There are situations when the buyer does not have a large amount of money and even the Renault Duster turns out to be beyond his means. But if you really want to buy a crossover, then, undoubtedly, you need to pay attention to the products of the automobile plant, which is located in the city of Tolyatti. AvtoVAZ designers met motorists halfway and decided to increase the ground clearance on the Lada Kalina Cross and Lada Largus Cross. Below we will provide a detailed analysis of all the features of these two cars so that the consumer can choose the best model for himself.
Brother or rival?
general information
Lada Kalina Cross looks much brighter against the background of Lada Largus Cross, if you compare their appearance. The body color is mainly orange, however, the car enthusiast, based on his own desires, can choose any other of the nine proposed colors, for example, blue or gray. As for the interior space, it looks less bright. Basically, there are the same orange inserts that are located on the black panel. However, in the future it will probably be possible to make the trim in other colors, for example, gray or red.
The updated version of Lada Kalina Cross introduced a new driver's seat. The Kalina Cross model boasts its own seats, which have a unique structure and special filling. The seats turned out to be much more elastic, although previously it was uncomfortable for drivers to sit in them due to the large bolsters inside the cushions. Now the rollers have been slightly reduced in size for convenience. Car enthusiasts also often reproach Kalina Cross for a simple plastic boot, because instead of it there should have been a steel crater protection, and for the excessively noisy operation of the transmission, which distracts while driving.
If you look at the Lada Largus Cross, then this car has an orange interior trim. On this car, the orange color looks more relaxed; in addition, a pleasant surprise will be the high-quality seat upholstery, which contains personalized stitching in the English style. Because of these details, the Largus Cross is often compared to the legendary Bentley car, which also uses unique ornaments. Otherwise, the car is in dire need of improvement, especially its interior, because... its interior is very similar in the composition of parts to the first generation Renault Logan.
Comparative analysis of cars
If we compare the Lada Kalina Cross and Lada Largus Cross, then the Kalina Cross will look more advantageous here. This applies to both the appearance as a whole and individual parameters.
The downside of the Lada Largus Cross is its poor ergonomic performance. If you do not pay attention to the horn, located on the steering column lever, and the window lifts, which are also inconveniently located, then the control of the heating system raises big questions. It is also worth noting the heater switches, which seem to be deliberately hidden from the driver somewhere in the depths of the cabin. As for the driver's seat, not every person can fit comfortably there, but only those who are short in stature. This state of affairs arose due to the very small cushion and low back of the driver's seat.
Trunk Kalina Cross
When it comes to comparing cargo-passenger characteristics, Lada Largus Cross leads by a wide margin. This car can perform any task thanks to its excellent parameters. For example, the driver can open the tailgate 180 degrees, and the trunk itself has a volume of 560 liters. If you fold the second row seats, the volume of the luggage compartment will increase several times and amount to 2500 liters. As an example, this is quite enough to place a small Christmas tree or several large tool boxes. In addition, the Lada Largus Cross can be a seven-seater car, which significantly expands the capabilities of this car.
Owner reviews
Review by Yuri, Kalina Cross 87 l. p., manual transmission
“I drove Kalina once and really liked the car. And the time has come to buy a new car. I decided to buy a vehicle regarding AvtoVAZ’s new project – Kalina Cross. Emotions over the year of using the car, of course, are overwhelming, but I will try to write everything to the point. I will objectively highlight both the pros and cons.
- attractive exterior;
- Even though the interior of the cabin is no different from the earlier versions of Kalin-2, I still wouldn’t consider it a disadvantage; the interior design is good for its price;
- good chassis (there are some minor flaws, but not significant);
- good multimedia system;
- very comfortable seats, it feels like they have been remade, not like in regular Kalinas;
- good handling and overall dynamics;
- unpretentious engine, there were no serious breakdowns;
- practical overall design.
I don’t know about other people, but the design of the car is extremely attractive to me.
So, as for the disadvantages of Kalina Cross:
- Manual transmission is noisy, not fatal, but unpleasant;
- I didn’t like the steering rack and some elements of the exhaust system (pipe and corrugation) - typical VAZ;
- slightly inadequate light, it seems to shine brightly, but where is not clear;
- the racks knock slightly;
- and, of course, minor shortcomings in the materials of manufacture and fastenings in Kalina Cross, something is knocking, the plastic is oak, etc.
