attractive to buyers, its features, positive and negative qualities, and also find out what the owners say about it.

How it all started

Zaporozhye Automobile Plant was founded in the Soviet era and was engaged in the production of notorious small-class cars ZAZ Zaporozhets.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the plant still continued to produce this model, but in parallel, the production of another car was launched - Tavria, and later Slavuta.

But these obsolete cars were no longer able to compete with other small class cars.

Gradually, the plant switched to assembling cars from other manufacturers - Daewoo, Chevrolet, Kia, VAZ.

Revival of production

Recently, the Zaporozhye Automobile Plant decided to revive its automotive industry, however, already on the basis of the achievements of its foreign colleagues.

In particular, the designers took as a basis the first-generation Chevrolet Aveo model, which gained popularity in the CIS. On its basis, ZAZ released its own model, which received the name ZAZ Vida.

The production of this model began in 2012 and continues to this day, but due to a number of factors, mainly economic, production is intermittent.

But the car still "lives", is sold and driven.

So, ZAZ Vida refers to subcompact city cars. It is based on the first generation Aveo model, but Vida has been somewhat redesigned and therefore it has the ZAZ brand nameplate on the radiator grille.

Modifications, configurations

Vida is available in two body styles - sedan and hatchback.

Also for the car there are several trim levels.

The sedan has three of them - the basic Standart, as well as Comfort and the top Lux. The hatchback has no basic equipment.

Very modest equipment and includes not so much equipment.

From the outside, the presence of disc brakes is noted in front, drum brakes are used in the rear.

Of the additional lighting equipment, there is only a rear fog lamp. The bumper and side mirrors are painted in body color.

The car salon in the base is equipped with:

• head restraints on all seats;
• heated rear window;
• headlight corrector;
• power steering;
• adjustable steering column and one airbag for the driver.

That's all - modestly, and without any "buns", it's good at least the audio preparation has been carried out.

It is interesting that Vida does not have a full-fledged audio system even in the top configuration, there is only preparation for its installation.

Comfort package.

It is already somewhat better equipped, although only front foglights and wheel covers have been added from the exterior elements.

But the interior equipment has improved somewhat. Power windows are available, but only the front, power and heated side mirrors, central locking, air conditioning.

Security remained at the same level, that is, there is only one airbag.

Lux package.

It differs from Comfort in the presence and immobilizer. Additionally, it is possible to equip with 15-inch alloy wheels.

As for the ABS, in one modification this system is standard, and for the other it is optional. But more on that below.

Even based on the configuration, it can be understood that ZAZ Vida is a budget car, so you should not count on high build quality, as well as a large amount of equipment.

But in its price range, a car may well compete, since other cars for such a price are equipped in much the same way.

A big plus for View is that the model is a copy of the Chevrolet Aveo, which performed well on our roads.

Dimensions

Both versions of the car are 5-door and are designed for 5 people. But the sedan is longer - 4.325 m versus 3.920 m - for the hatchback.

The sedan is also wider, this parameter is 1.71 m for it, and for the hatchback it is 1.68 m. But they are the same in height - 1.505 m.

Interestingly, the sedan was copied from the first generation Aveo 1, and the hatchback that appeared later was copied from the Aveo hatchback of the 1st generation, but only restyled. Therefore, these two cars are outwardly dissimilar.

But if we compare the Vida sedan with the Aveo, then only small alterations can be noticed from the differences, mainly affecting the radiator grille.

The same applies to the hatchback, only some elements of the exterior have been changed.

Power units

Initially, Vida went on sale with only one power plant - a 1.5 liter, 8-valve, developing 84 hp. With. This engine was developed by General Motors, in general, they borrowed it again from Aveo.

Later, two more power plants appeared: a 1.4-liter, with 16 valves and 94 hp. With. power and a 1.5-liter, but already 16-valve with a capacity of 109 liters. With.

The first of them is also a development of GM, but the 1.5-liter one is a joint brainchild of the Melitopol plant and Chery.

