Differences between Lada Kalina 2 (VAZ 2192, 2194) and Kalina (VAZ 1117, 1118 and 1119)

The car comes with a traditional Kalina key, the round handle of which controls the alarm and central locking.

After foreigners came to the leadership of AVTOVAZ, the company's policy changed noticeably. The plant in Tolyatti decided to live according to the laws of the market: almost every year new current models began to appear, and existing ones were updated. We are discussing one of them today - LADA Kalina with the Cross prefix.

On a gloomy autumn morning, my colleagues and I were brought to a site filled with white “Kalina” station wagons. The weather whispered: “Borrow and drink.” Therefore, there was no particular desire to look at the car - I had to quickly get into the salon and turn on the heater. How could we, southerners, know that it could be cold in the mountains of Eastern Kazakhstan in the fall? They say correctly in Siberia: a Siberian is not the one who does not freeze, but the one who dresses warmly. But we weren’t dressed, so we didn’t have enough time for a careful inspection. Yes, superficially. And what's so new about it? We've seen it more than once. At first glance, the Cross is no different from the regular Kalina2 station wagon in a luxury version - alloy wheels, roof rails. I didn’t have time to notice anything else - it’s cold!

A tall station wagon with small overhangs and high ground clearance begs for an all-wheel drive transmission. Alas, it won’t happen, but it’s a pity, it would make an excellent crossover

The salon is interesting. If you compare the design and quality with the pre-restyling Kalina, the progress is global. But the main thing is that it is warm. The stove is very efficient. There are also heated front seats, which heats up mercilessly. By the way, in Kalinas this is now a basic option. And in the summer, when it’s hot, the car will be pleasantly cooled by air conditioning, which is also available for all other versions of the model. Have we really lived to see a time when you can drive VAZs in the summer with the windows closed, and this is not a joke?!

Protective moldings on the doors and roof rails are included in the basic package of the Cross. And it is they who, first of all, visually distinguish the “Kalina” standing on tiptoes from the usual one

At the time of its appearance, Cross had only one fixed configuration, which should have pleased both ours and yours. However, at the end of 2015, AVTOVAZ added several options for this station wagon. We got a, so to speak, basic one for a test drive. On the one hand, the car is filled with everything necessary: ​​there are heated mirrors and heated windshield filaments, front electric windows, central locking and an on-board computer. On the other hand, there is no electric windows on the rear doors (however, they have begun to be installed on luxury versions). An airbag for the driver is also standard, but there is no airbag for the front passenger. But the Cross has significantly improved sound insulation compared to the base Kalina.

Orange inserts liven up the interior very well. However, today a “Cross” with a regular dark gray interior went on sale

The instrument panel migrated from the regular Kalina with only one change - orange edging of the scales

The small glove compartment on the panel is more of a tribute to fashion. In fact, it can only accommodate a medium-sized smartphone. In the top versions of the regular Kalina, a seven-inch display is located in this place

The audio system is not bad: it allows you to play music from a regular flash drive and SD card, and supports communication with a mobile phone. However, the sound quality through native acoustics is, let's say, not impressive. Moreover, it does not have a CD slot

Climate control is known from other Lada models. In addition to the main operating modes, automatic is also provided - for the rotation speed of the system fan

“Cross” received a modernized gearshift lever drive, which significantly facilitated gear shifting in the box

The basic Cross has simple seat belts. With pretensioning they are installed in the “Lux” version, which is available in combination with a 16-valve engine

The door sill trim decorates the car. Question: How long will the paint last on it?

Orange mood

Even from the regular Kalina, the Cross went a little ahead.
The new seats, for example, are much more comfortable than the old ones. And the colors really brightened up the interior. The interior color scheme is interesting. By and large, it is dark gray, almost black. But bright orange inserts on the seats, steering wheel and piping on the air vents liven up the interior. At the beginning of the Cross's launch, such contrasts were the only possible solution for this model. Only in the fall did a regular gray interior without bright inserts appear on the Russian market.