It is felt that the Russian manufacturer has worked hard to rebuild Kalina. You can’t drive on serious off-road, but on average – the ground clearance allows it. My equipment is basic; some innovations, although slightly useless, are nice to have. Consumption is slightly higher than stated by the manufacturer (in my opinion, this is always the case).
In general, for almost half a million, Kalina Cross is made with high quality, especially considering that it is from VAZ. There are shortcomings, but they can be corrected. There’s nothing scary.”
Review by Victor, Kalina Cross 106 l. p., manual transmission
“I bought a car about 1.5 years ago, and it has already covered almost 35,000 km. A fairly high-quality unit, but it’s worth considering that the car is still a VAZ one and should only be purchased consciously. There are both disadvantages and advantages, which can be perceived differently by each person. Personally, I quite like my 106-horsepower Kalina Cross.
Luggage compartments
As for the Lada Kalina Cross, in terms of luggage compartment capacity this car does not look the best. The luggage compartment volume is only 366 liters, and it is not possible to remove the third row of seats. The interior space of the cabin, although it has some interesting details, but, in general, there is a lot missing, for example, such a basic thing as a mezzanine, which should be located under the ceiling of the car. Certain problems also arise when folding the second row of seats, because To do this, you will have to unfasten the headrest clamps, remove the pillows and, in addition, bring the front seats as close as possible. Lada Largus Cross, in turn, will not force the driver to engage in such manipulations, because in the case of this car, the seats fold out quickly, neatly and without acrobatic tricks.
Off-road test
As practice shows, off-road is a serious test for both the Lada Kalina Cross and the Lada Largus Cross. Mud obstacles also pose a serious problem for these cars. This is partly due to the fact that Kalina Cross and Largus Cross are station wagons and their ground clearance is raised slightly. But they also worked on the chassis of the cars and seriously changed their geometry, due to which both models acquired a more massive wheelbase. The ground clearance of the Lada Largus Cross is 21 cm, while the ground clearance of the Lada Kalina Cross is 18 cm. In principle, these dimensions are quite enough for a comfortable ride.
Lada Kalina Cross and Lada Largus Cross configurations
When it comes to modifications, the Lada Kalina Cross is most suitable for driving on rough roads. This car has a much smaller wheelbase and overhang angles. There is an 8-cylinder engine with a volume of 1.6 liters and a power of 87 horsepower. This is quite enough to move comfortably on smooth roads. If there is an uneven road along the way and the driver decides to overcome obstacles, then you need to do it carefully. You need to engage the main gear and also use the torque. The driver must drive the car in such a way as to prevent the power unit from twisting and ruining the clutch.
Things are completely different with the Lada Largus Cross. This car is best used to its fullest to overcome off-road conditions. If the main gear is engaged, the engine will have a power of 105 horsepower. At low speeds, the engine may simply stall, and if you accelerate too much on the Largus Cross, the wheels will be slightly pressed into the asphalt. It is assumed that in the future the Lada Largus Cross will have an updated engine, which will have a volume of 1.8 liters and a power of 132 horsepower. Most likely, Largus Cross will again be presented in the station wagon category.
Is it worth buying Lada Kalina Cross?
AvtoVAZ is preparing to launch a rather interesting product, which, in terms of car classification, can be considered an absolute novelty for the domestic automobile industry. We are talking about a crossover version of the Lada Kalina station wagon with the Cross prefix in the name corresponding to its status. The crossover look of this car is given by the ground clearance increased to 208 mm and an additional plastic body kit corresponding to the new style with some semblance of off-road protection. The drive remained exclusively front-wheel drive. The only technical difference between the Kalina Cross and the standard station wagon was an increase in the final drive ratio from 3.7 to 3.9 in order to somewhat improve the car’s traction capabilities. At first, an 87-horsepower eight-valve engine will be installed under the hood, which itself has good traction, especially at low speeds. In the future, it is planned to install a more powerful 106-horsepower unit under the hood of the Kalina Cross, which will be combined with a robotic transmission developed by VAZ. So why was this car created at all, if not for the banal diversity of the AvtoVAZ model range? In fact, the Lada Kalina Cross can be considered as an attempt by the Volzhsky Automobile Plant to enter the extremely popular market of compact crossovers with its new product, unique even of its kind. The lack of all-wheel drive is not yet a reason to call a new product a “sub-crossover”; for example, the French compact Peugeot 2008 also lacks it, and other representatives of this class, even in all-wheel drive versions, can hardly boast of any special off-road qualities, because the second wheel is connected the axle often serves only as a kind of help when the drive wheels slip. So what advantages does the VAZ Lada Kalina Cross have to make it worth buying? First of all, this is, of course, the price - the previously announced starting price of the new product was 409,000 rubles. The closest competitor to the crossover Kalina on the Russian market is the Renault Sandero Stepway, but firstly, it is still a hatchback, and not a more spacious station wagon, and it costs a whole “stolnik” more - from 510,000 rubles. Later, another raised station wagon from AvtoVAZ will be released - Lada Largus Cross, but its minimum cost turned out to be even higher - 517,700 rubles. So if you need an inexpensive option for a roomy city car that is not afraid to drive onto dirt roads, then Kalina Cross has no competitors in this regard.
