Fuel consumption of Lada Grants with automatic transmission. Reducing fuel consumption of a Lada Granta car: diagnosing possible problems Consumption on an 8-valve Granta

Automatic gearboxes (automatic transmissions) began to be mass-produced in the world since the middle of the last century. Much has changed over time. The cars have become different and the transmission itself is much more advanced. All this time, global auto giants have never ceased to amaze with their new products.

Only in Russia was the word “automatic” firmly associated with the name of the great weapons designer. And then it happened. In 2012, the first domestic car of this type rolled off the assembly line - the Lada Granta with automatic transmission. This event caused a mixed reaction among car enthusiasts.

Some owners spoke with admiration about the excellent characteristics of this car, others expressed dissatisfaction with its shortcomings, the main one of which they considered “gluttony.” The truth, as always, is somewhere nearby. Let's try to objectively understand all the pros and cons of this model, and also find out whether the Lada Granta automatic fuel consumption is really too high? If yes, then for what reasons?

Modifications of Lada Granta - types of gearboxes

Equipment

This is one of the most significant factors on which the overall fuel consumption of a car depends. In particular, we mean differences in:

• types of bodies;
• types of power units;
• electronic equipment;
• manual or automatic transmissions, etc.

For example, the sedan and liftback are each produced in three modifications. The difference lies in the power of the unit and, accordingly, their gluttony also varies. So:

• a 98-liter engine will burn 7.8 liters at normal rates;
• at 87 – 7.2;
• at 106 – 6.9.

Automatic transmission background information

Jatco - four-speed automatic transmission with transverse arrangement. Factory index JF414. Installed on Lada Granta Sedan/Liftback cars.

Initially, the Jatco JF414 automatic machine was manufactured to equip the Japanese brands Nissan and Suzuki. Since 2013, the Zhatko automatic transmission has been equipped with the Chinese automobile brand March.

Salon

Explanation of the abbreviation JF414:

• J – Jatco;
• F - front-wheel drive;
• 4 — number of gears;
• 14 — ordinal modification index;
• E - electronic control.

Test lamp method

Unlike classic synchronizers, the new type of synchronizers are much more reliable, and since, according to statistics, the first and second gears are the most loaded, this solution made it possible to increase the reliability parameter of the new unit. Due to the high cost and high fuel costs, cars with a robotic gearbox are in less demand among potential Lada Granta owners.

Reviews of Lada Granta automatic

Related link:
Expert advice on replacing generator bearings on a Lada Grant

Fuel quality

Reviews from owners of Grants indicate that the amount of consumption varies significantly depending on what kind of fuel is used to refuel it.

The manufacturer, for its part, recommends giving preference to a better brand, that is, AI-95. Moreover, practice confirms that the above-mentioned grade of gasoline is burned more economically than the cheap 92nd grade. At the same time, the difference is so significant that it is more profitable to use expensive fuel.

This circumstance should also be taken into account in order to optimize the operating costs of the vehicle in question.

Manual Transmission Background Information

The design of the Lada Granta manual transmission is nothing more than a modernized version of the manual transmission from the VAZ-2108. Until 2022, lever-type manual transmissions were installed. The new Lada Granta Sedan / Liftback (2018) is equipped with a cable gear shift mechanism.

Unlike the lever type, the cables are placed on top, which is convenient and practical when carrying out diagnostics and repairs. The shape of the clutch housing has also undergone changes and has become smaller in size. However, this did not affect the functionality of the manual transmission in any way.

Mechanics

Factors affecting consumption

Not a single car enthusiast can say exactly what fuel consumption his car has. Before the number, he will definitely use the adverb “somewhere” and indicate under what conditions. Of course, he is absolutely right. Fuel consumption by a car is not constant and depends on many conditions.

