"Kalina 2 Sport": owner reviews, technical characteristics, power and fuel consumption

Despite all their shortcomings, AvtoVAZ cars are in demand on the domestic market due to their affordability and ease of maintenance. However, recently there have been fewer and fewer complaints about the products of this company, and positive potential for the development of the industry is emerging. One of the latest masterpieces was “Kalina 2 Sport”, reviews of which are mostly positive. It can be argued that personnel changes, improvements in the production process and the attraction of foreign specialists have led to progress in the right direction. Cars have become more modern, more attractive and interesting.

Description

Reviews of Kalina 2 Sport confirm that this hatchback has become one of the most anticipated new products of 2015. I would like to hope that this vehicle will not disappoint fans of the domestic automobile industry in Russia and neighboring countries.

The sports version was based on the second generation of the Lada Kalina. In principle, no one tried to hide this moment. The new product differs significantly from the civilian version. And both in technical terms and in the exterior. Experts clearly agree that the car has become more aggressive; its design has sweeping features that indicate some kind of track affiliation. In terms of its overall dimensions and surroundings, the hatchback would easily be suitable for participation in rally races.

Appearance

The front part of the Kalina 2 Sport (reviews of which we will consider below) attracts attention with its original high-quality optics. It is made on a darkened background, which adds expression. The head light elements, together with the false radiator grille, form a single whole. The car brand can be immediately distinguished by the manufacturer’s nameplate located in the center of the specified element. The impressive front bumper was equipped with aerodynamic elements and foglights built into the sides.

The side part boasts large windows and doors similar to the civilian counterpart. The peculiarity of the body is emphasized by impressive external rear-view mirrors, voluminous wheel arches, and original alloy wheels.

The rear is very practical and goes well with the rest of the sporty exterior elements. In stock:

volumetric optics;
specific dimensions;
spoiler over the luggage compartment;
convenient access to the rear door;
plastic trim on the bumper.

Reviews from the owners of Kalina 2 Sport further confirm the fact that in this regard, the designers worked very productively; many did not expect such pleasant changes.

Flaws

Front seats

The designers tried to make the seats of Kalina Sport 2 sporty, with pronounced lateral support. Visually it is present, but in fact the sides of the chair are too soft to perform the intended task. Back support also raises questions - some will like the arch of the back, others will want to adjust it, but there is nothing to do with it. There is no provision for adjustable back support in the vehicle.

Electric booster

The electric power steering (EPS) used in Kalina is the brainchild of a Korean company. Not only has the electric power steering made the steering wheel uninformative and “empty”, it also often breaks down. In extreme conditions, it simply turns off - this is how its protection is configured. True, it is difficult for the driver to understand when these “extreme conditions” occur, because the ESD can turn off at any time and completely unpredictably.

Dashboard

The panel creates an ambiguous impression with its color combination - red-yellow-green. At the same time, the green light has some strange tint that hurts the eye. The instrument numbers are hard to read and the displays are too small.

At a certain angle, some of the instrument readings are blocked by ridiculous visors. The speedometer shows a speed lower than the actual speed.

Peculiarities

Separately, it is worth noting the presence of a sports body kit along the entire outline of the body and interesting door sill trims. The car has become noticeably lower, which is important for the sports version. It offers consumers two modifications of the vehicle in question in external design. One variation is called “Sport”, the second is called NFR.

However, you should not look for a fundamental difference between these variations. Manufacturers note that the main distinguishing indicators are air intakes on the hood and wheel rims of different sizes.

Interior

In their reviews of the Lada Kalina 2 Sport, consumers indicate that the manufacturers did not bother much about finishing and improving the interior. In the interior, there are minimal differences between the civilian and sports models. Among the updates, only new sports seats are noted, providing a more comfortable fit. They have the corresponding logos.

Otherwise, the interior remained practically the same, which did not come as much of a surprise to experts. In the base generation, the interior, in principle, has reached a high level, as close as possible to European competitors. There are still some shortcomings, and the ergonomics leave much to be desired. However, the equipment is no longer so boring and impractical. It is worth noting that the shortcomings regarding the convenience of seating passengers in both rows have been largely eliminated, which gives another plus to the updated model.

Test drive Lada Kalina sport - video

Advantages and disadvantages of Lada Kalina sport

Judging by reviews from car owners and test drives, the main advantages of Kalina Sport are:

The advantages include:

affordable price;
inexpensive maintenance;
moderate fuel consumption;
well-tuned chassis;
attractive appearance;
Good equipment by the standards of the class.

The disadvantages include:

whimsical to fuel quality;
small trunk;
no heated steering wheel;
suboptimal seat profile;
budget-friendly interior decoration;
lack of sporting spirit in the cabin.

Equipment

As mentioned above, the vehicle in question is offered in two variations. The “Sport” modification has the following options as standard:

front airbags;
heated front seats;
16-inch alloy wheels;
rear parking sensors;
electric power steering;
anti-fog light elements;
multimedia system;
running lights with LEDs;
rain and light sensors;
ABS, EBD, BAS systems.

