First Belarusian test drive of Lada Kalina Cross: what is it like - a Russian urban crossover?

The car comes with a traditional Kalina key, the round handle of which controls the alarm and central locking.

On a gloomy autumn morning, my colleagues and I were brought to a site filled with white “Kalina” station wagons. The weather whispered: “Borrow and drink.” Therefore, there was no particular desire to look at the car - I had to quickly get into the salon and turn on the heater. How could we, southerners, know that it could be cold in the mountains of Eastern Kazakhstan in the fall? They say correctly in Siberia: a Siberian is not the one who does not freeze, but the one who dresses warmly. But we weren’t dressed, so we didn’t have enough time for a careful inspection. Yes, superficially. And what's so new about it? We've seen it more than once. At first glance, the Cross is no different from the regular Kalina2 station wagon in a luxury version - alloy wheels, roof rails. I didn’t have time to notice anything else - it’s cold!

A tall station wagon with small overhangs and high ground clearance begs for an all-wheel drive transmission. Alas, it won’t happen, but it’s a pity, it would make an excellent crossover

The salon is interesting. If you compare the design and quality with the pre-restyling Kalina, the progress is global. But the main thing is that it is warm. The stove is very efficient. There are also heated front seats, which heats up mercilessly. By the way, in Kalinas this is now a basic option. And in the summer, when it’s hot, the car will be pleasantly cooled by air conditioning, which is also available for all other versions of the model. Have we really lived to see a time when you can drive VAZs in the summer with the windows closed, and this is not a joke?!

Protective moldings on the doors and roof rails are included in the basic package of the Cross. And it is they who, first of all, visually distinguish the “Kalina” standing on tiptoes from the usual one

At the time of its appearance, Cross had only one fixed configuration, which should have pleased both ours and yours. However, at the end of 2015, AVTOVAZ added several options for this station wagon. We got a, so to speak, basic one for a test drive. On the one hand, the car is filled with everything necessary: ​​there are heated mirrors and heated windshield filaments, front electric windows, central locking and an on-board computer. On the other hand, there is no electric windows on the rear doors (however, they have begun to be installed on luxury versions). An airbag for the driver is also standard, but there is no airbag for the front passenger. But the Cross has significantly improved sound insulation compared to the base Kalina.

Orange mood Even from the usual “Kalina”, “Cross” went ahead a little. The new seats, for example, are much more comfortable than the old ones. And the colors really brightened up the interior.

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Orange inserts liven up the interior very well. However, today a “Cross” with a regular dark gray interior went on sale

The instrument panel migrated from the regular Kalina with only one change - orange edging of the scales

The small glove compartment on the panel is more of a tribute to fashion. In fact, it can only accommodate a medium-sized smartphone. In the top versions of the regular Kalina, a seven-inch display is located in this place

The audio system is not bad: it allows you to play music from a regular flash drive and SD card, and supports communication with a mobile phone. However, the sound quality through native acoustics is, let's say, not impressive. Moreover, it does not have a CD slot

Climate control is known from other Lada models. In addition to the main operating modes, automatic is also provided - for the rotation speed of the system fan

“Cross” received a modernized gearshift lever drive, which significantly facilitated gear shifting in the box

The door sill trim decorates the car. Question: How long will the paint last on it?

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The functionality of the interior is thought out, but not to the smallest detail. While some buttons are located as conveniently as possible, for example, heated seats or power windows, other solutions are puzzling, in particular the archaic and tedious knob for adjusting the angle of the backrest of the front seats.

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The front seats in the Cross are more comfortable than in the regular Kalina, but they are still very far from ideal

Extremely slow, tedious and inconvenient backrest tilt adjustment knob. It’s high time for AVTOVAZ to switch to seats with normal adjustment

The rear sofa is very spacious if two passengers are sitting on it. By the way, as it should be in our time, the seat can be folded either as a whole or in parts in a ratio of 1:2

Heated front seats are included in the list of basic equipment

An airbag is hidden in the plump steering wheel. The second (for the front passenger) is available only on the version with a 16-valve engine

The main glove compartment is small. You can't even put a regular magazine in there

Power windows for the rear doors, as well as power mirrors, are available only on the 16-valve version of the Cross.

