Lifan Solano quite familiar Russian motorists- assembly of this model Chinese manufacturer established in Cherkessk. It's time to take a closer look at the sedan in its new incarnation.
Everyone chooses for themselves - this statement is no less applicable when discussing cars than in relation to people. Keeping an eye on new car- no matter what price category, brand and country of origin, each of us pays attention to our own, clearly defined set of qualities. For some, appearance is more important, others are attracted by spaciousness and practicality, others are ready to look for rare lines about the nuances of “asphalt” handling even in a review crawler bulldozers.
Who is the bravest?
Perhaps one of the breed of cars for those people who always strive to acquire as many formal signs of prestige as possible at a reasonable price. And when opportunity flaunt them, arguing to others about their practicality and foresight. We apparently have a lot of such people. Lifan Solano, the assembly of which started in Cherkessk in 2010, has gained some popularity in Russian regions. Many of these cars are still used in taxis to this day, which indirectly allows us to judge this sedan as quite unpretentious.In its second generation, Solano is ready to promote the above-mentioned approach: the car looks restrained and somewhat solid; the design has reduced the number of overtly Asian motifs and attempts at decoration. But its silhouette is not particularly harmonious - the bow and stern are heavy.
Compensation is a spacious trunk, into which you can easily pack the necessary belongings when going to the country in the spring. If desired, skis can also fit: if you fold the sections of the back of the rear sofa, a wide opening is formed, allowing you to transport long items. The Chinese designers provided soft upholstery on the trunk lid, but there was no room for a handle—to close the trunk without getting dirty, you will have to grab the lock in the slippery plastic “case.”
On this page we tried to collect test drives and reviews of the Lifan Solano car, which were published or published in any automobile magazines and other authoritative sources.
Lifan Solano: plebeian in the nobility
"Red" China seems to know what it needs ordinary people from the people. The proletarian wants a car no worse than the imperialists'. Russian consumer does not lag behind in this regard. With the release of Lifan Solano domestic auto industry must sprinkle ashes on his head and surrender irrevocably. While VAZ management is grandly announcing Kalina with a radio and trying to install GLONASS there, the Chinese are stuffing their creations “for business class” and can count on wild success among a certain segment of the population.
Smart people say, don’t give up. And they say it right! I swore, sometimes even out loud, that I would never drive a product from the Chinese auto industry. And here you go... I sat down. I drove it almost 300 kilometers on not the most the best roads, and... And new Lifan Solano made me think - oh Chinese auto industry, his past and present.
Lifan Group of Companies (Lifan Industry Group Co. Ltd). The word “Lifan” is translated into Russian roughly as “Go with full sail.” Lifan Corporation was founded in 1992. Today, LIFAN Industrial Group is on the list of 500 leading private enterprises in China. The corporation specializes in the production passenger cars, buses, motorcycles, scooters and ATVs.
Chapter Russian representative office Chinese car company Lifan Mr. Sun Zejun and correspondents from leading automotive publications visited the Derways automobile plant in Cherkessk, where production of the new C-class sedan Lifan Solano began in March of this year.
Next to a concrete fence surrounded by barbed wire stands a small stele with the inscription “Derways”. The area is quite quiet, the only noise is from occasional cars passing by and the voices of security guards. You can’t really tell that there is a lot of activity behind the fence.
The first private automobile plant in post-Soviet Russia appeared in 2002. It was built in Karachay-Cherkessia. Many considered the project utopian, including because the new enterprise was going to produce SUVs of its own design. Nevertheless, the plant started operating, and the Cowboy, built on the chassis of the Romanian ARO, went on sale. True, only a few hundred of them were made - the demand for a new car, no one has yet famous brand turned out to be small. In addition, it did not inspire confidence among buyers plastic body, collected at space frame. And the price seemed too high to many... Soon a solution to the problem was found. At the end of 2007, assembly began at the plant Chinese sedan Lifan Breeze. At the same time, the construction of new buildings, installation and commissioning of equipment was underway.
In the summer of 2009 we started working welding production, as well as a cataphoresis and painting workshop designed to produce up to 100,000 bodies per year.
