Lada Vesta SW and SW Cross - long test - Behind the wheel magazine

Lada Vesta SW Cross
Lada Vesta SW Cross

Lada Vesta SW

ABOUT THE M-4 “DON” HIGHWAY

We didn’t see any really bad coverage during our trip. The worst asphalt with an abundance of patches is found on the Kamensk-Shakhtinsky - Rostov section (in both directions). There, however, the canvas is being actively changed, and should be done in time for the holiday season. But in the Rostov region, several bridges are undergoing major repairs, which has led to the narrowing of the route to one lane in each direction. They obviously won’t have time to finish before the flow of vacationers, so get ready to sit in traffic jams. Or look for a detour using your navigator, there are options. The asphalt is also being changed on a large scale after the exit from M-4 in the direction of Anapa and Crimea.

This is not the first time I’ve driven along the M-4 and I’m always surprised. Is it really so difficult to make the same layout and designation of lanes at payment points? Now, in front of each of them, you have to look out where they let you through using transponders, and where you pay for cash.

The European approach to designating road work zones has not yet reached Russia. But on this highway the speed of 130 km/h is the norm! In some places there are no markings at all, and the winter that has barely ended is no excuse: we pay regardless of the season. And the one that still exists is not trained to reflect light. For a toll road, this, in my opinion, is nonsense. The consolation is that repairs are carried out during the day, and you can drive at night without the fear of running into invisible warning signs.

Russia, 21st century, cleaning a toll highway. Tractors redistribute dust from the roadside to passing cars. She uses them to “move” to neighboring regions where they have their own tractors. In our country, unfortunately, they prefer to deal with dirty cars rather than with dirt. It’s useless, and you won’t get any money from her.

Lada Vesta SW and SW Cross: to Crimea and back

New Lada Vesta SW

The most stylish domestic utility vehicle

The Vestovsky Sport Wagon debuted in the summer of 2022, after which its production began at one of the company’s enterprises located in the city of Izhevsk. Externally, to put it popularly, the “barn” retained the continuity of not only the corporate “X-Design”, but also its dimensions:

Length – 4410 mm;
Width – 1764 mm;
Height – 1508 mm;
Wheelbase – 2635 mm;
Ground clearance – 178 mm.

At the same time, the VAZ design department thoroughly worked out the appearance of the large-volume vehicle, which, according to many reviews, came out even better than the sedan. The front part is easily recognizable as a typical Vesta, while the “cargo” rear looks good, even somewhat sporty and aggressive.

Headlights;
Daytime Running Lights;
Fog lights;
Turn signal repeaters on mirrors;
Basic 15-inch steel wheels with decorative caps, or 16-inch alloy wheels;
Moldings;
Rails;
Spoiler;
Factory tint.

The demand for a car of this type in our country has always been high, and taking into account the fact that at the moment the Avignon car dealership has quite significant discounts and current promotions for models produced in both 2022 and 2022, the purchase looks profitable and an attractive event.

Spacious and ergonomic interior

The interior of the “Sport Wagon” is almost identical to other representatives of the VAZ family, but there is also a significant difference from the classic four-door: thanks to a different body shape, passengers “in the gallery” have noticeably more free space above their heads. As for the rest, the interior decoration will not reveal any revelations.

Multifunction steering wheel;
Heated seats (second row – optional);
Audio preparation/audio system with support for FM/AM, AUX, Bluetooth, USB, SD, Hands Free, equipped with a 4.3-inch monochrome display or a 7-inch color touchscreen;
Acoustics – with 4 or 6 sound speakers;
12V socket;
USB charging ports;
Armrest;
Window lifters;
Cup holders;
Interior atmospheric lighting;
On-board computer;
Finishing materials – plastic + fabric or a combination of fabric + eco-leather;
Cargo compartment curtain;
The trunk is 480 liters in standard form or 825 liters. with the back of the sofa folded.

Naturally, the main advantage of this five-door is its luggage compartment. It is this aspect that is the main advantage of the machine. Thus, in our car market it has practically no competitors that would be comparable in terms of price and quality ratio.

Reliable and economical power units

As for the engine range, it is quite standard for the West family - there is a whole scattering of atmospheric, gasoline, in-line, 4-cylinder DOHC units. They, by the way, were “brought to mind” by specialists from the international concern Renault-Nissan:

The initial one is a 1.6-liter engine;
Its power is 106 hp. and torque 148 N.m.;
Works in conjunction with a 5-speed manual transmission;

Intermediate version with an engine displacement of 1.6 liters;
Recoil 113 “horses” and 152 Newton meters;
Works in tandem with a 5-speed “robot”;

Well, at the top is the top-end 1.8-liter engine;
It generates 122 horsepower and 170 Nm;
Available only with 5-speed manual transmission;

General indicators:

Combined cycle consumption: 7.3-7.8 litres;
Acceleration: 10.9-12.4 sec.
Maximum speed: 170-182 km/h.

Chassis and braking system:

Front suspension – McPherson;
Rear – semi-independent, spring;
Brakes – all disc (ventilated at the front)* *for the 106-horsepower version, rear – drum;
The steering wheel is electrically power-assisted.

Safety:

Reinforced body frame;
ABS, BAS, EBD;
Era-GLONASS;
ISOFIX fastenings.
In some modifications:
AirBag – front and side (depending on the package)
Parking sensors;
Rear View Camera;
Automatic door locking when starting to move;
Rain and light sensor;
Immobilizer;
Stability control and brake assist systems.

Lada Vesta SV Cross white photo

In order for you to understand how the car looks in real life, we found photos of the Lada Vesta SV Cross in white and are ready to show them to you.

The car looks great in any location - be it the city or nature. At night or during the day, the car also does not lose its attractiveness. In other words, at any time of the year, in any place and in any light, the Lada Vesta SV Cross in white will look equally advantageous.

White Lada Vesta SV Cross - advantages and disadvantages

Like any color of Vesta Cross, the white shade has its pros and cons. Let's start with the good.

1. Chic appearance, highlighting all the black body parts. 2. Small scratches are not very visible on the white color. 3. The car heats up less in the sun. 4. Easier selection of enamel when painting a part or repairing it. 5. White color is included in the line of standard colors of the Lada Vesta SV Cross, so you do not need to pay extra for it.

But there were some downsides.

1. The most obvious disadvantage is that the car will have to be washed more often than the same Carthage, Pluto or Phantom. Dirt will be more visible on white than on darker shades. 2. Visibility of corrosion. No matter how AvtoVAZ promises that the factory paints the Vesta Cross using new technology, sooner or later it will rust. Even a small chip on the body can cause rust. And on white it is most noticeable.

Tuning Lada Vesta sedan in Angkor color

Judging by the license plates, the car is operated in the Republic of Tatarstan. Unfortunately, the author of this project is unknown. Again I will be happy to point it out.

Blue bird

Unfortunately, it was not possible to identify the owner of this car. I will be happy to supplement the article and indicate his contacts. If you know him, please tell me the coordinates.

The history of the formation of Lada Vesta in the hands of a racing driver

This stunning car has undergone several reincarnations. But each of his styles is simply incomparable.

Thank you for reading this article to the end!