Lada Vesta or Gili Emgrand? - compare which is better

Lada Vesta. Price: 554,900 - 847,900 rubles. Cars sold in January-August 2022: 47,780.

Lada Vesta. Price: 554,900 - 847,900 rubles. Cars sold in January-August 2022: 47,780.

If you look at the sales statistics, you don’t even have to start the article. According to the Association of European Businesses, in January-August of this year, Russians bought 47,780 Vests, and all their Chinese classmates combined - 15 times less, 3,182 cars! Moreover, the lion's share of this amount came from Lifan Solano, which was chosen by 2,259 buyers. Perhaps some model from the Middle Kingdom is greatly underestimated? Let's figure it out.

Automatic expected

Many people are concerned about the issue of the machine gun. The predecessors Kalina and Grant already had a four-speed Jatco automatic, why isn’t it on the 2180? The fact is that there is no suitable base for the machine gun on the Lada Vesta. The mentioned box is already outdated, and purchasing a new one will significantly increase the price of the car, which is contrary to the policy of the Volga Automobile Plant.

Company President Nicolas More denied rumors about a 4-band automatic transmission for the most popular Lada models. So will the Lada Vesta have a gun? Most likely Yes. It will be a 6-speed modern transmission. Negotiations are already underway on the creation of a new plant in the Russian Federation; automatic transmissions will be created at the plant with the support of foreign companies. The appearance of an automatic machine on the Lada Vesta should be expected in at least 4-6 years.

Problems of choosing “Priora” and “Emgrand” on the secondary market

Finding both in decent condition will be very difficult. The cars are already old, the “youngest” copies are 5-6 years old, and in the budget segment this is critical. Over the course of five years, a car can have time to work in a taxi, crash into a pole, get wet, or be damaged by frosty starts. Therefore, each variant of Emgrand or Priora must be run through the service lift.

But often you don’t have to go to a service center, because many dangerous places are visible after inspection. We look at history, analyze and make a decision.

Here, for example, is not the most “running” Emgrand with one owner in the title.

It seems not bad, but the report from avtocod.ru showed an accident.

Let it be one, with a side impact and non-critical damage, but keep in mind that for delicate Chinese auto body work there are no “non-critical” damage.

These cars rot, even when relatively new. And after restoration due to an accident, it is generally difficult to predict the durability of the iron.

A decent second-hand LADA Priora is also a rarity and a miracle. Hellish mileage, unpaid fines, duplicate PTS and an endless number of large and small accidents - a typical portrait of a car. Here's an example.

The check reveals several serious problems at once.

The car was involved in traffic accidents five times and received severe damage.

The last technical inspection was carried out at the end of 2022. At the same time, the mileage was more than doubled.

Unpaid fines – 13.

And there are traffic police restrictions. And not one, but four.

It’s not even worth going to inspect such a Priora. You will have to be patient and time – the search for a live option can take a month or more.

Also read: Geely Emgrand X7 or Lifan X60: what the “Chinese” are capable of

Exterior

In competition with the Chinese sedan, Vesta undoubtedly wins. And not only due to its aggressive image, but also due to its harmony. The X-branded format is easily visible in the chrome moldings that border the radiator grille and air intake, which Steve Mattin helped to become one. And the headlights and foglights look predatorily from under the sloping hood.

The front looks predatory and stylish.

On the side, the stampings stretch from the optics itself to the center, where, without reaching each other, they turn back, capturing the entire sidewall. It looks great, but visually this effect makes the sedan shorter and taller, which, however, is somewhat smoothed out due to the branded rims.

The impression from a side view is the same, and the X's only spur the imagination.

The shape of the stops is sharp, with sharp corners, which successfully dilutes the massiveness of the stern, which is given to it by the large trunk lid and the letters LADA sparkling in chrome on it. And the oversized bumper, with a reflector in the center, completes the picture.

The food is also very good. No dissonance.

Gili's image is different. When looking at the front, it is noticeable that the designers tried to create a kind of budget analogue of the Honda Accord - they wanted to imbue every line with speed. And on the whole they succeeded. The rectangular headlights go well with the inverted trapezoid of the radiator grille, and the DRL stripes in the places where the foglights should be located outline the air intake.

Emgrand's front end is also good. Usually you don't expect anything like this from a Chinese.

From the side, Emgrand does not look so impressive. No, it would seem that everything was done correctly. A simple and precise design, a line running along the top of the doors and wings, curves at the bottom... But the huge wheel arches make this picture somewhat awkward. Moreover, they are so large that even 16-inch alloy wheels seem small in them.

But the overly inflated wheel arches are striking when viewed from the side.

But the trunk lid, which tapers towards the bottom, along with the lights, bumper and reflectors, is already a blatant “skew” like a Mercedes, especially when viewed from a small elevation. However, this does not detract from the merits of the designers.

Of course, this format cannot be confused with a German one, but the designers tried very hard.

Salon Gili Emgrand EC7

The first thing that catches your eye when opening the door is a high-quality rug with a very unique cellular shape. This prevents dust and dirt from rolling erratically across the floor, increasing comfort levels.

The key in Gili Emgrand ES7 has a respectable size and is pleasant to the touch. There is a metal frame. You can open the door lock or start the engine by pressing a button.

If you are tall, sitting in a Chinese suit will not be entirely comfortable. Even if you move the seats all the way back or raise them, your legs will still hang down without touching the seat.

This is not entirely convenient, especially when driving long distances.

The steering wheel is adjustable only in height, and the angle of adjustment is quite limited. There is not enough reach adjustment, which would create additional comfort.

