The production of the Lada Kalina car dates back to 2004. The first sample was released in a sedan body, and was called “standard” due to its budget configuration. A little later, with the same performance and functionality, Lada Kalina cars were released, in hatchback and station wagon bodies.
After this VAZ model began to be sold successfully, engineers developed 2 additional configurations that were more functional and, accordingly, cost a little more. The next step, after the “standard”, was the “norm”. Well, the last step in the evolution of the model range was the Kalina “luxury”. It was an improved version, having an order of magnitude more functions than previous configurations. Let's look at the process of improving the Lada Kalina car in more detail.
Types of Lada Kalina bodies
Station wagon body
All of the above models have a spacious trunk in which you can transport various loads. The station wagon's parameters exceed the dimensions of the Lada hatchback and sedan. Ground clearance averages 160 mm. Any modification allows you to do tuning yourself. Initially, Kalina's disk size was R13. Later AvtoVAZ began producing Lada with R14 and R15.
The prices for a standard station wagon are reasonable for many people. The front part of the Lada Kalina body is equipped with small headlights, a narrow radiator grille and an additional air intake.
The Kalina hatchback is considered the most proportional car of the family in question. The Lada station wagon model is considered useful and reliable for long trips. The sedan body differs from other variants of Kalina by its zinc coating (65%). However, practice has shown that after 2-3 years corrosion appears on the car. Such defects can be seen at joints and seams, around doors and in places where mudguards are fixed.
During operation, minor scratches may appear on the hood of the Lada Kalina “Norma” configuration. Car owners notice similar defects on the front bumper. The anti-corrosion coating, which is applied at the factory to the bottom of the car in the “Norma” modification, is capable of coping with the task assigned to it. All Lada Kalina models are characterized by uneven gaps and other manufacturing defects. Before you buy a vehicle, you need to inspect it thoroughly.
The interior of Lada “Norma”, “Lux” and other modifications is plastic. The steering column can be adjusted in height. The front doors have electric windows. An informative dashboard, a central console, the presence of various sensors, an on-board computer - these are the main characteristics of the Lada Kalina.
The ventilation system control unit is located high, which creates some discomfort during the operation of Kalina. The front seats are quite comfortable. The rear of the cabin is spacious. The trunk of the Lada sedan is 400 liters. If necessary, you can fold the back row, increasing the dimensions of the luggage compartment.
The Kalina hatchback has a cargo compartment of 235 liters, and with the rear seats folded down - 545 liters. The station wagon has a luggage compartment with a volume of 350 liters.
Exterior
The appearance of the second generation Lada Kalina remained recognizable, but received a more harmonious, attractive and modern finish. The nose of the car is decorated with a hood with characteristic ribs, and there are also stylish lighting equipment with a darkened background and a massive front bumper with an air intake “mouth” and chrome decor (top trim levels also have fog lights).
The head optics flow smoothly into the narrow strip of the radiator grille. The bumper installed in front is of a relief type with a massive air intake in the center and has fog lights along the edge, which are covered with chrome “eyelashes”. True, we must admit that an air intake of this size does not fit perfectly with the overall design of the Lada Kalina 2.
You immediately notice the streamlined shape of a brand new car. They are not at all similar to the angular shapes that were present in previously produced VAZ models. Thanks to the smoothed body corners, the aerodynamic component has been improved, which has made it possible to reduce the noise of headwinds and make travel at high speeds more comfortable. If you look at the side of the car, you can see the presence of a sloping hood, a slightly sloping roof towards the rear, large door openings and large wheel arches.
All this together allows the hatchback to have a light and moderately dynamic silhouette. The fact that there are no stampings on the side body parts is made up for by the presence of door trims, which give the appearance of the car some relief against the background of the overall smoothing of the appearance. The wheel arches turned out to be a little swollen, and thanks to the high ground clearance of the hatchback, its solidity is felt.
The rear of the Lada Kalina 2 is compact and has beautiful lights, a neat luggage compartment lid and a small bumper with a plastic cover at the bottom, which serves as a protective option. As a result, the domestic new product looks quite good and fresh, and in terms of design it matches foreign cars.
The trunk door is decorated with restyled unique optics, which, with its lower element, connects the sidewall and the upper part of the rear bumper. The new rear bumper has a pair of reflective strips integrated into it on the sides.