All engines - gasoline, injection, meet Euro-4 standards.

Engines are considered quite good, as for a subcompact car, although they do not provide outstanding performance.

But there is an interesting feature, little known to anyone.

One of the versions of ZAZ Vida, with a factory modification SF69Y0-71, although equipped with the “weakest” engine of all, is included in its standard equipment, which is a rather interesting move by the manufacturer.

Transmission

A mechanical 5-speed gearbox is the main one; all modifications with a 1.5-liter engine come with it.

But the model with a 1.4-liter engine is paired with an automatic transmission, in 4 steps.

For the version of the car with automatic transmission and in the top-end configuration, ABS is offered as an option, but alloy wheels are included in the database. The drive for all versions is only the front.

A little in terms of performance.

The designers created a car in which speed and performance indicators turned out to be contradictory.

For example, a car with a 109-horsepower engine develops the lowest maximum speed - only 160 km / h.

84 hp engine. With. with "mechanics" accelerates the car to 170 km / h. But the model with automatic transmission and a 1.4-liter unit allows you to accelerate to 176 km / h. Moreover, these figures are the same for the sedan and hatchback.

In terms of fuel consumption, the most advantageous is the 109-horsepower engine, on average it consumes 7.2 liters, a car with automatic transmission consumes 7.3 liters in the combined cycle, but the 84-horsepower unit consumes 7.8 liters in this mode.

As for the rest of the Vida nodes, there is nothing remarkable about them. Suspension front - independent MacPherson strut, rear - semi-independent. Brakes front - disc, rear - drum.

There is also nothing remarkable in terms of the technical and constructive part, everything is quite simple and no frills, which is the norm for budget cars.

Specifications in the sedan body.

In a hatchback.

Owner reviews

ZAZ Vida went on sale in 2012, and so far no changes have been made to its design, and they are unlikely to be made.

The car itself, in terms of its technical component, as well as in terms of equipment, is not inferior to many budget counterparts.

And how the car showed itself, you can find out from the reviews of the owners below. Moreover, there are positive and negative reviews on this car.

Positive reviews.

Andrey (Kyiv, Ukraine), 1.5 l engine (84 hp), manual transmission.

“I bought Vida as a car for my wife. The choice of this car is explained very simply: any of the brands belonging to class "B" (the same Accent, Fabia, Polo) does not attract me, so why overpay? In addition, I needed a temporary option, which I will change later.

This is not my first car, Focus, Peugeot 207 were singled out for work, and Logan, Cerato had in his possession.

The machine was purchased equipped with an airbag, air conditioning, power steering, front foglights. In addition, I immediately bought new tires, floor mats and a radio.

Driving performance of the View is quite tolerable. The back is harsh, but the front suspension is not bad, it “swallows” the pits perfectly.

The motor with its 84 liters. With. pleases high-torque (Peugeot 207 far from him).

You get used to the clutch very quickly, it works just lovely. 2nd gear in the gearbox is hard to engage, especially when downshifting from 3rd.

Noise isolation is no different from cars of this class.

Passed zero MOT, during which the oil, filter, caliper guides were changed. In general, this service cost 600 UAH, which is very cheap.

While the car is happy, everything works well. I will exploit."

Yuri (Balakleya, Ukraine), 1.5 liter engine, manual transmission, Comfort.

“I have already dashed off 13 thousand km, so I can already sum up some results regarding the car.

Body, salon.

No rattling or creaking in the cabin, everything is relatively quiet. Friends were even interested in how much the additional skimmer of the car cost, but I did not do it.

Air conditioning in the summer works with a bang, in winter the stove also showed itself well.

Headlights - just class.

Dipped beam even had to be lowered down. Fog lights installed during a healthy fog helped. With my not very small stature, I sit in the car without any problems, there is enough space in front, and the passengers in the back do not reach with their knees.

Convenient dashboard, information is easy to read. Convenient paddle shifters.

