Why Priora is the best car in the history of AvtoVAZ
No car in the modern history of our country has been as popular as the Lada Priora. I don’t take into account the endless streams of Grants that are constantly replenishing the ranks of taxi fleets, suitable only for trips of taxi clients.
The car got its start in 2007 and, to be honest, it was not much different from the factory dozen at that time. The only difference was the standard airbag (not particularly helpful in case of an accident, by the way).
At the end of 2013, a factory restyling took place, making the car incredibly attractive and popular.
among young people, emphasizing the aggressive front end and making the rear of the car more restrained and attractive.
As auto experts say:
3. ”
The car was criticized more than once, and it was mainly those who
,
who have never driven them
and if they did, it was in very tired cars.
Priora
is a very light and dynamic car, after restyling with improved intake and exhaust on the
“new”
(no)
127th engine
, the car easily escaped its competitors in the form of
Solaris
and
Kia Rio
.
And this is completely stock, needless to say, when young guys install
receivers, shafts, sports exhausts with forward flow
Prio .
"Charged Priora"
, video taken from dd_motors Instagram.
In 2014, for almost 1 year, the Priora that should have always been produced
, complete with
full Luxury
: cruise control, light sensors, rain sensors, climate control, preheater and most importantly - 4,
FOUR airbags!
Two in front and two on the sides, AvtoVAZ cared about its customers and their safety.
But the financial situation made its own adjustments, and this version was removed from sale. But despite this, the car still became the best-selling car in our country. 2015
and
2017
. And in 2022, production was officially discontinued.
This is the case when the designer did an excellent job, showing his skills, in contrast to Kalina’s illegitimate brainchild, Granta, who, to put it mildly, is not as pretty as a car. Priora is in great demand among young people, being the most liquid car at the moment.
Perhaps the only disadvantage of Priora is its safety; it was limping for the entire 10th family. And one airbag is catastrophic
not enough. There’s no need to say anything about the legendary reliability of this car; whatever you want can be done in the garage, these are not the new Solaris and Rios, where almost every little thing requires a trip to the service center.
Now we can definitely say that the Priora is the best car in the history of AvtoVAZ.
I hasten to tell the reader that in 2022 I switched from a two-year-old Priora to a new Solaris, I only used the car for six months, after which I sold it, I was not impressed, and I myself regretted that I sold the Priora.
If you liked this article, please like and comment, it motivates me to write more).
Priora is front-wheel drive: pros and cons
AvtoVAZ did not immediately comprehend all the secrets of installing front-wheel drive in its cars, however, it bore fruit: the cars became lighter, fuel consumption decreased, the “tail” does not skid, and if it does, it is very easy to get out of the skid. But all-wheel drive has moved further. There are even systems that synchronize the operation of all wheels in order to get out of a skid, drift, or avoid slipping on an incline.
Installing 4wd will not turn the Priora into a Lada 2121 Niva, but, one way or another, it will make passing mud obstacles easier. In winter, it will be easier to get out of the “parking” snowdrift, but the front drive wheels still won’t save you from hitting the bottom of the snowdrift. All-wheel drive will take the load off the driver and will help in many driving situations.
It has disadvantages: first of all, the car will become noticeably heavier. This will increase fuel consumption, which is always painful, especially considering the current state of the economy. You will need to get used to all-wheel drive, or even better, go to a deserted place with the first icy conditions and practice driving it.
There is no single correct answer to the question of which wheel arrangement will be best for this car. But you will have to listen to the designers and manufacturers of the Volzhsky Automobile Plant and leave only the front drive wheels: the entire car is made just for it. Craftsmen, wanting to make a Priora 4x4, almost completely remake it, leaving the car only with its original body.
The most beautiful Priora in Russia.
The life of this Priora began in 2009 in the “Lux” configuration, which included such options as rear electric windows, heated front seats and a mirror in the front passenger visor. It would seem that it’s not a car, but a dream! Drive to your garden in comfort, but the owner of this car had completely different plans.
The guys from WIDEWORX spontaneously came across a body kit from Priora WTTC. It all happened in 2015, when it was decided to buy plastic fenders in Togliatti so that they would not rot, but this body kit was accidentally found.
But the car would not have turned out so unique if a standard body kit had simply been installed. Each element has been redesigned and modified to resemble modern expansion kits like Liberty Walk or Rocket Bunny.
For example, the shape of the front bumper and front fenders was completely redesigned. In total, the car has become wider by 50 cm! A beautiful feature of the car is the front amplifier, on top of which a plate with cutouts was made, which fit very well into the style of the car.
The car is on a 4-circuit air suspension, and in order for it to sit so low, the car had to be significantly modified. The rear arches had to be cut 23cm from the factory rear arch lip and the locks had to be raised 8cm on both the body and door to accommodate the wheel. In the front arch, everything unnecessary is also cut out and in the lowest position the wheel rests on the plate under the hood of the car, so making it even lower is simply illegal.
The interesting thing is that the expansion floated onto the neck of the gas tank and, in order not to spoil the appearance of the car, the neck was moved to the trunk! I would like to watch the reaction of people at the gas station)
The exhaust is placed to the side, it looks very stylish, but this was not done on purpose. The whole point is that because the car turned out to be so low, the original beam simply does not allow the exhaust to be brought back.
The “charged Priora” was equipped with original rims from a 1996 Mustang Fox Body and custom side mirrors from a LADA Granta liftback. Under the hood of the car there is a naturally aspirated 16-valve engine producing 150 hp.
First test drive of the updated Lada Priora in Russia. Last youth
Priora has only two years left. At the beginning of 2016, it will be replaced by a completely new model, now going by the working name LADA B. The first images of the LADA B have already appeared on the Internet in the form of spy shots of extremely camouflaged prototypes and drawings “based on” VAZ drawings stolen by an unknown well-wisher. I’ll tell you a secret: these drawings are quite accurate, I saw pictures of the real prototype located in the VAZ Style Center.
Against the backdrop of expectations for a new model, interest in the 2009 Priora fell: in September alone, the sales collapse was 32.4% (compared to August). And the point here is not the general stagnation of the market - other VAZ models “sank” significantly less, but the Kalina and the old Niva generally showed very positive dynamics. The point is precisely that the public is tired of the car, the basic platform of which began to take shape in 1987, and the first commercial copies came out in 1996. Priora is, after all, a modernized “ten”. And if we draw the family tree quite honestly, then we will generally end up with the “eight” platform of 1984. This is too, too long a life cycle for one platform, even if it was successfully developed thanks to cooperation with Porsche and other giants of the global automotive industry.