The trunk is spacious by B-class standards. Well, to transport something large, you can fold the back seat

Interestingly, when the pre-production car was presented, there was a full-size spare wheel on a cast wheel in the trunk. On serial "crosses" it was replaced with a re-roller

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Inside, the Cross we tested is no different from the Kalina station wagon. The rear seat is nominally three-seater, but in fact it will be comfortable for two. The trunk is just as small - after all, a B-class car. There is a storage wheel at the bottom, although a full-size wheel can also be placed in the niche. Initially, perhaps this was planned, because when the car was officially presented, there was a full-fledged spare wheel on an alloy wheel in the trunk. Why it was replaced with a dokatka is a mystery. Although the answer, rather, lies in savings. But another pleasant detail is that Kalina Cross is equipped with Pirelli Cinturato P1 tires from the factory.

What makes “Kalina” “Cross” “Kalina Cross” almost completely repeats the appearance of a regular one. The difference lies in the little things. For example, the radiator grille has a slightly different shape, new nameplates have been added, and silver trims have been installed under the bumpers.

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The optics of Kalina-2 have proven themselves well - the owners have no complaints about the illumination of the road at night

The rear optics are large. But it's time to introduce LEDs instead of incandescent light bulbs

"Cross" is well equipped. Therefore, it is not clear why the manufacturer skimped on the electric drive of the side mirrors, although on ordinary Kalinas it is installed in some trim levels

A pleasant surprise - Kalina Cross is equipped at the factory with Pirelli tires size 195/55 R15, and not “Kama” tires with a landing diameter of 14 inches, as on other versions

Original unpainted door moldings not only decorate the car, but also protect it from being hit by the doors of other cars in the parking lot.

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Under the hood in our tests was the well-known 8-valve engine with a volume of 1.6 liters and a power of 87 hp. With. The gearbox is mechanical. And no matter how much of a crossover “Cross” may seem, it has front-wheel drive. And they don’t even plan to introduce a 4WD transmission. It’s a pity, because it just begs for nice plastic arch extensions and an all-round body kit, which also distinguish the Cross from the regular Kalina. It would turn out like a VAZ Outback!

The autumn mountain roads of Kazakhstan's Altai were best suited for a test drive of the sub-crossover from AVTOVAZ - the car was in its element

We had the opportunity to test the car on the move in ideal conditions for it: mountainous terrain, some dirt, some crushed stone road surfaces, and not so much asphalt surfaces in East Kazakhstan region. I immediately noticed that the engine clearly lacks traction at low speeds. If this is not noticeable without load and on a horizontal section of the road, then in reverse conditions you have to turn the engine and literally burn the clutch, otherwise the engine will simply stall. “Cross” would have a more modern 16-valve unit with a capacity of 100–110 hp. s., which, however, is in the motor range.

On winding dirt roads I liked the car for its driving performance - on potholes it is much preferable to conventional foreign cars of this class

And in the VAZ car, as you know, a cable drive of the gearshift lever appeared. How easy and simple it has become to change gears! Previously, I remember, in the same “Kalinas” and “Priors”, clear shifts remained the desired dream of the owners, and the first two gears were almost kicked into gear, especially during the break-in period. And now, as in normal modern cars, you can move the lever with one finger. Progress! By the way, since we’re talking about transmissions, the Cross has versions with an automated 5-speed manual transmission.

While we were driving, I appreciated the reduction in the level of internal noise in the cabin - the “ladas” can already be called quiet. The background noise is no higher than, for example, that of South Korean cars of the higher C-class. Although they cost twice as much. Of course, we are not talking about perfection - at speeds above 100 km/h aerodynamic noise appears. There are several sources of it: there are large side mirrors, roof rails, as well as deteriorated aerodynamics of the car itself. The fact is that the Cross is noticeably taller than the regular Kalina station wagon. This is the main feature of the modification. The ground clearance is 23 mm higher than that of the regular Kalina, and is 183 mm! This, by the way, is more than many city crossovers, most of which are not raised above the ground above 180 mm.

The body kit looks great! But try to find the towing eye under the front bumper. And when you find it, figure out a way to rescue the car from road captivity so that after this the plastic remains intact. This does not work for everyone and not always.