In terms of fuel consumption, I didn’t notice much, but I’ll say that they most likely correspond to the passport ones. It's just that it doesn't really bother me, and I'm reluctant to do checks.

The engine is quite torquey, making it easy to overtake or accelerate downhill.

The car accelerated to 150 km / h, while it still behaved stably, there were no vibrations and beats. But for myself, I established that the optimal maximum for the View would be 130 km / h.

The suspension is generally soft. A couple of times I caught serious holes, and nothing - the racks withstood.

I realized that ZAZ Vida is far from the worst option for your money. And how she will show herself further - we'll see.

Ivan (Orel, Russia), 1.5 liters, manual transmission.

“When purchasing a car, the main criteria were low price, ease of maintenance and repair, since I am an entrepreneur, and the car feeds me.

Having considered several options, I settled on ZAZ Vida, because in terms of its characteristics and performance, the car completely suited me.

Driving performance of this car was a pleasant surprise, the machine holds the road well even in the rain.

Still pleasantly pleased with the consumption of gasoline, this ZAZ is very economical, maneuverable and with good ground clearance.

The car is easy to maintain and repair, I did not notice a shortage of spare parts, everything you need can be obtained at any car dealership.

Outwardly, it looks quite elegant. The salon is spacious, a large windshield provides good visibility.

The engine is not noisy, tidy easy to view. Interior trim is weak, but for the money you can hardly get better.

The spaciousness of the cabin and trunk is at a height, I often have to transport goods, and placing them in the car is not difficult.

In winter, the cabin is warm, in summer the air conditioner also works decently.

During the operation of the machine did not cause any problems. I recently completed it with a towbar and a trailer, which further increased the carrying capacity.

In general, I am satisfied with the car, and I think that I made the right choice.”

It is noteworthy that there will be more positive reviews on the Internet than negative ones.

All owners note that ZAZ Vida fully complies with their money.

But there are plenty of negatives too.

Vladimir (Kobelyaki, Ukraine), 1.5 L, manual transmission.

“I bought this car in addition to the existing VAZ-2106 and. You often have to travel by car, including Vida.

After another 10 thousand, the generator and part of the wiring, brake pads and pipelines, and rear wheel bearings were replaced.

The engine began to warm up, the thermostat had to be replaced.

The gearbox also began to leak.

In general, the car is really pouring. Something always needs to be repaired or replaced. My "Six" delivers less problems than Vida.

All statements that Vida is the same Chevrolet Aveo are not true at all.

Andrey (Kharkov, Ukraine) 1.5 L, manual transmission.

“A year has already skated on this car. The general feeling is disappointment. To the main disadvantages, I will immediately note the poor-quality assembly of the cabin.

Of the problems that arose with the car, I note the poor performance of the power windows, plus there were some knocks on the door when it was turned on.

The engine does not slow down after turning off the speed while driving. Several times stalled after turning on the air conditioner.

In urban conditions, gasoline consumption is at the level of 10 liters, which, in my opinion, is a bit much, while the fuel sensor works incomprehensibly.

At speeds above 120 km / h, a beating appears in the steering wheel, while balancing the wheels did not help.

A couple of times the box “showed off”, I could not turn on the reverse gear, the second one turned on with difficulty.

There is no sound insulation in the cabin and this is a fact. And these are just the main shortcomings.

In general, ZAZ Vida is very far from a car of high-quality assembly. ”

Summing up

The Zaporozhye Automobile Plant tried to re-establish the production of its cars, albeit simply by copying an already well-established model.

But even under such conditions, this car has enough features. Like any other car, ZAZ Vida has its main positive and negative qualities.

Of the positive notes:

1. Small cost;
2. Power units that are not bad in terms of performance;
3. Spacious salon;
4. Equipment to ensure comfort (albeit minimal);
5. Availability of spare parts;
6. Ease of repair.