The front seats in the Cross are more comfortable than in the regular Kalina, but they are still very far from ideal

Extremely slow, tedious and inconvenient backrest tilt adjustment knob. It’s high time for AVTOVAZ to switch to seats with normal adjustment

The rear sofa is very spacious if two passengers are sitting on it. By the way, as it should be in our time, the seat can be folded either as a whole or in parts in a ratio of 1:2

Heated front seats are included in the list of basic equipment

An airbag is hidden in the plump steering wheel. The second (for the front passenger) is available only on the version with a 16-valve engine

The main glove compartment is small. You can't even put a regular magazine in there

Power windows for the rear doors, as well as power mirrors, are available only on the 16-valve version of the Cross.

The trunk is spacious by B-class standards. Well, to transport something large, you can fold the back seat

Interestingly, when the pre-production car was presented, there was a full-size spare wheel on a cast wheel in the trunk. On serial "crosses" it was replaced with a re-roller

Good, but not perfect

The functionality of the interior is thought out, but not to the smallest detail.
While some buttons are located as conveniently as possible, for example, heated seats or power windows, other solutions are puzzling, in particular the archaic and tedious knob for adjusting the angle of the backrest of the front seats. Inside, the Cross we tested is no different from the Kalina station wagon. The rear seat is nominally three-seater, but in fact it will be comfortable for two. The trunk is just as small - after all, a B-class car. There is a storage wheel at the bottom, although a full-size wheel can also be placed in the niche. Initially, perhaps this was planned, because when the car was officially presented, there was a full-fledged spare wheel on an alloy wheel in the trunk. Why it was replaced with a dokatka is a mystery. Although the answer, rather, lies in savings. But another pleasant detail is that Kalina Cross is equipped with Pirelli Cinturato P1 tires from the factory.

The optics of Kalina-2 have proven themselves well - the owners have no complaints about the illumination of the road at night

The rear optics are large. But it's time to introduce LEDs instead of incandescent light bulbs

"Cross" is well equipped. Therefore, it is not clear why the manufacturer skimped on the electric drive of the side mirrors, although on ordinary Kalinas it is installed in some trim levels

A pleasant surprise - Kalina Cross is equipped at the factory with Pirelli tires size 195/55 R15, and not “Kama” tires with a landing diameter of 14 inches, as on other versions

Original unpainted door moldings not only decorate the car, but also protect it from being hit by the doors of other cars in the parking lot.

Dimensions

In general, VAZ now produces several modifications of the Kalina:

• hatchback;
• station wagon;
• sedan;
• sport;
• cross.

Each model is slightly different in size.

In particular, the station wagon has the following body dimensions:

• its length in millimeters is 4040;
• height – 1500;
• width – 1700.

The weight of this model is 1125 kilograms.

For all modifications, the base is exactly the same and equal to 2476 millimeters.

In addition to the above, there is one more dimension that should never be forgotten, especially for those who often travel on dirt roads. We are talking about the track of the rear and front wheels. This size:

• in the first case – 1418;
• in the second – 1430.

The hatchback has the same dimensions.

What makes Kalina a Cross?

"Kalina Cross" almost completely replicates the appearance of the regular one.
The difference lies in the little things. For example, the radiator grille has a slightly different shape, new nameplates have been added, and silver trims have been installed under the bumpers. Under the hood in our tests was the well-known 8-valve engine with a volume of 1.6 liters and a power of 87 hp. With. The gearbox is mechanical. And no matter how much of a crossover “Cross” may seem, it has front-wheel drive. And they don’t even plan to introduce a 4WD transmission. It’s a pity, because it just begs for nice plastic arch extensions and an all-round body kit, which also distinguish the Cross from the regular Kalina. It would turn out like a VAZ Outback!

The autumn mountain roads of Kazakhstan's Altai were best suited for a test drive of the sub-crossover from AVTOVAZ - the car was in its element

We had the opportunity to test the car on the move in ideal conditions for it: mountainous terrain, some dirt, some crushed stone road surfaces, and not so much asphalt surfaces in East Kazakhstan region. I immediately noticed that the engine clearly lacks traction at low speeds. If this is not noticeable without load and on a horizontal section of the road, then in reverse conditions you have to turn the engine and literally burn the clutch, otherwise the engine will simply stall. “Cross” would have a more modern 16-valve unit with a capacity of 100–110 hp. s., which, however, is in the motor range. By the way, the car with a 16-valve engine has an airbag for the front passenger, as in the more expensive version.

