Our first Vesta Cross test can answer the question whether it is necessary to overpay 43 thousand rubles for the Cross or stay on the calm universal Vesta. Cross, it seems, is shouting, take me, he struggled to prove his case and even climbed the almost vertical wall of the Sochi forest. Video Vesta Cross test, about how we, blasting stones, took mountain heights below, technical characteristics at the end of the article.

I will not list all the station wagons that I had, starting with the VAZ 2102, my evolution for today stopped at the beveled rear door of the Audi A7. Surprisingly, it seems, in pursuit of the tastes of buyers like me, Lada moved away from an almost vertical rear wall in its new station wagon. True, the tilt of the rear window turned out to be not so strong as to abandon the wiper, as in my Sportback, but sufficient for the roof line to acquire the now fashionable dynamics.

Lada-Vesta-SW and Lada-Vesta-SW Cross: Let's imagine for a moment another VAZ-2104 next to it. It seems to me that he will stand here like an ancient stone. What kind of dynamic roofline was then thought about, and loaded the refrigerator into the country. And the universal Vesta even on the roof carries a "shark fin" - it is an outdoor antenna. This is what competition for me, my beloved, means.

According to Lada designer Steve Mattin, "the roofline, starting from the exterior mirrors, and the" shark fin "form a kind of airy elegant X". It turns out that there are never too many Xs on a clean car. If not for the X, I thought it would be Volvo. The double chromed tailpipe is modern, there is room on the right for two more fake pipes.

Lada-Vesta-SW and Lada-Vesta-SW-Cross: produced in Izhevsk. The base station wagon (right) looks simpler. It does not have two-tone bumpers wrap around the body of plastic overlays, it is 4 mm shorter and 25 mm lower than the Cross.

Prices for Lada-Vesta-SW start at 639,900 rubles, in the Cross base they are 116,000 more expensive. But at the top, in the most expensive configuration, the difference is only 43 thousand (1.8 liters, 16 cells, 122 hp, 5 AMT). The difference of 43 thousand can be found in the middle of the price list (1.8, 16 cl., 122 hp, 5 MT).

Our first Vesta Cross test took place in Sochi, where we rode both in the forest and on steep hills, Cross sports more aggressive bumpers with black and silver linings, and, of course, a body kit around the perimeter of the entire body. It seems like a props, but with frequent driving on dirt and simply dirty roads, the linings should extend the life of the paint on the sills and wheel arches. And this is already a question of corrosion resistance and presentation of station wagons after several years of intensive operation. But the owners of simple station wagons, in the event of a rear-end collision, can save money - their bumper is completely borrowed from the sedan. But Cross's bumpers are original and rather complexly organized.

For Lada Vesta, the cross in the forest is somehow calmer, the plastic body kit protects.

Can the refrigerator be immersed?

The declared volume of the trunk is 480 liters. It seems not bad at all, but opening the back door reveals a clearly smaller hold, not every refrigerator will fit. However, the floor panels are lifting, and under them is a pair of organizers with a total volume of 95 liters. For convenience, the trunk can be divided into 2 parts, as well as completely remove the plastic organizers.

Left storage space for containers with a fixing strap, 15 liter niche in the area of ​​the right
wheel arch, covered with a cover.

With the second row seats folded down - 825 liters. The double floor with the organizer aims to create a level area when folding the backs of the rear seats, but, as we can see, it is not very successful. The rear seat cushion will not stand up vertically, it must be removed from the passenger compartment in order to level the floor, you can remove it, but this is not an easy task.

Under the main floor, of course, there is a full-size spare wheel, however, it is 15-inch and on a steel rim. Next to the spare wheel is another organizer and a thick layer of noise insulation. There are also storage compartments on the sides of the trunk, bag hooks and even a 12-volt socket. An unexpected luxury for a budget car. The fifth door is closed with powerful handles, which are provided both on the right and on the left.

We sit in the back.

Lada-Vesta-SW-Cross: Here the head does not rest against the ceiling, and there is enough legroom. Unlike the sedan, the headroom has increased by 25 mm. Stretching your hand forward, you will find the heated rear seats.

With the new rear doors, getting into the back seat has become more convenient. A central armrest with a pair of cup holders has appeared, and in the maximum version for those sitting in the back, a heated rear sofa, a USB connector and a 12-volt outlet are provided. But the headrests are not very comfortable - in the upper position they are low for people 180 cm and taller.

Let's get behind the wheel.

The interior of the Vesta station wagon differs little from. But Lada Cross is painted from the heart.

Lada-Vesta-SW-Cross

Over the past 2 years, VAZ not only managed to develop a station wagon, but also slightly modified the interior. The top-end versions finally have a full-fledged center armrest. It is convenient to put your right hand on it, and there is a small compartment inside. In order to cheer up the driver, the Vesta SW and Vesta Cross received a painted instrument panel.

The Togliatti residents clearly spied on this idea; he also has orange accents in the interior.

In a simple station wagon, the instruments are only slightly summed up in color, while the raised version has the Cross inscription on the speedometer and brighter accents. In addition, it is distinguished by contrasting inserts on the seats, different ornaments on the plastic inserts of the dashboard and doors, as well as chrome handles. On the station wagon, the handles are matte.

Motor

Lada-Vesta-SW: 1.8-liter, 122-horsepower, 16-valve.

But the 1.8-liter 122-horsepower engine disappointed. Even when paired with mechanics borrowed from Renault, the engine clearly falls short of expectations. We drove Vesta together, and when accelerating to the floor, the speed gain in higher gears is slow. Perhaps the problem is that the test cars have not yet been run-in, and only 500-600 km on the odometers. However, Korean classmates, already at the exit from the factory, drive better even with a more modest volume of 1.6 liters. Against their background, the VAZ engine trembles under load and even after 2000 rpm does not pamper with a reserve of traction. Yes, Togliatti units have proven to be very reliable and maintainable, but in the modern world this is not enough. They clearly need to improve traction both at the bottom and at high revs.