The dashboard looks quite modern. The screens are color, which improves visibility of indicators. There is a small screen between the tachometer and speedometer.

The center console has a touch screen that functions as a multimedia system. If desired, you can connect other devices using the USB port.

Using Bluetooth technology, you can connect your phone and make calls while driving using the functionality of the Gili Emgrand EC7 multimedia system.

Also, when connected via a cord to a phone with Android OS, it is possible to use all the functionality of the phone through the multimedia installation screen. It's quite convenient.

The climate is single-zone, with classic control via buttons and toggle switches. There are heated seats.

The updated car also has a multifunctional steering wheel with conveniently located control keys.

Electric windows are installed on all 4 windows, with the ability to lock in the driver's seat.

After the update, the interior became more interesting and modern, interesting metal inserts appeared, and it looks quite solid.

The glove compartment is relatively small in size. However, a new product has appeared - it has a microlift installed, which is rare in budget cars.

There is a double box in the armrest of the Gili Emgrand EC7 between the driver and passenger seats. You can open a small compartment where documents can easily be placed, or a large one where you can throw larger things.

The large armrest compartment contains 2 USB ports. One can be used for charging, the second for connecting to a multimedia system.

In general, everything is quite at a decent level, and the only drawback is the not very comfortable fit.

The seating position itself is quite comfortable. Even with a height of 186 cm, your knees do not rest against the front seat. However, the shins may rest a little.

The seats are located conveniently, it is comfortable to sit. The angle of inclination of the sofa is chosen correctly, which allows for additional comfort. There are headrests and seat belts.

The rear seats also have an armrest that houses two cup holders.

The length of the rear sofa is 144 cm.

Interior

The car interior is designed in different styles. Inside, the Lada Vesta forces the driver to approach in a sporty mood. Laconic and smooth lines of the dashboard, an intuitive center console that houses multimedia and climate control controls, a comfortable 3-point steering wheel with bulges under the fingers, thick seats. Thanks to all this, driving the car does not tire you even on a long journey, and the well-designed seat profile will give many competitors a head start.

Vesta's interior, although not luxurious, is kind and pretty.

There is a very comfortable sofa in the back and plenty of legroom. But the ceiling is a bit low, which has been noted more than once in reviews. Tall passengers have to almost rest their heads on the roof, and when driving on bumpy roads this is a real disaster. The interior design of the Russian sedan is also at its best - dark plastic, organic-looking metallic inserts, an impressive dashboard and good visibility will certainly remind you of yourself.

They didn’t skimp on the lower part of the cabin - the plastic here is the same as on top.

Gili is different. In size, it noticeably exceeds even the by no means small Vesta. Thanks to this, it is very spacious inside, especially in the back row. You get the feeling that you are sitting in a class D sedan. Huge mirrors provide good visibility, and in general the interior is well designed, and the wide armrest will do credit to many models.

The silver inserts in the Gili's interior look tacky, and the blue lighting is so-so.

But the combination of coal-black plastic, along with an abundance of silver inserts, tires the eye and soon begins to irritate. The blue backlight, which hurts the eye at night, adds fuel to the fire, while during the day the white scales of the instruments are hard to read against such a background. Turning the wide, 4-spoke steering wheel in turns is also not always convenient, especially during quick changes. In general, the Chinese are clearly trying to achieve luxury, but the implementation was not entirely successful.

But there is plenty of space in the back. Yes, and security is high.

Pros and cons of AMT compared to mechanics

Acoustic comfort

Inside Vesta with CVT

When driving in the city, the sounds of the turn signal working are annoying, it is very loud and the sound is unpleasant. You also notice a clicking wiper relay on the right, somewhere under the panel. If you press the gas, the noise of the engine comes to the fore; compared to the previous silence, this can be frightening. And when you roll in a traffic jam, you can hear the clicking of spikes.

When they gave me a replacement car with AMT - hello youth, hello howl! On an AMT, when driving slowly, you don’t pay attention to the sounds of the turn signal or relay. The box makes a lot more interesting sounds

Just “oooh”, the whine of the bearing. Characteristic VAZ.

Handling test

For the test, the cars accelerate, after which we begin to make sharp maneuvers in different directions.

The Lada Vesta holds the road quite well, is easy to control, does not get stuck or fly off the road.

True, there is a certain drawback when making sharp maneuvers - the steering wheel is slippery, and you have to hold it very tightly.

The suspension's balance between comfort and handling is quite well tuned. The energy intensity of the suspension is also at a high level.

Gili Emgrand EC7 copes with the load much worse; during lateral drift, the suspension does not always cope well with the assigned tasks.

The stabilization system saves the day, allowing you to hold the car even during sharp maneuvers and on slippery surfaces. Everything is quite up to par.

To be fair, it is worth noting that the Chinese car was created on a very outdated platform, which affects the test results.

Content

• Dimensions and usable space for passengers
• Variety and choice of bodies
• Engines and gearboxes
• Interior equipment and amenities
• Durability and reliability
• Problems of choosing “Priora” and “Emgrand” on the secondary market
• What to buy in the end: Lada Priora or Geely Emgrand EC7

We were suggested to compare Emgrand and Priora by subscribers of the Autocode channel on the Yandex.Zen website. It seems that the cars are completely different - in fact, this is not entirely true. Therefore, it is possible to compare “Priora” and “Emgrand EC7” with good reason, which is what we will do.

Robot or CVT

Which is better, a robot or a variator on the Vesta - you can answer this question by studying the reviews of the owners. Drivers who were able to compare both types of transmissions share their impressions on websites dedicated to domestic cars.

