Once upon a time, Tolyatti Ladas were very popular in the post-Soviet space. Many people dreamed of such a car. But time passes, and foreign cars have successfully replaced the products of the native automobile industry.
Foreign cars were more attractive in appearance, more convenient to use, more reliable, and so on. Plus, they've always been more fashionable. In general, our auto industry was inferior to imported ones in all respects. It has become more profitable to buy a used, but foreign car than a new domestic car. But now new Ladas have appeared on the assembly line, and the patriots of the domestic automotive industry have new hope.
The head of state himself began the test drive for the Lada Vesta car. Actually, as befits a leader interested in developing domestic production, and not in feeding foreign producers. Of course, such a test drive could not be unsuccessful. That is why many car enthusiasts simply did not believe the results. But then independent experts - journalists, potential buyers and simply motorsport fans - got down to business. And here the Lada Vesta test drive turned out to be much more interesting.
Content
- X-face outside
- Cheap and spacious inside
- Silence, like in a library
- Well, let's go!
- Impressions from the “Russian girl”
I have wanted to test Vesta for a long time, since the days of working at the Hyundai car dealership. Then many clients spoke flatteringly about it, comparing it with Solaris, but I didn’t believe it - it’s AvtoVAZ!
And finally we met. For the test I got a LADA Vesta SW in the maximum Luxe/Prestige configuration with a 1.6 engine with manual transmission. Not the most interesting option in terms of units, but the most popular.
Car appearance
They worked on the appearance of the Lada Vesta for quite some time. In the final version, it acquired a more elongated shape than what is expected from domestic cars. This is not only a tribute to fashion, but also a significant improvement in the aerodynamics of the car. In particular, this was reflected in the elongated hood and sloping roof. The new Lada Vesta (station wagon and crossover) will have the same distinctive features; the designers decided to make this the highlight of the model.
Among the design features, one can highlight the letter X, which is clearly visible in the arrangement of parts on the front of the car and the sides. In the original version, X was supposed to go through the entire design solution. But they decided to abandon the reflection of the letter in smaller details for the sake of the lower cost of the car. For the same reason, they did not use LED running lights. Thus, the body of the Lada Vesta has retained its classic elegance.
With body colors, we also decided not to follow the beaten path - almost the entire spectrum is represented at the plant. You can also order some special colors. In general, Vesta’s appearance does not indicate in any way that it belongs to the Lada series in the usual sense.
X-face outside
From the outside, the car looks quite modern, like an adult. The body panels fit perfectly: the gaps are minimal and even. The general X-shaped style can be seen everywhere: in the side stampings, in the front part, and in the rear headlights. The turn signals are built into the mirrors. There are neat aerodynamic roof rails on the roof, and the antenna is made in the form of a fin.
The only thing I didn’t like was the huge gas tank filler cap, which, judging by the sound of opening, was made of tin.
Also read: Which is better to take: a new LADA Vesta or a used Hyundai Solaris
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.
Cheap and spacious inside
The door opened easily, with half a touch of the handle, and slammed just as pleasantly and easily. The front passenger seat is spacious for my height (181 cm) - my knees don’t rest anywhere, the belt is height-adjustable and doesn’t rub my collarbone. There are three-stage heated seats and cup holders. The cup holders are shallow and inconvenient to use: on strong bumps, hot coffee can fly out and scald your knee.
The interior was not surprising. A lot of cheap, “mismatched” plastic, some “childish” multi-colored inserts on the panel and door cards, an instrument panel with orange scales “a la sport”, which distract from the digital values. The location of the buttons, the convenience and range of adjustment of the seat and steering wheel do not raise any questions. By the way, even the lumbar support is adjustable here, which is rare for this class.
The rear seats are comfortable. There is a decent margin in front of the knees, as well as above the head. The seats are molded for two, but since there is a middle headrest, three can ride, the amount of space in the waist and shoulders allows this. But it’s still more convenient for two. The couple is provided with heated seats and a center armrest with cup holders. There are also USB and 12-volt charging ports to choose from.
The trunk caused admiration - there is no other way to say it. It’s not like in the “economy”, in the C-class I don’t remember anyone having such a carefully thought-out luggage compartment. Volume - 480 liters, regular rectangular shape. On the right is a closed niche for small items. On the left are several compartments for small items and a mesh. There are a bunch of hooks, a 12-volt socket, two niches in the raised floor and a sliding shelf. Low bow to the engineers!
Also read: Which is better: Vesta or Polo
Let's sum it up
“Lada Vesta” seems to all testers – both journalists and ordinary car enthusiasts – to be a comfortable car, pleasant to drive. It’s very interesting to watch the “Lada Vesta test drive video 2016” and see with your own eyes that the car is really worth the attention of car enthusiasts. “Lada Vesta test drive video 2016 manual” clearly shows all the advantages of a manual gearbox compared to a robotic gearbox. However, it is too early to say that the robot box has no future. This, like the automatic transmission, is an acquired taste. Some people may like the robot much more than the “mechanics”. Watching the “Lada Vesta test drive video” makes you think about purchasing such a car: quite affordable from a financial point of view, quite comfortable and quite elegant for its class.