Lada-Vesta-SW-Cross, like the station wagon brother, is equipped with two engines - 1.6 (106 hp) and 1.8 liters (122 hp).

The classic machine is missing.

And, of course, the main problem of the entire Vesta family is the lack of a full-fledged automatic transmission. It is no coincidence that only cars with mechanics were on the test, VAZ employees perfectly understand the inferiority of their robot (AMT) and try not to show it to journalists once again. We can only hope for help from abroad. Either Vesta will receive a Jatco 4-speed automatic, which they again began to install on Granta, or the French will share a CVT from Renault Kaptur.

We'll ride some more.

On the Vesta road, the station wagon is practically no different from the sedan. The body is very rigid and the car follows the wheel perfectly. A steering wheel with a standard electric booster is an example of accuracy and information content. Vesta Cross is 25 mm higher (station wagon ground clearance 178 mm) and this had its effect. While driving quietly, the difference is almost imperceptible, but on the crossbars you can feel a little deeper body roll, which stems not only from the high suspension, but also from the wider and grippy Pirelli tires.

On the crossbars, the Cross rolls a little more than the station wagon.

Lada-Vesta-SW-Cross

And when leaving the asphalt, it is better to slow down a little. Low-profile 17-inch wheels do not favor sharp irregularities, and, secondly, the increase in ground clearance has led to a reduction in rebound travel. On the bends of the road, the wheels are now and then in the air.

When hanging one wheel, the trunk opens easily, which indicates sufficient rigidity of the body.

If the car is locked in this position, the trunk will open perfectly, which is great. However, in terms of cross-country ability, the reduction in rebound travel is a definite disadvantage. So, if the need for increased ground clearance is not too great, try to get by with a regular West station wagon or consider switching to more modest rims, perhaps tires with an off-road pattern are better suited. But this is already a topic for a separate conversation when the time comes for the all-wheel drive Vesta.

Will there be four-wheel drive?

Lada-Vesta-SW-Cross

When asked head-on about the release date of Vesta Cross with all-wheel drive, VAZ employees are evasive in Russian. They say that the market is hardly ready to buy such a car in large volumes, and while there is no confirmed demand, there is no production. But given that the rear beam on Vesta is very similar to that of the Lada Largus, and therefore the Renault Duster, technically there is probably such an opportunity. It remains only to dock the box to the VAZ engine not from Logan, but from the all-wheel drive Duster, choose the appropriate length of the cardan shafts and adjust the clutch in the rear wheel drive. But given that the construction of the station wagon took Togliatti residents 2 years instead of the promised one, the four-wheel drive Vesta will have to wait in the hope that it will remain in the fashion trend.

So which one to choose?

For those who want a really large trunk, it is definitely better to look at the larger Lada Largus, it will take almost twice as much luggage, and it will be more convenient for passengers. But in fact, Largus is a big Logan of the first generation, with all that it implies. Vesta is the choice of a driver who wants to get a stylish and dynamic car first of all, and a beautifully finished trunk and increased ground clearance are a pleasant bonus that distinguishes Vesta Cross from the line of ordinary sedans. Well, in general, we got the hint.

We also add that Vesta Cross is a good signal that Lada ... (ugh, ugh, ugh) can.

Video Vesta Cross test below, at the end of the technical specifications.

LADA VESTA SW - LADA VESTA SW CROSS

Specifications

TOTAL INFORMATION	Lada Vesta SW 1.8 5MT (5AMT)	Lada Vesta SW 1.6 5MT (5AMT)	Lada Vesta SW Cross 1.8 5MT (5AMT)	Lada Vesta SW Cross 1.6 5MT
Dimensions, mm: length / width / height / base	4410 / 1764 / 1512 / 2635	4410 / 1764 / 1512 / 2635	4424 / 1785 / 1532 / 2635	4424 / 1785 / 1532 / 2635
front / rear track	1510 / 1510	1510 / 1510	1510 / 1510	1524 / 1524
Trunk volume, l	480 / 825	480 / 825	480 / 825	480 / 825
Ground clearance, mm	178	178	203	203
Curb weight, kg	1330	1280	1350	1300
Acceleration time 0 - 100 km / h, s	10,9 (12,9)	12,4 (14,4)	11,2 (13,3)	12,6
Maximum speed, km / h	180 (182)	174 (174)	180 (181)	172
Fuel / fuel reserve, l	A92 / 55	A92 / 55	A92 / 55	A92 / 55
Fuel consumption: urban / extra-urban / mixed cycle, l / 100 km	10,6 / 6,3 / 7,8 (9,9 / 6,2 / 7,6)	9,5 / 5,9 / 7,3 (9,2 / 5,7 / 7,0)	10,7 / 6,4 / 7,9 (10,1 / 6,3 / 7,7)	9,7 / 6,0 / 7,5
ENGINE
Location	Front transverse	Front transverse	Front transverse	Front transverse
Configuration / number of valves	P4 / 16	P4 / 16	P4 / 16	P4 / 16
Working volume, cubic meters cm	1774	1596	1774	1596
Power, kW / h.p.	90/122 at 5900 rpm.	78/106 at 5800 rpm.	90/122 at 5900 rpm.	78/106 at 5800 rpm.
Torque, Nm	170 at 3700 rpm.	148 at 4200 rpm.	170 at 3700 rpm.	148 at 4200 rpm.
TRANSMISSION
Type of	front wheel drive	front wheel drive	front wheel drive	front wheel drive
Transmission	M5 (P5)	M5 (P5)	M5 (P5)	M5
CHASSIS
Suspension: Front / Rear	McPherson / elastic beam	McPherson / elastic beam	McPherson / elastic beam	McPherson / elastic beam
Steering	rack and pinion with electric booster	rack and pinion with electric booster	rack and pinion with electric booster	rack and pinion with electric booster
Brakes: front / rear	disk / disk	disc / drum	disk / disk	disc / drum
Tire size	185 / 65R15 or 195 / 55R16	185 / 65R15 or 195 / 55R16	205 / 50R17	205 / 50R17

Back in March 2016, the presenters of the YouTube channel under the name Big Test Drive showed us a domestic novelty - a conceptual model of Lada Vesta Cross.