Start of movement

In the latest releases of Lada Vesta with AMT, the designers have provided a “crawling” mode. When the brake pedal was released, the car began to move slowly at idle speed. This feature causes complaints from drivers. There is a delay, acceleration is uneven, twitching is felt. After some time, the speed increases, and in city traffic jams you have to slow down.

On a slippery road. Photo source: ac-ladaufa.ru

Against the background of such robot actions, the variator has an advantage. Acceleration is smooth, no jolts or twitches. Rolling and climbing are similar to a full-fledged automatic transmission. When parking, the car behaves more confidently.

Noisiness

The noise in the cabin of a car with a robotic gearbox is stronger than with a CVT. The hum in the AMT becomes audible even at low speeds. When picking up speed, the advantage of the variator is more obvious.

Vibration

An engine equipped with an AMT vibrates noticeably more than a power unit with a CVT. When compared with an automatic transmission, you get the feeling that a car with a robotic gearbox has a “floating” speed.

Gaining speed and dynamics

Vesta with a robotic gearbox picks up speed better than with a CVT only when engaging third gear. The first two are short, the driver does not have time to feel the acceleration. On the fourth, the advantage with the CVT is noticeable. Plus AMT is a direct connection between the gas pedal and the engine. However, the number of gears is small and switching takes a long time.

Vesta automatic. Photo source: va-online.ru

The CVT has a long response to pressing the gas pedal, and acceleration is slow. After gaining speed, the car becomes more dynamic, and traction failures are not felt. Acceleration after 80 km/h is significantly better than that of the robot; the advantage is felt when overtaking on the highway.

Fuel consumption

Vesta with a CVT is more economical than with a robotic gearbox. The average fuel consumption of the AMT is higher, the difference is 2 liters per 100 kilometers. With gasoline prices constantly rising, this is an advantage of the CVT, even at its higher price.

Many owners who took a test drive made a positive decision whether to buy a Lada Vesta with a CVT.

Reconnaissance in force

Having calmed down a little and sorted it out, we realized that there really was something to compare in our strange pair. After all, Vesta, alas, is so far offered only in a sedan body, and with all the supposed Russian folk love for sedans, it (this very love) is to a large extent a myth: many choose not a three-volume, but a two-volume body due to the greater utilitarian usefulness of the latter. Here Emgrand has an advantage (its family includes a hatch and a sedan), and it is not the only one.

The second plus is the equipment and price. Look: Emgrand (both sedan and hatchback) in the same configuration that we tested - this is the “middle”, Comfort costs 579,000 rubles. And what does it not have for the money: an audio system that reads discs and flash drives, four speakers and two tweeters, two airbags, four power windows, climate control (unlike the West air conditioner), leather interior... Moreover, the driver’s seat has height adjustment, as well as adjusting the lumbar support, which, by the way,

our Vesta is already working poorly

Yes, this “average” Emgrand does not have buttons on the steering wheel and a multimedia complex with a touchscreen, but these “goodies” are available in the “maximum speed”, which still turns out to be cheaper than our top-end Vesta with its fabric interior and single-clutch “robot” - 639,000 rubles against 658,000! And such a “Chinese” will have safety windows, and the seat will be adjustable with buttons!

After all, Emgrand has a variator that “doesn’t twitch”, and an engine with as much as 126 “horses”, and leather, and... no, let’s talk about the face later. I know, I know, many of you do not need to be convinced once again that almost any “Chinese” is in any way better than a “pelvis”. Therefore, I note that not everything is so simple here. Firstly, if you look at the configurations, Vesta has things that are not available on Emgrande at any price.

And the main ones are the ESC system and heated windshield. Both things are damn important and I dare say that for some buyers they are included in the list of important items when choosing a car. In addition, Vesta beats the “Chinese” by one wicket in terms of design: it is catchy, original, eye-catching and neck-breaking. In the province of Vesta, you risk becoming a local celebrity. For example, in the village of Shlyuzovoy, where we rented cars, there was no end to people interested.

And Emgrand... no, he’s not ugly (with the mug, so to speak, it’s not that bad), he’s just ordinary. Too ordinary. And it is very similar in profile to the Cruze and Lacetti hatchbacks. Of course, for a large part of the target group this is rather a plus, but hardly anyone will like the pockets of corrosion on the body of the three-year-old hatch that we tested...

Come on, the rust on the body is the size of a match head, what nonsense! In addition, a normal person understands that absolutely any car needs to be sold after three to five years (ideally, immediately after the warranty expires), and then let someone who likes this activity enjoy it.

New Lada: Lada Priora weak points • ALL about used AVTO

It’s not for nothing that Russian rumors have long read Emgrand the title of “the best of the Chinese” - he, by the way, has four stars according to the EuroNCAP rating! However, Vesta also has four stars in the no less advanced ARCAP, and Lada’s dealer network in Russia is much more developed than Geely’s (331 showrooms versus 94), and is not shrinking, unlike

Chinese

, and even vice versa.

Trunk

However, if you specifically have a dealer or at least some kind of multi-brand garage service station nearby, you don’t have to give a damn about it. It’s better to pay attention to the trunk of the “Chinese”, it is much more suitable for transporting something from the countryside, or whatever you carry in the trunk (for example, I take a dog there). Seriously, in the “nominal” state, the trunk of the Geely Emgrand is, of course, more modest than that of the Lada Vesta sedan (390 liters versus 480 liters), but if you fold the backrests in both places, the advantages of the hatch become obvious: its entire rear part turns into a cargo compartment , while the sedan has only a rather narrow “hole” into which, alas, the Biryusa refrigerator cannot be pushed.