Currently, the plant assembles cars from Chinese vehicle kits for Geely brand, as well as Lifan Breeze and debuted last year Solano sedan. By the way, his name comes from the name of an Indian tribe that once lived in the area where the border between the United States and Mexico runs today.
The wind blew again from the Caucasus mountains. And it's called "Solano". Such a romantic name (as a strong southwest wind is called in Spain) wears New Product Karachay-Cherkess and Chinese automobile industries. The tandem of Derways and Lifan produced another “windy” car. Their firstborn - Breez - was simple and unpretentious. Designed for the mass, inexperienced car enthusiast, it is short time has found its niche in the market. Manufacturers are positioning the C-class sedan Lifan Solano as a “premium” in the “economy” category. Of course! The new car was stuffed with amenities pleasant for the car owner. The only package so far includes ABS, two airbags, full power accessories, air conditioning, audio system and on-board computer, as well as optional but pleasant little things: LED “dimensions” in the front optics, alloy wheels and adjustable lumbar support in the front seats.
Lifan Solano - premium segment in economy class
They promise that it will cost not more expensive than cars Russian stamps. With fairly generous equipment: a 1.6-liter engine, wide range options, spacious salon, quite an energy-intensive suspension... But it seems that new sedan golf class will retain all the traditional problems Chinese cars– uncomfortable fit, poor quality finishing materials, ergonomic flaws, mediocre dynamic characteristics...
Sedan Lifan Solano (formerly known as Lifan 620)- new C-class model from a Chinese manufacturer Lifan cars Industry Group Co. Ltd. Sales of Lifan Solano cars on the Russian market began in March 2010. Lifan Solano has managed to establish itself in the Asian markets. Sales of Solano in China in the first quarter of 2009 alone, according to official statistics from the manufacturer, amounted to more than 15 thousand cars. Although this may not be the most successful indicator, given that daily car sales in China amount to 30 thousand units. Appearance Solano makes a solid impression. Its design echoes fashionable modern trends in the automotive industry. There is an opinion that the design of the Lifan 620 Solano model was borrowed from a German car, namely the BMW 3 Series. But due to the lack of any “zest” of its own, we can say that it is simultaneously similar to many modern, albeit mostly Asian, cars.
Lifan Solano in a sedan body is one of the current and the latest models segment C according to European classification from Chinese automaker represented by Lifan Industry Group Co. Ltd. On forums and thematic websites, reviews of Lifan Solano are mostly positive. But there are still plenty of questions. Many car enthusiasts are interested in the same problem: “What distinguishes this car"golf-class" from competitors, as well as what technical and driving characteristics he has, and what every person needs to know in order to do right choice. Answers to individual questions can be found in this article.
Lifan Solano - gained quite good popularity in the market
Review of Lifan Solano
It is worth noting that Lifan Solano initially created enormous popularity for himself and, accordingly, a good reputation in the Asian market, and only then moved to the Old World market. I would like to remind you that in modern world In China alone, about 15 thousand cars were sold in the first three months of 2009. And this is not the final start, since daily car sales in China exceed 30 thousand cars. We can definitely say that this car makes a strong impression and is very solid. In the design you can find modern fashionable notes, so it can be called successful, which combines global trends in the automotive industry. It is impossible not to say that any person can find in her the features German auto industry, or rather the Bavarian BMW 3 Series. And what is truly missing is some special “zest” in this car. Review of Lifan Solano: This will probably happen in the future, no one argues, but for now this car is organized thanks to modern trends, this is especially true for Chinese style in design. But in the field of competitors it looks very decent. If you compare it with Geely Vision, then we can say that the quality of finishing and materials has increased, and handling has become much better, which was clearly demonstrated by the test drive of Lifan Solano on Russian roads. The appearance of the car resembles the Geely MK and Toyota Corolla, and there is a simple explanation for this - after all, as a rule, they have the same roots. To put it in a nutshell, everything is simple and beautiful. The huge trunk contains a full-size spare wheel. And if you put down the seats, an immense opening will open. The cabinet will probably be able to rise to an impressive size.