A year and a half later, a video Lada Vesta Cross Big test drive appeared on their channel, where the presenters showed us the production version of the car.

The hosts of the program, Sergei Stillavin and Rustam Vakhidov, took a novelty of the domestic car industry - LADA Vesta Cross SW for a test and tested it for several hundred kilometers. In their video, they are ready to tell us about their emotions, impressions and everything that they noticed and what they were surprised at in the new LADA VESTA SW CROSS. Expect information in the release about how the car drives, how it keeps on the road and how it steers. In total, the video lasts a little over 20 minutes. Go!

Big test drive Lada Vesta SV Cross

Here is the video from the channel, which you can watch below:

Now let's take a look at everything in detail. From the very beginning of the video, we were shown that the presenters do not hide their obvious delight from the model. The car turned out to be the most beautiful, the highest quality and generally the best among all domestically produced cars. Car rides!

The video begins, as usual, with technical information, the presenters tell what kind of car they have on the test, what kind of car it has, how it differs from its brother - the usual station wagon West. Further there is a little information about, with which the leading BTC were taken for the test. After that, the guys talk about and, also, rear disc brakes. The guys say with a bit of irony that we finally got the rear disc brakes. In general, a little irony and sarcasm and we will learn all the main details about the station wagon - trunk volume, ground clearance, etc.

Big test drive Lada Vesta Cross video

Big test drive Lada Vesta SV Cross photo

Vesta SV Cross is probably the only domestic car that you can buy with your eyes alone, without connecting your brain. Just look at her - a beauty! Especially in this exclusive Mars color. A dream, not a car.

Looking at the exterior of the car, one gets the impression that the "off-road" version was drawn first, and only then, by simplification, they got a simple station wagon. If the usual Vesta SW 15th wheels look like "castors", then in the visually widened arches of the SW Cross, the wheels with 17-inch disks "sit" as if cast. The black plastic on the doorstep also plays on the overall swiftness, visually reducing the height of the body and adding ground clearance, and here it is already with a margin - as much as 203 mm.

There is only one difference in the cabin, but one cannot fail to notice it: it feels like a full bucket of orange paint was transported in the car on a very bad road, while it was without a lid. "Orange" blotches are everywhere: on the seats, on the front panel and doors, and even on the devices, a savory charge of paint has gotten. Don't like color experiments? Not a problem, you can refuse all this carnival of colors and choose a neutral gray finish.

In terms of configuration, the car does not differ from a simple Vesta station wagon: there are heating for everything and everyone (5 pieces!), And navigation with a rear-view camera, and even climate and cruise control.

The whole difference in equipment comes down to other wheels: more disks, wider tires.

On the road Vesta SW Cross behaves similarly to the simple version, but worse off-road! The suspension behavior is similar to the operation of pneumatic struts in the highest position, there are small strokes and stiffness, only here this is achieved not by cunning mechanisms, but by simple physics: large wheels with not very high-profile tires allow shocks to pass, then they are tougher than in the standard, the shock absorbers let through blow already on the body.

If you are not interested in off-road, then on good roads any Vesta is able to give pleasure from driving, the “off-road” version is no exception. An accurate and moderately sharp steering wheel, good brakes, small rolls (although more than not in the cross-country), and as a result we get a very gambling car that you want to ride and drive.

What can stop the desire to travel a lot is high fuel consumption, in life the average consumption is about 11 liters per hundred. Another problem for Togliatinsky cars is traffic jams, there was no good automatic transmission, and there is no good automatic transmission, and not many are in a hurry to be satisfied with the AMT robot.

Another disadvantage of the “elevated” version is the worst dynamics: the car is heavier and turning 17 wheels is more difficult than 15, so we get a loss in one second in acceleration to 100 km / h, the fastest result in our measurements is 12.5 seconds.

Detailed prices can be found below on the page, but in short, the Cross-version is more expensive than the simple one by 43,000 rubles. in the same Luxe configuration, but a simple SV is available in a more democratic Comfort configuration, and this will allow you to leave another 40,000 rubles in your pocket.

Photo gallery

Not a traditional family utility truck like the Largus, but a more dynamic, stylish model with a sloping roof. A sort of Russian shooting brake. And we take back our previous words that the Vesta sedan is the most beautiful car from AvtoVAZ ...

Lada Vesta SW / SW Cross has 79 new body parts, including a protective plastic body kit. In the body itself, amplifiers are introduced to compensate for the absence of a partition in the trunk, which the sedan has. But there are still no xenon or lensed headlights!

Because the "car" with its "floating" roof looks much cooler and, most importantly, more harmonious! Although below the sill line, the SW is, in fact, that sedan, just modified. And what is really so different? We will now answer this and other questions of our readers.

Question from rkhabibullin

Does the cabin smell like plastic?

As bright as the SW Cross looks from the outside, it is inside - the same Vesta, already familiar to us from test sedans. Here is the familiar booming thump of doors when closing, there is a familiar piece of foam rubber peeking out between the windshield and the dashboard ...

Minimum price

Maximum price

But there are also differences. The characteristic aromas of the decoration still remain, although the "phonite" is already less and the smell disappears quickly. The folding armrest on the driver's seat has replaced the central box with a soft cover, on which it is convenient to rest with your hand (the armrests on the doors are still the same hard). And the heated front seats are already 3-stage.

Orange inserts "gouge out" of the SW Cross can be replaced with gray. The plastic is hard everywhere, the "Shumka" is average: the dashboard and windshield creak on the bumps, the engine makes noise. It is more convenient to throw the phone into the cup holder than into the far niche, and the central box now interferes with using the “handbrake”. The rear view camera has a good picture and trajectory tips. The sound quality of "music" is quite acceptable.