Pictured is the trunk of a Geely Emgrand

But there will be difficulties with this in the case of Emgrand - the trunk opening itself is clearly narrow. But the “Chinese” has a relatively flat floor, while the “Russian” has a step. At the same time, the rear part of the body on the inside of both cars is finished quite inexpensively - the sound insulation is sloppy in some places, bare metal is visible here and there - but believe me, we saw exactly the same thing on cars three times more expensive. So there's nothing here.

Pictured is the trunk of a Lada Vesta

Rear row of seats

In terms of comfort in the back row, there is probably parity.
The interiors of both cars allow a person about 180 cm tall to sit in tolerable comfort, without resting their head, shoulders or legs on anything. But Emgrand, despite the slight abrasions resulting from three years of use, still makes a “richer” impression than the new Vesta: leather seats plus fabric inserts in the door panels do their job - it seems to you that you are in a little more “status” car than when you sit in the fabric-plastic interior of a Lada Vesta. When you move forward, at first this feeling even seems to intensify: a leather steering wheel, an abundance of buttons on the center console, a solid-looking variator selector are added to the “picture of the world” in the Geely Emgrand...

Front row of seats

But the instruments have a frankly Asian appearance and are difficult to read, and the scattering of buttons is less convenient to use than the touchscreen - for some this will be a reason to still choose the luxury version of the “Chinese”. On the other hand, the touch screen of our Vesta seems to have become calibrated again, but only

four months ago we already calibrated it

.

But the front seats in Emgrand, even though they are leather and look well shaped, in fact turn out to be more cramped and less comfortable than in Vesta. In addition, the driver's license plate creaks in every way when the car is moving! But Vesta, despite her tender age compared to Emgrand (she is only six months old, although the cars have comparable mileage, about 25,000 kilometers), loves to squeak her door hinges! The sound is so powerful that you can play the Imperial March from Star Wars on loops, we tried...

Emgrand’s “eyeglass case” is located in a block with the interior lamp, and Vesta’s is above the driver’s door, but glasses that can fit on an average head do not fit in either of them. But Emgrand has an excellent armrest, which has two “floors” for storing small items, and the bottom one is simply huge.

Armrest in Vesta... No, no, unlike most

"reviewers"

, we didn’t have any particular complaints about him. Yes, it is only for the driver's elbow, yes, there is no storage space under it, but we immediately figured out how it was adjusted and used it quite successfully - up to a certain point. The fact is that I broke it, and we wrote in detail about this moment in

material about changing stabilizer struts

. So now (we hope temporarily) Vesta does not have an armrest.

Maneuvers in the city

But the function of assistance when starting uphill on Vesta, which had been malfunctioning, suddenly came to life (!) and in our comparative test on an uphill it worked like clockwork: you release your foot from the brake pedal, the car stands with the brakes “bitten” (the duration of this “bite” is 2 -3 seconds), you put your foot on the gas and move off - if the “robot” selector is in position A (automatic mode) or first gear is selected in position M (manual).
In the Emgrand variator, everything is a little different - it implements the classic principle of “creeping gear” for automatic machines, when the car immediately starts moving if the selector is in drive and the foot is released from the brake pedal. Which is more convenient? There is no consensus on this, and that is why both options are common in the world.

New Lada: Programs for diagnosing domestic cars

We came up with another microtest - for the real turning radius. On a deserted path, we park the cars close to the dividing line and, turning the steering wheel all the way, begin to turn into oncoming traffic. The “Chinese” won this test - it manages to turn around in one step, while the “Russian” rests its wheel on the curb and requires additional maneuvers to complete the turn.

Handling and dynamics

Well, what about handling?
Everyone praises Vesta's handling, but Emgrand is no worse in this indicator - at least based on subjective feelings. It has a classic “hydraulic” (unlike Vesta’s electric booster), which, of course, eats up some power from the internal combustion engine, but it won’t tell you anything about it, but there will always be a clear “zero” on the steering wheel and good, natural feedback . But the suspension is a bit harsh compared to the West one. Do you want to make a car with a claim to “drive” for Russia? In the firebox, ideal behavior on an arc of perfect asphalt! Make it so that the car can jump over potholes without consequences for the suspension and wheels - that’s what I understand, drive!

The “Chinese” has a problem with this - as soon as the potholes begin (which Vesta swallows almost without thinking), it is better to reduce the speed in the city almost to “pedestrian”: despite the smaller wheel size (15 inches versus 16 for Vesta) and the higher tire profile , the cabin begins to shake noticeably, and a knock is heard from under the hood - no other way, the stabilizer struts are dying!

Yes, yes, the “sores” of the Emgrand’s front suspension are very similar to West’s – both the “links” that quickly fail and the rubber stabilizer pads that begin to creak, which experienced Emgrand drivers recommend replacing with polyurethane ones...

Toward the end of our test, we still decided to hold a drag racing session, despite the difference in tires. And they realized that it was not about her at all. That is, Vesta lost in the standing start not because it was wearing studs, and not because its engine develops only 106 hp. With. versus 126 for the “Chinese”, but because it has an AMT gearbox.

At first, the “Russian” may even take the lead, but only by half a wheel and a couple of seconds. Because as soon as it comes to switching from first to second, Emgrand storms away. Its variator does not need to switch anything, it sets the engine at 5,000 rpm, and under its smooth howl the Emgrand accelerates. Despite the same certified acceleration time to “hundreds” of 12.8 seconds (however, the data for Emgrand is unofficial; for some reason the manufacturer does not provide such information), Vesta did not have a single chance and, it seems, we have once again proved the obvious : AMT gearbox is not for dynamic driving.