In general, sales are falling, and we have to somehow survive two years. There is a proven means for this - restyling-light, when the amount of alterations is exactly enough to last for a couple of years, no more. A minimum amount of investment, the use of components from other models - and now we have an updated Priora with the same indices, except that the number 5 has been added to some modifications. What is this? Let's watch.
The restyling turned out to be very, very modest. The front bumper (it was developed at the end of 2012 and is formally an element of the previous model) received a new false radiator grille, which is rather frivolous, in my opinion. The grille of the lower air intake has also changed.
The rear bumper is completely new, its lower part is painted black, for greater practicality, you need to understand. The edge of the bumper is 30 mm lower than before, which improves aerodynamics by equalizing the air flow in the area of the spare wheel protrusion. Now there are no parasitic vortices, and the lifting force acting on the rear axle is lower. By some three hundredths of a percent, but lower. In fact, the Cx of the updated Priora is 0.34, which is worse than the “decimal” (0.288), however, the balance of lift forces along the axes of the Priora is better.
15 LEDs were integrated into the rear lights, so now the brake lights and tail lights of the Priora are fashionable. They also introduced DRLs into the headlights - this is a requirement of the time. That's probably all there is to styling.
Now around the cabin
The front panel has been noticeably redesigned. The most important thing: they changed the material, that is, the type of plastic, which looks more embossed, and abrasions and scratches are less visible on it. But, alas, the panel has become rigid - this design is much cheaper in the production of the previous soft panel, where the steel frame was covered with polyurethane foam and decorative film. Now it is almost a solid piece, with the exception of the visor above the central monitor.
The monitor is the second visible change in the panel. In fact, this is the screen of the same multimedia device manufactured by Itelma, which has been used on Kalina since spring.
Not bad in itself, this head unit is completely incompatible with the new design of the instrument cluster, in which they relied on the Chinese-like blueness that is in demand among a certain public (purple display and blue rims around the dials), and the graphics of the control unit are made in gray-green colors.
It looks great in Kalina and Grant, but in Priora, to put it mildly, not so much. But the creators considered spending money on a new “skin” unnecessary. Laugh and laugh, but this GU does not even have a navigator with a GSM modem, they keep promising it, but they will not implement it. And no one can really say what the problem is: ready-made Chinese GPS and GSM modules are ridiculously cheap, and there are no problems with the software - Itelma works closely with Navitel (I tried with CityGuide, but there was a strange misunderstanding there). The latest plans are to master navigation by next year, when the federal ERA-GLONASS system comes into operation.
What will happen to the old tidy navigator is more or less clear; it will gradually be replaced by a large monitor. Moreover, with the introduction of cruise control on the steering column lever, there is absolutely no room left to control the navigator in the instrument cluster.
Integrating a large display required considerable effort: we spent a long time looking for the ratio of the screen's tilt, its seating depth and the configuration of the anti-glare visor. It turned out great, I didn’t notice any glare, and it was easy to poke with my finger. But it was not possible to make the visor a single part with the entire panel. And it didn’t work out for VAZ, but for one Korean company, which outsourced the main work on the interior. Why not Carcerano, experts will ask, since VAZ traditionally has close contacts with the Italians, and they did the interior of the first Priora? And Carcerano, as they say, pretty much screwed up on Grant, so they decided to try an alternative contractor. Moreover, the Koreans won a fair tender, giving a very attractive price - $8 million.
The central console was made similar to the Kalinovskaya one, integrating a multimedia control unit there. If you look closely, you can see a single-din plug on the console - this is a reserved space for the pre-heater control unit. Yes, yes, by the end of the year Priora should acquire some kind of “Webasta”; this will be the first domestic passenger car with such an option. At the same time, Priora is one of the last purely domestic cars in general. How many are left? Priora, Kalina/Granta, both Niva and UAZ... The verdict has already been signed for Samara, and the aforementioned LADA B will be half (or even more) French.
Go ahead. The door trims have changed in the upper part; the same plastic is now used there as on the “dashboard”.
The skins themselves are attached to different clips, which should reduce the number of “crickets”. They say that they also worked on sealing the door, otherwise too much water got inside before.
They made a new central armrest with a slightly larger drawer. Instead of decorative inserts painted with cheap silver, noble elements with a black lacquer finish appeared on the front panel, doors and steering wheel.
This insert looks especially interesting on the steering wheel.
I already wrote about cruise control and the new tidy. You just need to add that the display integrated into the instrument cluster can display on-board computer data, and the cruise operates in two modes - a limiter (speed limiter) and a real cruise with support for a given speed. Advice to VAZ drivers: a similar system on the Chaika was called tempomat; return this name to the instructions, it’s cool!
The tidy is now integrated into CAN, which has finally appeared on Priora. This made it possible to place the immobilizer executive unit in the panel. And the introduction of a CAN bus saved several kilograms on wires and simplified assembly.
The seats are completely new, with a backrest raised by 40 mm, new shaped headrests and a protective plastic casing at the bottom.
The lateral support has been strengthened, the slide travel has been increased by 20 mm, and the heating has become three-range.
And, most importantly, side airbags are now mounted in the backs of the front seats! Here Priora is again in the lead among the few representatives of the original domestic automobile industry - no one has four airbags yet.
Don't laugh, but the hatch cover in the back of the rear seat received a separate line in the press release. Previously, it was on self-tapping screws, but now it is on convenient latches. In fact, it remained as screwed as it was. The latches were planned for the time of the presentation, but they did not have time to implement them, so for now everything will be as before. Although I have no idea what the problem is here. Look at the photo: the latches are clearly visible, which are duplicated with self-tapping screws!
Now for the mechanics
From now on, Priora will be equipped with the 21127 engine, which first appeared on Kalina. This is a modernization of the 126th engine, boosted by variable intake tract geometry to 106 hp.
Modifications with the 127th engine will have a “five” in the index - 21705, 21715, 21725 (sedan, station wagon and hatchback, respectively).