The steering wheel is adjustable in tilt angle and reach, the driver's seat - in height and degree of lumbar support. But why is there such a tight tuning mechanism at the helm? The short seat cushion and its high raised front edge are not yet pleasing. The shoulders hang in the air without support on the pillow, although it supports the lower back well - after getting used to it, I, as they say, sat down. In turns you will not fall out of the "saddle" due to good lateral support and a tight fit.

But because of the layout of the pedal assembly, it is not so easy to choose a position for them so as not to sit "on the bent" ones. The platform for the left leg is still the same scanty and uncomfortable, the leg cannot be extended. The pedals are tight, with large shoes you periodically press immediately on the gas and the brake, plus you cling to the decorative shield above the brake pedal with your toe.

The gauges are the same, but only the SW Cross versions are put on orange rings. Looks cheerful, although radial digitizing is inconvenient. The trip computer is detailed, but its two-button control is still confusing, you can't figure it out without instructions.

In general, there were a lot of comments on the car this time. For example, the difference in effort and tactile sensations on the buttons and knobs is surprising, and the slippery "twists" of the climate control dangle and hardly lock when rotating. The SW Cross equipment includes a light and rain sensor, the left wiper now cleans its area wider ... But the "wipers" still shudder after stopping, the windshield washer motor howls, and the rear nozzle does not spray "washer" on the glass of the fifth door, but simply pours it ... And the light of the halogen headlights did not impress with the brightness - neither near nor far. From the pros - fog lights noticeably expand the light border.

Maybe Vesta SW Cross will please you more on the go? After all, she has a lifted suspension and as many as 1.8 under the hood ...

1. The front doors have a familiar asymmetry. Left door - with open shelf ...
2. ... the right one has a door handle, which makes it inconvenient to use the window regulator. The power window keys are very tight.
3. The thresholds have become wider because of the protective pads on the SW Cross, take care of your trousers.

Question from palomar

What kind of 1.8 is this, can you get more details?

The VAZ-21179 engine (not to be confused with the VAZ-21128 engine from the Super-Auto studio) is both an event and another long-term construction in the history of AvtoVAZ. It began to be developed back in 2006, and in 2008, the English engineering firm Ricardo was brought in to help. The engine went into production only in February 2016. Xray got it first, then Vesta, next in line - Largus. It is based on a cast-iron block and an aluminum head of a 1.6-liter VAZ-21127 unit (21129 on Vesta and Xray). But the volume of changes is such that it is, in fact, a new motor.

The engine displacement was increased to 1.8 liters, extending the piston stroke due to the new VAZ crankshaft and connecting rods shortened by 5 mm. Oversized Mahle valves and South Korean hollow camshafts are lightweight. The connecting rod-piston group is also lightweight, from Federal Mogul, with reinforced pistons. The network figures figures for a motor resource of 220,000 km. But we must remember that due to the shortened connecting rod with an increased inclination angle, the piston now presses more against the cylinder walls, and the extended stroke increases its speed. All this can accelerate the wear of the cylinder-piston group, so the question of the resource of the new motor is still open.

1. Cooled glove compartment now with smooth opening of the lid, which received a cup holder.
2. Gray "leather" seat inserts magnetically attract dirt.
3. The front seats have 3-stage heating. The backrest is heated weaker than the pillow.

Lubrication and cooling systems - with additional channels, inlet and outlet are also redesigned. The oil pump of the Korean company GMB (they also buy a more efficient water pump from it) now pumps twice as much oil. This is necessary for the hydraulic phase shifter on the intake camshaft, which the VAZ engine received for the first time. The valve timing regulator itself is a German company INA. The fuel rail is supplied by Continental, the injectors are of increased performance. The timing belt is driven by a new INA automatic tensioner.

Note that earlier on the Xray, the 1.8 engine was already marked with a "maslozhor". The reason lay in a batch of defective Chinese-made Mahle valves, the stems of which were at risk from poor machining. AvtoVAZ announced that it had corrected the situation, and the block heads were replaced under warranty on the machines "eating" oil. By the way, we have already written about these and other "sores" in the section.

Question from iwillbreaku

What are the dynamics?

The 1.6 liter engine is 106 "forces" at 5800 rpm and 148 Nm at 4200 rpm. The 1.8 engine is already 122 hp. at 5900 rpm and 170 Nm at 3700 rpm. Frankly speaking, it is sparse for our time. And a more powerful version of the 1.8-liter engine is clearly being held by AvtoVAZ for, where 149, and in the future, 180 hp are expected. But she is not expected until 2018. This means that the chip tuning masters will not be left without work: they already offer firmware for the 1.8 engine.

According to the factory data, the test SW Cross 1.8 with manual transmission in acceleration to 100 km / h is 1.4 seconds faster than the version with a 1.6 engine: 11.2 seconds versus 12.6. Where does this difference come from? Not only because of the power. The 1.8 engine is combined with a Renault JR515 manual gearbox assembled at AvtoVAZ. And her gear ratios are "shorter" than those of the VAZ "mechanics" 21807 paired with a 1.6 engine. But there is another key difference. SW Cross with 1.8 engine and manual gearbox is the only version in the entire Vesta family with a final drive ratio of 4.2. For all other Vestas it is more "high-speed" - 3.9.

1. The station wagons received a central box, in which a USB port and buttons for heating the rear sofa, which was first introduced on the Ladakh.
2. A second plafond of lighting has finally appeared above the ceiling.
3. On station wagons, the folding armrest of the rear seats also debuted. But it is only for the top version of the Luxe Prestige. The ceiling on the rear sofa is 2.5 cm higher than that of the sedan.

VAZ employees declare that such shortened gear ratios "increase comfort at the beginning of the movement and the convenience of driving on roads with difficult surfaces." Let's check. A turn of the key, a characteristic second pause at the start, and ... Listen, why even a warmed-up engine rumbles like a diesel engine at idle and when accelerating from low revs in fifth gear ?! Complaints about "diesel" have already been on 1.6 liter engines, but it turns out that it was never defeated on the new engine?