In order to raise the Kalina so high, it is not enough to install large wheels (the Cross has 15-inch wheels by default), which increase the ground clearance by 7 mm. It is necessary to install other shock absorbers to get another +16 mm. After additional tuning of the chassis, the track of the rear wheels was widened, and changes were made to the steering.

On the track the car causes neither delight nor obscenities. The only thing that really pleased me was the fuel consumption: in rough mode, with accelerations of up to 130 km/h, in the mountains, in a convoy it was 7 l/100 km on an untested engine. This is quite good. But the high position of the body affects the behavior of the car. The suspension is long-travel, and the Cross turned out to be rolly and rolls noticeably in corners. But on rough roads the chassis shows its best features. She is very energy intensive. Even with a loaded car, it is extremely difficult to break through the shock absorbers - this allows you not to slow down in front of holes and bumps. The flip side of the impenetrability of gas-filled struts is their rigidity. On uneven surfaces, compared to a regular Kalina, it shakes noticeably.

On the rough roads of Eastern Kazakhstan, Kalina Cross with almost 20 cm of ground clearance moved very confidently

Overall the comfort level is acceptable. In its class, Kalina Cross is clearly not the most oak car. But there are still comments. The front seats received clear lateral support, but did not become more comfortable. Will the VAZ people never learn how to make normal chairs?! After several hours spent behind the wheel, I felt tired. The place behind the wheel remains cramped - the right knee constantly rests against the center console. However, the landing itself is not bad. The main controls are directly accessible and intuitive. The readability of the instruments is passable. By the way, here’s how the Cross differs from a regular station wagon: the tachometer and speedometer are framed in orange.

Prospects

At the time of the appearance of the LADA Kalina Cross, the prospects were bright. This is an excellent choice for those who are forced to drive on bad roads, but do not want to buy a Niva. However, the car, as they say, did not move. Sales in our country are weak, and the matter, apparently, is not only due to the ensuing economic crisis and the devaluation of the national currency. The buyer is not ready to pay an extra half a million tenge for essentially the same Kalina, even with increased ground clearance.

However, in Russia the situation is somewhat different. There, sales of the Cross version in 2015 reached a 20 percent share of all Kalinas. Considering that the crossover-like version is a small-run product, we can say that it still found its buyer there.

The appearance of the Lada Kalina Cross repeats the usual “Kalina”. Only an experienced eye will notice the high seating position of the station wagon (“Cross” is 23 mm higher, of which 7 mm are due to 15-inch wheels, and 16 mm are due to changes in the suspension) and a modified bumper

Appearance

It is immediately noticeable that the manufacturer has increased the ground clearance - the car has become taller. AvtoVAZ decided that the car should fully correspond to the crossover. The body was raised using a new chassis and different rims. By the way, this significantly influenced the design - the car looks more aggressive and powerful. Look at the photo of this car.

The distance between the wheels has also increased - this is how the designers gave the car a resemblance to full-size crossovers.

Western manufacturers, when restyling their cars, change all body elements. But AvtoVAZ acted differently. You won't be able to see new optics or a different radiator grille here. Domestic designers have changed the appearance of the new crossover using plastic linings. The same thing could be seen on other models.

Plastic trims are applied to the wheel arches, installed on the doors, window dividers and on the rear bumper. On the back door you can see the model name – Cross. Additional changes include larger roof rails along the entire length.

Liked:

• high comfortable seating position New seats provide a high seating position. Visibility from the driver's seat has noticeably improved.
• good equipment Although the car has a basic version, it is enough, because almost everything that a modern small car should have is installed in the Kalina.
• good cross-country ability Of course, this is not an SUV or even an all-wheel drive crossover. However, Kalina Cross is capable of driving on broken dry roads, and in certain conditions it can even leave some all-wheel drive vehicles behind. After all, it’s 183 mm of ground clearance.
• level of comfort The cabin is quite cozy, the additional sound insulation is good - noise is not annoying. The suspension works great. Of course, it’s harsh, but without unnecessary sounds.

Interior

While the exterior has changed, even if only slightly, the interior has somehow remained untouched. The only new thing in the cabin is the colors of some elements.

The usual dark finish, familiar to Kalina, is now diluted with inserts on the steering wheel, air vents, seats and door panels. It became more pleasant to be inside the car - more cheerful colors added comfort. Some elements of this interior are very reminiscent of the Lada Granta.