For the NFR version the following equipment is additionally provided:

17-inch alloy wheels;
low profile tires;
enhanced braking system;
arrangement of climate control.

Equipment and cost

Kalina Sport does not have any configurations. When creating it, we used the equipment and equipment of the “Lux” configuration of the regular version of Kalina. It includes:

Auxiliary systems (ABS, BAS, ESP);
Climate system with air filtration;
Tilt-adjustable steering column;
Electric power steering;
Rear door remote control;
Heated seats (front);
Multimedia system;
Parktronic;
Electric drive and heated side mirrors;

But there are no additional options for this car, so it won’t be possible to make the car even a little individual. The only thing you can choose is the color. Although there are not so many color options - only 8.

For the new Lada Kalin Sport, the price was set at 487,000 rubles. This is significantly more expensive than the regular version of Kalina, but at the same time the buyer receives a well-equipped car, and even with sporting aspirations. In the future, AvtoVAZ plans to release an even more “charged” version of Kalina, which has already received the designation Kalina Sport NFR.

Technical characteristics of Lada Kalina 2 Sport

Below are the main parameters of the car in question:

Length/width/height - 3.96/1.7/1.45 m.
Front/rear track - 1.43/1.16 m.
The wheel formula is 4×2.
Number of places - 2.
Base - 2.47 m.
Ground clearance - 14.5 cm.
Trunk capacity - 240/550 l.
The power unit is a gasoline engine with in-line four cylinders.
Working volume - 1596 cubic meters. cm.
Acceleration to “hundreds” - 11.0 s.
The maximum speed is 181 km/h.
Average fuel consumption is 6.7 l/100 km.
Power indicator - 106 hp.
Curb weight - 1.06 tons.
Fuel tank capacity - 50 l.
The transmission unit is 5MT with a gear ratio of 3.9.
Front/rear suspension - independent with telescopic gas-filled shock absorbers (MacPherson type) unit/semi-independent linkage with hydraulics.
The steering system is rack and pinion.
Tires - 185/50 R-15.

About the VAZ-21126 engine (98 hp)

Type	gasoline (AI-95)
Volume	1597 cm3
Maximum power	72.2 kW (98 hp), at 5600 rpm
Maximum torque	145 Nm, at 4000 rpm
Configuration	in-line, 4-cylinder.
Cylinders	4
Valves	16
Max. speed	192 km/h
Environmental standards	Euro 4
Cylinder diameter	82 mm
Piston stroke	75.6 mm
Supply system	electronically controlled distributed fuel injection

Engine with hydraulic valve tappets, 4 valves per cylinder, and optimized crankshaft in terms of weight, mechanical losses and durability. Engine life increased to 200,000 km. mileage To ensure service life, the following were introduced: an automatic timing belt tensioner, metal gaskets for gas pipelines and cylinder head, original crankshaft oil seals, and a modernized water pump. The muffler intake pipe with the neutralizer assembly is of an original design with reduced hydraulic resistance.

The “weak point” of the engine is considered to be: the support and tension rollers and the pump. (if they are destroyed/jammed, the belt breaks). According to reviews from car enthusiasts, the VAZ-21126 engine is significantly better than the VAZ-21124, and its only drawback is that if the timing belt breaks, the valve bends.

Power unit

As for engines, manufacturers also decided to offer two versions of engines:

In the Lada Kalina 2 Sport, the characteristics of which are given above, a gasoline unit is used as the “engine”. Its design includes four 1.6-liter cylinders. The power indicator reaches 118 “horses”. The “engine” makes it possible to accelerate the car from zero to one hundred kilometers in 9.5 seconds. And the maximum speed in this version reaches almost 200 km/h.
The NFR modification seems preferable. This is due to the fact that with the same volume of the power unit, the power is increased to 140 “horses”. At the same time, the dynamics have improved, the car reaches a hundred one second faster than its analogue.

Reviews of the 2nd generation Kalina Sport note a not very positive attitude towards the fact that the car is equipped with one five-speed manual transmission, without an alternative analogue. For the sake of fairness, it is worth noting that it is adapted specifically for improved acceleration of the vehicle.

Suspension

Kalina's suspension consists of two thin wishbones with longitudinal braces. Shock absorbers are made by ASOMI. In general, the Kalina Sport suspension is made at a high European level, it is elastic, not noisy, energy-intensive and a little harsh.

In the city, the suspension copes with its duties perfectly. It is strong and well-built, works quietly, is energy-intensive and does not rock. On the track, the situation changes, and the chassis is a little lacking in rigidity—under heavy braking, the front axle begins to sway.

Modernization

The car in question is built on the basis of a civilian analogue. However, the characteristics of the Lada Kalina 2 Sport differ in many ways from the prototype. The main changes are the following:

The steering has been reconfigured;
adjustments were made to the design of the suspension unit;
improved braking elements appeared;
the NFR modification has a separate subframe for the engine;
Significant changes have been made to the suspension adjustment;
The brake discs have an increased diameter.