But it is really very easy to get under way from 1st gear: the thrust is like on a diesel engine, even a driver who does not get along with the "mechanics" will cope and will not stall, we checked. We also have no complaints about the long-stroke, but light and quite informative clutch. But the rest ...

In a traffic jam, you can easily crawl in 1st gear even at idle. But just touch the gas pedal and the car jerks forward. She would have such impatient agility during acceleration! Otherwise, I switch to the second, give gas, but instead of active acceleration - dips and jerks. It seems to be a more "grassroots" motor - but from these very "lower classes" it goes reluctantly. Up to 2000 rpm it seems to be not there, and only at 3000 rpm pickup begins. Moreover, high revs are expectedly accompanied by a harsh sound, with an anguish and a familiar roar.

The long-awaited rear disc brakes debuted on SW / SW Cross station wagons with a 1.8 engine. There are no questions about the brakes themselves: powerful, grippy, informative, with a short pedal travel - they can easily withstand a more powerful engine.

There are also questions about the gearbox. Vibrations and shocks go to the tight gearshift lever, and when the 3rd and 5th steps are turned on, "plugs" occur. (I remember that the VAZ "mechanics" did not leave a more pleasant impression). On the track, the reverse side of the shortened transmission ratios comes out. Fifth gear, 100 km / h - the tachometer shows about 2600 rpm, and at 110 km / h there is already almost 3000 rpm. And this, as you know, is both extra engine noise and extra expense.

In general, I will not say that the 1.8 engine impressed us greatly in terms of dynamics, we expected more. And, judging by the reviews of other fellow journalists, not only we did not wait for this. Yes, the 1.8 pulls better than the 1.6 engine, only this difference is not so dramatic and disastrous for the "junior motor". The 1.8 unit could reveal its potential after tuning, but if you don't need it, then the 1.6 engine is the most rational choice.

As for the consumption, the checks came out 6.7 l / 100 km on the highway and a little in the city, and 7.8 l / 100 km, taking into account the races on dirt roads. In the city, according to the trip computer, the appetite can rise up to 10 l / 100 km and more. It is not surprising, because the passport appetite in the city is 10.7 l / 100 km (the 1.6 engine "eats" exactly 1 liter less).

Question from iwillbreaku

Are the rolls strong?

About how the Vesta SW Cross rides and drives, it is necessary to tell especially, because the station wagon is seriously different from both the sedan and from the "just" SW. The bodies of the "cars" are torsionally stiffer, and the SW and SW Cross are 70 kg heavier than the sedan, their trunk capacity is larger, so they have stiffer rear springs.

The track of the "cross" version is wider: 1524 mm versus 1510 mm for the sedan and the usual SW. And the Cross has its own suspension too: longer travel, with different springs and shock absorbers, and settings that take into account not only weight gain, but also an increase in the center of gravity. Wheels - only 17-inch, with 205/50 tires (the test car was on Michelin X-Ice winter Velcro). All this together gives the Cross version the declared ground clearance in the "crossover" 203 mm (!) Versus 178 mm for the sedan and the usual SW, which is not supposed to have 17-inch wheels.

The volume of the Vesta SW Cross "hold" is 480 liters up to the curtain shelf behind the rear sofa (like a sedan) and 825 liters when folded down (up to the window sill line). Renault Duster 4x2 claimed 475-1636 liters, Skoda Rapid - 530-1470 liters. In addition to lamps and hooks for nets and bags, there is a 12V socket in the trunk.

By the way, the SW Cross will not have smaller wheels. Why, if for the usual Vesta SW they offer both sizes 185/65 R15 and 195/55 R16, you ask ?! Togliatti counters that this will reduce the ground clearance (by 8 mm, according to the tire calculator) and declare that the "cross" suspension was tuned specifically for 17-inch tires. And what did you set up in the end?

On the asphalt, the tightly knocked down suspension does not notice the road "trifle" and smooths out average irregularities well - you can not stand on ceremony with speed and not bother with detours. Although on the "speed bumps" it is felt that, due to the suspension and low-profile rubber, the SW Cross is tougher than the sedan: if you do not slow down, the "muzzle" is thrown up until the shock absorbers are triggered on rebound, and the feed passes the unevenness with a good kick. On the other hand, in driving corners and on active rearrangements, the car does not fall down and gives a persistent feeling that this tenacious and assembled chassis can easily withstand a more powerful engine.

The electric power steering wheel makes 2.8 turns from lock to lock, weightless at low speeds, although at speed it is already heavy, more "clamped" and less sensitive in the near-zero zone. At first, the SW Cross also asks for micro-steering, but after getting used to the car, this is less noticeable.

1. Can you sleep at SW Cross? A person up to 175 cm tall (pictured) will lie flat, if taller - already diagonally.
2. Under the second floor there is another foam pallet and a Pirelli Formula Energy 185/55 R15 spare wheel on a steel rim.
3. The trunk is a hoarder's dream! Behind the right wheel is another 15 liter niche.

The whole essence of the venture with a lifted and more energy-intensive suspension is revealed on country roads and bombed-out crushed stone graders. The usual Vesta runs along them briskly, but the way the Cross-version allows you to "heap" ... Yes, this is already a crossover, not a passenger car! At first, on rural bumps and pits, you are careful, you expect that now there will be a hard breakdown of the suspension or contact with the bottom, but nothing happens, the suspension takes a hit. And you start to get bold, to become impudent: you are already overtaking cars creeping along the bumps, you go around the Niva, and Renault Duster itself is your equal in your thoughts ...

By its ability to "digest" our roads, SW Cross is still a provocateur. From the restraining factors - fears, as if on low-profile rubber from the blows did not get out "hernias". The second point: with active driving in large pits, the suspension rattles and thumps, especially the front one - at Vesta, it seems, this is a family one. And it shakes, of course, harder and harder, passengers (especially the rear ones) will not want to endure such a "rally-style" for a long time. So often drive on bumpy roads, it makes sense to look for tires with a higher profile: both the ride will be softer and the tires livelier.

Question from teamagnat

Why is there no four-wheel drive?