The interior is entirely made of leather, which is pleasant to touch, it is neatly stitched. The dashboard is made of polyurethane foam, so it is soft and not noisy, looks prestigious and elegant. In this manner, I would like to say a big thank you to the Japanese designers. Numbers and arrows on dashboard, it will be easy to see. The driver's seat is comfortable, but it's a pity that the seats are not height adjustable. But for a person who is about 190 tall, it will be cramped, despite the fact that I chose to adjust the chair almost all the way. Thus, the passenger sitting behind is surprised, because he sits very comfortably. You can sit more comfortably in the passenger seat; here the console gets in the way less, so you can stretch your legs. If we talk about the rear sofa, then it is comfortable, soft, there is plenty of legroom, and there is still enough space for an armrest with built-in cup holders.
Technical characteristics of Lifan Solano
| Car make: | Lifan Solano |
| Manufacturer country: | China (assembly Russia, Cherkessk) |
| Body type: | sedan |
| Number of points: | 4 |
| Number of doors: | 4 |
| Engine capacity, cc: | 1587 |
| Power, hp/rpm: | 106/6000 |
| Maximum speed, km/h: | 170 |
| Acceleration to 100 km/h, s: | 10.5 |
| Type of drive: | Front |
| Checkpoint: | 5 manual transmission |
| Fuel type: | gasoline AI-95 |
| Consumption per 100 km: | mixed cycle 7.8 |
| Length, mm: | 4550 |
| Width, mm: | 1705 |
| Height, mm: | 1495 |
| Ground clearance, mm: | 150 |
| Tire size: | 195/60 R15 |
| Curb weight, kg: | 1150 |
| Total weight, kg: | 1555 |
| Fuel tank volume: | 50 |
Out of habit, you may not be able to find neutral, and for some reason the knob rotates around its axis. At first you don’t get used to the box, but over time it will pass. You will also have to get used to reverse gear, because there are no fuses. The brake and clutch pedals are light. However, this is all a matter of custom. Of course, the biggest mistake was made in the engine. In order for a car to drive in traffic, you need to spin the engine, and high speed he roars tediously. Nobody knows what the Chinese did to the engine. But we can definitely say that his character was spoiled. Maybe they wanted to reduce fuel consumption? It didn't work out very well.
Test drive Lifan Solano
The dynamics of the Solano leave much to be desired - it is not possible to even catch up with the Volga in acceleration. A very deplorable moment is observed at low as well as medium speeds, the car “does not pull”, this is precisely the main thing negative feedback from the buyers' side. Test drive Lifan Solano: After changing the driving mode to the dacha mode, a new discovery was made; the cabin became much quieter, even the whistling whirlwind was not felt. And there is no feeling that you are riding on a cart with a motor. At speeds of up to 130 km/h, the car holds the road confidently, and the suspension perfectly handles uneven asphalt. In this manner, the driver and passengers enjoy not the whistling of wind or other unpleasant sounds, but only comfort. But if you accelerate further, the car begins to yaw, in such a manner that you have to steer, and this, as a rule, is not very convenient to do with an almost “empty” steering wheel. I think every car owner will understand what the reprimand is about.
As a result, I would like to say that Solano can safely be called good car, and even if it is not made for fast driving, not everyone is a fan of extreme racing. Some people prefer a smooth ride, like on a cruise ship. This car floats down the highway while handling various roadsides with ease. It has a long-travel suspension; in a word, you won’t find anything better for a summer resident. The trunk capacity is about 400 liters. But this volume can be increased if the backrests rear seat lay in a ratio of 40:60. And the last advantage is the price.
Review of Lifan Solano with a 1.6-liter engine
This includes air conditioning, a whole electrical package, and costs only 355.7 thousand rubles. You can also add more ground clearance and trunk here. Let us remind you that the car of this model is Russian market started in March 2010.