From Kalina they also took a “short” steering rack with a gear ratio of 3.1 (it was 3.9). But they decided not to use the “Kalinovsky” experience of more rigidly attaching the rack to the engine shield - it was expensive, one of the dies would have to be changed, which is unprofitable for the “outgoing” model. In addition, the equipment with the old rack will remain for now, and there will be a hydraulic booster: it is very difficult to ensure complete unification of two different racks when changing their mounting.
But they changed the power unit supports and braces; now they are made by Trelleborg. They are designed for heavy loads and, accordingly, their service life has increased.
Well, let’s also mention reinforced safety bars in the side doors, an energy-absorbing foam liner in the rear bumper and new compression buffers in the suspension. And, of course, the Bosch stabilization system, which first appeared on Kalina.
Now about how it all drives
When we received the car for a test drive, it was almost a detective story that ended in a comedy with elements of melodrama. But they still gave me a car, although I had to go to Togliatti twice to get it. And here we are alone, me and the white restyled Priora, on the go-kart track of the VAZ Technical Museum.
Unfortunately, which turns into crying, the STC found only a car in a simplified configuration, with a 127 engine, but without ESP (and how I wanted to check it!) and with an old steering rack. This is exactly the version that has been rolling off the VAZ assembly line for a week now, from the same line where Samara-2 is still being assembled.
I brought a Racelogic device with me, thinking of measuring the maximum speed and dynamics of the car with the new engine. But it didn’t work out - and for a very funny reason: the Priora’s cigarette lighter socket turned out to be not deep enough for the Racelogic plug, and it didn’t want to be fixed there, constantly popping out. I had to forget about measurements and focus on subjective sensations. Fortunately, the chief designer of the Priora project, Valery Pavlovich Kozenkov, kindly allowed me to ride around the karting track in his Priora, pre-restyling, with a 98-horsepower engine.
Right away, from the first meters on the new Priora, I had to struggle with the gearbox drive. Old, unkind, traction. Oddly enough, the new cable-driven box was not adapted to the Priora, and the mechanism with two rods was never brought to fruition. As a result, you can forget about quickly engaging second gear: if you follow the standard algorithm, moving the lever all the way to the left, the gear simply will not engage, the lever will freeze at this stop. You have to adapt a little not to bring the lever to the left stop - then the second gear “sticks in”. Whether this is a bad drive setting or a design flaw, I don’t know.
In general, with all the upgrades that this drive has experienced since the G8, it has not become radically better. I was the owner of a “nine”, I can compare in detail...
The seats didn't seem very sporty. Yes, the lateral support has become better, but just “a little bit”; not the lateral, but the vertical profile is more pronounced. This chair distributes loads better and is simply more comfortable.
There was one oddity in the seating position: the center console was too close to the right foot. And the gas pedal here is very “sharp”; you need to handle it carefully and gently. For high-quality throttling, the pedal must be pressed with the very tip of the foot, while the leg deviates to the right, resting the top of the ankle on the console. It seems like a small problem, but in high-speed turns, where you need to work with the gas like a jeweler, your leg instinctively finds a fulcrum in the console and begins to hurt after just a few minutes. By God, I found a bruise under my knee.
On the Priore karting track there is nothing to do with such a “long” steering wheel - a rare turn can be passed without interception, there is minimal information on the steering wheel about the position of the wheels. The rolls are large, although less than that of the Grant, which I had a chance to ride in the same place at one time.
I change into Kozenkov’s car (Valery Pavlovich Kozenkov is the leading designer of the LADA Priora project. Note from Drom.ru) - and I get a more distinct reactive action and more reliable behavior in corners. Not that they are very, very different, but there is definitely a difference. But Kozenkov has a station wagon, the most “walking” body of all the “Prior” ones. There are two versions of this situation: 1) the cars had different tires; 2) on the test Priora, the alignment angles of the front wheels were violated. The second reason was immediately rejected by the test guys accompanying us (this cannot be, because it can never happen!), but it seems to me just the most probable.
This is all the more offensive because with the new engine, Priora has become noticeably more adventurous. Acceleration is smooth, traction is reliable in almost the entire range, except for the very “top”. One feels not so much an increase in power (although for such a mass, 8 additional forces are important), but a smoothed torque characteristic and greater flexibility when accelerating in higher gears. In second gear at 30 km/h the wheels can slip. An old rack with such a motor is such a subtle trolling of the buyer.
As compensation for the inconvenience of steering, there are excellent brakes, with a good, even very good overheating margin. They hold for 10 minutes of permanent extreme braking. And it’s convenient to correct the trajectory with the handbrake; it turns out even faster and more reliably than using the steering wheel. On the track there was a complete feeling that the lap time with slips was higher than without.
The slips themselves, both of the front and rear axles, are predicted well, the car is easy to drive on the verge of demolition, without going into “plowing”. Yes, there is not enough communication on the steering wheel, but it’s not like on the “Chinese”, where in most cases there is none at all (I remember the Geely Emgrand and shudder)!
Before turning, you need to brake as late as possible in order to keep the load on the drive wheels longer. As has already been said, they are too willing to slip; I even suspect that something was done with the loading of the front axle. In general, the optimal weight distribution for a front-wheel drive car of this class is approximately 56-58% of the weight on the front axle. It was not possible to find out what the actual mass ratio of the Priora is.
And two comments not related to driving. The digitization of the new instrument cluster was drawn by the enemy: the numbers located around the circle of the scales are poorly read. And for window regulators, the automatic mode works well if every other time, or even five.
The most annoying thing about this test is that I never found out how the Priora behaves with the whole range of changes - the stabilization system, the “short” rack, the pre-heater. But the average consumer will not yet be able to buy the top package - options will be introduced gradually. Obviously, with a 106 hp engine, the car drove more interesting, brighter, more youthful, so to speak. However, the car is anchored to the bottom of consumer demand by the old gearbox and the lack of adjustment of the steering column for reach. And so - a relatively spacious car, relatively comfortable.
Let's put it this way: Kalina drives more interesting, but Priora is more comfortable, spacious and more prestigious. And more expensive. For the basic “Standard” sedan they are asking 347,600 rubles, a hatch of the same configuration will cost 353,600 rubles. But prices for cars in the “Lux” configuration start at 441,300 (sedan), 446,100 (hatchback) and 450,500 (station wagon) rubles. Some Chinese cars can be bought cheaper. However, with all my ambivalent attitude towards the updated Priora, I have to admit: the “Chinese” of a comparable price will be outright rubbish. And Priora is ours, dear, you can fix it with your own hands.