Transmission Jatco JF015E

The Jatco company, part of the Nissan group, released a new CVT model in 2010, which received the full designation Jatco JF015E. Before installing this box on AvtoVAZ cars, engineers improved and finalized the transmission.

Device

The V-belt mechanism is the main part of the box. The elements of the device are cone pulleys and a pushing belt, which transmits torque that changes as the pulleys move closer and further apart. The box also includes a hydraulic unit and a two-stage planetary gearbox, which reduces the weight of the structure and increases the range of gear ratios.

Resource Jatco JF015E

The use of planetary gears in transmissions for small-volume engines makes the design smaller and more compact, but impairs reliability and reduces the overall service life of the unit. The planned service life of the transmissions is 120 thousand kilometers. In practice, box failure occurs earlier. Repair requires special equipment and skilled technicians.

Positive sides

The modified version of the new transmission has advantages:

• the variator has become more compact, it is better located in the perimeter of the subframe, due to which the ground clearance has decreased;
• the load mode is lightened when switching from forward to reverse gear, they shift clearly and smoothly;
• the load when mixing transmission oil has decreased, which is important at low temperatures;
• The functioning of the box cooling system has been improved, it is brought into the same circuit with the engine;
• the acceleration of the car is smooth, without jerks or dips in traction.

Vesta with automatic transmission. Photo source: news.myseldon.com

The developers of the modified Jatco JF015E transmission assure that oil is filled for the entire service life of the automatic transmission. Replacement will only be required during repairs. Although in fact it is better to change it after 100 thousand km, which can significantly increase the service life of the box. But this needs to be done in a workshop.

Minuses

The operating instructions indicate the disadvantages of a CVT transmission that the car driver should pay attention to:

• manufacturers do not recommend sudden starts, slipping and sudden braking - these factors lead to premature wear of the transmission;
• It is prohibited to tow the car for an emergency engine start;
• It is not recommended to use a trailer, as this increases the load on the variator.

Following the instructions, you must treat the variator with care and avoid an aggressive driving style. By following the recommendations, you can avoid the costs of premature box repairs.

Appearance

The main difference between the body is the radiator grille, which is made in the form of an intricate web. But it looks good.

The headlights now feature LED running lights with an unusual design. The pre-restyling version had running lights in the fog lights. There are no fog lights here. These are the main things that are changed in appearance.

The design of the rims has been slightly changed, the size is the same 16.

The mirrors remained the same with duplicate turn signals. The rear lights also remain from the 221 Mercedes. The only thing is that before there were a lot of LEDs, but now there is a solid line of lights.

The color of the logo also changed, it was red, and now it is blue. There used to be 4 parking sensors, but now there are 3 on the bumper. The length and width of the car remained unchanged.

CVT problems

Cars with a CVT arrived at dealers in November 2022. Since the summer, the Jatco gearbox has been installed on the XRAY Cross, during which time the operation of the cars revealed problems with the transmission.

Oil quality

The transmission is demanding on the quality of ATF fluid. If you use oil of a class lower than NS-3, recommended by the manufacturer, the variator valve body may fail.

At every vehicle maintenance, it is recommended to check the condition of the lubricant in the box.

Bearing failure

Before the modernization, there were many complaints about the adjustment of the input shaft roller bearing during assembly. The axial play gap was set incorrectly. When pinched, the hub was destroyed, which led to failure of the entire gearbox. Engineers corrected the defect, the unit became reliable, but repairs require fine tuning.

Sun gear failure

This structural element cannot withstand maximum loads and becomes unusable. The gear is welded from two parts; when the car is working hard, the seam does not hold up, the part breaks, and the entire assembly fails. A symptom of a breakdown is the absence of reverse gear when the corresponding position of the shift knob is turned on. Another sign is that the car does not move forward.

Oil pump failure

The valve in this unit fails; it hangs due to oil contaminated with wear products. The lubricant pressure in the variator drops. As a result, the driver feels jolts or jerks when moving from a standstill.

Possibility of replacing the CVT with a manual transmission

When using Vesta with a CVT, some owners have problems with the convenience of driving the car. In this situation, the question arises: is it possible to replace the gearbox with a manual transmission?

If the variator breaks down, repairing it or purchasing a new Jatco JF015E transmission will require significant financial costs. The cost of a new variator is 185 thousand rubles, a new manual transmission is 50. In this case, replacing it with a manual transmission seems more economical.

Replacing a CVT is an expensive proposition. Photo source: drive2.ru

On websites dedicated to AvtoVAZ cars, this issue has been repeatedly raised on forums. After analyzing articles, reviews, and user messages, we can come to the conclusion that replacing a CVT with a manual transmission is possible. However, there are opinions that prove the inappropriateness of this work:

• The manual transmission and the cost of replacing the transmission can be comparable to the price of a new CVT with installation;
• Abnormal modifications can significantly degrade the performance of the vehicle's electronic system.

The most reasonable way out of the situation is to sell the Vesta with a repaired variator and purchase a car with a manual transmission.

Dimensions and usable space for passengers

More doesn't always mean better. Japanese brands, for example, do not manage dimensions and space well, so the Camry “forty” may be inferior in passenger comfort to the Octavia, which is a class lower.

But in the case of Emgrand EC7, the extra 30 cm of overall length benefited those sitting. This is not the story when additional centimeters went into the trunk or decorative elements on the outside - it seems like the car is longer, but what’s the point? No, the wheelbase of the Emgrand is 16 cm longer than the Lada, and all the increase went to the passengers. Therefore, it is definitely better suited for transporting people on the back seat.