This issue has been around for so many years, if you look at it ... In the 2000s, AvtoVAZ tried several times to fit four-wheel drive to their passenger cars. In 2001, an experimental station wagon Lada 111 GTI 2.0 4x4 was made, and in 2007 a prototype of "Kalina" named Lada 1117 4WD appeared - both cars were even made rear independent suspensions for the sake of this. More details - in our unrealized projects of AvtoVAZ.

The actual ground clearance of the SW Cross is even higher than the stated one: under the lower point of protection of the motor, the tape measure shows 215 mm! The traction control system simulates cross-wheel locks well, and while the wheels cling, Vesta climbs off-road with dignity. All-wheel drive would be a bomb!

Alas, the business then did not progress beyond several prototypes. Indeed, due to the large volume of design alterations, such a machine turns out to be too expensive at the exit. And AvtoVAZ is not yet sure that the Russian buyer is ready to pay for it. Especially today.

But there is another option. In 2016, in Togliatti, they began to test the all-wheel drive Renault Logan and Sandero, where the rear wheels are turned by the hydrostatic transmission of the French company Poclain Hydraulic. For this, a pump is installed in the standard gearbox, which pumps oil through the hoses to the traction motor. If Logan and Sandero get it in the end, why not try it with Vesta? However, to our question about the all-wheel drive (including hydraulic), AvtoVAZ replies that "research continues in this direction, but it is too early to talk about specific terms and decisions."

Question from bogdanchik_517

Will the Vesta be a coupe or a hatchback?

There is no question of the "compartment" Vesta, but spy photos of hatchback prototypes on the network have previously flashed. But back in 2016, the president of AvtoVAZ, Nicolas Maure, announced the abandonment of the hatchback and said that the company was betting on the station wagon.

Question from abelenkovv

When will there be anything better than the dumbest "robot"? Torque converter or at least a variator?

The slowness of the "robot" AMT (box of the VAZ-21827 series with ZF electric actuators) with a single-disk "dry" clutch is already known. By the way, we also sipped this "reverie" during the Vesta AMT sedan. And AvtoVAZ is now considering new "two-pedal" options. One of them is the continuously variable variator of the Renault-Nissan alliance.

1. The 1.8 engine can be distinguished from the 1.6 by the intake manifold. When removing the decorative cover, take care of the fastening rubber bushings, they easily fall out of the fasteners and are lost.
2. When hanging slightly "bites" only the right front door.
3. The steel protection of the motor is already in the base, and the flat bottom gives good cross-country ability.

In the spring of this year, information appeared that a prototype Lada Vesta with a variator is already ready. The manufacturer is allegedly busy with the choice of suppliers, and the product modification of such Vesta will be ready by the beginning of 2018. But to our question about the specifics, the press service of AvtoVAZ so far answers that "we see interest from the market for other types of automatic transmissions, we are working in this direction, but no decisions have been made yet." In short, we are waiting for 2018.

Question from eduard_tcigankov

Will there be a methane version?

In July 2017, AvtoVAZ began selling the Lada Vesta CNG dual-fuel sedan with "mechanics" and a 1.6-liter 106-horsepower engine running on gasoline and compressed natural gas. AvtoVAZ claims that the total fuel supply (55 liters of gasoline and 90 liters in a gas cylinder) gives a mileage of 1000 km without refueling. And the use of methane can reduce fuel costs by 3 times. Gas-gasoline Vesta is sold in 4 trim levels at a price of 749,900 to 864,900 rubles.

To our question about whether SW / SW Cross will have a methane version, the press service of AvtoVAZ answered the following.

“If we talk about the scheme used on the Lada Vesta CNG sedan, then no, since the cylinder in the trunk will not allow using the advantages of the monocolume body. But if there is a corresponding request from the market, we will begin to work out options. less stable in quality. "

Question from badi_monso

Is it a little expensive?

Yes, Lada Vesta SW Cross is the most expensive VAZ model today. And if the sedan and the usual SW have cheap configurations (Classic and Comfort), then the "cross" is sold only in Luxe versions. Option with 1.6 engine and manual transmission - from 755 900 rubles. Engine 1.8 and "mechanics" cost from 780,900, with a "robot" - already from 805,900 rubles for the basic Luxe to a maximum of 847,900 rubles for the Luxe Prestige! For comparison, the price range for a conventional SW station wagon is from 639,900 to 804,900 rubles.

17-inch rims, roof rails, tailgate spoiler, twin-barrel exhaust, body-colored mirrors and door handles are standard on the SW Cross.

However, even the base SW Cross Luxe is well equipped. There are 4 airbags, a stabilization system with an uphill start assistant, a double boot floor, climate control with a cooled glove compartment, heated mirrors (with a servo drive), windshield and front seats, power windows "in a circle", light, rain and parking sensors (rear), multifunction steering wheel, cruise control and radio with 4 columns.

The Luxe Multimedia version (from 779,900 rubles) is supplemented with a rear-view camera and a multimedia system with a 7-inch screen and navigation. Test the same SW Cross (1.8 l, manual transmission) was in the top-end version of the Luxe Prestige for 822,900 rubles. There are LED interior lighting, an armrest and heated rear sofa, tinted rear windows.

What do competitors have? There are cheaper options, but SW Cross outperforms them all in terms of price-equipment ratio. For example, the Renault Sandero Stepway hatch has a clearance of 195 mm and a price range without options of 649,990-765,990 rubles. But it is much smaller than "Vesta", and the car, which is close in equipment to the basic SW Cross, costs from 780,000 rubles for the 1.6 engine (82 hp) with manual transmission. For a 113 hp engine it is necessary to pay an additional 40,000 rubles, for a 4-speed automatic - 70,000 rubles.

The newest elevated Kia Rio X-Line is larger than the Sandero Stepway, but has a ground clearance of only 170mm. And the prices are different: for 774,900 rubles, only a 1.4 liter (100 hp) engine with a 6-speed manual transmission will be sold. The 1.6 engine (123 hp) costs from 799,900 rubles, and for a 6-band automatic in both cases they will ask for another 40,000 rubles. To get a comparable level of equipment, like that of the top-end SW Cross, cook at least 964,900 rubles.