And a properly tinted Priora, as they say, generally goes “under two hundred”. I'll have to check it out when the opportunity arises...
| Technical characteristics of the updated Lada Priora family | ||||||||
| Body | ||||||||
| Type | Sedan | Station wagon | Hatchback | |||||
| Number of seats/doors | 5/4 | 5/5 | 5/5 | |||||
| Engine | ||||||||
| Type | Petrol | |||||||
| Engine location | Front transverse | |||||||
| Number and arrangement of cylinders | 4, in a row | |||||||
| Working volume, l | 1,6 | |||||||
| Number of valves | 8 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 8 | 16 | 16 |
| Power, kW/l. With. | 64/87 | 72/98 | 78/106 | 72/98 | 78/106 | 64/87 | 72/98 | 78/106 |
| Torque, Nm at rpm | 140/3800 | 145/4000 | 148/4200 | 145/4000 | 148/4200 | 140/3800 | 145/4000 | 148/4200 |
| Dimensions | ||||||||
| Length/width/height, mm | 4350/1680/1420 | 4340/1680/1508 | 4210/1680/1435 | |||||
| Wheelbase, mm | 2492 | |||||||
| Curb weight, kg | 1163 | |||||||
| Fuel tank volume, l | 43 | |||||||
| Trunk volume, l | 430 | 444-777 | 360-705 | |||||
| Dynamic characteristics | ||||||||
| Maximum speed, km/h | 176 | 183 | 183 | 183 | 183 | 176 | 183 | 183 |
| Acceleration to 100 km/h, sec | 12,5 | 11,5 | 11,5 | 11,5 | 11,5 | 12,5 | 11,5 | 11,5 |
| Fuel consumption, l/100 km | ||||||||
| Average | 7,3 | 7,2/7,4* | 6,9 | 7,2/7,4* | 6,9 | 7,3 | 7,2/7,4* | 6,9 |
| *included with climate system | ||||||||
Photo bonus:
All about LADA Priora: Interesting facts, features of a distinct Priora, engines, equipment, price
Lada Priora left the production line in 2022, but remained in the hearts of Russians forever. The main “eggplant sedan” of the country in good condition in 2022 can be bought at a price of 250-300 thousand rubles. Low cost of maintenance, ease of tuning and good dynamics make it an ideal car in terms of price-quality ratio. Which Priora is considered the clearest according to the owners, as well as interesting facts, characteristics and unusual modifications - you can learn about this from our article.
The most popular LADA Priora is a black sedan (VAZ-2170). Photo: “Let’s ride!”
"Priora" station wagon (VAZ-2171). Photo: AvtoVAZ
Review of the Lada Priora hatchback
Improved Lada
The new Priora model is very often compared with its predecessor VAZ-2112. Despite the apparent similarity, the Priora has more than enough differences with the cars of the 10th family. The geometric clarity of the body and more streamlined outlines give it a stylish appearance. The hatchback body implies a sports-class car, which is evidenced by the power of this model.
Of course, the attitude towards quality at the Volzhsky Automobile Plant that has changed for the better also plays a role. A more rigid body behaves confidently when cornering and does not “moan” on bad roads. In addition, even in a hatchback body, Priora is much safer than its predecessors thanks to airbags and amplifiers.
Asking the question: is the 2013 Lada Priora hatchback a new car or a regular restyling of the Lada 12th model, let’s look at their similarities and differences. The appearance of the Priora is indeed a little similar to the VAZ-2112, especially its front part. The rear part looks more harmonious than previous models.
Model history
Sales of the LADA Priora sedan started on April 21, 2007. Assembly of hatchbacks began in February 2008, and station wagons in May 2009. AvtoVAZ also produced a coupe in small series and developed a convertible, but it never saw the light of day.
In September 2013, Priora received a restyling: the appearance has changed, driving performance, comfort and safety have improved. Exactly a year later, the car received a robotic transmission.
In December 2015, the assembly of hatchbacks and station wagons, the 98-horsepower version, as well as modifications with AMT, was discontinued. On April 21, 2022, the millionth Priora rolls off the assembly line.
In May 2022, AvtoVAZ decides to stop car production due to growing demand for new LADA models, such as Vesta and XRay. On July 16, a photo of the last Priora on the assembly line appears on the Internet. The car is decorated with balloons and a poster with the inscription “The Last One!”
Since then, rumors have appeared more than once about the manufacturer’s possibility of releasing a new generation of LADA Priora 2022, but, as it turned out, these are just fairy tales.
Five-door hatchback (VAZ-2172). Photo: AvtoVAZ
General impressions of the Lada Priora test drive
The new Priora, which took part in our test drive, left a positive impression. The restyled version of the car received a number of updates that had a positive impact on the comfort, dynamics, handling and other components of the Lada Priora.
The appearance of the latest Priora has undergone minimal changes (the body has remained virtually unchanged compared to previous versions). The changes affected only the optics and bumpers, but these updates made the car more stylish and modern. The interior of the car has become much more comfortable thanks to the use of higher quality materials and the addition of new functions.
As for the technical part, here too the new Priora has received pleasant updates. Drivers can buy a Priora with a 1.6-liter engine with electronically controlled fuel injection, producing 106 hp. The car pleased with its excellent dynamics, low fuel consumption, smooth ride and maneuverability.
Today Priora is offered in more than 5 trim levels, so you can easily find a suitable option. As for the price, it starts from 390 thousand rubles (for a new car), which is quite good, considering the excellent characteristics of the car. For such a low cost, drivers get a comfortable, fast and roomy car that is easy to maintain and economical.
In general, Priora showed its best side. It is not surprising that many auto experts consider this particular car to be the starting point in updating the entire line of VAZ cars. Today a large number of people want to buy a Lada Priora, which is understandable. Every modern driver wants to get a decent car at a low price, and the new Priora is ideal for this. Below we will look at all the components of the car separately, and start with the appearance.
Car appearance
There is no need to talk about the appearance of the Priora for a long time, since every resident of Russia is very familiar with it. Today on the roads of Russia there are old versions of Priora and restyled cars (released in 2013-14). There are almost no differences in appearance between them, but the restyled versions did undergo several changes.