By overall parameters the car looks very solid and attractive than its smaller brother model line, which is called Breeze. We would also like to note that this model is distinguished by a more spacious and comfortable interior, and, of course, rich internal " technical stuffing" I would like to note that the car of this model is slightly longer than the Breeze model. But the trunk has become roomy and spacious; this quality cannot be ignored. It is for this reason that today the car is especially popular among summer residents, for whom the trunk plays a very important role. Thus, when purchasing this car model, we can say with confidence that not only summer residents, but also everyone who prefers a quiet and quiet ride, will be pleased with the choice. They will also be amazed by the cost of the Lifan Solano - in comparison with other cars in the same class.
The salon is impressive
Looking inside, we see leather interior. A fairly simple design style, but at the same time very attractive. Everything is done in light colors. The modification of this car includes: power steering, air conditioning, full power accessories, and a full-size spare wheel.
The car has a large and comfortable interior
I would also like to talk about some elements that directly affect not only the driver, but also all passengers. Let us remind you that this model passed the crash test, and quite successfully. The car is also equipped with two airbags, and thanks to automatic locking doors during your ride, you are guaranteed a pleasant and safe trip, be sure of this. Positive reviews of Lifan Solano indicate that it has good quality materials and overall workmanship. The car is equipped with an adjustable steering column, fog lights, alarm, central locking etc. The car is equipped with 15-inch cast alloy wheels.
Test drive Lifan Solano 620
If we compare it with the torsion bar design of the Breeze model, then we can confidently say that the suspension is made on top level. And you can be sure of this for yourself when purchasing this car model. It should also be recalled that since 2010, there have been some changes and additions to the engine line. It is worth noting that the new engine of the Lifan Solano is equipped with a 1.8 liter engine, which boldly develops 137 Horse power. Moreover, the car is now available in top-end configuration, which contains automatic transmission transmission
Just like model Breeze, newly minted Lifan Solano for Russian market They are produced at the Derways plant, which is located in Cherkessk. As modern practice shows, this enterprise easily produces up to 25 thousand cars a year, which is a very impressive figure. On the Russian market, the price of Lifan Solano is basic configuration is 355,000 rubles. If you have been looking for a long time for a car not for racing, but for a quiet and comfortable ride, then we can definitely say that this car will never disappoint you. After all, how can he do this, thanks to his originality, attractiveness, and versatility. If you love going to long journeys, then in this car you will not feel anything except comfort. It handles any unevenness on the road lightly and smoothly, and keeps its path well. You can see this for yourself by testing the car at a car dealership, and then you will be convinced that these are not just beautiful words, but reality. Crash test Lifan Solano: The crash test confirmed the reliability of this car; it is equipped with two airbags for both the driver and the passenger. Thanks to the automatic locking of the doors while driving, your safety is also guaranteed. Today, the car is sold in two versions: with an engine with a volume of 1.6 liters and a power of 106 horsepower, and with manual transmission gears with a 1.8-liter engine and 128 horsepower.
Imprisonment
In conclusion, I would like to say that Lifan Solano is particularly popular on the market; if you purchase it, you will not be disappointed in your choice. This is a fact that is difficult to argue with.
And this is easily explained. The advantages of this model include:
- Nice paint and nice exterior design.
- A beautiful salon will delight not only you, but also all your loved ones.
- Thanks to the large enough space inside, you can go to the sea with your family without thinking about anything.
- Excellent road maintenance at medium speeds.
- Super quality at a super price!
- Inexpensive operation creates a great mood among the owners of such a car.
Among the disadvantages are:
- It accelerates poorly both from a standstill and while driving.
- Poor handling at high speeds.
- Higher fuel consumption when driving on the highway.
Also, some owners of this car complain about the car's electronics. But, as practice shows, more often than not these are just unproven words. We can say with confidence that the car can easily attract the attention of not only a rational, but also a demanding buyer.
Lifan Solano is a car that meets all modern requirements
And this is easy to explain, because the car answers everything modern technologies that car enthusiasts want to see. Sometimes he exceeds their expectations, which once again proves that this model car is a good choice. But, after listening and reading positive reviews about Lifan Solano from other people, the choice is still yours.