Overall dimensions, length, width, height, mm	4424x1785x1532	4424x1785x1532	4424x1785x1532
Wheelbase, mm
Ground clearance, mm
Trunk volume, l
Curb weight, kg
engine's type	VAZ-21129 Petrol, 4-cylinder, atmospheric, with distributed injection		VAZ-21179. Petrol, 4-cylinder, naturally aspirated, with multipoint injection
Engine volume, cm3
Maximum power, h.p.	106 at 5800 rpm	122 at 5900 rpm	122 at 5900 rpm
Maximum torque, Nm	148 at 4200 rpm	170 at 3700 rpm	170 at 3700 rpm
type of drive	Front	Front	Front
Transmission			5-stage "robot"
Maximum speed, km / h
Acceleration to 100 km / h, s
Urban cycle, l / 100 km
Country cycle, l / 100 km
Combined cycle, l / 100 km
Fuel type	Gasoline AI-92 and higher	Gasoline AI-92 and higher	Gasoline AI-92 and higher
Fuel tank volume, l

Several interesting new models, excellent sales figures, carpet bombing of the nerve cells of competitors - it would not be an exaggeration to say that AvtoVAZ is doing better now than it has ever been since the collapse of the USSR. But this success has a downside: people from Togliatti right now are under tremendous pressure and close attention of almost every sexually mature Russian. Even those who were not going to buy a Lada at all. And this leaves VAZ employees practically no chance for a mistake. Only forward!

Remember how AvtoVAZ launched the first-born of a new wave - the Lada Vesta sedan. Slowly and carefully. No unnecessary information noise, no "accidentally" published in the media brochures with the model's appearance. The VAZ employees themselves provided information to the extent that they considered necessary. And now "Vesta" is already in the top three of the best-selling cars in Russia! Without pretentious presentations with stunt tricks, "brand ambassadors" from among celebrities and other blue lights - solely at the expense of their own talents.

And here's another new model. Even one and a half. These are Lada Vesta SW and its off-road version SW Cross. Didn't find the word "wagon" in the previous sentence? Because AvtoVAZ actively avoids this term.

The reason is that when the question of what should be the second version of "Vesta" after the sedan was discussed, many options were considered. There was a hatchback, a liftback, a coupe - and, of course, a station wagon. Which could have turned out to be noticeably larger than the car, the keys to which were given to us. But it was this body, in the opinion of its creators, that embodied all the options that were initially studied.

The serial Vesta SW is a cross between a classic station wagon with a long rear overhang and a hatchback with a short stern. And this is good, because, frankly, there are few successful examples of converting sedans into hatchbacks. Think of the previous generation five-door Hyundai Solaris and the Chevrolet Cruze hatchback - a design disaster, not otherwise.

To avoid such a failure, AvtoVAZ was helped by the correct approach to the choice of the body, and the skillful hands with the bright head of the chief designer Steve Mattin. And also - an initially successful donor both in proportions and in content.

Lada Vesta SW is not even a thoroughly redesigned sedan, but rather a copy of it with a redesigned roof in the rear and other springs in the rear suspension. The wheelbase here is the same as that of the four-door, the width and even the length are also unchanged. The ground clearance also remained unchanged: from the lowest point of the car to the surface of the planet there is still 178 millimeters. Only the height has become another: the top point of the body is now 15 millimeters higher.

But to hell with her, with the increased height. After all, you are interested in the trunk, right? And the cargo compartment of Lada Vesta SW and SW Cross is their huge advantage over competitors. And not only because on the Russian market the station wagons of this class have become extinct like dinosaurs.

There is a set of nets for securing loads. On the left is a decent-sized niche for any small things, and next to it is a container for a five-liter canister with a washer, which can be tightly tied to the wall with special straps. Directly opposite - a lockable pocket in which you can hide from foreign objects of a very decent size.

But that's not all. The Vesta SW and SW Cross have a double luggage compartment floor. It is two-section, and on the second tier there are two very strong, but lightweight organizers, divided into segments! All this, if necessary, is removed and hidden in the garage - and the trunk becomes even larger. True, only in this state, without a raised floor and organizers, the same declared 480 liters of usable volume are obtained. With them - less.

But if you think you’re upset about a previous sentence, take your time. Because the new Vesta modification has one more cellar! There is a full-size spare tire and ... a third organizer. Looking at all this, it seems that one of the VAZ employees came to work at the Skoda, began to boast of Simply Clever-tricks, and the people responsible for the development of Vesta rolled up their sleeves and decided to make it even cooler. There would also be handles with which the backs of the rear seats can be folded straight out of the trunk, as in the Mazda CX-5 and Honda CR-V… Sorry, I was dreaming.

For the release of station wagons on the market, VAZ employees also treated those children's ailments, the bouquet of which was once awarded to the sedan. For example, there was a fixed center armrest between the front seats, and not a limp piece of fabric and foam. The fuel filler flap is now centrally locked, and on the trunk lid there is… a button to open the trunk! The sedan will have all this too - later.

But not all the sores removed. The trim materials in the cabin are still infinitely far from ideal: the most modern plastic on test cars, no, no, and it creaks, despite the ridiculous - less than a thousand kilometers - run. The multimedia system also leaves much to be desired. Graphics from 1996, frightening logic of the menu, sizes of icons and arrows, as well as their poor drawing. And navigation "CityGuide" every now and then offers strange tips and non-obvious routes.

The engine range, as well as plastic with multimedia, migrated from the sedan to the station wagon without changes: two petrol "fours" with a working volume of 1.6 and 1.8 liters, producing 106 and 122 horsepower, respectively. The news is different: the top-end engine is now combined in several versions with a mechanical five-stage - the same as on Lada Largus and Renault Sandero. On the sedan, before the appearance of the new Exclusive modification, all cars with 1.8 were equipped with exclusively monstrous "robots" of AvtoVAZ's own design.