Due to these perturbations, the car turned out to be more sporty, not only in terms of power, but also in the functioning of most of the components and mechanisms that are responsible for the parameters of speed, maneuverability and braking.

Video

The domestic auto industry never ceases to amaze. For example: when the Russian press first said that AvtoVAZ was preparing a “sports” version of the second Lada Kalina in a hatchback body, it was more difficult to get a new product for a test drive than another Bentley or Mercedes. Amazing, right? For VAZ people there is nothing special in this: not many significant new products are released, after all, there is no point in the press sniffing out everything ahead of time. And the model with the Sport prefix is really significant, and AvtoVAZ tried its best to prove it. Like, our “sporty” Kalina is really different from its “donor”, it’s not some kind of collective farm tuning! In short, drive for little money. Find out more about it in our review!

Design

Structurally, the car has not changed, but the chassis settings are different. The photo shows that the supports of the front pillars were moved back - the so-called castor increased to 3 degrees. In static conditions, the camber of the front wheels is -30″, and the camber of the rear wheels is -2.5 degrees. To avoid contact of the wheels with the arches, AvtoVAZ engineers limited the travel of the steering rack. Several companies were involved in the production of gas-filled shock absorbers for Kalina Sport. The stiffness of the springs and shock absorbers is higher than usual, with a different ratio of rebound and compression forces. The spring cups of the rear shock absorbers (photo on the right) are raised to accommodate sixteen-inch wheels. The front brake discs reach 280 mm in diameter, and the rear ones – 240 mm.

Adaptation to Russian conditions

Without a doubt, Kalina Sport with its 15-centimeter ground clearance is an exclusively city car, and quite ordinary by the standards of the global automobile industry. In the city, its chassis behaves as if it were firmly built, but on the race track it lacks rigidity - during sharp deceleration, the front axle begins to sway. This deficiency is corrected by smooth braking. The Russian winter is not scary for this Kalina: fortunately, the side mirrors, the 1st row seats, and the windshield are heated. And besides, it has a fairly effective climate system - also known as automatic air conditioning. In addition, the car is equipped with additional sound insulation and a spare tire - 14-inch steel or 15-inch on a cast wheel, depending on the configuration.

Comfort

Safety

The list of “safe” equipment for the sports “Kalina” is short. The initial configuration cannot boast of anything except two airbags for the driver and passenger, mounts for child seats and several electronic assistants. Available electronic aids include an anti-lock braking system (ABS), as well as emergency brake assist (BAS) and brake force distribution (EBD). The top version is complemented by rear parking sensors and rain and light sensors.

Multimedia

On the center console of Kalina Sport there is a radio with four speakers, a slot for SD cards, Bluetooth wireless protocol, a USB connector for connecting mobile devices and a Handsfree function for telephone conversations in hands-free mode. There is no rear video view, no navigation, much less compatibility with iPhones - even for an extra charge, which, however, is forgivable for a mid-budget car. The standard radio does not boast high sound quality, but for motorists with unpretentious taste it is quite suitable.

Lada Kalina Sport Technical characteristics

The hatchback is driven by a 1.6-liter 16-valve petrol engine, available in two power options. The first option develops 106 hp. and 148 Nm, and the second produces 114 hp. and 150 Nm. The engine is boosted to 114 hp. thanks to different camshafts (the lift of the intake valves is 9.55 mm, and the exhaust valves are 9.15 mm), a direct-flow exhaust with a non-standard exhaust manifold (pictured on the right) and a new control program. Both options are combined with a five-speed manual transmission. The gear ratios of the manual transmission of the “sports” model are the same as those of the simple Kalina, but there is one difference - the main gear has been shortened from 3.7 to 4.3. According to the manufacturer, average fuel consumption ranges from 6.7 to 8.6 liters. per 100 km, depending on the modification, and the manufacturer recommends using only 95-grade gasoline.

Prices

Reviews of “Kalina 2 Sport” will be given later. As for the cost of the new product, users indicate a very acceptable figure. This takes into account the fact that in the “Sport” modification the car is offered at a price of 620 thousand rubles. For this amount, the owner receives two front airbags, daytime running lights, ABS, EBD systems, four electric windows, and heating of the corresponding elements.

In addition, for an additional fee, the car is equipped with electric power steering, 16-inch wheels, parking sensors and many other modern options. On the secondary market, this machine is significantly cheaper, but it is not yet widely represented on it, taking into account the start date of mass production.

Owner reviews of Lada Kalina 2 Sport

Many users complain about the lack of power and other shortcomings, which, to be honest, are present in this hatchback. But if you take into account the price and equipment of the vehicle, this is not the worst option, and among models not only of domestic production. By and large, there are not many such proposals, if we take into account all the objective and subjective parameters.

Regarding the engine, after the Priora it seems like a super-powerful, high-spirited option, with clear gear shifting on the five-speed manual version. Most owners note that it is difficult to get used to the city's smooth ride. The car twitches noticeably and sounds inadequate until you adapt to the behavior of this vehicle.