1. Technical condition of the engine. It would seem that this is irrelevant for a new car. It has to be perfect, and 99 times out of 100 it is. However, there is such a thing as ECU firmware. Experts assure that if it is factory, the consumption will be increased. This does not mean at all that you need to drop everything and run to change the fill. This should be done only after carefully weighing everything, and only with an experienced specialist.
2. Car load. Doesn't need much explanation. The more things you fit into your trunk, the more energy required by the laws of physics to deliver them to their destination. Where do you get it from if not from the fuel tank?
3. A large number of switched on consumer devices makes it more difficult for the engine to turn a loaded generator. The result is excessive consumption of gasoline.
4. Using an air conditioner leads to excessive consumption for the same reason.
5. Movement speed. 90-120 km/h is considered optimal. It is with these figures that the suburban cycle is calculated.
6. The quality of gasoline and its underfilling. They are not the last factor influencing the frequency of visits to gas stations. In addition, the use of low quality fuel significantly affects the engine life. Refuel only at trusted stations.

1. Driving style. It's no secret that driving skills have a significant impact on fuel consumption. If you drive in second gear where you can use fourth, the readings from the on-board computer will greatly surprise you. The same will happen to drivers who consider themselves experienced and use an aggressive driving style.
2. Transmission. Not only the condition, but also its type. In the case of a mechanical one, it is possible to influence fuel consumption. True, not always to a lesser extent. Owners of cars with automatic transmission are practically deprived of this. Maybe that’s why you can so often hear statements about the gluttony of the Lada Granta automatic car.

Owner reviews about Lada Granta mechanics

Related link:

Replacing the ignition module on the Lada Grant. Tips from repair experts

LadaGranta 1.6 (87 hp)

The car is equipped with 1.6-liter engines that develop a power of 87 horsepower and are equipped with a five-speed manual transmission. Torque of 140 Nm helps the Lada Granta accelerate to 180 km/h.

Reviews of fuel consumption Lada Granta 1.6 (87 hp)

• Valery, Sevastopol. Lada Granta 2015, 1.6, manual transmission. I bought it new from the showroom and am pleased with the service and the car, which has a memorable appearance. I deliberately did not take the minimum power, but not the greatest either. As it turned out, the 1.6 engine with 87 “horses” consumes from 6 liters of fuel on the highway to 10 liters in the city.
• Ilya, Tolyatti. For our small family, the Lada Granta came in handy. You can drive around the city, go out of town, and go into nature. The handling is quite comfortable, and the wife is happy with the large trunk. The 1.6 engine (87 mares) requires an average of 8 liters of fuel.
• Konstantin, Moscow. We took the 2012 Lada Granta from the showroom, since it was not a cheap purchase, we hoped for long service, but as it turned out, the car disappointed us. If there were any advantages to it, it all broke down very quickly and required repair. Glad we finally sold. Fuel consumption was 6-9.5 liters.
• Igor, Omsk. Lada Granta, build 2014, 1.6, MT. The car is very good, unpretentious and manageable. During the year of ownership I replaced only consumables. And also economical, which is important, 6-10 liters per hundred is a good indicator.
• Vsevolod, N. Urengoy. I have a 2013 Lada Granta, 1.6 manual. For the first six months I was amazed at this creation of our automobile industry, you feel so good behind the wheel! The suspension smooths out road irregularities well. And the consumption is low: 5.5 on the highway, up to 9 liters in the city.
• Peter, Petersburg. I am the owner of a 2015 Granta with a 1.6 engine of 87 hp, MT. After driving for the first two months, I had a strong impression of it as the best car ever created in our native lands. And you don’t need a lot of gasoline: from 6 liters on a country highway to 9.5 liters in the city.
• Philip, Anthracite. Lada Granta 2013, 1.6, manual transmission. In the first six months I drove 20,000 km, and I can confidently say that the car is very good. Comfortable interior, large trunk, obedient steering wheel and unpretentious repairs. Consumption is very small: on average, about 7 liters.
• Evgeniy, Syktyvkar. I got the 87-horsepower version of the 2014 Lada Granta. Everything in the car suits you, it feels the road well, and the suspension allows you to feel comfort that is unprecedented for domestic cars. The amount of gasoline required is as written in the passport: 6-9 liters.