First of all, the changes affected the optics. The 2013-14 Priora is equipped with headlights with daytime running lights (auto-on), as well as rear lights and brake lights with LED elements. In addition to optics, the cars received an updated bumper with an energy-absorbing strip. Also, the 2013-2014 Priors are distinguished by a modern radiator grille with a honeycomb structure.
As for the external dimensions, they remained at the same level. Externally, the car looks quite decent, even despite minor changes. An important advantage is also the wide selection of colors.
Salon and interior
But the interior of the car has undergone major changes. Previous versions of the Lada Priora had rather flimsy interiors that were not particularly comfortable. Manufacturers took into account all the wishes of the owners of old Priors and equipped the restyled cars with a new interior, which became much more comfortable, attractive and modern.
Recommended article: Zaz Sens Hatchback (ZAZ Sens hatchback)
First of all, you should pay attention to higher quality finishing materials. Now the plastic elements of the Priora's interior have become much more reliable and modern. The car received a completely new front panel, trimmed with soft-look plastic. This plastic looks like high-quality leather and is also resistant to external negative influences (it can maintain its ideal appearance for more than 10 years).
The inside of the doors and armrests also received higher quality fabric upholstery. Reinforced security elements are installed in the doors themselves. The use of new materials in the Lada Priora allowed manufacturers to make the interior not only of higher quality, but also aesthetically pleasing. The interior of the new Priora looks much richer than the interior of the previous version.
In general, the interior of the Lada received a completely updated architecture, which was only beneficial. The top of the center console now features an LCD screen with touch controls. Surprisingly, the display works almost without delay and provides a clear picture. If you buy a top-end Lada Priora, you will additionally receive a powerful multimedia system and modern navigation that supports GPS and GLONASS. If you don't want to control your media via the display, you can use the standard push-button control unit.
In addition to high-quality finishing materials and a modern multimedia system, the car received new seats that made the Priora’s interior even more comfortable. The front seats are especially comfortable, with a pronounced profile that guarantees excellent lateral support. The quality of the upholstery has improved, and the backrest of the seats has increased by 40 mm. The range of their adjustments has also increased.
Heating has become three-stage in the Lada Priora, which is sometimes not found in premium brands.
An additional bonus for drivers and passengers of the Lada Priora is improved sound insulation. Manufacturers have achieved silence in the cabin thanks to a number of improvements. Firstly, the quality of the interior finishing and the level of its assembly have significantly improved, which means that the level of squeaks and other unpleasant sounds inside has decreased. Secondly, the 2013-2014 Priora received improved sound insulation. Now even at high speed the cabin is quiet and comfortable. Thus, the manufacturers can give a solid “A” for the modifications to the interior.
Control and comfort
The handling of the Lada Priora has remained at a quite acceptable level. The car's suspension has been significantly updated, making it more composed and reliable. The steering is equipped with an electromechanical or hydraulic booster, and the steering wheel itself is sharper (the gear ratio has decreased from 3.9 to 3.1). A few months after the release of the restyled Prior line, only the top-end configurations of the car received the updated steering, but soon all Priors, regardless of configuration, began to be equipped with it.
The gearbox of the Lada Priora does not cause any complaints. The only difficulty is switching to a lower gear, which was observed on most VAZ cars. The boxes have the familiar VAZ-2112 index, but thanks to high-quality assembly, even these boxes work perfectly on the restyled Priors.
The only drawback of the Lada Priora regarding handling is the weak brakes, which do not provide the necessary information content and efficiency. However, after driving a car for several weeks, you can get used to the features of the braking system.
Recommended article: Vortex Tingo - review of the urban crossover
As for additional amenities, Prior owners will be able to order for an additional fee cruise control, a stability control system and a number of other options that will make driving more comfortable. By the way, the cost of additional options on Priora is quite low.
Off-road test
The Priora is a city car, but drivers may often need to travel outside the city, where the quality of road surfaces leaves much to be desired. Surprisingly, Priora also showed its best side in this task. The car easily passes through hills with a dirt road, and also passes through areas with sticky mud. The advantage of the Lada Priora off-road is its light weight. The car easily passes any obstacles - on the move.
A large contribution to such high cross-country ability is made by a powerful engine, reliable suspension and good ground clearance. The car is perfectly adapted to Russian operating conditions, so it copes well with difficult road sections.
Specifications
The first engine for LADA Priora was a 16-valve petrol VAZ-21126 with a volume of 1.6 liters and a power of 98 hp. With. A 5-speed manual transmission works with a front-wheel drive system. Acceleration from zero to hundreds takes 11.5 seconds. Fuel consumption in the city is 8.9 liters, on the highway - 5.6 liters.
After 1.5 years, the VAZ-21116 8-valve 1.6-liter 87-horsepower gasoline engine, combined with a 5-speed manual transmission, appears in the lineup. The car accelerates to hundreds in 12.5 seconds, and the top speed is 176 km/h. Fuel consumption in the city is 9 liters, on the highway - 5.8 liters, in the combined cycle - 7 liters.
The most powerful production engine was the 16-valve 1.6-liter 106-horsepower gasoline VAZ-21127. With it, the car accelerates to the first hundred in 11.5 seconds and is capable of reaching a peak speed of 183 km/h. Fuel consumption in the city is 8.9 liters, on the highway - 5.6 liters, in the combined cycle - 6.9 liters.
At the same time, the Togliatti tuning company installed 1.8-liter engines 21128-26 and 21128-27 with a power of 123 and 130 horsepower on the model.
Coupe is the most unclaimed body (VAZ-2173). Photo: AvtoVAZ
The Priora has MacPherson strut suspension at the front and an elastic cross beam at the rear. The front brakes are ventilated discs, the rear brakes are drums. The steering is rack and pinion.
The LADA Priora family was created on the basis of the VAZ-2110. The overall dimensions of the sedan are 4350x1680x1420 mm, the hatchback - 4210x1680x1435 mm, the station wagon - 4340x1680x1508 mm, the coupe - 4210x1680x1435 mm. The wheelbase size is 2492 mm, ground clearance is 165 mm. Fuel tank volume is 43 l, trunk volume is 430 l. The car weighs 1088-1163 kg depending on the body type.