Priora is not suitable for these purposes at all. This is exactly the case when designers have some dimensions, but they do not know how to use them. As a result, Priora puts pressure on your head, squeezes your shoulders, and squeezes your knees especially unpleasantly.

So in this pair, “more” really equals “better”, and the first point goes to the Geely Emgrand EC7.

Also read: Old-fashioned “cabinets”: Honda CR-V IV vs Subaru Forester IV

Specifications

Engines

Now the superiority is on the side of the Chinese car, because it has a pair of engines at its disposal, versus only one in Vesta, and the power units are quite decent.

The Lada is equipped with a 1.6-liter VAZ 21129 engine. A simple aspirated engine, without any technical features, at the same time, has established itself as an extremely durable and unpretentious vehicle. 4 cylinders arranged in a row, 16 valves and a distributed fuel injection complex guarantee the engine output of 106 hp. With. at 5,800 rpm. The torque is also quite good - 148 Nm at 4,200 rpm. With similar characteristics, the sedan goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 11.2 seconds. and picks up speed up to 175 km/h. You have to pay for this not with the smallest, but quite acceptable consumption - 9.3/6.9.5.5 liters in different driving modes.

106-horsepower Lada Vesta engine. Just right for such a sedan.

The competitor of this engine was the 1.5-liter power unit of the JLγ-4G15 series from the Chinese sedan, similar in power and design, but slightly inferior in cubic capacity. It is noteworthy that even on the company’s official website, information on Emgrand motors is incomplete. Why not? However, it is known that the power similar to the Russian engine is complemented by a torque of 140 Nm at 4,400 rpm. There is no data on acceleration, only on appetite - 9.4/7.1/5.7 liters. However, considering that the Chinese sedan is about a hundredweight heavier than the Russian one, you shouldn’t expect miracles of dynamics from it with such an engine.

A 16-valve valve from a Chinese concern is a good option for such a model.

But the Chinese have another engine, noticeably more powerful. This is a 129-horsepower, 1.8-liter JLγ-4G18 series engine. However, apart from increasing the volume, there are no fundamental design differences in it. Its torque reaches 170 Nm, and at the same 4,400 rpm. But it also “eats” more, although not by much – 10/7.6/6.4 liters.

However, in a couple of months the situation will level out, because the 122-horsepower LADA Vesta with the same 1.8-liter engine will start rolling off the line. This unit is already installed on X-Ray, so its characteristics are well known - 122 hp. With. at 6,050 rpm. But the thrust will be equal to the torque of the Asian engine - the same 170 Nm, but available much earlier (at 3,750 rpm).

Very soon this 122-horsepower engine will even the score.

Transmissions

The Russian sedan has two manual transmissions, although no serious differences can be found between them. Both the domestic gearbox type 2180 and the French JH3 510 series work equally well in tandem with the engine. No driving discomfort is felt - the gears stick in as they should, there are no vibrations on the lever, and no noise is heard.

The Lada's mechanics are definitely better than the Gili's.

The Chinese transmission type JL-S170B1 is a little behind in terms of comfort. When switching on, you can sometimes hear a crunching sound, some speeds can be turned on with effort, etc. But overall, the MT5 Gili is quite decent.

Rivals do not have a full-fledged machine gun. AvtoVAZ is content with a 5-band robotic gearbox of the AMT type, and the Chinese concern is satisfied with a continuously variable variator. Overall, Vesta’s robot is very good. Jerks and jolts during driving, of course, could not be completely eliminated, but they are not annoying, the AMT switches on time, and kick-down works without delay.

The Lada robot is showing only its best side so far.

The Punch VT2 CVT is also good. As befits such transmissions, it accelerates the car well and ensures a smooth ride. However, the question of reliability still remains open.

The Geely CVT is generally not inferior to the AMT of the Russian sedan.

Chassis

There are no surprises in the chassis design. At the front, both cars are equipped with an independent design, with MacPherson struts and stabilizers, and at the rear there is a torsion beam. Vesta's handling is noticeably better - reactions to steering wheel turns are sharper, feedback on the steering wheel and pedals is more clear, energy consumption is higher, and our sedan rolls less when cornering. On the other hand, Gili is quite suitable for a quiet ride, and you can completely turn a blind eye to many errors.

The torsion beam is a universal design. Simple and convenient.

Geely Emgrand 7

The second most successful model from the Middle Kingdom is the Geely Emgrand 7. But this success must be put in quotation marks: only 419 cars were sold in eight months. Some believe that in terms of dimensions Vesta can be considered a full-fledged C-class, and Geely is larger in almost all respects: by 221 mm in length, by 25 mm in width and by 15 mm in wheelbase. Emgrand 7 is sold with a 1.5-liter engine with output of 106 hp. and a manual transmission or a 129-horsepower 1.8 engine, which can be equipped with a CVT as an alternative to mechanics.

Geely Emgrand 7. Price: 649,000 - 799,000 rubles. Cars sold in January-August 2022: 419.

Geely Emgrand 7. Price: 649,000 - 799,000 rubles. Cars sold in January-August 2022: 419.

Geely Emgrand 7 is more expensive than Vesta. The basic version will cost 649,000 rubles, and it will already have a stabilization system, air conditioning, a keyless entry and engine start system, heated seats and “music”. The top-end Luxury package costs at least 770,000 rubles and is available only with the 1.8 engine. It will have six airbags, climate and cruise control, navigation, electric driver's seat, sunroof and leather seat trim. Noticeably richer than Vesta!