Lada Granta automatic or manual, which is better?

Each of the above types of transmissions certainly has its own advantages and disadvantages. Before purchasing a machine, clearly determine the type of geographic area where the machine will be used and the climatic conditions.

It has been verified that the automatic machine does not like frequent switching or start-stop modes. The solenoids wear out quickly and the torque converter clutch knocks. Since all automatic transmission parts are interconnected, prevention alone is not enough; a major overhaul is needed. It is expensive and time-consuming.

Mechanics are another matter. Despite the complaints addressed to it, the unit is quite working and functional. The final word belongs to the owner.

Test drive Lada Granta with automatic transmission: catching up with time

It may be late, it may be “overseas”, it may not be new, but an automatic transmission has finally appeared on a production domestic car. The Kolesa.Ru portal rode the wave of technical progress on the Lada Granta, the first from Tolyatti to receive an automatic transmission.

To tell the truth, there have been attempts to equip the cars of the Volzhsky Automobile Plant with automatic transmissions before, but it was still not possible to bring them to a victorious end: those transmissions were either structurally unsuitable and were designed for more powerful engines, or they turned out to be too expensive, which in the end greatly increased the cost of the car itself. But a suitable box was still found. It was a four-stage “hydromechanics” from the Japanese company Jatco. Economical and simple, it has been installed on Nissan passenger cars for more than two decades (!) and has proven itself well during this time. But Lada is not Nissan. For now, at least.

The photographs do not deceive: the neat handle of the “automatic machine” is equally pleasant both to look at and to the touch. And you can handle the lever itself with confidence: even if you accidentally move the selector from position “D” to “R” while driving, the box will not break and will engage reverse gear only after a complete stop.

How will a Japanese automatic transmission behave in our car? With this thought in mind, I approached the test car, which I managed to identify from several Grants only by pressing the key fob button - the “automatic” Lada Granta is modest and outwardly no different from its analogues with “mechanics”. And inside, contrary to expectations, there were very few visible changes. It differs from the Lada Granta Norma, which Kolesa.Ru already tested in the winter, only in the addition of a front passenger airbag, air conditioning and an “automatic” set in the form of two pedals and a Logan transmission selector. Otherwise, everything is familiar: the same high and invariably upright driver's position, the same flat springy seats, which even on a flat road, for unknown reasons, make passengers jump funny; motor vibrations with noise, and they retained their signature frequencies. In general, even with an automatic transmission, the Lada Granta will not let the driver get bored and relax. But what about the “box” itself?

It’s hardly noticeable, but the ground clearance of the “automatic” Grant has been reduced by two centimeters (to 140 mm). This event even forced me to give up the idea of ​​​​climbing onto a high curb for the sake of a spectacular photo, which greatly upset our photographer.

Good. Honestly, it's good. And she moves through the gears quickly and gently, and was not noticed to be excessively thoughtful; even provocations such as sudden acceleration and braking do not confuse her. But it's not just about her. We must not forget that the most powerful 16-valve VAZ engine is diligently chugging along with the automatic transmission. It is precisely thanks to its 98 horsepower that the slightest press on the gas pedal gives rise to a sharp kick - “just right” for heavy city traffic. And it doesn’t matter that the “box” has neither manual nor sports mode: during the entire test, the hand never reached for the button to disable the highest fourth gear in order to give the sedan more dynamics. Now there is no agony even when engaging first and reverse gears - the “automatic” made us forget everything that we cursed at the “mechanics” for.

Advantages • Driving style

In general, they, like many other proprietary flaws such as uneven body gaps, door windows that do not open all the way and a characteristic smell, will not surprise anyone. Besides these features, everything else is an advantage of robotic gearboxes; they are simpler and cheaper to maintain, help save fuel due to the absence of losses in the hydromechanical actuator, they can be moved in tow and get out of difficult places using rocking back and forth.