And the negative qualities include:

1. Build quality;
2. Lack of sound insulation;
3. Incorrect readings of the fuel sensor;
4. High consumption in urban areas;
5. Minor flaws that can manifest themselves any day.
Rate the article

The ZAZ Vida subcompact sedan is nothing more than a “licensed copy” of the Chevrolet Aveo model with the in-house marking “T250”, which differs from the “original” only in nameplates.

Serial production of a three-volume vehicle at the facilities of the Zaporozhye Automobile Building Plant started in early 2012, and already at the end of the summer of the same year, its updated version with the prefix "Facelift" was presented at the Moscow Auto Show, which was transformed externally and internally (which, unfortunately, never got there).

Outwardly, ZAZ Vida is almost an exact copy of Aveo. This is a nice sedan with smooth body shapes, laconic bumpers, neat lighting and pronounced wheel arches. By today's standards, the car looks a little outdated, but its appearance definitely does not cause rejection.

With its dimensions, "View" clearly meets the concepts of the B-segment by European standards: 4310 mm long, 1505 mm high and 1710 mm wide. The wheelsets of the three-volume vehicle can accommodate 2480 mm between themselves, and under its bottom there is a 160 mm clearance.

The interior of the ZAZ Vida is unpretentious and spartan simple, but you don’t expect any frills from a purely budget car: a concise but readable instrument panel, a simple three-spoke steering wheel and a simple center console, on which there are only two air ducts, a radio slot and three climate control system. The interior of the sedan is trimmed with cheap, but quite good materials, and the build quality is generally at a normal level.

Inside the Vida there is enough free space for four adults, albeit without much stock. All seats have a very hospitable profile, while the front ones are also adjustable in a wide longitudinal range.

As part of the B-class, the trunk of the ZAZ Vida is quite decent for itself - 400 liters in the "traveling" state. The rear sofa, divided into two sections in a ratio of 40:60, folds up, increasing the available volume to 725 liters, but forms a noticeable step. In the “cellar” of the cargo compartment there is a full-size “reserve” and the tool necessary for its installation.

Specifications. Under the hood of the "Views" only four-cylinder gasoline units (there are three in total) with an in-line layout and distributed fuel injection work:

• The starting version is an 8-valve “aspirated” with a volume of 1.5 liters (1498 cubic centimeters), which develops 84 “stallions” at 5600 rpm and 128 Nm of torque at 5600 rpm and is equipped with a 5-speed “mechanics”.
• Next in the hierarchy is a 1.4-liter (1399 cubic centimeters) engine with a 16-valve timing, the potential of which has 94 horsepower at 6000 rpm and 130 Nm of peak thrust at 3400 rpm. Only he in tandem relies on a four-band automatic transmission.
• “Heads the power palette “16-valve” with a volume of 1.5 liters (1497 cubic centimeters), generating 109 “horses” at 6000 rpm and 140 Nm of available recoil at 4500 rpm. Like the "younger" unit, it interacts with a 5-speed manual transmission.

Depending on the modification, the spurt to 100 km/h in the ZAZ Vida sedan takes 11-14 seconds, accelerates to 160-170 km/h and "drinks" no more than 7.2-7.8 liters of fuel in mixed conditions for every "hundred".

"Vida" stretches on a front-wheel drive "trolley" with a longitudinally mounted engine in the front and a body in which high-strength steel grades are widely used (46% fall to their share). The chassis of the car is organized according to a scheme typical for the B-class: McPherson struts are installed in front, and a semi-independent architecture with an elastic beam is used in the rear (transverse stabilizers are used on both axles).
The rack and pinion steering on the Ukrainian sedan is supplemented with a hydraulic power steering, and its braking component is represented by ventilated “pancakes” on the front and drum devices on the rear axles (ABS is only available as an option).

Options and prices. In the summer of 2014, ZAZ Vida left Russia, and is now available only on the secondary market at a price of 220 thousand rubles or more (as of early 2017).