Vehicle Dynamics
Lada Largus Cross handles the road quite confidently, provided that the road surface is perfectly smooth. It is advisable to use short gears and extra-urban driving for better vehicle dynamics. It is worth noting that when driving outside the city limits, the Lada Largus Cross can reach speeds of over 100 km/h, but such a trip is unlikely to be comfortable due to too high engine speeds, which will also begin to act up, and even sixth gear is of little use here will help. If, in addition, you connect a shortened gearbox, it will not save fuel consumption.
Lada Kalina Cross has rather modest characteristics. And the engine of this car is much weaker, it has a power of only 87 horsepower.
If a buyer wants to figure out which model is better to choose, just drive the Lada Kalina Cross a little. In this case, the process of driving this car will give the driver an unforgettable experience and a feeling of comfort, because this crossover is capable of reaching a speed of 100 km/h in 10 seconds. When driving off-road, all the shortcomings of the vehicle will immediately become clear, because The engine power of 106 horsepower will clearly not be enough. And if a motorist has a choice about which engine to choose for the Lada Kalina Cross, then he needs to immediately think about what it will be used for. For trips within the city, an engine with a capacity of 106 horsepower is best suited, and for driving on country roads, 87 horsepower is enough.
Considering the extremely deplorable state of Russian roads, especially unpaved ones, the condition of the car’s suspension is a serious issue. But here Lada Kalina Cross and Lada Largus Cross are in complete order with this matter. Due to the increased ground clearance, they will be able to overcome even complete off-road conditions without any problems. If we take into account new car models, the increase in ground clearance has a negative impact on their suspension and rebound during movement. At the same time, the vehicle's handling was not affected in any way.
Reviews from real owners of Kalina Cross
Vitaly's opinion, Kalina Cross, engine - 87 hp. p., transmission - manual transmission
“At one time I managed to drive such a LADA Kalina Cross. The time has come to purchase a car. After some thought, I decided to buy a new car from AvtoVAZ. It became LADA Kalina Cross. The one-year period of use did not at all calm down the emotions with which I was overwhelmed from driving. I will try to present the review objectively, highlighting the positive aspects and shortcomings in individual categories.
- quite attractive appearance;
- interior design restrained; it is strongly reminiscent of the interior decoration of early versions of Kalina, but in terms of workmanship and the cost level of this car it is quite good;
- balanced suspension, although there are shortcomings, they are minor;
- good multimedia complex;
- comfortable chairs, this is especially noticeable in comparison with the usual versions of Kalina;
- decent handling and good dynamic capabilities;
- unpretentious power unit; no breakdowns were observed;
- practicality at its best.
In general, the car is quite attractive, I was especially pleased with the exterior.
Now I will share my opinion about the disadvantages:
- noisy manual transmission;
- I don’t like the way the steering rack works;
- the corrugation and pipe in the exhaust system are very reminiscent of old VAZ cars;
- insufficient level of lighting: at first glance, the headlights shine very brightly, but a clear beam is not visible on the road;
- lightly tap the racks;
- The materials used to make the panels in the cabin suffer from minor flaws.
It is immediately noticeable that the manufacturer has put a lot of effort into rebuilding the Lada Kalina Cross. It cannot cope with serious off-road conditions, but it copes with ordinary country routes with dignity, fortunately the ground clearance allows it to safely overcome potholes.
Fuel consumption turned out to be slightly higher than that stated by AvtoVAZ.
