In the 21st century, a potential buyer will not have to spend weeks visiting car dealerships when choosing a vehicle. Sitting comfortably in a chair, the future owner can watch a video of a Lada Granta liftback test drive and choose what he likes.
In the presented videos, a review of the car is offered by fans of the Lada Liftback, its owners, and various organizations. After comparing the information presented and seeing firsthand the advantages and disadvantages of the car, the buyer can safely go to a dealership or car showroom to make a purchase.
Slightly updated interior
We have talked about the Granta salon more than once. There are not many changes in the updated version. The designers redesigned the instrument panel; as a result, the gearbox operation indication has moved and is now displayed above the fuel reserve scale. The shelf on the front panel on the passenger side disappeared from view. Now it is covered by the glove compartment lid. But for some reason the lid of the convenient drawer at the top of the panel is made of plastic in the wrong color, which causes slight irritation. A 12V socket took the place of the cigarette lighter.
There are also nice little things - three headrests in the back row, for example. They are not very high and do not interfere with the view to the rear through the interior mirror. There are hooks on the handles under the ceiling. There is a belt for the middle passenger with a well-thought-out fastening. True, it’s uncomfortable to sit in the back - the Granta remains a cramped car. Only a child or a miniature adult can fit behind the driver. There is a hum in the cabin, which, of course, is annoying. We can only hope that this is a feature of the Grant with its 98-horsepower engine.
What has changed?
It is impossible to distinguish between a manual and automatic Lada Granta from the outside. The same cannot be said about the internal filling, which, although it did not exceed expectations, did not remain unchanged. Among the innovations, it is worth noting the appearance of an airbag for the front passenger, the ability to use air conditioning and, of course, an irreplaceable set of two pedals. Otherwise, everything remains in its place: the same seats, the same position, and even the vibrations and engine noises that operate at the car’s native frequencies. But what makes the box itself stand out so much?
Spacious trunk
The only victory that the manufacturer won over the space inside the Granta is related to the trunk. It's really big. The trunk opens with a button, like on Vesta. The walls behind the rear seats, like in a sedan, are no longer here. A very convenient rigid shelf that can be folded or removed altogether. A quality item, just like on foreign cars - no joke! Soft floor, full-size spare wheel. In general, nothing special, but you wouldn’t expect anything else from such a car. If you like to carry bulky luggage, Granta can help you. The car is guaranteed to fit, for example, a 170 cm long bathtub - tested from personal experience. The only confusing thing is that the trunk door is closed with a loop fastened with a self-tapping screw. It looks clumsy.
Reviews of Lada Granta automatic
| № | Positive |
| 1. | Vladimir: the transmission is functional, picks up from the bottom, picks up speed very quickly from the start at traffic lights. |
| 2. | Kirill: a vigorous start from a standing start, which is convenient and practical in megacities. Fuel consumption is 1.0 liter more than the mechanical type, but for me this is not significant. |
| 3. | Vyacheslav: the dynamics of picking up the lows is clearly noticeable on the machine. Unlike a number of other brands, including European ones, lethargy is not typical. |
| 4. | Ivan: The automatic transmission works quite smoothly, the moment of gear shifting is practically not felt. What is missing is sound insulation. Of course, it is present, but the thickness of the felt upholstery is not enough for complete silence. |
| 5. | Sergey: It’s very nice that when you sharply press the accelerator pedal, the “Kickdown” mode, the automatic transmission quickly shifts the gear to a lower position. You can feel the speed of transition when overtaking or sharp maneuvers. |
| 6. | Oleg: despite the lack of manual control in the automatic transmission, the manufacturer left manual control for the first two speeds. Very convenient and practical when overcoming road obstacles, |
| 7. | Vyacheslav: the machine has a mechanical “Overdrive” button preinstalled; turning it off helps to operate the engine at higher speeds. This is very convenient and practical when overcoming road obstacles, snow drifts, and shallow fords. |