The trunk of the Lada Kalina Cross has a volume of 355 liters. The rear ones fold down - this way you can increase the available volume to 669 liters. This is already quite enough to go on an exciting journey - after all, this is a crossover, albeit a very small one.

Interior sound insulation has been significantly improved. Now inside you can’t hear the roar of the engine, the howl of the gearbox, or the noise from stones on the road. Watch the test drive video of this car and see for yourself.

Did not like:

• uncomfortable seats The front seats are more comfortable than in the previous Kalina or Grant, but they are still far from perfect.
• operation of electric power steering Lack of clear feedback is a common problem with almost all modern cars with electric power steering.
• Sluggish dynamics The Cross clearly lacks an engine. This is especially noticeable when starting under load - incorrect use of the gas and clutch pedals leads to the engine stopping.
• rolly suspension The high, long-travel suspension is good on a country road, but on the highway it frightens with noticeable rolls in corners.
• one airbag Today this is not enough. Modern foreign-made analogues are sometimes equipped with four or more airbags. But at Cross, a second pillow is available only for additional money.

Chassis Kalina Cross

Also, a few words need to be devoted to describing the changes in the running gear of the Cross Kalina. Although, to be honest, you can’t say much about it, because the entire chassis was completely transferred from the prototype. The installation of new, more modern and modernized gas-filled shock absorbers has already been mentioned above. It must be said that it is not enough just to install more advanced components on the car, you also need to give them the necessary and most optimal settings.

Judging by the available reviews, the designers of the Volga plant succeeded. The smoothness of the new Kalina Cross has noticeably increased, the car has become more adequately controlled and more stable at high speeds. In addition to the actual shock absorber settings, the Lada received more reliable, reinforced silent blocks, a new type of support for the struts and more durable and reliable front shock-absorbing springs. All this complements the overall shock absorption system and makes travel on this crossover pleasant and comfortable. Also, we mentioned that the design changes made to the stroke of the rack and pinion steering mechanism increased the turning radius of the car by as much as 0.3 meters. It seems like a little, but in the dynamic and crowded conditions of modern megacities, this fact can somewhat complicate the processes of maneuvering or parking.

Milestones of history

Production of the new LADA Kalina family was launched on November 18, 2004. The model, by the way, even debuted at the Geneva Motor Show in 2005 and went on sale in May of the same year. Initially, the model had only a sedan body (VAZ-1118), but in the summer of 2006 a hatchback (VAZ-1119) went on sale. The first station wagon of the model (VAZ-1117) left the plant in May 2009.

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2004 - LADA Kalina sedan (VAZ-1118) of the first generation

2004 - LADA Kalina sedan (VAZ-1118) of the first generation

2004 - LADA Kalina sedan (VAZ-1118) of the first generation

2006 - LADA Kalina hatchback (VAZ-1119) of the first generation

2006 - LADA Kalina hatchback (VAZ-1119) of the first generation

2006 - LADA Kalina 4WD (VAZ-1117)

2009 - LADA Kalina station wagon (VAZ-1117) of the first generation

2009 - LADA Kalina station wagon (VAZ-1117) of the first generation

2013 - LADA Kalina hatchback (VAZ-2192) second generation

2013 - LADA Kalina hatchback (VAZ-2192) second generation

2013 - LADA Kalina hatchback (VAZ-2192) second generation

2013 - LADA Kalina station wagon (VAZ-2194) of the second generation

2013 - LADA Kalina station wagon (VAZ-2194) of the second generation

2014 - LADA Kalina Cross (VAZ-2194) second generation

2014 - LADA Kalina Cross (VAZ-2194) second generation

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The first generation of Kalinas was produced until March 2013, when it was replaced by the new, deeply modernized LADA Kalina 2. However, the second Kalina continued the series in only two bodies - a hatchback and a station wagon. And the sedan was discontinued even earlier (in 2011) and transformed into a new model - Granta.

The Kalina Cross version officially appeared in December 2014.