Technical characteristics of the car
Mini hatchback
Cars of the Kalina family are equipped with a 4-cylinder, 16-valve petrol engine with a volume of 1.4 liters. The power of this unit is 89 hp. With. The maximum speed of the vehicle is 165 km/h, while fuel consumption is 7 liters per 100 km. For the Lada Kalina with a 1.6 liter engine and 8 valves, this figure is 7.3 liters per 100 km, with a maximum speed of 164 km/h. Kalina with a 1.6 liter engine and 16 valves has an average fuel consumption of 7.2 liters per 100 km. The Lada Sport modification provides for a 98 hp engine. With. Lada Kalina is equipped with a 5-speed manual transmission. Independent front suspension, the presence of an anti-roll bar, a beam, and high energy consumption of the chassis are the main advantages of the “Norma” model.
Cars of the Lada Kalina family, unlike the VAZ 2110, show good handling qualities. The main problem of the “Norma”, “Lux” and “Standard” trim levels is the increased vertical movement of the car, low sound insulation, and the appearance of aerodynamic noise at high speed. A motor with a long service life is capable of operating more than 3-4 million km. In some Kalina models, problems begin after 30 thousand kilometers. For manual transmissions, the operating limit is set at 100 thousand km. For clutch discs this figure is 30 thousand km.
When carrying out repair work, it recommends installing imported parts on the Lada Kalina. Prices for spare parts for any Lada are low.
About the different body types of Lada Kalina
The review would be incomplete without at least briefly mentioning all the modifications of this model. The days when only a sedan was available are long gone. Now Kalina is a functional, technologically advanced and modern car, reflecting the development trends of the domestic automobile industry.
Lada Kalina hatchback
The concept of a “city car” is being mentioned more and more often. For residents of megacities, off-road driving is already a kind of entertainment. Bulky and massive SUVs can cause a lot of inconvenience when driving around the city due to their size and gluttony. Increasingly, for fast movement in the city, people are paying attention to small and maneuverable cars. Such nimble, exclusively city cars include the Lada Kalina hatchback.
Despite its small dimensions, the hatchback looks impressive and reliable. This effect was achieved, perhaps, due to the raised front end with short overhangs. The headlights do not merge with the rest of the front parts and are located at a sufficient distance from each other.
Modest size is not a problem for different drivers; both a fragile girl and an adult man feel equally comfortable behind the wheel. The doors open at almost a 90-degree angle, and the wide openings hint at the versatility of the model. The ceiling is made high, again so that even a tall driver feels comfortable and does not hit his head on the top of the cabin.
The steering wheel is quite ergonomic and has a comfortable grip; the car holds the road well, clearly responding to any turn of the steering wheel. Depending on the configuration, the car can be equipped with an air conditioning system, which allows you to select an optimal and comfortable microclimate.
In front there are soft seats with the ability to adjust the position, with the exception of height. Compared to the first generation, vibration isolation of the interior has been noticeably improved. Such versatility is a huge plus of the Kalina as a city car.
You can also choose a suitable transmission if you wish, this is the good old mechanics from AvtoVAZ or a reliable Japanese four-speed automatic. There are currently only seven body paint shades on sale: in addition to the standard black and white, there are brown, orange, blue, silver and dark gray.
The car can be safely used not only in the city, but also outside it. The suspension is also designed for dirt roads. The car is equipped with three types of engines, differing in power.
Kalina station wagon
It is considered one of the most popular types. Any European or Japanese small car can envy Kalina in terms of fuel consumption, and the cost of a native car is incomparably lower. It is not surprising that many motorists choose a practical station wagon. Compared to the hatchback, the interior is more spacious: three people of average build can fit in the back, and for two people the conditions are completely comfortable, even with headrests installed.
But the main advantage of the station wagon is, of course, its spacious trunk and wide door opening angle. The body design is dominated by smooth lines and minimalism, there is no hint of unnecessary details. As in the previous case, seven body colors are available.
Lada Kalina Cross
The main distinguishing feature of this version is the increased ground clearance, allowing the car to overcome large obstacles like a real crossover. The differences don't stop at ground clearance. The car has a different interior design; the dark finish is complemented by numerous inserts to match the body color. Kalina Cross got the trunk from a station wagon and is perfect for both everyday driving around the city and for trips to the country. This modification can also be distinguished by the black plastic lining on the wheel arches and on the sills.
Lada Kalina Sport
The most expensive and most prestigious modification. Available exclusively in a hatchback body. In order to be called a sports version, this modification of Kalina is equipped with a 118 hp engine. s., allowing you to accelerate to 200 km/h, so the spoiler-wing does not serve an aesthetic purpose at all.
The seats in the cabin have pronounced lateral support, which is not present in previous versions. The car has a modernized suspension that allows it to hold the road perfectly and provide good grip. On Kalina Sport you can easily take any sharp turn at high speed and not be afraid of tipping over. The only drawback is the rather high price compared to all other modifications.