| Negative | |
| 1. | Alexander: despite numerous modifications to the Zhatko automatic transmission, vibrations and increased noise at speeds over 100 km/h are still present. This causes discomfort; the driver is forced to raise his voice so that passengers can hear him. |
| 2. | Ignat: a 16-valve engine is installed together with the automatic transmission, the maximum torque is set at the “top”. During rapid acceleration, the automatic transmission pulls the torque to the top, the tachometer needle borders on the red zone. At such moments, the roar of the engine in the cabin can be clearly heard. |
| 3. | Dmitry: during long climbs, the automatic transmission systematically shifts to lower gears, pushing the tachometer needle into the red zone. |
| 4. | Vasily: Unfortunately, Zhatko does not have a manual gear shift mode. This is very inconvenient if you frequently use the machine on rough terrain. Those who live on the periphery will understand me. |
| 5. | Vladimir: Zhatko’s gearbox is of the direct type. The “Drive” position is located third from the beginning. To move the selector to the “Drive” position, you need to take your attention away from the road. There is a preset indicator on the dashboard to indicate the current gear, but the display size is very small. |
| 6. | Victor: I don’t recommend this type of automatic transmission for the Lada Granta, as it’s already at 45,000 km. Replaced gaskets and solenoids. The torque converter clutches were also damaged. |
| 7. | Vasily: my sensors and the electrical ROM board of the automatic transmission “flyed”. The reason is a manufacturing defect. Fortunately, they replaced it free of charge under warranty. |
Related link:
Expert advice on replacing generator bearings on a Lada Grant
Technical equipment
The main feature of the Grant with 1.6 liter engines is that they are “plug-inless”. The pistons are recessed so that if the belt breaks, the valves do not meet the piston. Paired with such an engine, the Grant is equipped with a simple and reliable 4-speed automatic transmission, specially adapted for this car. The selector has modes P, R, D, “1” and “2” with a prohibition of transition, respectively, above the first or second gear. There is a button to turn off overdrive. Top trim levels are equipped with heated front seats (albeit single-stage) and windshield heating. The ERA-GLONASS system has been installed.
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.
Lada Granta drawing conditions
Every year “Behind the Wheel” holds a Grand Prix, during which readers choose the best cars, in their opinion. Voting is now underway for cars released on the Russian market in 2022. To win one of three Lada Granta cars with a 98 hp engine. and automatic transmission, you need:
- vote for your favorite car of 2018. The voting form for the Grand Prix competition “Behind the Wheel” is available at this link.
The procedure will take you no more than 10 minutes. Voting will last until February 28! Each participant’s application form will be assigned a number, and we will determine the three winners of the new Grant in mid-March using a random number generator. Prize cars will be awarded in April. Good luck!
- All the details about the Grand Prix and the nominated cars are here.
- The general partner of the Behind the Wheel Grand Prix 2019 is ]Cordiant[/anchor].
Updated Lada Granta with a gun: test drive and giveaway of three cars!
Modifications of Lada Granta - types of gearboxes
| Equipment | Gearbox type |
| Lada Granta Sedan | |
| Standard | MT |
| Norm | AT/MT |
| Lux | AT/MT |
| Lada Granta Liftback | |
| Standard | M.T. |
| Classic | M.T. |
| Classic Optima | MT/AMT |
| Comfort | MT/AMT |
| Luxe | MT/AMT/AT |
| Luxe Prestige | M.T. |
Features of driving style with Jatco
As for such a box as Jatko, under Russian operating conditions this transmission element has proven to be a reliable and quite durable unit, while exhibiting both lightness and smoothness in the process of automatic speed changes.
However, this automatic transmission, especially in winter, requires warming up before driving.
But while driving in changing traffic conditions on city streets, the pilot does not need to pull the selector lever over and over again to switch modes, since the machine will independently select them depending on the current engine speed and the presence of external load (ascent or descent).
About that. What kind of oil should be poured into the machine, first of all, it is the factory gear lubricant MaticS ATF, and you can also pour an analogue such as Dexron 6.
What are the differences between a robot and an automatic machine?