Few people know that AVTOVAZ had previously thought about releasing a crossover-like version of the Kalina.
At the Moscow Motor Show in 2006, Tolyatti residents presented a sample of the LADA Kalina 4WD station wagon. Yes, yes, all-wheel drive. Under the hood was a rare VAZ 16-valve 1.8-liter engine, a gearbox with a reinforced output shaft. The rear axle was connected using a viscous coupling. Due to the appearance of the cardan and gearbox, the suspension was offered in a different form - mounted on a separate subframe. However, this very serious idea has so far remained at the pilot production level. 2006 - experimental prototype of Lada Kalina 4WD

Test drive Lada Kalina Cross with original suspension: Independence Day. Video

This is not a serial VAZ “Cross”, but something that has exactly the same name, but completely different driving habits. Let's get acquainted with the tuning kit for Lada Kalina from Tolyatti and tell you when it will be possible to influence the handling of the Lada Vesta with the same small means...

The essence of the improvements

The engine and electric power steering settings, as well as the rack-and-pinion gear ratio, are completely standard. Gearbox and brakes too. This Lada Kalina hatchback was deliberately not turned into a purely racing car - so that it would be clear why exactly the car drove like that.

All changes are in the chassis and body: the original independent suspensions at the front and rear are complemented by a helical self-locking differential on the drive axle, a strut under the hood and a cross-type linkage in the trunk - which, by the way, can be easily dismantled, returning Kalina the ability to transform the interior. Both in the interior and in appearance, the car hardly reveals its character, except for the lining between the headlights and on the “lip” of the front bumper, the large rear wing on the trunk lid and 16-inch wheels shod with studded Hakkapeliitta 8 size 205/55 R16.

How does it ride?

But for the first time I managed to drive this car even before the snow, when it was equipped with summer Sava Intensa hp (195/55 R16). Kalina literally stuck to the asphalt of the KVC autodrome in Tolyatti (not only because of the rubber), and this feeling was especially strong in comparison with the behavior of the standard car. Minimal roll and excellent, go-kart-like feedback on the steering wheel turned Kalina into something completely different from what was once made at the factory.

But now the city and nearby prime roads are cleared of snow, so it’s time to test the car in the conditions of a real Russian spring, with its compromise directions. After all, the improvements presented on the car and implemented both as a single “whale” and separately, are not strictly tailored for sports, but are intended only to improve some of the characteristics of the car for “everyday use.”

Completely different suspension kinematics make moving on broken asphalt quite bearable. This is the same case when it was possible to incorporate the so-called reasonable rigidity into the suspension - no tooth-breaking while clearly working out most of the road troubles.

But the first violin on a slippery surface is played by the inter-wheel, maintenance-free self-block - it does not interfere with braking, greatly contributes to intense acceleration, and literally screws the car into turns - you can fly past the trajectory only as a result of a gross mistake. Once again you remember that you are in Kalina, just by looking at the completely standard instrument panel and steering wheel...

Off-road

It’s not worth going too far in off-road conditions with a front-wheel drive vehicle, but the car can easily tackle even virgin soil half a wheel deep and impressive hillocks due to the large suspension travel compared to the stock version and the ground clearance increased to 210 mm. You most likely won’t even get involved in such adventures on a standard Kalina, even with the prefix “Cross” in the name.

The seemingly paradoxical union between controllability and cross-country ability turns out to be not so unrealistic, and it is especially pleasant that all this is achieved with completely budgetary funds. The only modification that we couldn’t come to terms with was the new main “can” of the muffler. Due to the different rear suspension, the exhaust route has to be lengthened a little and a straight-through design has to be installed. This can be regarded as a forced, but for some, a significant advantage.

What is the price

The Kalina's exhaust sound becomes bassy, ​​with a sporty hoarseness, but you have to talk in a raised voice in the car, even when driving around the city, and you get tired quite quickly from the constant “boo-boo-boo” resonating in the rear of the cabin. Avtoprodukt worked on this component and kept the louder version only on the test car, for advertising purposes. Now the car attracts attention not only with its “war paint”, but also with the sound of the exhaust. A less noisy, “civilian” version is also available for sale.

The front wishbone suspension on a subframe costs 10,000 rubles (depending on the model and modification of the car, the price may vary slightly), and the rear independent suspension is estimated at 26,000 rubles. The dealer will also charge for installation.