And this is what Priora could look like in a convertible body. Layout: 3D Warehouse
There is a company in Tolyatti (or a court atelier, as some journalists like to write) called “Superauto”. Many people know her - at the end of the production of Samara cars, she produced a considerable number of these cars with engines and chassis from Priora. Wild success “in the regions” was ensured - a car with cyclopean ground clearance, light weight, a powerful engine and a low price quickly became popular among young people. Before this, the company became famous for producing cars based on the dozen - “Premier” with a 1.8-liter engine. Many copies were broken on this motor in its time. On the one hand, the good torque and elasticity of the engine won their fans, but on the other hand, these same fans were depressed by other features of the engine - oil consumption within 1 liter per thousand, weak crankshaft (it had an underestimated diameter of the connecting rod journal, to “fit in” factory cast 1600 cc crankshaft), short connecting rod. The crankshaft was breaking, the engines were burning oil, there were no repair pistons, in general - an ideal Russian engine. You can read more about this engine in an old article from 2009 about the VAZ 2112 from Kazan. That client subsequently also managed to break the crankshaft, without turning the engine above 6000 rpm at all. The inglorious engine 21128 sank into oblivion, the company earned some money on the Samara and again took aim at the Priora, creating another volume increase kit for the next Premiere (or maybe there was an ambition for the whole President?). By that time, people had already forgotten about the torment of the previous Premier 1.8, and the Premiers themselves quietly left the roads of Russia - some were smashed, some were written off...And so, with fanfare they revealed to the world a new, no - NEW 1.8 ENGINE!!!!!111
Briefly about the innovations - a new durable Italian crankshaft with a full (and narrowed in width) connecting rod journal, new reinforced connecting rods (also shortened - 129 mm , relative to the Priorov connecting rod), new pistons with a compression ratio of 10.5 and new camshafts with lifts of 8.3 mm. People love everything “reinforced and durable” - success was guaranteed. Those interested will find more detailed articles, as well as the Superauto page itself.
However, the feeding trough closed, a company appeared that launched the production of Grants Sport and Kalina Sport, and the Superauto remained out of business. There were rumors about the company's bankruptcy, then kits for the new 1.8-liter engine went on sale. The money invested should have been returned. Hardware, which at first Superauto did not want to sell without a car, can now be bought quite freely. Come and take it apart! =) By the way, the company announced the following engine parameters: rated power 123 hp. at 5500 rpm maximum torque 165 Nm in the range 4000-4500 rpm
Photos of the motorcycle kit and the installation process are described in detail by Murat (Cherkessk), which can be found at the following links:
Super-Auto 1.8l. 123hp New lower-SPG kit Assembly of a 1.8L Super-Auto engine on STK pistons
It should be noted that Murat did not install the FM pistons from the kit, but instead installed “stickless” STK pistons, thereby increasing the compression ratio. He also installed 8.7 shafts and RS hydraulic pushers from our arsenal.
After a long introduction, so necessary to understand the whole picture of this report, it is time to get to the heart of the matter. Priora car arrived at the Workshop (Chapaevsk, Samara region), with the same 1.8 liter . Andrey (car owner) independently bought and installed a new Superauto motorcycle kit. He purchased a new block 21126 with a factory hose, matched the pistons to the cylinders, assembled the engine and came to install Nuzhdin 8.7 camshafts with a phase of 263 degrees. The shafts are described in detail in early reports - this is a regrind (with a factory finish!) from factory shafts, which does not require thrust bearings, and is installed on factory pulleys. The shafts are made from customer shafts and have a ridiculous price with quite serious results. At the same time, Andrey installed original FM pistons from the Superauto kit and even left the factory rings. The original 1.6 unit ran 200 thousand km and Andrey for some reason did not repair it. The car has the great and terrible E-GAS with a Bosch 17.9.7 controller (electronic throttle), which many chipmakers are afraid of, but we are not afraid of it.
Here we need to make an important note. If the author had assembled such a motor himself, then platohoning would have been done (the factory hone was examined in detail in the report on Kalina Sport 2), if necessary, boring to repair size using forged pistons (repair pistons for this motorcycle kit can again only be expected in dreams), many other things would have been done along the way aimed at reducing mechanical losses and increasing engine power, but... The motor was assembled by the client and the author installs only the shafts.
The work is not difficult. Main quality. Clean and degrease the tiles, use anaerobic glue and silicone sealant correctly and in the right places. Andrey installed new hydraulic compensators, VAZ ones. When installing the shafts, they were modified using RS technology. The radial surface of the hydraulic pusher narrows the intake-exhaust phase without reducing lift. On 8.7 and serial pulleys using RS hydraulic tappets, the overlap is slightly reduced, which is quite enough to obtain a smooth and stable idle, almost indistinguishable from the factory shafts. At the same time, they installed Volga injectors - there are not enough standard ones (on the Bogdan 1.7 they were on the verge of the limit).
Among other important details, a 4-2-1 spider is installed on the car. Intake receiver - plastic 126.
The program was more difficult. And not in terms of the notorious e-gas, but in terms of the weather. There is ice on the roads! When the car reaches peak torque in 2nd and 3rd gears, the wheels slip into the axle box, it is impossible to remove the filling schedule... And this despite the screw lock in the box! The previously arrived Kalina 1.6 with blocking in similar weather conditions was still able to be rolled away (on the verge of axlebox), and the current Priora 1.8 is simply hanging in the axlebox. So we managed to unsubscribe the program, according to the programmer - “by 75%.” In the spring, Andrey will have to come again in order to finally sign off on the program.
But the schedule was still removed, because many could not bear to find out what this motorcycle kit would show. So, below is a graph of the new Superauto 1.8 motorcycle kit with 8.7 shafts and RS hydraulic pushers.
Maximum power - 129 hp. at 5400 rpm (red line) Maximum torque - 18.9 kg at 4500 rpm (blue line)
A good result indeed! The official Superauto figures have been exceeded - both in terms of power: 129 hp. (5400 rpm) versus 123 hp (5500) and in terms of torque: 18.9 kgf.m (4500 rpm) or 185.34 Nm (4500 rpm) versus 165 Nm (4000-4500 rpm) !