At home, the car of 2017 is sold in the Standard, Comfort and Lux ​​trim levels - its cost starts at 261,450 hryvnia (~ 585 thousand rubles at the current exchange rate). In the "state" the sedan is equipped with one airbag, power steering, 14-inch steel wheels and a height-adjustable steering column.
For the "top" version, dealers ask for 316,230 hryvnias (~708 thousand rubles), but its equipment is much more attractive (in addition to the above equipment): air conditioning, 15-inch light-alloy rollers, two electric windows, fog lights and exterior mirrors with heating and electrical settings.

For more than half a year, an analogue of the Chevrolet Aveo has been riding on the expanses of Ukrainian roads - sedan ZAZ Vida. Externally, the car looks the same, except for the ZAZ nameplates, the interior has also changed little, however, the center console has become a little simpler due to the lack of an audio system, and the four-spoke steering wheel has been replaced with a three-spoke steering wheel. Let's take a detailed look at this car.

But Vida has a more powerful 1.5-liter 109-horsepower MeMZ engine corresponding to the Euro-4 standard. This motor is assembled at ZAZ and half consists of Chinese Chery parts, and half of Ukrainian ones. For comparison, on the Chevrolet Aveo, which was the "progenitor" of the Vida, only engines of 1.2 and 1.4 liters and a capacity of 84 and 101 horsepower, respectively, are installed.
In Ukraine, the car has been on sale since the end of February 2012, initially the Vida sedan was assembled from Korean components, but now the Zaporozhye Automobile Plant has switched to full-scale production, which includes stamping, welding, painting and body assembly on the main conveyor. Due to the fact that the level of localization exceeded 51 percent, it became possible for Vida to appear in the CIS countries, including Russia.
A new distribution company will deal with deliveries of the car to Russia "ZAZavtoRus", which began its work just the other day - in April 2012. Previously, the Queengroup company was engaged in the distribution of ZAZ cars in Russia, but after the expiration of the contract with this distributor, the UkrAvto corporation chose to create its own player in the Russian market.

According to the head of ZAZAvtoRus Bogdan Vasilets, the new distributor will continue to work with the majority of dealers with whom Queengroup cooperated, so the level of sales of Zaporozhets will not decrease, moreover, the company expects to occupy 1.5 percent of the Russian market in 2013 and sell up to 40 thousand cars a year, and in 2015 to overcome the bar of 2 percent. The requirements for dealers will be tightened due to ZAZ's desire for the highest quality of customer service and strengthening of the brand's position.
What will the ZAZ Vida distributor ultimately bring to the Russians?
After the first reports of the imminent start of Vida exports to the Russian market, many were inspired, since in Ukraine the car is sold both with an automatic transmission and at an affordable price. However, it turned out that it was too early to rejoice. First of all, only the ZAZ Vida variant with the above-mentioned 1.5-liter engine and 5-speed "mechanics" developed by GM will be brought to us, which allows you to move at a maximum speed of 170 kilometers per hour. The length of the car is 4310 mm, the width is 1710 mm and the height is 1505 mm, the trunk volume is 320 liters, and with the seats folded down it is 725 liters.
The base Vida S will receive power steering, tilt steering, tachometer, immobilizer, driver airbag, rear fog lights, electric headlight corrector, four-speaker radio preparation, 14-inch wheels and a chrome-plated false radiator grille.
In the SE package, the car will additionally be equipped with air conditioning, front power windows, body-color side mirrors with electric and heated, central locking and front fog lights. The head of ZAZ, Nikolai Evdokimenko, assured that the supply of the top-end Vida SX equipment, which has an automatic transmission, is planned, but it is not yet clear how long it will take to appear in Russia. It is worth noting that for Russia there is a variant of the top configuration with a 1.5-liter engine, and not with a 1.4-liter one, as in Ukraine.
A little later in the summer, a hatchback version will appear with similar engine characteristics, but, of course, smaller overall dimensions - it is shorter by 390 mm and narrower by 30 mm, and its trunk has a volume of 175 liters or 735 with the rear seats folded down. ZAZ also has a Vida commercial van scheduled for production at the end of the year, so it can be expected in Russia in 2013 as well.
The most sensitive issue concerns the price of Vida in Russia. The cost of the basic version at Russian ZAZ dealers will be 389 thousand rubles ... In other words, Vida will be more expensive than the Chevrolet Aveo model, on the basis of which it was created.
For the sake of interest, you can try to compare Ukrainian prices for different Vida configurations with what may be in Russia. The basic version costs 90 thousand hryvnias or 330 thousand rubles, the extended version costs 97 thousand hryvnias or 356 thousand rubles, and the top version costs 107 thousand hryvnias or 392 thousand rubles. If ZAZ Vida S is really sold in Russia for almost 60 thousand rubles more, then dealers can ask for 450 thousand rubles for SX. For reference, the latest generation of the Chevrolet Aveo sedan with a 1.5-liter 115-horsepower engine and MKP5 costs in Russia from 444 thousand rubles.
In this regard, there are some doubts that sales of Vida will be on top. First of all, because sales of ZAZ Chance will continue in Russia, which costs only 349,000 rubles when equipped with an “automatic”. ZAZAvtoRus has prepared a rather aggressive advertising campaign for ZAZ Vida, and posters and commercials will end with the slogan “Let everyone win VID”, which, according to the company, will help improve the position of the new product.
According to the minimal impressions that we managed to get after a couple of laps on the ZAZ test site, we can say that Vida does not cause disgust - the engine does not make noise and runs smoothly, the ride is quite soft, and the interior is quite comfortable. But it is too early to make any statements about its quality. Vida will be in Russia in May, at the same time CARS.ru will have the opportunity to conduct a full test drive of this car and even compare it with the Chevrolet Aveo. However, now we can show a video that demonstrates the quality of the Vida suspension.