On winding dirt roads I liked the car for its driving performance - on potholes it is much preferable to conventional foreign cars of this class

And in the VAZ car, as you know, a cable drive of the gearshift lever appeared. How easy and simple it has become to change gears! Previously, I remember, in the same “Kalinas” and “Priors”, clear shifts remained the desired dream of the owners, and the first two gears were almost kicked into gear, especially during the break-in period. And now, as in normal modern cars, you can move the lever with one finger. Progress! By the way, since we’re talking about transmissions, the Cross has versions with an automated 5-speed manual transmission.

While we were driving, I appreciated the reduction in the level of internal noise in the cabin - the “ladas” can already be called quiet. The background noise is no higher than, for example, that of South Korean cars of the higher C-class. Although they cost twice as much. Of course, we are not talking about perfection - at speeds above 100 km/h aerodynamic noise appears. There are several sources of it: there are large side mirrors, roof rails, as well as deteriorated aerodynamics of the car itself. The fact is that the Cross is noticeably taller than the regular Kalina station wagon. This is the main feature of the modification. The ground clearance is 23 mm higher than that of the regular Kalina, and is 183 mm! This, by the way, is more than many city crossovers, most of which are not raised above the ground above 180 mm.

Good damn thing! However, try to find the towing eye under the front bumper. And when you find it, figure out a way to rescue the car from road captivity so that after that the front bumper remains intact. Believe me, not everyone succeeds and not always.

In order to raise the Kalina so high, it is not enough to install large wheels (the Cross has 15-inch wheels by default), which increase the ground clearance by 7 mm. It is necessary to install other shock absorbers to get another +16 mm. After additional tuning of the chassis, the track of the rear wheels was widened, and changes were made to the steering.

On the track the car causes neither delight nor obscenities. The only thing that really pleased me was the fuel consumption: in rough mode, with accelerations of up to 130 km/h, in the mountains, in a convoy it was 7 l/100 km on an untested engine. This is quite good. But the high position of the body affects the behavior of the car. The suspension is long-travel, and the Cross turned out to be rolly and rolls noticeably in corners. But on rough roads the chassis shows its best features. She is very energy intensive. Even with a loaded car, it is extremely difficult to break through the shock absorbers - this allows you not to slow down in front of holes and bumps. The flip side of the impenetrability of gas-filled struts is their rigidity. On uneven surfaces, compared to a regular Kalina, it shakes noticeably.

On the rough roads of Eastern Kazakhstan, Kalina Cross with almost 20 cm of ground clearance moved very confidently

Overall the comfort level is acceptable. In its class, Kalina Cross is clearly not the most oak car. But there are still comments. The front seats received clear lateral support, but did not become more comfortable. Will the VAZ people never learn how to make normal chairs?! After several hours spent behind the wheel, I felt tired. The place behind the wheel remains cramped - the right knee constantly rests against the center console. However, the landing itself is not bad. The main controls are directly accessible and intuitive. The readability of the instruments is passable. By the way, here’s how the Cross differs from a regular station wagon: the tachometer and speedometer are framed in orange.

Features of the Lada Kalina interior

The concept of a new generation of “people’s” car was created with an emphasis on ease of use. Getting into the car is made more comfortable thanks to wide-opening doors and enlarged doorways. The front seats for driver and passenger have become more anatomical. Access to all important vehicle components is designed in accordance with European standards.

Everything is within the driver's reach, and he doesn't have to reach for anything. The exterior mirrors of the Lada Kalina Station wagon 2 have become larger, allowing for increased rear visibility. Now the instrument panel is much more contrasting, and the center console is more informative. The multimedia panel is equipped with a 7-inch screen, which provides flexible instrument settings.

Thanks to the high ceilings, the Kalina 2 station wagon can comfortably accommodate a passenger of any height. The vibroacoustic characteristics of the body, interior and power unit have been modernized and improved. This made it possible to reduce the level of squeaks and noises that periodically arose when crossing difficult terrain.