But what about the bottom? And the “bottoms” on the graph are spoiled by that same e-gas. The electronics operating algorithm is slower than that of a cable throttle, where the speed of throttle opening is limited only by the speed of the driver's foot. The electronic damper has its own opening speed, which is much slower than the opening speed of the mechanical damper. Therefore, there are great difficulties with measuring the graph in the 1000-2000 rpm area, and in the 2000-3500 rpm zone the throttle is frankly blunt. The programmer doesn’t want to speed up the (already accelerated) throttle - “the plastic gears will start to break off.” The response speed has already been increased (and the percentage of its opening has been increased to almost 100%) - the car’s behavior on the road almost indistinguishable from a car with a cable damper. But some cars with e-gas, after tweaking the program on the road (and not at a measurement), still show some kind of weakness and slowness at low speeds, the author feels this, because I drove many cars as a “pilot”. There is still unexplored groundwork in terms of making graphs with e-gas, there are some considerations, and in the future they will be checked (some have already been checked and have not yet brought results).
One way or another, the main measure of the success of the work is not the schedule or the article, but the client’s face. And Andrei’s face, after 2000 km behind the wheel of a tuned car (when he arrived to measure the schedule), shone like a Cheshire cat! When the client is satisfied, this is the most important result of the work!
Finally, some more interesting comparisons with a couple of recent works. Here, for example, is the recent Kalina from Samara, where with a volume of 1.6, a plastic receiver and the same 8.7 mm shafts, incomprehensible results were achieved on e-gas - 137 horsepower ! However, there are no miracles - long work on reducing mechanical losses allows you to gradually scratch out several strengths in a plus with an almost unchanged configuration. As you can see, the 1.6 (in the graph below with a dotted line) is more powerful and more torquey than the 1.8 engine, with the same shafts, receiver and e-gas (although the controllers are different). 1.8 engine is not helped much by the 4-2-1 (however, the author has long doubted its performance) - Kalina has the correct 4-1 insert . The 1.6 liter engine is 8.5 hp more powerful at 6000 rpm . But the torque is better with the 1.8 engine, which is quite natural! Having an advantage of 2.4-2.7 kg of torque in the 2000-4500 rpm zone , the larger brother has every chance of success in the sprint against 1.6 engine. The RS ratio of the engine (the length of the connecting rod divided by the stroke of the crank pin) also works for torque. A motor with shorter connecting rods has more torque at low and medium speeds, but this is also its scourge - its service life decreases. How much? Who knows, Superauto has only just started selling its kits (they should have time to sell everything before something goes wrong =))), no one has statistics, and taxi drivers are traditionally in the dark - even 1.6 is enough for them to cover their traditional half a million miles.
On this good note, having academically compared two so different and so identical motors, we can finish, but how can we do without a bunch of TNT for the brains of my beloved readers?
And here is the “magnetic mine” - let’s compare the Priora-Superauto 1.8 with the Bogdan 1.7, where an 80 crankshaft with Priora connecting rods, forged pistons, a plastic receiver was used and a volume of 1730 cubic meters . The shafts are the same 8.7 mm, the same RS hydraulics, the crankshaft has also been balanced. But, an important difference is that Bogdan has a 52 mm mechanical throttle and a different controller (M7.3).
The dotted line shows power (peak 130 hp) and torque (peak 19 kg) of Bogdan 1.7. After 4000 rpm they are practically identical twins. Up to 4000 rpm - a car with a cable and a smaller volume has superior torque. At the same time, according to theory, on long connecting rods everything should be the other way around (the fact that theory often diverges from practice - the author has known for a long time)... On one side on the scales lies e-gas and a “75% written out program” (although, as far as I’m concerned it seems that it won’t add anything significantly, otherwise the client wouldn’t be smiling from ear to ear), on the other hand, a more thorough fine-tuning of the Bogdan 1.7 engine, which showed that a smaller volume is not necessarily worse.
As a result, we can summarize - the kit is good, as long as it does not consume oil and does not knock. Time will show.
Update from 04/24/16
After 4 months, the client came again to measure the water supply schedule. As it turned out, he carried out a number of works on the cylinder head. Some craftsmen, whom Andrey found on his own in his area, modified the cylinder head channels and installed lightweight valves. After that, Andrey again recalibrated the program online and came for measurements. Otherwise, the engine configuration remained unchanged - the same Superauto 1.8 motorcycle kit (the mileage after assembling the bottom was an impressive 15 thousand km ), the same 8.7 shafts, the same plastic receiver. The chipmaker modified the program to 3000 rpm (a slight leanness in the mixture appeared), because When I unsubscribed the program on the road in January, there were problems with the toe (the car was slipping). Let's look at the graph.
Maximum power - 124 hp. at 6000 rpm (red line) Maximum torque - 17.9 kg at 4400 rpm (blue line)
Logically, the engine had undergone significant testing, mechanical losses had decreased, and the result should have improved. Among the significant changes in the hardware are some work on the head and fuel from a different manufacturer.
Let us further compare the new April measurement with the January schedule. Up to 3500 rpm we observe a significant increase in torque : +2.5 kg at 2000 rpm and +1.4 kg at 3000 rpm. At the same time, the chipmaker claims that he has removed the poorness in the lower frequencies and improved the program (the poorness is a consequence of the channels being refined or the program unfinished in January??). At the top, there was no increase in the engine's air consumption (as one would expect from modification of the channels, if this work, of course, was carried out at the proper level); on the contrary, the engine's deteriorated . After 4000 rpm there is a loss of torque of 0.5-1.0 kg and a decrease in power indicators, at 5000 rpm there is a loss of -7 hp, at 6000 rpm there is a loss of -4.0 hp.
Just in case, we took another measurement after a while. However, it completely coincided with the first graph, the run-up within 0.1-0.2 kg is negligible and fits within the measurement errors. Those. The motor is very stable in results and the graphs do not “dance”, as happens in some configurations.
Since our work this time consisted only of taking graphs, we can put an end to the report. The client is happy with his engine, and this is the most important thing.
Article written: January 8, 2016 Updated: April 24, 2016 Author of the article, photo-video materials: © Quasar Prohibited without the written permission of the author: reprint of the article in whole or in part, reprint and use of photo-video materials, as well as their modification and editing for further publication on third-party sites.
Options and equipment
Standard
The equipment of the basic version includes: driver's airbag, ABS+BAS, EBD, ISOFIX mounts, DRLs, tinted windows, door handles in body color, 13-inch steel wheels and a full-size spare wheel. In the cabin: a dashboard with a trip computer, audio preparation, a 12V socket, power steering, electric windows for the front doors, a rear armrest, a central armrest with a box, a height-adjustable steering column, height-adjustable front seat belts, an air filter and a case for glasses.
