As part of the Internet project Big Test Drive, Sergey Stillavin and Rustam Vakhidov tested a new product from AvtoVAZ - Lada X Rey. They had this car for testing for three whole days, and these guys were in Sochi. Everything that happened to them, as well as your impressions of this car, can be viewed on Youtube.
This is the first independent test drive of the new Lada XRay. See how the test took place, listen to opinions about this car. This video shows a production model with a 1.8 liter engine producing 122 hp. and robotic transmission. Watch the big test drive of Lada XRay in Sochi.
Exterior
So, Lada X Rey from AvtoVAZ. The first thing to note is the new front “X” section. Steve Martin worked on it, and later this design was treacherously stolen by Mitsubishi. Also striking is the new head optics, which in the new car are even larger than those of the Lada Vesta. The daytime running lights also stand out - they are LED, and as Rustam Vakhidov said, this is the right marketing ploy from AvtoVAZ - every motorist passing by a Lada XRay stops and tries to determine what kind of car it is.
It is worth paying attention to the ground clearance - it is quite high, 19.5 cm. On the side, from afar, the X-embossing immediately catches the eye. But this is not at all good for the body - the car does not look very impressive, it looks short. Huge headlights, a small rear end and X-stampings make the 4-meter body even shorter.
The car is built on the Renault Sandero platform and the guys in the video “Lada XRay big test drive 2016” are trying to find differences in the exterior of Lada and Sandero. And they, of course, find them. So, on the Sandero, the body parts are very flat, the glazing line is slightly lower, and the Sandero also does not have glass in the third pillar. The Lada XRay has the very rear window, in the maximum configuration, where there is climate control, AMT and everything else, the rear windows will be tinted. The roof is sloping, while in Sandero it is more straight. The fuel tank hatch is simply king size.
The biggest question is about the rear of the production car. In the video “Lada XRay big test drive,” Stillavin compares the rear of the production model with the rear of the concept. And so, he doesn’t like that the letters on the serial panel are not very widely spaced - Steve Martin screwed up here. Also, in the production model, as it seems to car enthusiasts, there is not enough black lacquered trim - it could visually expand the car. It is very narrow - and this is clearly visible, and if you sit down, you can immediately see the narrow wheels.
Big question about the rear optics. All these curves on the taillight just don't look good visually. Stillavin is generally sure that during assembly at AvtoVAZ they simply ran out of normal lights and installed what they had. The headlight, subjectively, looks bad. The dimensions of the license plate are highlighted. There is an opening button on the fifth door.
Now it's time to move on to the trunk. After conducting a “Large test drive of the Lada Xray”, to shoot the video we needed to fill the luggage compartment from top to bottom. And it turned out to be much larger than on Renault Sandero. There are really a lot of things, Rustam sits in the back seat - and it’s not particularly comfortable for him. It's cramped for big people.
The plastic is entirely Russian. French partners refused supplies due to the euro exchange rate. In everything, literally in every detail, you can observe X-design or X-genes, as Stillavin said. During the test drive, the car is in the most maximum configuration - there is no air conditioning, but there is climate control, there is a rain sensor and all other electronics, but even in this configuration there is no automatic mode on the driver's door, not even the driver's window. Moreover, the price at that time was 720,000 rubles. The interior materials are much more expensive than those of the Sandero. The design of the seats is borrowed from European cars.
The essence of the transfer
The Big Test Drive project was founded in 2012. Its initiator was Sergei Stillavin, who, together with Rustam Vakhidov and Vladimir Pastukhov, regularly conducts independent test drives of popular car models. Therefore, not a single new model on the Russian car market is hidden from their attention.
This video review of the new Lada XRay model will allow each viewer to personally evaluate the high hatchback offered by the AvtoVAZ concern, relying not on advertising descriptions of a seller interested in buyers, but on the personal opinion of impartial masters of their craft. As a rule, viewing a full episode takes one hour. During this time, the presenters manage to fully convey to their viewers the experience of their long acquaintance with each car. The video review from Stillavin and Vakhidov will be extremely interesting to those people who are still thinking about the advisability of purchasing this front-wheel drive hatchback, which resembles an SUV in its outline and size. You can watch this episode of the “Big Test Drive” about the Lada X-Ray from Stillavin and Vakhidov from YouTube in the video below.