Specifications ZAZ VIDA(translated from Spanish as - life, lifestyle) are almost similar to. Because it is a 100% twin of Aveo (licensed copy), with the exception of minor details in the interior of the cabin, the nameplate of the ZAZ car corporation instead of the Chevrolet gold cross, as well as equipment with Ukrainian-made engines of 1.3 liters with a capacity of 70 hp. (don't let that scare you, the car is also available with GM 1.4 and 1.5 liter engines).

The car traditionally has front-wheel drive and is available in sedan and hatchback bodies. The transmission is installed 5-speed manual (Korean-made) or 4-speed automatic (GMovsky). Wheel size - 185/60 / R14 and 185/55 / ​​R15 (read). According to the manufacturer, ZAZ VIDA complies with the environmental requirements for exhaust toxicity imposed by the Euro-4 standard. The frequency of maintenance is 15 thousand km (read the frequency of maintenance of the Chevrolet Aveo). Also, some configurations are equipped with air conditioning, power windows and fog lights.

Operating fluids used in ZAZ VIDA

Technical data and characteristics of a 1.3-liter engine (MEMZ 307)

GM 1.4 and 1.5L engine performance

Characteristics used in ZAZ Type of lamps

Overview of the car ZAZ Vida sedan

We offer you to watch a short but rather informative video review of ZAZ Vida from the magazine "Behind the wheel". The video is interesting and informative.

Review ZAZ VIDA hatchback

And this review is not so professionally filmed, but also informative.

In a word, a budget car that is cheaper than its competitors in the same class.

Crash test ZAZ VIDA

Now let's get down to the ground and see how safe this car is. We did not find a crash test for ZAZ VIDDA, but since this is the twin of the Chevrolet Aveo, the problems will be the same.
According to the safety tests carried out according to Euro NCAP standards, Aveo received one and a half stars.

The conclusion of experts is disappointing - a high risk of injury that is not compatible with life. All due to severe deformation of the front of the body, which led to a decrease in living space inside the car. In addition, breaks in weld points were recorded. The situation was aggravated by the steering column, which rested against the mannequin's chest.