Thus, the “suspension-exhaust-body amplifiers” kit costs only 41,990 rubles. up to 48,680 rub. with blocking. Still no more than 6,000 rubles for a self-locking differential. And, according to subjective feelings, it’s worth it. As a result of all the modifications, the car remains completely stock in appearance, but the handling characteristics change radically.

The kit for Kalina was just the beginning; kits are already being offered for all families of front-wheel drive LADAs that have entered the production line up to Vesta and Xray. Due to its utilitarian nature, kits for Largus are not produced either.

How to put

"Avtoproduct" is a company with modern production. In addition to its own projects and deliveries through a wide network of dealers of kits and individual components, the plant is a supplier of LADA SPORT, LADA Image and AVTOVAZ. The range is wide, there are 16 types of front subframes alone - for almost all VAZ models and in several versions.

The number of the company’s dealers in Russia is approaching a hundred (back in 2013 there were only 11). There are dealers in Ukraine and Kazakhstan. There are about twenty services where you can install purchased components, but self-installation is also possible - the company publishes detailed instructions on this matter on the Internet. Dealers and services are reflected on the company’s official website (all product range and prices are also there) and are controlled by the quality of the services provided; Private consultations by telephone are also practiced.

The autoproduct.biz website is designed so that you can choose delivery through a transport company or order from the nearest dealer. But technical support and warranty are provided directly - regardless of where and when you purchased certain Autoproduct spare parts.

What kind of product

There are already quite a lot of counterfeits of “autoproduct” suspension on the market, so the company puts a sticker on each manufactured unit, which you need to tear off and send an SMS with a unique code to the specified number, and in return receive confirmation of the purchase of the branded product.

Some components are protected by patents, and some of the parts have a lifetime warranty, and the list of such elements is promised to be expanded. By the way, you can speed up this process - just give an offer for the desired product via Email or in a VK group - and after considering the possibility of extending the warranty, you can receive a positive conclusion.

The products themselves are constantly evolving - on the test Kalina, for example, a few months ago, a couple of adjustments appeared in the rear suspension, allowing you to fine-tune the camber and toe.

These “subtleties” are not accidental, because the brand is known in the racing world - in the “National” class of the Russian Championship and the Russian Cup, many teams use components or enlist full technical support from the company. In 2016, Vladimir Sheshenin became a champion driving Kalina with suspension from Avtoprodukt.

As for “sport” for ordinary buyers, according to the company, sometimes a newly purchased car belonging to the AVTOVAZ sports line - Granta Sport or Kalina Sport - comes in for suspension installation from Avtoprodukt. That is, there is a certain percentage of consumers for whom the initial level of “charge” of a VAZ car is no longer enough, although, as a rule, turning the car into a racing cramp is not the goal.

And for Vesta?

There is already a request for a similar tuning kit for Vesta and X-ray from consumers, and work is underway. First in line, as part of the Rally Sprint project, is Vesta. The car is positioned as the next step after the factory Vesta SW Cross. And if the cost of modifications remains at the same level as it is now for Kalina - at least for suspension components - then demand will definitely be high.

What else? Literally on the day of the test drive, Alexander Baburin, head of , announced the start of a project similar to the tested Kalina, but for the legend of the domestic automobile industry, LADA 4×4. But this, as they say, is a completely different story...

Author: Innokenty Kishkurno

• About the new platform from Russian tuners, about the modernization of the Niva, about the need for the OKA car these days

Classmates

Cross is one of the most expensive modifications of the Kalina model. On the day of publication of this material, the dealer network in Kazakhstan offers it for 2.5 million tenge. This, of course, is a lot, especially considering that we are still not accustomed to the new price tags after the devaluation. However, if compared with foreign cars, the price of the Cross is quite attractive.

Recently, crossover-like five-doors have become an important component of the model range of any brand, but they are all more expensive. (Prices are current as of publication date - February, 2016)

Renault Sandero Stepway , in fact, is the only foreign analogue of the Cross. But the “French” is noticeably more expensive. Even the basic version (Confort, 1.6, 5MT), which is not impressive in its equipment, is priced 200 thousand tenge more. And the top-end one (Privelege, 1.6, 4AT) costs 1 million tenge more.