A small test of the Lada Vesta and automatic transmission features

The dynamics of the car are not very impressive, the engine is not enough. But for a comfortable ride around the city it is enough.

The car is equipped with servos for gear shifting, as well as for engaging and disengaging the clutch. By the way, the Lada Vesta gearbox is equipped with one clutch.

When driving quietly, switching occurs smoothly, although some jumps at the moment of switching are still felt.

If we are talking about fast driving, then the situation is different. The automatic transmission does not keep up with the owner’s wishes. Accordingly, certain difficulties may arise with switching.

Of course, you can try to customize the machine for yourself. To do this, just accelerate and release the gas pedal at the expected moment of gear shift, and then accelerate again.

When parking, be sure to tighten the handbrake. There is no special parking mode in this model.

Otherwise, there are no particular complaints, everything works stably, you can safely drive around the city. True, certain difficulties may arise with overtaking.

Operating rules

The driver is informed in the operating instructions about how the variator works on the Vesta. The control knob has the following switches:

• P – parking;
• R – back;
• N – neutral position;
• D – forward;
• M “+” and “–” – manual switching of a lower or higher gear.

Control knob on Vesta. Photo source: akppwiki.ru

The engine is started in position P. The brake pedal is pressed, and when the lock button is pressed, the handle is moved to D or R, depending on where the movement will be directed.

The gear shift lines are indicated on the handle:

1. From P to neutral position N, forward – D, backward – R.
2. In manual mode M, downshifts or upshifts are selected.

Mode M is activated only when moving from position D. You can move in reverse only by moving the handle to R from N. The engaged gear is displayed on the dashboard screen.

The rules prohibit moving the lever to the parking position P while driving. This action can lead to damage to the gearbox. When stopping briefly at a traffic light or in another similar situation, P and N are not activated and the vehicle is held down with the brake pedal.

To extend the service life of the transmission and avoid costly repairs, you should follow the rules prescribed in the instructions:

• before starting to drive, especially in winter, let the engine idle for a few minutes;
• immediately after starting to move, rapid acceleration is not recommended;
• the driver must avoid slipping, sudden starts and sudden braking;
• It is prohibited to tow the vehicle to start the engine.

Until the vehicle reaches a mileage of 2 thousand kilometers, towing other vehicles and trailers is prohibited.

What is the difference between AMT and automatic transmission?

How does the robot on the Vesta work and how does it differ from a car with an automatic transmission? In terms of structure, it is designed exactly the same as a manual transmission. A robotic one has little in common with an automatic transmission. If in a conventional automatic transmission the torque is transmitted from the engine to the wheels by a torque converter, then in a robotic gearbox the torque is transmitted through gears. The robot was made on the basis of a VAZ mechanical transmission. The AMT consists of the mechanical box itself, the clutch and the electronic unit that controls it.

When developing the new box, engineers from the Tolyatti plant used the experience of foreign manufacturers. And the clutch included in the AMT package is made in France. The part is protected by a wear compensation function that prevents premature failure. There have not yet been any cases of warranty claim registered.

Many people are perplexed: why can’t an automatic transmission be developed on a Russian basis, because so far no domestic car has such an improvement. The answer is simple: the development of automatic transmissions is possible already on the existing base, which does not yet exist in Russia. And production based on foreign developments will significantly increase the final cost of the car. For comparison, using an automatic machine will cost approximately twice as much as a robot.

Prestige and body

Status is clearly not the word that comes to mind when thinking about Chinese cars. This is not surprising. Faded design, disgusting quality, tacky interior - these are just some of the things for which the Chinese were rightly disliked. But time passes and the situation changes. Of course, Emgrand still needs to grow and grow to become a prestigious car, but progress is obvious, the reception is very significant.

Very soon the body range of this model will be diluted with other modifications.

For now, both cars are sold only as sedans. But if the Chinese may remain so, although the pre-restyling version still received a hatchback body, then in the near future the Russian model will significantly expand its “wardrobe”. A wagon will appear on the list, followed by off-road versions of the sedan and station wagon, at the same time they will begin to assemble an extended modification of the Signatures, and finally a hatchback will enter the market. In any case, the model from China cannot be compared with the domestic one.

It is quite possible that Emgrand will get a hatchback body. Or maybe not...

Dimensions of LADA Vesta and Geely Emgrand, respectively:

New Lada: AUTO.RIA – VAZ Largus or Chevrolet Niva? What's better?

— length – 4,410 mm versus 4,631 mm;

— width – 1,764 mm and 1,789 mm;

— height – 1,497 mm versus 1,470 mm;

- ground clearance - 178 mm and 167 mm for Gili;

- trunk volume - 480 liters versus 680 (!) liters;

— weight – 1,230 kg (1,670 kg) versus 1,340 kg (1,710 kg).

The Lada Vesta is rather large, but in comparison with the Emgrand it looks modest.

As you can see, in terms of parameters, Emgrand is larger than Vesta in all respects except height. And his trunk is absolutely huge. The wheelbase is also longer - 2,650 mm, while our sedan has 2,635 mm. But the tracks are narrower - 1,502 mm and 1,492 mm (front/rear) versus 1,510 mm for both axles on the Lada.

With such dimensions, Gili is difficult to classify as class B.

Options and prices

The cost of a Chinese sedan is noticeably higher than that of a domestic one, although there is still no critical difference. The starting price of the Lada Vesta is 529,000 rubles, while the Gili Emgrand is 639,000 rubles. Peak values ​​are approximately in the same range – 672,000 rubles. for Vesta and 789,000 rub. for Emgrand.