Experts explain such a sad result of the crash test by the fact that the Chevrolet Aveo T-250, also known as Daewoo Kalos, was completely developed by Korean engineers even before Daewoo was taken over by GM. Therefore, all the developments of the American Automobile Corporation in the field of security were used in subsequent models (T300, for example, created on the Opel Corsa platform - 5 stars).

How have you not read it yet? And in vain ...

Heading to the ZAZ office for the keys to a new car, I roughly understood what to expect from it. And if there were no global changes with the body and suspension, it was not without a transplant of “organs”: the sedan and hatchback are still delivered to Russia with a “heart” from the notorious models Chery Bonus and Chery Very. Along with the engine from Asian cars, Vida also inherited the transmission. It is these facts that can scare away many potential buyers. I considered it my main task to confirm or refute these fears.

In slips, the car behaves quite predictably. Photo: Evgenia Lyubimova

As usual, the description of the car will start with the exterior. When compared with the "donor", then, apart from the emblem on the grille and the Vida inscription on the trunk lid, there are no changes. Of course, not the standard of beauty, but it looks quite decent and does not cause rejection. The gaps between the body panels are even, all doors open easily and then close. In the cabin, again, no shocks: the same old friend Aveo with barely visible changes. The interior has lost its silver inserts, a three-spoke steering wheel with a new emblem has appeared, and the door panels have such innovations as reflectors. I’ll say right away that I didn’t really like the steering wheel: it was made of too slippery plastic, but it became more familiar to press the signal (Chevrolet’s signal buttons were not located in the most convenient places - along the edges of the steering hub). And although the interior plastic turned out to be very hard to the touch, I did not hear a single “cricket” during a week of driving on not the most even roads. Commendable! You can’t call the cabin cramped, and if you compare the interior with the closest competitor, Renault Logan, it’s not so spacious here, but it’s definitely more comfortable. The power window buttons are in their usual places, the stove knobs rotate with a pleasant effort, the air conditioning works properly, and the small glove box is quite neat. The trunk of sufficient volume is very comfortable, but, unlike the same Logan, the rear seats fold here, and separately.

2012 ZAZ Vida. Photo: Evgenia Lyubimova

Until we hit the road, it’s worth talking about the configuration: at the moment there is only one. If in the homeland of production three levels of equipment are offered (including a version with an automatic machine) and two engines to choose from, then we only have the maximum equipment available, which includes ABS, air conditioning, power steering, fog lights, front windows, electrically heated mirrors. You can choose only body type - sedan or 5-door hatchback. The Russian representative office hopes to expand the list of configurations in the near future by adding a 4-speed automatic to the list of equipment. Later, more budget versions may appear with a 1.5-liter engine (84 hp), known from the Chevrolet Lanos model, as well as with a 1.4-liter Korean engine with 94 hp. With.

Ukrainian origin is given out only by the emblems of the plant. Photo: Evgenia Lyubimova

On the go, I liked the machine as a whole - it's still the same Aveo. The funny thing is that the “foreign” engine behaves exactly like on the original: the engine is clearly not working at full strength. Claimed power of 109 liters. With. should be more than enough, but when starting off there is a slight dip, and only after 1500-2000 rpm the engine starts to wake up. And if on dry pavement this does not interfere much, then on slippery surfaces, when you need to move smoothly, sometimes difficulties arise. Either the start occurs with a failure without the required acceleration, or you get under way with a slip. But over time, you get used to this feature. I must say, such a disease is the "scourge" of cars produced recently. I observed this behavior both in powerful premium cars and in state employees. This is due to the introduction of Euro 4 standards, which pretty much “strangle” the engine.

Small mirrors provide good visibility without creating a dead zone. Can not but rejoice at the presence of adjustments and heating. Photo: Evgenia Lyubimova

And the Asian motor has potential. The engine, called ASTESO, was developed by Chery together with the Austrian company AVL. If you do not hesitate to turn it and change gears more often, then the little car begins to come to life. You don’t get lost in the city traffic, and then you even start to “smart” a little (good side mirrors with good visibility are especially helpful here). But, having reached a cruising speed of 100-110 km / h, the engine begins to “howl” slightly. The factory knows about this nuance, and in the future additional sound insulation of the engine compartment should appear. On the past Aveo, gear shifting was not particularly clear, and with Vida there is a feeling of deja vu: when changing gears quickly, the gearshift lever “stumbles” every now and then. But, as time has shown, this is a matter of habit: you just need to move the lever more smoothly. Those who change seats from the VAZ front-wheel drive will definitely not be disappointed.