Geely MK-Cross assembled in Kazakhstan is also more expensive. The basic configuration (Active, 1.5, 5MT) is estimated by the dealer at 2.9 million tenge, and the most complete (Dynamic, 1.5 l, 5MT) with the maximum set of options costs 2.98 million tenge.

Korean small cars cost at least 3 million tenge, the price tags for European ones are even higher - on average half a million.

LADA Largus Cross is more expensive. The price starts from 3,152,000 tenge (“Lux”, 1.6, 5MT), but for this amount it gives “more” of the car. The interior volume of the Largus is comparable to another minivan, and not a small car, which is the Kalina.

Equipment

The equipment of the LADA Kalina Cross that we tested is, of course, inferior to the luxury versions of the Kalina, but it is not poor at all. The station wagon has automatic air conditioning, an anti-theft system, central locking with remote control, electric front doors, heated side mirrors, heated front seats, steering wheel adjustment (height only), electric power steering, on-board computer, audio system with preparation for a telephone ( via Bluetooth) and USB connector. There is an additional 12 V socket in the trunk.

The exterior is distinguished by a plastic body kit around the perimeter, 15-inch alloy wheels, and fog lights.

Safety is ensured by ABS+BAS (anti-lock braking system with emergency braking assist), front airbag and daytime running lights.

Range of engines

LADA Kalina Cross is equipped with two engines. Both have a volume of 1.6 liters, but one is 8-valve with a capacity of 87 hp. With. (pictured), the other is a 16-valve with a capacity of 106 hp. With. Both engines are mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. There is no automatic transmission for the Cross version, but in Russia there is a modification of the Cross with a robot (AMT).

Chassis

The front suspension is McPherson type, the rear is semi-independent spring. Disc brakes on the front wheels and drum brakes at the rear. The steering has an electric booster. Front wheel drive only. The Cross differs from a regular station wagon in that it has a stiffer anti-roll bar, a retuned steering system, modified spring mounting locations and new shock absorbers, as a result of which the ground clearance has been increased by 23 mm. Engineers also changed the final drive ratio in the manual transmission - it is 3.9 instead of 3.7.

Dimensions of the new Lada Kalina Cross

Thanks to the use of wider tires, the track of the front and rear wheels has increased by 4 mm. The designers were forced to reduce the stroke length of the steering rack by the same amount. Therefore, the turning radius of the car has naturally increased, which is now 5.5 meters versus the previous 5.2 meters. But let’s return to the appearance of the Russian crossover, how can it attract a potential buyer? It is clear that Tolyatti artists tried to give it a more modern and interesting look. First of all, the new false radiator grille is noticeable, visually appearing even thinner and more elegant than its predecessor. It is closely adjacent to the headlights, which have a fairly harmonious shape and size. The leading detail at the front is a wide and large air intake diffuser, divided into two parts by a bumper strip on which there is space for a license plate. It is thanks to this “wide-gaping mouth” that the appearance of the Lada Kalina Cross reminds of a certain belonging to the “crossover” family. On the sides of the powerful front bumper there are fog lights on special black plastic inserts. Here it must be said that in this version the Volga car is equipped with serious underbody protection in the form of a thick metal sheet, which reliably protects such important components as the power unit and transmission from damage. As for the bumpers, they are also not forgotten; the lower protective pads made of durable plastic are clearly visible on them. So the Lada Kalina Cross is quite ready to overcome small obstacles and what is commonly called “light off-road”.

About security

Compared to other Russian cars, the LADA Kalina Cross showed good results in a crash test conducted by AVTOVAZ specialists. However, they crashed the car not according to the standards accepted in Europe, but at a speed slightly lower - 56 km/h. During the impact, as required by the rules, the doors remained closed, and after that they opened without the use of special tools. There was no fuel leak. The impact dummies were not pinched and were removed from the vehicle freely.

Indirectly, the safety of the Cross can be judged by the crash test results obtained by specialists from the Russian publication Autoreview, who conduct their own independent tests. They smashed an ordinary station wagon. The car earned a solid three out of four possible stars. True, Kalina was equipped with two airbags and an automatic transmission. Kalina 2 has more elastic plastic in the interior, unlike the first generation, due to which it was possible to reduce the load on the knees and hips. But the pedal assembly, which has greatly shifted due to the deformation of the floor, as well as the steering column, are dangerous for the driver’s feet.

Specifications