LADA GRANT Review from real owner
Lada Granta - everyone in our country knows this car. It can safely be called the “People’s Car”, as it is the most purchased car in 2022. Unfortunately, I became one of the owners of this car.
UNFORTUNATELY…
Why "Unfortunately? Because despite the recent update of the car, it is still the same “basin” of the domestic automobile industry, with a huge bunch of sores and problems, which I will tell you about.
I bought this car in the “Luxe” configuration, not the worst, but not the top-end either, so-so. From the manufacturer, the car was equipped with audio preparation, air conditioning and turn signal repeaters on the mirrors.
Externally, the car looks like a foreign car; looking at the front of the car, it’s hard to believe that this is a domestic car. You can immediately see the intervention of foreign specialists who have at least done something, brought some kind of new wave into the domestic automotive industry, but this is not what we are talking about. I'll tell you better about the car itself.
The dynamics of the car remained at the same level, essentially nothing has changed. It was just as slow to accelerate, and in principle it remains that way. I was pleased with the suspension; it easily absorbed all the bumps and bumps on the roads. At the same time, there was relatively little shaking in the cabin. The instrument panel is generally not bad; everything the driver needs is there.
As for the air conditioning, which is an innovation for domestic cars, it blows very weakly, as if it doesn’t exist. It takes a lot of power from the engine, which has a big impact on maneuverability when overtaking.
The paintwork of the body is a completely separate issue. The slightest chip will soon begin to bloom like a chrysanthemum. After so many years of VAZ's existence, they could at least pay attention to the painting of cars. But why? And so it will go.
One of the advantages is the handling of the car, it is light and very nimble, this makes it quite maneuverable, especially in urban conditions. The luggage compartment is large, such a car is not bad for those who like to take a ride to the country. In the “four”, of course, the luggage compartment is larger, but the “four” is a different story. The interior is also quite spacious, with my height being 180 centimeters, I feel quite comfortable in the driver’s seat. The good news is that manufacturers have finally added side supports to the seats; if previously you had to strain your back on sharp turns to avoid falling off, now you don’t need to do this.
The updated car still has an old and very irritating problem - a terrible hum from the mirrors, which is very clearly audible after 80 kilometers per hour.
After the third day of operation, I began to notice that the car began to smoke. At first the color of the smoke was black, as if it were a diesel car, but after a few more days, the smoke acquired a bluish tint.
A month later, the Grant began to start more and more often not immediately, as it was in the first days, now it was necessary to struggle with the ignition, which also indicates that this car has not received any structural improvements over many years.
The worst thing for me was that, for no reason, the Check Engine light came on on the dashboard. The service station explained that the throttle position sensor needed to be replaced. Too little time has passed to change it.
Despite the fact that the car is new, it feels like it is at least 10-15 years old; it begins to crumble very quickly. There is only one justification for all this - this is a domestic car and there is nothing to be surprised about.
There is one very huge plus that I learned for myself during the operation of this car - an old foreign car is better than a new domestic car.
Competitors - is there anyone better than Granta?
It will be very difficult to find competitors for that kind of money, so we will slightly expand the search range to the cost of the most expensive configuration. Within the range of 600,000 rubles, Granta really competes with many representatives of the car market and can move them with its sense of novelty. Of course, buying a Granta will not always be the best decision, and this becomes clear after a specific comparison with competitors. It should be noted that there are a lot of budget sedans on the market.
Grant's main rivals are as follows:
- Ravon R4. The car sells from 489,000 rubles in a good configuration, and for 600,000 you can buy an excellent automatic version with a very decent engine, a good gearbox, and in general in the best configuration. The comfort of the trip cannot be compared.
- Renault Logan The car starts from 564,000 rubles, but already in the database it offers more features than the Granta in average trim levels. The car has been tested on our roads, it is quite durable and of high quality, it can easily compete with the Grant.
- Datsun on-DO. Many people prefer to buy Datsuns because they are Japanese, but by and large this is the same Granta. The car has only a slightly different design and a slightly modified interior. Overall, the car is of high quality and durable, but it’s hardly any better than the new Granta.
- FAW V5. If you are not ashamed of the Chinese, there is also a brainchild from FAW. The car is good in terms of equipment and price, there are no problems with the equipment. The assembly is of quite high quality, so you can safely compare this car with Granta and consider it as an alternative.
- Lifan Solano. Another Chinese with good sales in Russia, but with a price tag of 679,000 rubles. Of course, it competes with the Granta conditionally, since it costs more than even the most complete version of the Russian sedan. However, you can also consider it.
As you can see, there are quite a lot of competitors, and there are also quite worthy options for consideration. It all depends on the purpose for which you are buying a car, as well as how much you can stretch your budget. Sometimes, just by adding a few tens of thousands of rubles, you already get completely different options for using your car. But in general, Granta’s competition will come not from new, but from used cars with approximately the same price tags as in the showroom for a Lada Granta.