The seatbacks fold separately, but the floor is not flat. Photo: Evgenia Lyubimova

But the suspension showed its best side. On large waves, the coverage of “Vidu” does not shake, and there have never been breakdowns - the energy intensity is at a high level. You have to pay for this with a fair amount of rigidity - small irregularities are transferred to the body quite carefully. This is partly due to 15-inch tires with a 55 profile - with wheels of standard size 185/60 R14 it would be softer. Fortunately, the stiff suspension affects the handling for the better. The car confidently holds turns, although it does not particularly indulge in directional stability: Vida scours the asphalt ruts slightly, sometimes requiring taxiing. In general, the sedan behaves very worthy on our roads, including on winter surfaces. On the "snake" - no excitement, everything is predictable and without surprises: in the limiting modes, the car predictably "floats" out of the turn and, with a little laziness, is stabilized by releasing the gas.

The trunk is comfortable. Folding seat backs form a small "step", but, nevertheless, it is possible to transport long lengths. Photo: Evgenia Lyubimova

What is the result? At ZAZ, they did not reinvent the wheel, but went along the already knurled path, mastering the production of budget foreign cars. And, in my opinion, they are doing well, although there is something to work on. I do not think that the new engine with a box will be less reliable than the native ones, which were not perfect anyway.

Indications from the instrument panel are read without problems. Photo: Evgenia Lyubimova

OUR VERDICT

Even with "foreign" engine and transmission, the car is not much different from its predecessor. Price will play a decisive role in the purchase. Until recently, a sedan cost 400,000 rubles. Now, taking into account discounts on cars in 2012, the plant has lowered the price to 379,000 rubles. A very advantageous offer, given that the main competitor Renault Logan (engine 1.6, 102 hp) in a similar configuration costs about 463,000 rubles.

The interior, though modest, is done quite neatly. Photo: Evgenia Lyubimova

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES
Energy-intensive, albeit stiff suspension, high ground clearance, favorable price / equipment ratio, predictable handling, understandable brakes, a developed network of dealerships.

A damped gas pedal, a noisy engine at high speeds, on a straight line sometimes there is not enough feedback on the steering wheel.

Driving

The main complaints about the belated reaction to the gas and not the most clear gear shift.

Salon

For a budget car, the interior is quite high quality.

Comfort

The suspension would be softer, but better sound insulation.

Safety

Chevrolet Aveo crash test results are alarming, which is offset by predictable behavior on the road.

Price

One of the best deals on the market.

SPECIFICATIONS

LOVE - NOT LOVE

practical
The trunk is comfortable. Folding seat backs form a small "step", but, nevertheless, it is possible to transport long lengths.

Confident
165 centimeters of ground clearance allow you to move on Russian roads without any fear. But installing crankcase protection will not be superfluous.

Safely
Small mirrors provide good visibility without creating a dead zone. Can not but rejoice at the presence of adjustments and heating.

Dimensions	4310x1710x150mm
Base	2480 mm
Curb weight	1205 kg
Full mass	1545 kg
Clearance	165 mm
Trunk volume	320/725 l
Fuel tank volume	45 l
Engine	petrol, 4-cylinder, 1497 cm3, 109/5600 HP/min-1, 128/3000 Nm/min-1
Transmission	mechanical, 5-speed, front-wheel drive
Dynamics	170 km/h; 11 s to 100 km/h
Fuel consumption	5.8/8.7/7.8 l per 100 km
Competitors	Renault Logan, Lada Granta, Daewoo Nexia