But Lada has an order of magnitude more configurations - 7 versus 3. All versions of competitors are strictly fixed, without additional equipment. You can see the level of equipment in more detail in the table.

Lada Vesta

Gili Emgrand

Current configurations and prices for Gili Emgrand are available at

As you can see, in terms of equipment, both Vesta and Emgrand are approximately equal. The overpayment for a Chinese sedan is justified by a noticeably more powerful engine and larger dimensions. On the other hand, it also has a lot of flaws in ergonomics and handling, and the lack of information on dynamic characteristics forces you to call or go to a car dealership once again. Therefore, if there is no need for an almost 130-horsepower engine, feel free to take the Vesta - you will get space in the cabin, sharp taxiing, safety, attractive appearance and a spectacular interior without extra expenses.

DFM H30 Cross

The “bronze” position in terms of sales among its Chinese counterparts was taken by the DFM H30 Cross. It can be called a rival of Vesta with some stretch, because it is a hatchback masquerading as a crossover. Moreover, its ground clearance, 175 mm, is even less than that of the “road” Lada (178 mm). What can we say about the SW Cross station wagon entering the market, which has 203 mm under the bottom. But the H30 looks nice and has a classic Aisin automatic (albeit a 4-speed one) in its arsenal.

DFM H30 Cross. Price: 649,000 - 709,000 rubles. Cars sold in January-August 2022: 346.

DFM H30 Cross. Price: 649,000 - 709,000 rubles. Cars sold in January-August 2022: 346.

Of the two trim levels, Comfort with a manual transmission and Luxury with an automatic transmission, the second one looks preferable, but it does not shine with wealth. For 709,000 rubles you will get a car with a 117-horsepower engine, a sunroof, power accessories, a rear view camera, cruise and climate control. There will be only four airbags, and there will be no ESP and navigation at all. In addition, it will turn out to be a 2016 car, when 2018 is just around the corner. Not the best deal.

Malfunctions and ways to eliminate them

CVT on Lada Vesta

Some buyers do not know what kind of variator they put on the Vesta. The new modification of the car received a continuously variable variator in the Vesta Jatco JF015E.

CVT Jatco JF015E. Photo source: akppwiki.ru

Paired with this transmission option, the car is equipped with a 1.6-liter engine with a power of 113 l/s. This power unit is installed on alliance models such as Arcana, Captur, Logan, Sandero. Factory engine classification is H4M.

The variator can be installed on all Vesta models, except for the basic version. When choosing a Jatco JF015E box, the buyer does not need to pay for additional functions. This distinguishes the Vesta AT modification from its competitors.

Engines and gearboxes

Prior to 2014, Priora did not offer such a fork. There were engine variations - 1.6 liters with 8 or 16 valves, 87-98-106 horsepower. At one time, they even tested a promising 1.8-liter naturally aspirated engine with 123 hp. s., but there are not many of them, and it’s good - it’s crackling and brittle.

But the possibility of choosing a transmission appeared only in 2014 and it came down to mechanics or “robot” - the essence is the same mechanics, but with clutch actuators. That is, theoretically, you can drive with it like with an automatic: the right pedal is gas, the left pedal is brake. But that's theoretical. In practice, you want to either shoot Prior’s “robot” or dissolve it in acid – he is so illogical, thoughtful and downright stupid.

Emgrand does not have such a variety of engines - it has a 1.8 liter naturally aspirated engine with 126 horsepower. But it can be paired with either a buzzing mechanics with unclear moves and rare hits in the selected gear, or the Chinese-Belgian Punch VT2 variator.

In terms of comfort of movement, it’s not a point, but a hundred points ahead of the VAZ AMT. Acceleration is not very dynamic (12.8 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h), if not slow-witted. But at the same time, it’s comfortable and more logical: you press the pedal and you go, rather than waiting for the electronics to communicate with the mechanics, rustle with the clutch and decide to go.

The downside is reliability and durability. Pickers say that “if a CVT survives to 100 thousand km, it’s a miracle.” The focus is on the belt, one of the main components of this type of transmission, which does not last forever during operation and is expensive to replace (28-30 thousand without taking into account work). For comparison: the “Prior” AMT for 30 thousand can be sorted out entirely.

And yet, for ease of use, Geely gives a plus, and there are already two of them.

Also read: Brothers on the conveyor belt: Ford Focus II vs Ford Focus III

When is it better to buy a Vesta with a CVT?

Owners leave reviews about the Jatco CVT on Vesta on specialized websites. Such a transmission has supporters and opponents. "Jatko" JF015E has both advantages and disadvantages in operation.

Users express opinions in favor of buying a car with a CVT:

• the driver prefers comfortable handling when driving in urban conditions;
• the car will not be used for an aggressive driving style;
• the owner will comply with all rules for operating the box and treat the transmission with care.

If the future owner agrees with these statements, then the Lada Vesta with a CVT is suitable for him.

What to buy in the end: Lada Priora or Geely Emgrand EC7

“Emgrand” and “Priora” have equal points. Geely is more hospitable to passengers, but there is not much to choose from on the market. But the Emgrand EC7 has some kind of variator; the Priora torments you with either buzzing mechanics or a buzzing, and also stupid, “robot”. In terms of equipment - parity, in terms of cheapness of maintenance - the ball is in Priora's court.

Think, look and decide for yourself what is more important to you: to transport your mother-in-law to the dacha with convenience, but shell out for maintenance, or save on consumables, but show your contempt for your mother-in-law with the back sofa of the Priora.

Author: Vladimir Andrianov

What car would you buy and why? Share your opinion in the comments.