Many useful attributes have been added to the car's interior. At the top of the center console there is a special compartment for storing small items and items. Compared to the previous generation of the model, the glove compartment has increased significantly. The parking brake housing has a folding design, which, when opened, acts as a cup holder for rear passengers.

All plastic in the cabin has black and gray shades. When choosing a certain configuration, chrome inserts are also added, adding prestige to the interior. The luggage compartment of the Kalina 2 station wagon is equipped with updated shelf supports, which provide expanded usable area and capacity for large cargo.

Safety is achieved thanks to a reinforced body frame, which ensures that the station wagon model complies with European and Russian standards.

Prospects

At the time of the appearance of the LADA Kalina Cross, the prospects were bright. This is an excellent choice for those who are forced to drive on bad roads, but do not want to buy a Niva. However, the car, as they say, did not move. Sales in our country are weak, and the matter, apparently, is not only due to the ensuing economic crisis and the devaluation of the national currency. The buyer is not ready to pay an extra half a million tenge for essentially the same Kalina, even with increased ground clearance.

However, in Russia the situation is somewhat different. There, sales of the Cross version in 2015 reached a 20 percent share of all Kalinas. Considering that the crossover-like version is a small-run product, we can say that it still found its buyer there.

The appearance of the Lada Kalina Cross repeats the usual “Kalina”. Only an experienced eye will notice the high seating position of the station wagon (“Cross” is 23 mm higher, of which 7 mm are due to 15-inch wheels, and 16 mm are due to changes in the suspension) and a modified bumper

Role and device

The tank belongs to the power supply system of the Lada Kalina engine. It is located in the rear of the car under the bottom. The container structure itself is welded. It is attached to the body elements by means of two metal tie straps. In addition to the tank itself, the circuit feeding the engine includes:

• an adsorber that allows you to capture vapors formed inside the container we are considering (located directly next to the tank);
• to prevent these vapors from entering the external atmosphere, there is a special pipe between the adsorber and the tank, connected to the designated components of the system by a separator and a gravity valve;
• a protective screen must be located next to the specified tank;
• a fuel pump assembly with a level sensor is integrated into the upper part of the tank; this device supplies gasoline to the fuel rail through the line;
• the tank has a filler neck through which fuel is replenished;
• At the bottom of the tank there is a fuel filter that allows you to retain debris present in gasoline;
• from the fuel rail, gasoline enters the manifold using injector injection, where it is mixed with air in a certain proportion, after which it is sent directly to the engine chambers;
• excess fuel is supplied through the return line back to the tank (here the process is controlled by a pressure regulator present directly on the ramp); this partly allows one to avoid a significant increase in temperature and pressure, relieving the system of abundant vaporization of the fuel.

Did not like:

• high comfortable seating position New seats provide a high seating position. Visibility from the driver's seat has noticeably improved.
• good equipment Although the car has a basic version, it is enough, because almost everything that a modern small car should have is installed in the Kalina.
• good cross-country ability Of course, this is not an SUV or even an all-wheel drive crossover. However, Kalina Cross is capable of driving on broken dry roads, and in certain conditions it can even leave some all-wheel drive vehicles behind. After all, it’s 183 mm of ground clearance.
• level of comfort The cabin is quite cozy, the additional sound insulation is good - noise is not annoying. The suspension works great. Of course, it’s harsh, but without unnecessary sounds.

• uncomfortable seats The front seats are more comfortable than in the previous Kalina or Grant, but they are still far from perfect.
• operation of the electric power steering The lack of clear feedback is a common problem with almost all modern cars with electric power steering.
• Sluggish dynamics The Cross clearly lacks a motor. This is especially noticeable when starting under load - incorrect use of the gas and clutch pedals leads to the engine stopping.
• rolly suspension The high, long-travel suspension is good on a country road, but on the highway it frightens with noticeable rolls in corners.
• one airbagToday this is not enough. Modern foreign-made analogues are sometimes equipped with four or more airbags. But at Cross, a second pillow is available only for additional money.