Engines
So, we look at YouTube “Big test drive with Lada X Rey”. During the test the hood was open. There is a lot to be proud of here. In the Lada Vesta the Soviet sound of the 1.6 engine was heard. The X-Ray sounds different - it's a 1.8 liter, 16 valve. The engine has a power of 122 hp. There is not even a hint of “Zhiguli” in its sound. Available in configurations with manual transmission, automatic transmission and AMT, three engines - domestic 1.6 with 106 hp, French 1.6 with 110 hp. and domestic 1.8 with 122 horsepower.
Moving on to the test drive
The test drive itself should start with the technical characteristics in order to better understand the principle of operation of the suspension and other parts of the car. Xray Cross has acquired completely new springs and shock absorber systems.
The front subframes have been reduced in height by approximately 15 mm. At the same time, the ground clearance has increased, and the wheels add a few more centimeters with their increased diameter, as for the Xray model.
A few more important innovations:
- Redesigned L-arms;
- updated steering rack;
- CV joints, steering knuckles;
- disc brakes from Vesta.
Based on the above improvements, the Cross version should already be superior to its analogues in terms of driving characteristics. After the test drive, the journalists all unanimously agreed that this was a completely new product. After that, the Internet began to be filled with messages about decent performance on the road, off-road, and on the highway.
Interior
The new handle on the robotic gearbox stands out. Next – narrow cup holders, into which little will fit. The maximum configuration also includes climate control, which works much better than the air conditioning in Vesta.
If we compare the multimedia system and center console with the Sandero, then everything is much better in the Lada XRay - the screen is raised higher, the display colors are quite on par. The sound is better than in the Lada Vesta, the on-board computer is typical French. A radio tape recorder is installed as standard.
AutoVesti (Pavel Bludenov)
pros
- The suspension works great, the car is truly designed for Russian roads. Absorbs bumps well (better than Renault Kaptur).
- Excellent handling, even on bad roads.
Minuses
- Acceleration to 100 km/h is not impressive.
- The new instrument panel is blind, nothing is visible on it.
- AMT is not designed to be used.
- Multimedia system (the sun glares a lot and slows down).
- Below and above the engine behaves sadly.
- In 5th gear up a small hill the car does not accelerate at all.
Overall, the Lada Vestra SW turned out quite well. SW Cross seemed worse than a regular station wagon.
In move
Behind the wheel, the very delicate work of the AMT catches your eye. There are glitches in operation, but only when it is necessary to quickly pick up speed, and also in mountainous conditions. For such maneuvers, it is better to switch to manual transmission or manual control mode. Sound insulation is well done.
What kind of car is this? This is an urban crossover for domestic roads with a rich set of equipment and an affordable price. But people interviewed on the streets are sure that it should cost less.
More details about Lada “Vesta” cars
Convenience and safety rating
Of course, the main purpose of the test drive of the Lada X-Ray by the magazine “Behind the Wheel” was to check the convenience and safety of this model. Both points raised virtually no questions. All seat belts and both integral airbags (driver and front passenger) are present and functioning properly (only the airbag shutoff mechanism was tested when the front passenger is not present).
In terms of convenience, the result is absolutely the same. All the necessary manipulators for controlling the car’s electronics (electric side mirrors, power windows, audio system, radio, climate control, on-board computer) are located in places convenient for the driver and passengers, and you don’t need to be distracted from driving to find them. The driver's seat is easily adjustable in height and tilt; The steering column can also be adjusted, although the adjustment mechanism is unusual to use.
The model’s trunk raised questions – its volume is only 310 liters. It may not be enough for a large family, but when traveling as a couple, the folding rear bench seats can easily increase the cargo volume to 1,200 liters.
Some problems also arose with the vehicle's built-in electronic motion control systems. In some situations, they do not work quite correctly (the traction control system dampens engine speed even when going uphill, which is fraught, and the exchange rate stability system is oversensitive). Considering the impossibility of manually turning them off or manually setting convenient parameters, you will have to come to terms with this - or wait for AvtoVAZ to correct these shortcomings.