We invite you to watch a short video review of the new product:
Let's sum it up
The Russian concern began to make good cars. This can be seen in Vesta, X-RAY, and now in Granta. The car turned out to be not just budget-friendly, but also beautiful, practical, relatively reliable and quite presentable in all its qualities. The concern is unlikely to improve its image with this machine, but it can significantly increase overall sales and influence on the market. Budget cars in Russia are still the most important class, and for us Granta continues to be a people's car in all meanings of the word. So it’s hard to call the model unsuccessful or not good enough for Russia.
The car has retained all the advantages of the old generation Grants, and also added new advantages, and now the car is becoming even more interesting for the buyer. Of course, all this indicates a large sales volume. But there are already dissatisfied customers who write angry reviews, turning to AvtoVAZ with all the existing curses. Therefore, you should be prepared for the fact that this is not a dream car, and it is unlikely to become one of the best in its segment. This is just an inexpensive car that will allow you not to buy a used vehicle, but to become the owner of a new car. What do you think about the new generation of Grants?
Comparative characteristics
The advantages of the Lada Granta lie in its dimensions: length - 4260 mm, width - 1700 mm, height - 1500 mm. Ground clearance is 170 mm. The original hood and aerodynamic front bumper are the external features of the Lada Granta sedan model. The luxury version is equipped with PTF. Any model of the family under consideration is equipped with numerous galvanized parts. The car body is treated with a special anti-corrosion substance.
Granta is easy to maintain (unlike Kalina). The number of parts in the 1st car is much less than in the other model. Due to the reduction of parts (from 59 to 39 pieces), the new torpedo is presented in the form of a monolithic structure. The quality of the plastic elements used in the interior of the Lada Granta has significantly improved; there are no gaps. The dashboard with a minimal number of information instruments replicates the Kalina torpedo.
Due to the large side mirrors, the driver has a good view. Other advantages include the presence of an immobilizer, an LCD display and a spacious interior of the car. It is equipped with a spacious trunk with a volume of 480 liters. The rear seat can accommodate 2 passengers up to 180 cm tall at the same time, and if necessary, it can be easily folded.
Among the disadvantages of the design, Lada Granta car owners highlight the close location of 2 cup holders near the gearbox. In practice, using such niches is inconvenient. During use, the upholstery of soft seats wears out. The manufacturer did not provide lumbar support and head restraints in the rear seats.
Basic configurations
Lada Granta is produced in 4 trim levels: Luxury, Sport, Standard and Norma. Each version is equipped with an engine of a certain power and corresponding options. The 2013 Granta is available with a new suspension. The production model has negative camber on the rear wheels. The Lada Granta has created a new type of electric booster, the gear ratio of which is 3:1. This value significantly increases the information content of control, reducing the labor intensity of driving.
The Lux model is equipped with the ABC system from Bosch. The vehicle is equipped with a 1.6-liter gasoline engine with 4 cylinders. The Grant sedan configuration is equipped with a 1.6-liter engine with a power of 82 hp. With. and 5-speed manual transmission. The car accelerates to 100 km/h in 12.5 seconds, with a top speed of 165 km/h. With mixed driving, fuel consumption fluctuates within 7.4 liters per 100 km. Owners of the new Lada Granta claim that under operating conditions the car consumes an average of 7-8 liters of gasoline per 100 km.
In 2012, sales of Granta Sport began with a 1.6-liter engine producing 120 hp. With. and with a 5-speed manual transmission. This model can accelerate to 200 km/h. The difference between a regular Grant and a Sport is a charged engine, rigid suspension, original appearance, and sports wheels. Any modification of the vehicle is subject to tuning. Modernization of the VAZ Sport involves the installation of new turbines that increase engine power to 210 hp. With.
The big disadvantage of Granta is the flaw in the electronic gas pedals. The throttle valve responds slowly to the accelerator, resulting in delayed acceleration. To modernize this system, car owners install a booster on the gas pedal. If necessary, the computer device is re-flashed. Tuning the Lada body involves installing the correct body kits, wheel arch trims and volumetric sills. Modernization of the Granta interior consists of installing designer comfortable chairs.
The budget option Standard is equipped with an engine with good traction. The light steering wheel greatly simplifies the process of driving. Any model in the family under consideration is equipped with a standard 5-speed manual transmission. Long throw design shifts with effort. An alternative option is a 4-speed automatic transmission from the Japanese manufacturer Jatco.
Advantages of the LADA Granta car
The advantages of the first generation Lada Granta include its affordable price and high ground clearance, which is important when operating the car on broken Russian roads. The cost of spare parts for the Grant is not too high, and its repair and maintenance is not particularly difficult. With powerful 16-valve engines, this car showed good dynamics, which significantly simplified its control in city conditions.
The car turned out to be quite economical, both in terms of fuel consumption and the car owner’s costs for servicing the car. This is an inexpensive, roomy and versatile sedan that was often used as a car for the whole family. This model was perfect for use in the Russian climate; it had a powerful stove that quickly heated the interior.