I quite sincerely and honestly believed that only nuclear weapons and crumbling dumplings could be worse than this transmission. But at AvtoVAZ they say that they receive little negative feedback on the operation of the box from those 20 percent of Vesta buyers who have made a choice in favor of masochism and this “robot”.

Nevertheless, I wanted most of all to try out the pair, consisting of the 1.8 engine and the French "mechanics". Especially on Vesta SW. Because in all other driving characteristics it is identical to a sedan: it also pleases with stability and clarity of reactions in corners, just as accurately and nimbly follows a pleasantly loaded steering wheel, and the suspension just as confidently copes with almost all the misunderstandings that for some reason in this country often referred to as roads.

But the potential of the motor, which seemed to be hiding behind the shortcomings of the "robot", was not as impressive as we would like. The engine itself is highly unified with the 1.6 unit - except that it is equipped with a phase shifter at the inlet and has a larger volume. Here is the same block of cylinders, and the working volume has grown exclusively due to the increase in the piston stroke. But! They began to develop it when some potential owners of Vesta were still enthusiastically considering books in which there were more pictures than letters. Therefore, it is still not worth demanding feats from this unit.

According to the passport, far from the record 170 Nm of thrust comes only to 3700 rpm, and up to 2000 the engine is completely asleep. Therefore, if at least a somewhat steep climb rises in front of you, you must approach the choice of gear and pedaling with all responsibility.

Sagged a little on the thrust - that's all. You even jump on the gas pedal, put a brick on it, ask for help to put the squeeze on the person in the passenger seat: "Vesta" will not accelerate anyway. Therefore, we poke the longish and not quite clear gear lever one, or even a couple of steps lower, and only after that we go further.

However, "Vesta" with 1.8 and mechanics still rides a hundred times better than the version with a robot. If only because it does not present surprises, such as sudden shifts with even more sudden clutch openings. 10-20 kilometers - and already more or less you understand where the tachometer needle should be before the next maneuver. And once you get used to it, you start to figure out how to reduce the consumption of 92 gasoline, which on the Sochi roads was kept in the range from 11 to 13 liters per hundred.

But you are probably more interested in something else - how does the most beautiful version of the Cross drive?

Already in the base there are 17-inch wheels, large by the standards of the class, 203-mm ground clearance and other springs and shock absorbers. One could expect anything, but the people from AvtoVAZ took the medical “do no harm” as a basis and did everything so that the driving character of “Vesta” would not deteriorate. And succeeded in this!

Moreover, Lada Vesta SW Cross feels even livelier and more interesting than the base sedan! The feedback on the steering wheel is more transparent, the chassis is still tenacious and collected, and the suspension, despite the additional load in the form of 17-inch wheels, still perfectly digests bumps and defects in the roadway of almost any scale.

These beautiful two-tone discs covered the joints of concrete slabs, giant asphalt patches, gravel, large stones with sharp edges, and sewer manholes. And nothing! On the little things in the car, peace and comfort reign, and on defects abruptly the body shudders, but without hard blows, unnecessary noise and frightening consequences.

Of course, the Vesta SW Cross is not without flaws. The 1.8 engine is still sluggish here, and the hard plastic on the door armrests will still rub the elbows resting on them. But the "Cross" masterfully knows how to hide all this behind an excellent design, high ground clearance, which some crossovers will envy, and an excellent chassis. And in Russia, as a rule, they ask a million and a half for this.

But rules are there to be broken, right? Therefore, prices for an ordinary station wagon start from the sane 639,900 rubles for a car with a 106-horsepower 1.6 and mechanics. For 25,000 rubles from above, the car will be supplemented with a robot. Modification with a 1.8 engine - at least 697,900 rubles, and with 1.8 and two pedals - from 722,900 rubles.

The cross version is naturally more expensive. For the minimum configuration, they will take 755,900 rubles. It will be a car with 1.6 and mechanics, but already with front and side airbags, alarm, on-board computer, remote control of the central lock, power windows in a circle, climate control, heated front seats, light and rain sensors, electric drive and heated mirrors, cruise -control and 17-inch wheels.

The most expensive Lada Vesta SW Cross costs 847,900 rubles. That is, AvtoVAZ made a B-segment car, which did not even make it to the top for 900,000 rubles. In our time, this is an achievement.

The interior architecture of the Vesta SW and SW Cross is the same as that of the sedan. But there are new decorative inserts (on the Cross-version), which look much better and more organic than the sedan

There are also orange accents on the dashboard. It has become brighter, but still want the shield to become simpler. Too many unnecessary design elements

The back and the sedan were already spacious and this quality of Lada Vesta has not gone anywhere. But tall passengers in the back will be more comfortable

For passengers in the second row - heated seat cushions and a USB port for charging gadgets

The trunk does not impress with a record volume, but pleases with the layout. True, a flat platform with folded backs will not work

The set of nets for Lada Vesta SW is very convenient

Vesta is still a very young model and the first car of AvtoVAZ, created within the framework of the new philosophy of the brand. The potential for renewal and improvement is enormous. And they will introduce something already next year: we were promised that new multimedia systems will soon appear on the Ladakh. Most likely, with already built-in Yandex services.

Lada Vesta SW and SW Cross, of course, are not a standard, and the new Solaris has something to say here. On the other hand, Vesta looks and drives like a good modern car. It is well packed, offers serious ground clearance, a coolly arranged trunk, and four of us are not scary to drive long distances here: the cabin is quiet enough, and in the second row, the SW has not only a lot of legroom for rear passengers, but also for heads - the height of the ceiling at the rear of the body has grown by 25 millimeters.

But the main thing is that thanks to Vesta SW and SW Cross, we now know for sure that there, in Togliatti, there are people who know how to make good cars. Cars for which you are not ashamed. Cars that, if you want to scold, are no longer out of despair, but because there is confidence - AvtoVAZ knows exactly how to make them better. Nice and strange feeling, isn't it?