Overall, the car was considered very good, even taking into account how much it costs. It is worth noting that both considered power units are already available in the “Comfort” configuration - a buyer who wants to save money will not have to put up with a too weak VAZ-21129 engine
It should be recalled that the basic configuration of the model costs 589 thousand rubles, and to purchase the minimum versions with a 1.6-liter Japanese and 1.8-liter VAZ engine, you will have to overpay only 39 and 64 thousand rubles, respectively.
Cars are simpler, prices are higher
To reduce the consumption of scarce microchips, AvtoVAZ has simplified the configuration of its cars. In particular, I stopped installing the Lada EnjoY Pro multimedia system on them. According to sources, the plant was considering the option of producing the most simplified Lada Granta.
Interruptions in car production will affect prices, says Sergei Burgazliev, an independent consultant for the Automobiles and Transport industry.
AvtoVAZ will, of course, raise prices, plus the mandatory package of options, the introduction of which was recently announced, will play a role. I think that prices will rise, since this problem cannot be solved quickly. AvtoVAZ is part of the Renault Nissan Mitsubishi alliance. Its localization is the largest, but is actually decreasing from year to year. Therefore, the final price of Lada cars will depend on world prices for components. Plus, again, the endless downtime of the conveyor does its job,” Burgazliev noted.
Stop machine
Photo: RIA Novosti/Vitaly Timkiv
According to the analytical agency Autostat, in October prices for Lada cars increased again, for the sixth time since the beginning of the year. According to the updated price lists, all models have risen in price by 0.9–2.7%, or 6.6–20 thousand rubles.
— The problem of shortage of semiconductors has not been eliminated, so the market lacks new cars. In addition to the inflationary component, this further fuels price increases. Suspension of production in such conditions can only strengthen the role of the negative factor. And this applies not only to Lada, but also to other manufacturers, since prices are rising for everyone,” Azat Timerkhanov, head of the press service of Avtostat, told Izvestia.
Options and their features
Today there are 5 different configurations in total, which differ significantly from each other. The main configurations include:
- Optima;
- Optima Advance;
- Luxury;
- Luxury Prestige;
- Anniversary.
All xRay configurations have:
- Driver and front passenger airbags;
- Three-point seat belts for all passengers and driver.
- ERA-Glonass system and automatic door opening system during an accident;
- HWF system, which is responsible for turning on the hazard warning lights during emergency braking.
The arrangement of the packages corresponds to their price relevance. As prices rise, the number of unnatural components in the cabin decreases, which are replaced with more expensive materials.
In addition, they are equipped with various additional functions, which, in terms of independent equipment, are very expensive. So, in the poorest configuration there is practically nothing, but overpaying a large sum for additional equipment of questionable quality is a personal matter for everyone.
| Equipment | Engine | Price |
| petrol 1.6, 106 hp | 599 900 | |
| petrol 1.6, 106 hp | 660 900 | |
| 1.6 Optima Advanced MT | petrol 1.6, 122 hp | 685 900 |
| petrol 1.8, 122 hp | 710 900 | |
| petrol 1.6, 106 hp | 735 900 | |
| petrol 1.6, 106 hp | 739 900 | |
| 1.8 Luxe MT | petrol 1.8, 122 hp | 760 900 |
| 1.8 Luxe Prestige MT | petrol 1.8, 122 hp | 773 900 |
| petrol 1.8, 122 hp | 798 900 | |
| 1.6 Jubilee | petrol 1.6, 110 hp | 799 000 |
| 1.6 Anniversary AMT | petrol 1.6, 122 hp | 829 000 |
Trunk
To increase trunk volume, the car was even slightly lengthened. The trunk volume is not that small. In the top configuration, it is equipped with a convenient double bottom, under which you can easily hide the tool. Larger tools such as a jack can be stored in the lockable side niches.
The compartment geometry is flat, without protruding wheel arches. Hooks, lighting, and brackets for nets are carefully located around the perimeter. There's even an outlet. The ease of loading is also flawless: the threshold is low and the bumper protrudes slightly.
The problem of opening the trunk is conveniently implemented compared to previous models. The rubberized release button is located in the license plate niche and is on the folding key.
If you fold the backs of the rear seats, you get a more/less flat floor and quite a large volume, and if you roll the front seats as far forward as possible, then a short driver can even pass the night quite comfortably.
Key Facts about Driving on the Road
During the first test drive, any driver will think that the car's suspension is sporty in nature. Gas shock absorbers, transverse stabilizers and a front subframe contribute to good directional stability. When cornering, the hatchback has virtually no roll, which guarantees safety.