Let's sum it up
After the release of the Russian-made hatchback Lada Kalina of the 2nd generation, it is clear that AvtoVAZ does not want to stand still, but wants to move forward, gradually competing with other cars imported even from European countries. The overall appearance of the car has become more fresh, it looks nice, especially the front, youthful, but at the same time stylish. The hood received small stampings, and the side part, or rather the doors, have a characteristic molding.
The aft part has a rather characteristic appearance for the company. Moreover, there is a large door with a convenient opening, which makes loading and unloading cargo easier. The interior is of course far from perfect; there is budget-type plastic, although it does not look the cheapest. The instrument panel is of a standard type, although for some reason it lacks a coolant temperature sensor, a strange solution.
But there is a convenient small touch screen display, which is very convenient to operate. The front seats, as for a budget model, are well padded and soft. The back row can comfortably accommodate only two people; the third will be able to sit down, but will experience discomfort. There is enough free space in the car.
But I was not pleased with the luggage compartment, since it has very little usable space. But you can fold the rear seat backs, which increases the volume of the luggage compartment. The car comes with stronger power units, which are not the most powerful, but cope well with their direct responsibilities.
I was pleasantly surprised by the low consumption of these engines, which will be a good plus, especially when driving in urban areas. The car already has an airbag for the driver as standard, which is very good. The level of safety is certainly far from Volvo, but the fact that AvtoVAZ is gradually growing in this direction is encouraging.
There are various systems that will make you feel confident in a hatchback. It is clear that the Russian automobile company is not sitting idly by, but is striving to be competitive.
We advise you to read the article: History of AvtoVAZ - LADA cars
Basic configurations of Kalina
Panoramas of the salon
The new Kalina is sold in 3 main trim levels:
- "Standard";
- "Norm";
- "Lux".
In 2012, the price of the Lada Kalina hatchback fluctuated between 300-400 thousand rubles. A station wagon model costs no more than 410 thousand rubles. Sport can only be purchased in the “Lux” configuration. Its initial modification provides for a new on-board computer, front electric windows, central locking with remote control and an alarm system. The Kalina Luxury version has 2 front airbags, PTF, ABS, velvet seat upholstery, heated front seats, electric drive, air conditioning, navigator and other modern devices.
The Lada Kalina “Standard” has a reverse lock. The car is equipped with inertial seat belts, which can be adjusted in height if necessary. Of the main options of this model, the manufacturer identifies:
- immobilizer;
- alarm system with remote control;
- light adjustment;
- throttle valve drive, which is easily adjustable.
The car interior is spacious. The upholstery of Kalina is made of high-quality fabric. The Standard package includes a full-size spare wheel.
Lada Kalina "Lux" configuration is equipped with anti-lock brakes, climate control, steering, electric power steering, rear headrests and wheel rims on the R14. Kalina “Norma”, in addition to ABS and the climate system, has front seat airbags. The light sensor greatly simplifies driving at night. Lada Kalina is equipped with a safe parking system, audio system, PTF, moldings, alloy wheels on R14.
Equipment
In the engine compartment of a hatchback or station wagon, the buyer can choose to install:
- VAZ 11186 engine (1.6l, 8cl, 87hp) with manual transmission 2181
- engine VAZ 21116 (1.6l, 8kl, 87hp) with automatic transmission
- engine VAZ 21127 (1.6l, 16kl, 106hp) with MPP 2180
- engine VAZ 21126 (1.6l, 16kl, 98hp) with automatic transmission
The standard package includes all the options of the basic version of the car (standard), and also adds:
- Rear seat head restraints L-shaped
- Anti-theft alarm with remote control
- Fabric door trim
- Interior lighting lamp Lada Kalina
- Extended sound insulation package
- Front seat pockets
- Central locking with remote control
- Electric tailgate lock with control from the passenger compartment
In some versions of the car in the “norm” configuration the following are also available:
- Front passenger airbag (on some versions)
- Front seat belts with pretensioner
- ABS+BAS
- Outdoor temperature display
- Passenger sun visor with mirror
- Cigarette lighter + portable ashtray
- Heated front seats
- Electrically heated exterior mirrors
- Heated windshield
- Air conditioner
- Climate system
- Audio preparation (plug for the hole in the roof for the antenna, wiring harnesses for the radio and 4 speakers)
- Audio system (FM, USB, SD card, Bluetooth, Handsfree), external antenna, 4 speakers
Full breakdown of the Lada Kalina 2 hatchback configurations:
Full breakdown of the Lada Kalina 2 station wagon configurations:
Current data on Kalina configurations on the official website in PDF format. Hatchback, station wagon, cross and sport.
You can find out about current discounts and the price of the car in this section.