Norma
This equipment is complemented by an immobilizer, security alarm, central locking with remote control, 14-inch wheels with decorative caps, electric drive and heated mirrors, a steel engine splash guard, power steering, rear seat headrests and a passenger visor with a mirror.
Norma Climate
It differs from the Norma in the presence of heated front seats and an air conditioning system.
This is what the salon looks like. Photo: AvtoVAZ
Comfort
This package boasts a multimedia system with a 7-inch touch screen, FM, USB, SD, Bluetooth, Handsfree and two speakers.
Image
All of the above plus 15-inch wheels.
It is complemented by a front passenger airbag, side airbags, front seat belts with pretensioners, cruise control, light and rain sensors, heated windshield, fog lights, parking sensors and a navigation system.
Unusual versions with photos
LADA Priora Premier - from a sedan to a limousine. Photo: “Super-auto”
LADA Priora Premier is a modification of the sedan extended by 175 mm with a 1.8-liter 100-horsepower engine, produced by Super-auto CJSC since November 2008.
Externally, LADA Priora CNG is no different from a regular four-door. And here is a diagram of the arrangement of the units. Photo: AvtoVAZ
LADA Priora CNG is a bi-fuel sedan that runs on both gasoline and methane. The cruising range with full tanks is 900 km, and 300 km on gas only.
LADA Priora Sport - new front bumper with spoiler, rear bumper with diffuser, side sills and wing on the trunk lid. Photo: AvtoVAZ
LADA Priora Sport is a “charged” version with a sports body kit, 16-inch wheels and boosted to 125 hp. With. engine VAZ-21126-06. Acceleration to hundreds takes 9.5 seconds, top speed is 195 km/h.
LADA Priora WTCC is the most powerful and coolest version in the entire history of the model. Photo: Wikipedia
LADA Priora WTCC is a racing car with a 2.0-liter Opel C20XE engine developing 280 horsepower and a 6-speed cam sequential Hewland gearbox. Prepared by the LADA Sport team for participation in the world circuit racing championship.
The buggy is based on a tubular frame, with a modified Priora two-seater body on top. Photo: “Master-Sport”
LADA Priora Buggy is a mid-engine, rear-wheel drive coupe created by the Master-Sport team.
This is what the sedan would look like if Steve Mattin were in charge of its appearance. Photo: “Yurol-tuning”
LADA Priora Xmug is a version with X-design in the spirit of modern LADA, created by the Yurol-tuning studio.
Interesting Facts
- The name “Priora” was invented by the Moscow advertising agency BBDO Instinct. Initially, they wanted to call the model “Priority”.
- The exterior of the car was designed by VAZ designers, and the interior was designed by Italians from the Carcerano studio.
- No subframe was used during the production of the model.
- Many details were created using innovative technology - computer design.
- The first production model of AvtoVAZ with an airbag and air conditioning in the “base”.
- The first serial LADA with AMT.
- The service life of a car's timing belt is a record 200,000 km, while for most other models it barely exceeds 120,000 km.
- In 2009 and 2012 - the best-selling model in Russia.
- In 2014 - the most popular Russian model abroad.
- In 2015, singer Timati shot a video for the song “Eggplant (Lada Sedan),” in which Priora appears. The video received more than 209 million views.
- In 2016 Mr.NËMA and gr. Dombay released a video for “Lada Priora”, which received 12 million views.
- In 2022, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un drove a Russian sedan, which attracted the attention of the press.
- The article about Priora on Wikipedia is slightly inferior in volume to the article about New York.
- In Ingushetia, Chechnya and Dagestan, every tenth car is a LADA Priora.
This is not a joke - even Kim Jong-un drives a Priora. Photo: Motorpage
Side impact crash test
The crash test took place in the AvtoVAZ testing laboratory. Special dummies designed for this type of research were used. The test was carried out on both strapped and unbelted dummies.
According to the regulations of the UN Economic Commission for Europe and the recommendations of Euro NCAP, the test vehicle was struck in the side stiffener on the left side in the direction of travel of the vehicle at a speed of 50 km/h with a mass of 960 kg. A preliminary inspection showed that the car:
- rotated slightly around the center of gravity;
- was thrown back 5 meters from its original position;
- pushed inward by less than 30 cm.
Price, liquidity and cost of holding
In 2022, you can find Lada Priora on car sales websites at prices ranging from 80,000 to 700,000 rubles. The most common aftermarket sedans are black and white with a 98-horsepower engine. The average mileage of such cars is 100,000-200,000 km, and the cost is from 150,000 to 300,000 rubles.
The ideal option for purchase is from 250,000-300,000 rubles. This way you have a better chance of buying a good car rather than junk. For subsequent resale, it is better to choose a package with air conditioning and multimedia. Color also affects liquidity—black Prioras are easier to sell.
In 2022, Priora took 8th place in the TOP 10 fastest-selling cars on the Russian secondary market. On average, it takes 14 days to sell this model. Over 3 years, it loses 3% in value.
Taking into account the cost of gasoline (as of 2022 - 48 rubles/liter), compulsory motor insurance, regular maintenance and tire replacement, let’s calculate the cost of maintaining a 98-horsepower sedan. One kilometer of driving such a Priora costs the owner 5.22 rubles. That is, in a year with a mileage of 15,000 km, the driver will spend 78,260 rubles.
Disadvantages according to owners
The main problems of the Priora are the paintwork and anti-corrosion treatment are not of the best quality. The first to rust are the wheel arches, the inside of the doors, the sills and the hood. Owners also complain about the build quality, “crickets” in the cabin, suspension performance, insufficient sound insulation and gearbox whine.
In the pre-restyling version, the driver's seat is uncomfortable, in cars from 2014. this drawback has been eliminated. Also, early copies have problems with the electric power steering - the steering wheel begins to turn tightly, jolts or twitching appear. The main disadvantages of the engine are unstable operation and loss of power. Sometimes the engine may not start, this happens due to malfunctions of the timing belt and sensors, malfunction of the throttle valve and air leaks through the hoses.
The resource of the “gear” is 200,000 km. Then you may need capital. Photo: Drive2
Priorovods have to change the battery frequently - once a year. Water can accumulate in the niches under the lights in the trunk, and headlight bulbs often burn out. Often there are malfunctions in the operation of windows, sensors, wipers and ignition coils. Chassis problems include leaks from shock absorbers, failure of CV joints, wheel bearings and support bearings.