However, despite all the sportiness, the car’s suspension is highly smooth and soft. Working strokes are as energy-intensive as possible. At the same time, the suspension is difficult to break even in the deepest holes. Thanks to the ground clearance of 195 mm, the new model has relatively good cross-country ability. In general, several key features of the chassis can be identified:
- gas-filled shock absorbers;
- no roll when cornering;
- high driving position;
- smooth smoothing of irregularities;
- large suspension travels.
It is comfortable to drive a car not only within the city limits, but also along the highway, and if necessary, you can safely drive into rough terrain. On a regular primer, Lada Xray behaves quite predictably. Stability control systems stabilize movement even on slippery roads.
The car has all modern options in the form of ABS, ESP and ESC. However, if necessary, they can be turned off via the on-board computer, which is very convenient when overcoming difficult areas in winter. Despite much criticism of domestic cars, the suspension in the Xray turned out to be very successful and durable.
Power characteristics
The driver can choose a model with one of three engines. The most optimal is a gasoline engine with 110 horsepower. These are its passport characteristics when working with recommended 92 gasoline.
If gasoline is replaced with 95, then the engine is capable of producing 114 horses. This engine is paired with a 5-speed manual transmission from Renault. The car is controlled easily and smoothly. Electric power steering reduces strain on your hands.
The engine is high-torque, elastic, and pulls the car up to operating speeds without problems, even in 5th gear from idle. Acceleration dynamics are also at the level - 10.3 seconds to hundreds on 15-16 wheels.
Basic equipment
Vesta in the minimum version has rear door locking and auto-locking when driving, a maximum number of airbags (2), all necessary systems, including the new mandatory equipment of era-glonnass, engine protection.
The hatchback has the same kit, but there are 2 headrests, while the sedan has one more at the back. Both models have stamps with a diameter of 15, mirrors with turn signal repeaters, the sedan also has daytime running gear and handles in black, the X-Ray does not have running gear, wheel caps, and handles in body color.
The Lada has a fabric interior, has a side panel and a 12-volt socket, the rear seats are divided 60 to 40 for easy reclining to increase the luggage compartment, and a mirror is added in the passenger visor in the hatchback interior.
Both have steering wheel height adjustment, and Vesta also has reach adjustment. An electric booster, electric lifts in the mirrors, central locking, and light tinting combine the equipment, but the X-ray has a multifunction steering wheel and an audio system with 4 speakers, while the Vesta has heated mirrors and heated front seats.
The difference is so insignificant that both models can be equated.
Which is better Lada Vesta 41.3%
Lada Xray 32.61%
Neither one nor the other 8.7%
Both are good 17.39%
Voted: 46
Lada X-ray is preparing to jump
There was detailed material about Lada-XRay: Welcome Ray. I won't repeat myself.
The engine here heats up faster than in Vesta, but the climate control makes them very similar.
There is a trunk opening button on the outside, but you still have to feel it. There is a rear view camera, it shows passably, but it quickly gets dirty, after one trip you can no longer see anything.
The mirrors in the driver's sun visor do not close; there will be extraneous glare. Remove the mirror or make it with a curtain, like the Lada X-ray.
There was a rut in the parking lot. The rear wheels came out, but the front ones did not. A button to disable the stability control system would help here, but the X-ray does not offer it. If you did, you turned off the system, the front wheels dug up the snow, and you were free, but you had to ask passers-by for help.
The road behavior of the two frets is different.
The suspension of the Lada X-ray is more comfortable, and it does not roll. A couple of times I caught myself braking from 60 km/h, the rear wheels trying to overtake the front ones, apparently the ABS did not have time to work. We had to stop braking and stabilize the car again.
A small trunk, a false floor without an organizer - bottles will roll around.
Getting in and out from the rear is the worst thing about the Lada X-ray. You need to make a sliding rear seat.
In first gear at a speed of 35-40 km/h, the engine spins to the cutoff and fades out at 6 thousand rpm. The X-ray will move off with a heavy trailer and is gentle on the clutch. Second, third, fourth gears are close. The Renault engine in fifth gear is a little lacking, it doesn’t pull from 50 km/h, the arrow tells you to shift down.