Firstly, a robot is simpler, and therefore cheaper, than an automatic machine. At the same time, models with AMT consume almost the same amount of fuel as manual transmissions. However, the robot is not able to change speeds without losing power, whereas the automatic machine does this without losing traction.
As for the advantages and disadvantages of both ATM and automatic transmission, they are summarized in the table below:
| Options | AMT (robot box) | Jatco or automatic transmission |
| Additional price (RUB) | 25 thousand | 50 thousand |
| Consumption per hundred | Compare with manual transmission | 1 liter more than with manual transmission |
| Ground clearance, mm | Same as with manual transmission - 160 | Less than with manual transmission, namely 140 |
| Adaptability to repair procedures | Comparable to manual transmission | Repairs only in specialized workshops |
| Speed transitions | Feel it when accelerating | Invisible both during acceleration and deceleration |
| Manual mode | There is | absent |
| The presence of a function such as “kickdown” or a sharp increase in engine speed while simultaneously reducing the gearbox speed to increase traction effort | There is | There is |
| Riding style selection functions | The choice of road behavior can be made from two dozen different options | absent |
Capacity and additional functions.
The trunk of the Lada Granta is as much as 480 liters, it opens with a convenient button from the interior. Moreover, this volume can be increased by folding the back of the rear seat. But there is one nuance here: the backrest, placed at floor level, leaves very little space for the driver.
The sedan is additionally equipped with fog lights, an alarm system, an audio system, rear electric windows, heated front seats, parking sensors, 14-inch alloy wheels, heated and electrically adjustable mirrors. Over time, it will be possible to additionally install a navigation system, side airbags and a stabilization system.
In 2012, 10 thousand units of this car were produced, and what its production will be in the future will be determined by customer demand. The cost of this car is about 408 thousand rubles.
The supplier of the Lada Granta automatic transmission is the well-known Japanese company JATCO. For those who are not in the know, transmissions from this manufacturer are installed on almost all popular car models: Mazda, Nissan, Toyota, Subaru, Suzuki, Volkswagen, BMW, etc. Now Lada Granta has appeared on this list.
Content :
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.
What to look for when buying
If you want to buy a Lada Granta with a modification of just such a box, pay attention to the crankcase protection. There should be a cutout on it, which serves to allow air to enter and cool the box. Most protections do not have this window, so the box may overheat. You need to choose special protection for the machine.
The box was developed a long time ago and is a little outdated. Therefore, when driving, shocks will be felt, that is, the gearbox will, as they say, “kick.” This is normal work. Modern 6-speed automatic transmissions operate much smoother. But a person who buys such a Lada Granta will not experience any difficulties or problems with the automatic transmission. The factory warranty on the box is 3 years or 100 thousand km.
When the car is stationary and running, there is no jolting when shifting to move forward. There is a slight jerk when engaging reverse, but this is considered normal. When the machine's mounting pads wear out over time, the shocks will be felt more. But they must be at the same time as switching on, and the problem will not be in the gearbox, but in the airbags.
Features of the modes
I will list the intricacies of the Japanese 4-speed automatic transmission. As for the first gear mode. If you need to move slowly in the snow or on a descent, this mode will help.
At high speeds (120 and above), virtual 5th gear begins to operate. At about 4000 rpm the speed will be 120 km per hour. As you increase the speed further, you will notice that the engine speed has dropped slightly, but the speed has not changed. This is just for those people who say that 4 steps are not enough. There really aren’t enough of them, but at high speed the engine doesn’t “roar.” It seems like it's in 5th gear.
After the robot, it’s nice to drive such an automatic machine, despite its delays and thoughtfulness. For those who like an automatic transmission, this is an excellent budget choice. It is definitely justified, there will be no problems with the unit. I look forward to your comments and opinions from those who already own such a car.
What are the advantages of the Lada Granta?
Maybe someone has had problems with the automatic transmission, it will be very interesting to know. Share with everyone! If you have any questions, ask. Don't forget to subscribe to the channel, good luck on the roads!