Capacity of the windshield and rear window washer reservoir (hatchback or station wagon)

On the Kalina car, the car washer is only on the windshield, because on similar body types, it is not needed at the rear. But on a station wagon or hatchback there is also a rear washer. But the capacity of the washer fluid reservoir is the same for any of the 3 body types and is 5 liters.

Dimensions

Chassis

Fuel

Engine

The most common fuel tank sizes in cars are 40, 50, 60 and 70 liters. Judging by the volume of the tank, you can tell how big the car is. In the case of a 30 liter tank, we are most likely talking about a small car. 50-60 liters is a sign of a strong middle peasant. And 70 indicates a full-size car.

The volume of the fuel tank would be a useless quantity if it were not for fuel consumption. Knowing the average fuel consumption, you can easily calculate how many kilometers a full tank of fuel will last you. On-board computers of modern cars are able to quickly show this information to the driver.

The fuel tank volume of the Lada Kalina is 50 liters.

Milestones of history

Production of the new LADA Kalina family was launched on November 18, 2004. The model, by the way, even debuted at the Geneva Motor Show in 2005 and went on sale in May of the same year. Initially, the model had only a sedan body (VAZ-1118), but in the summer of 2006 a hatchback (VAZ-1119) went on sale. The first station wagon of the model (VAZ-1117) left the plant in May 2009.

2004 - LADA Kalina sedan (VAZ-1118) of the first generation

2004 - LADA Kalina sedan (VAZ-1118) of the first generation

2004 - LADA Kalina first generation

2006 - LADA Kalina hatchback (VAZ-1119) of the first generation

2006 - LADA Kalina hatchback (VAZ-1119) of the first generation

2006 - LADA Kalina 4WD (VAZ-1117)

2009 - LADA Kalina station wagon (VAZ-1117) of the first generation

2009 - LADA Kalina station wagon (VAZ-1117) of the first generation

2013 - LADA Kalina hatchback (VAZ-2192) second generation

2013 - LADA Kalina hatchback (VAZ-2192) second generation

2013 - LADA Kalina second generation

2013 - LADA Kalina station wagon (VAZ-2194) of the second generation

2013 - LADA Kalina station wagon (VAZ-2194) of the second generation

2014 - LADA Kalina Cross (VAZ-2194) second generation

2014 - LADA Kalina Cross (VAZ-2194) second generation

The first generation of Kalinas was produced until March 2013, when it was replaced by the new, deeply modernized LADA Kalina 2. However, the second Kalina continued the series in only two bodies - a hatchback and a station wagon. And the sedan was discontinued even earlier (in 2011) and transformed into a new model - Granta.

The Kalina Cross version officially appeared in December 2014.

Few people know that AVTOVAZ had previously thought about releasing a crossover-like version of the Kalina. At the Moscow Motor Show in 2006, Tolyatti residents presented a sample of the LADA Kalina 4WD station wagon. Yes, yes, all-wheel drive. Under the hood was a rare VAZ 16-valve 1.8-liter engine, a gearbox with a reinforced output shaft. The rear axle was connected using a viscous coupling. Due to the appearance of the cardan and gearbox, the suspension was offered in a different form - mounted on a separate subframe. However, this very serious idea has so far remained at the pilot production level.

Classmates

Cross is one of the most expensive modifications of the Kalina model. On the day of publication of this material, the dealer network in Kazakhstan offers it for 2.5 million tenge. This, of course, is a lot, especially considering that we are still not accustomed to the new price tags after the devaluation. However, if compared with foreign cars, the price of the Cross is quite attractive.

Recently, crossover-like five-doors have become an important component of the model range of any brand, but they are all more expensive.

Renault Sandero Stepway , in fact, is the only foreign analogue of the Cross. But the “French” is noticeably more expensive. Even the basic version (Confort, 1.6, 5MT), which is not impressive in its equipment, is priced 200 thousand tenge more. And the top-end one (Privelege, 1.6, 4AT) costs 1 million tenge more.