In general, for its price this car is a very worthy option. I didn’t find any global shortcomings, and all the disadvantages are minor shortcomings that don’t count.”
Review by Alexandra, Kalina Cross with a 106 hp engine. With. and robotic transmission
“I used a Skoda Roomster and everything was fine. A “rainy day” came and the engine on my “swallow” broke down. I repaired it, continued to use it, and one day the wheel almost fell off. In addition, minor malfunctions, plus CASCO, annoyed me. In general, I got tired of it and sold it.
I was thinking about buying a new car. After a long analysis of the options, I chose the Lada Kalina Cross. I've already driven it for about 20 thousand km. I think I can already share my own conclusions. Let me immediately note that I expected a more negative result.
First, I'll tell you about the disadvantages.
Everything tends to make noise, even despite enhanced sound insulation. I am especially irritated by the “howl” of the transmission in second gear. At other stages, the unit “sings” much more quietly. Up to 50 km per hour the engine is clearly audible, but for now it’s tolerable.
There is nothing to say about the interior plastics. This is a traditional VAZ. Many panels require constant tightening. If you don’t do this, they will shake, which is quite unpleasant when driving. The external mirrors were not pleased with their quality. Replaced with modern analogues. In addition to the shortcomings, I will list some components in the chassis. It would seem that it was strengthened, but the steering rack turned out to be somehow “left-handed”.
Now about the benefits.
I will say that they are able to cover all the disadvantages I mentioned. The dynamics are excellent, handling is also excellent. “Hundreds” are dialed in the stated 11 seconds. Ground clearance ensures confident cross-country ability.
I got the “Lux” package. I liked all the bells and whistles, especially the multimedia and air conditioning. The seats are also comfortable.
So far I have not encountered any breakdowns, so I will praise the reliability of the Kalina. I’m happy with the technical equipment; I didn’t even expect such progress from VAZ.
All minor disadvantages in operation are still present, but I am gradually eradicating them. I paid 520 thousand rubles for the car. and have not regretted it yet. Remembering Skoda, I can confidently say that I did the right thing when I purchased the Lada Kalina Cross! I give her a confident “four” out of a possible “five”.
Which model should you choose?
If we compare the Lada Kalina Cross and Lada Largus Cross, then the first car is most suitable for a young family. Experts came to this conclusion based on the car’s modest price and striking appearance. If you look at the Lada Largus Cross, then this car is an ideal option for those who like to go to the country and for large families, because it has good capacity.
Of course, one cannot say that any model is an order of magnitude superior to its competitor. Both cars have unique characteristics and have both advantages and disadvantages. If the cross-country ability of vehicles is important, then, alas, here the products of the Togliatti plant will be equally powerless. In particular, the cars lack cross-axle differential locks.
Salon Kalina Cross
If the buyer has serious doubts about the advisability of purchasing a Lada Kalina Cross or Lada Largus Cross, then they need to be dispelled, because cars actually have many advantages. The plastic body kit and high ground clearance can definitely be attributed to the advantages of these models. Also one of the advantages is excellent quality tires. For example, Lada Kalina Cross has Pirelli tires, and Lada Largus Cross has Continental tires. The finishing of the cars will also be interesting, which will definitely appeal to the driver. The increased ground clearance of these crossovers will not cost much, only 30 thousand rubles more than the previous version, but it is worth it.
Let's sum it up
Feedback from owners clearly shows that the Lada Kalina Cross was greeted very positively by domestic car enthusiasts. For this price range, the car is well assembled and equipped with reliable and structurally simple components; there are many videos about this. Minor defects are traditionally present, but all this can be eliminated. Therefore, each buyer should make a decision independently: should he give preference to the Lada Kalina Cross over its competitors or not?
Is it worth paying extra?
Most car enthusiasts have a certain stereotype that the more a car costs, the better it is. A Lada Largus Cross with a 105 horsepower engine and a manual transmission will cost the buyer 669 thousand rubles. If you need a seven-seat version of the Lada Largus Cross, you will have to pay 30 thousand rubles more. And here the question arises, is this a lot or a little, given that the crossover has quite good demand? After all, buyers even line up to become the owner of this car. And here the Lada Kalina Cross will look much more profitable, because The cost of this car is 495,800 rubles. And if, in addition, you purchase a robotic version of the transmission and a more powerful engine, you will have to pay an additional 20 thousand rubles.
Salon Largus Cross