Geely MK-Cross assembled in Kazakhstan is also more expensive. The basic configuration (Active, 1.5, 5MT) is estimated by the dealer at 2.9 million tenge, and the most complete (Dynamic, 1.5 l, 5MT) with the maximum set of options costs 2.98 million tenge.

Korean small cars cost at least 3 million tenge, the price tags for European ones are even higher - on average half a million.

LADA Largus Cross is more expensive. The price starts from 3,152,000 tenge (“Lux”, 1.6, 5MT), but for this amount it gives “more” of the car. The interior volume of the Largus is comparable to another minivan, and not a small car, which is the Kalina.

Equipment

The equipment of the LADA Kalina Cross that we tested is, of course, inferior to the luxury versions of the Kalina, but it is not poor at all. The station wagon has automatic air conditioning, an anti-theft system, central locking with remote control, electric front doors, heated side mirrors, heated front seats, steering wheel adjustment (height only), electric power steering, on-board computer, audio system with preparation for a telephone ( via Bluetooth) and USB connector. There is an additional 12 V socket in the trunk.

The exterior is distinguished by a plastic body kit around the perimeter, 15-inch alloy wheels, and fog lights.

Safety is ensured by ABS+BAS (anti-lock braking system with emergency braking assist), front airbag and daytime running lights.

Chassis

The front suspension is McPherson type, the rear is semi-independent spring. Disc brakes on the front wheels and drum brakes at the rear. The steering has an electric booster. Front wheel drive only. The Cross differs from a regular station wagon in that it has a stiffer anti-roll bar, a retuned steering system, modified spring mounting locations and new shock absorbers, as a result of which the ground clearance has been increased by 23 mm. Engineers also changed the final drive ratio in the manual transmission - it is 3.9 instead of 3.7.

About security

Compared to other Russian cars, the LADA Kalina Cross showed good results in a crash test conducted by AVTOVAZ specialists. However, they crashed the car not according to the standards accepted in Europe, but at a speed slightly lower - 56 km/h. During the impact, as required by the rules, the doors remained closed, and after that they opened without the use of special tools. There was no fuel leak. The impact dummies were not pinched and were removed from the vehicle freely.

Indirectly, the safety of the Cross can be judged by the crash test results obtained by specialists from the Russian publication Autoreview, who conduct their own independent tests. They smashed an ordinary station wagon. The car earned a solid three out of four possible stars. True, Kalina was equipped with two airbags and an automatic transmission. Kalina 2 has more elastic plastic in the interior, unlike the first generation, due to which it was possible to reduce the load on the knees and hips. But the pedal assembly, which has greatly shifted due to the deformation of the floor, as well as the steering column, are dangerous for the driver’s feet.

Specifications

Automobile

Engine

Dynamic characteristics

Transmission

Suspension

Brakes

Dimensions and weight

Car appearance

The second generation of Kalina has significantly changed its overall appearance and technical characteristics. The body received more aggressive features, which brought the car design closer to the products of the European automobile industry. At the same time, most of the technical solutions of the Lada Kalina 2 station wagon were inherited not from its predecessor, but from the Lada Granta, which is a sedan version of the body of the second generation of the “people's” car of Russia.

First of all, the Lada Kalina station wagon 2 adopted the negative camber, steering, all types of engine and body specifications from the sedan. As is clear from the name of the body, this model allows you to transport cargo of various weights and volumes. Kalina 2 station wagon is the ideal car for country trips with the whole family. Thanks to the spaciousness of the luggage compartment, it is possible to load the car with a large number of purchases.

Despite the spaciousness of the body type in question, the car has retained its compactness and attractive design, making it a city vehicle. Compared to the previous generation, Kalina 2 station wagon looks more aggressive, and the technical characteristics of the car have been modernized in accordance with modern European requirements.

Lada Kalina station wagon 2 has become much more comfortable and safer. The appearance received completely new contours, which transformed the car, giving it dynamism and modernity. This was achieved thanks to the modernization of the front part of the car, which was slightly raised. Now the front lights are located a little higher, and the wheel arches have become embossed.

The car seems more “muscular” due to rethought bumpers that visually enlarge the car. Taking into account the updated technical characteristics, the appearance is fully consistent with the station wagon's interior.