Of course, the car also has its drawbacks. But let’s face it, the ideal car exists solely in the imagination of the car enthusiast. Any car, even if it is the coolest foreign car, has certain disadvantages. They may be small, but they are there. As for budget cars, the Lada Vesta is currently a fairly good representative of this class, much better than many.
So the Italian tests of the Lada Vesta can be safely considered successful. Sharp turns, descents and ascents, high speeds - all this is available to the car. Fans of country and tourist trips will find the spacious trunk as well as the comfort of the cabin useful. The elegance of the appearance is a pleasant addition to the filling of the car and brings the Lada Vesta to the wide expanses of the car market from the corner backyards. At the same time, the car is quite economical to operate: in urban conditions it consumes 10.1 l/100 km, on the highway – only 6 l/100 km, and in mixed mode – 7.5 l/100 km.
But the final decision on the “professional suitability” of a car for Russian roads can be made only after a test drive in winter conditions, on winter Russian roads - with saltiness, snowstorms, icy conditions, low air temperatures, and so on. Then it will be clear whether the Lada Vesta needs additional adaptation to the conditions of Russia, or whether the engine will start right up even in severe frosts, and the car will hold the road even on clean, smooth ice. Next we will look at the Vesta test drive in the video below.
- VAZ 2107 tuning photo
- Tuning VAZ 2115
Silence, like in a library
The first impression was very pleasant. What will it be like on the go? I start it up and am amazed - the engine is barely audible. I must say that Vesta’s sound insulation is generally very good (hello, Koreans!). Here, even the protection of the rear arches is piled, so the noise from the wheels and the road is almost inaudible.
It is better not to turn on the audio system only when listening to audiobooks. The sound quality leaves much to be desired, as does the quality of the touch display. The graphics are unclear, the response to clicks is slow, and you have to wait to turn on the camera...
Also read: Who is sportier: LADA Vesta Sport I or Skoda Rapid I turbo
Technical equipment - Control and safety
The technical equipment of the Lada Vesta also includes some features designed to make the driver’s life easier. The first time the two-second pause between turning on the ignition and starting the starter is a little scary, but this is done to prevent failures at the start. The gearbox is installed in a highly adapted version, mainly due to our roads. This can be seen by the slightly extended gear shift timing. But this function provides a more comfortable transition to the new mode.
Of course, Vesta is not as smooth as foreign cars. But it holds speed well, specially designed struts are configured for medium-hard shock absorption, and the chassis makes it as close as possible to foreign versions. The car unquestioningly obeys the slightest commands.
The Lada Vesta is equipped with a special system to assist with starting on an incline. Now you don’t have to be afraid that it will stall in this case; no problems are foreseen even when reversing. By the way, for this case, the manufacturers installed side and interior mirrors of increased area.
When equipped with an automatic transmission, there is a manual mode. Even when this mode is turned on, the “robot” will change gears at the right moment if the driver forgets to do it himself. In case of bad weather, there are some tricks - rain sensors, traction control and more.
Passenger safety was taken care of very carefully. The doors are automatically locked when the driver starts the car, and the rear doors are childproof. The layout of the airbags has been thought out - each passenger has his own, and side ones can also be ordered.
During the development period of the Lada Vesta, more than 150 virtual crash tests and several dozen real ones were carried out. We checked all the nuances, carried out side and frontal collisions in all modifications, and got the expected result. In the final crash test, the Comfort version was tested, which in terms of safety indicators is practically no different from other trim levels. The test was carried out by an oblique collision with a deformable object at a speed of 65 km/h. According to the results of the crash test, the Lada Vesta received 4 stars. It outperformed many popular models in terms of safety indicators and created the first precedent for a safe domestically produced car.
At the end of the test drive, you can sum up the results. Lada Vesta has improved technical characteristics, a comfortable interior, convenient controls, a well-thought-out panel, a full range of auxiliary systems, as well as high-quality safety protection.
Well, let's go!
Vesta almost didn’t notice the asphalt joints, but on the snow frozen in mounds it seemed a little harsh, however, no breakdowns were observed. The hard plastic began to rattle over bumps, although not as much as some competitors. It is better to press the brake smoothly and in advance; if you press the pedal a little harder, ABS will intervene, which is sometimes out of place, and the braking distance increases by a couple of meters.
I drive out onto a cleared road and am surprised at how composed the car behaves at high speed. In terms of handling, Vesta was reminiscent of younger VAGs. She reacted sharply to steering movements and only returned to zero reluctantly.
What it really lacked was dynamics. When overtaking, I wanted to go out and push. Perhaps the 1.8 drives better, but the 1.6 is definitely not for the highway, and the gearbox is tuned for the city. The gears are short, most likely to save fuel. Therefore, already at 60 you can safely stick in the fifth. The car pulls calmly, but changing gears is not very convenient. The travel of the gearshift lever, as well as the clutch pedal, is long.
You can drive over large uneven surfaces without fear of tearing off the bumper. The ground clearance here feels like a regular SUV - 178 mm, which Vesta does not pretend to achieve at all. For this purpose there is a raised version of Cross. But this is the only way our car could cope with a gravel road or crossing a curb.
Also read: Five facts for and against buying a Lada Vesta
We accelerate and go
But a test drive of a Lada Vesta begins not with an inspection of the car, but with a ride in it. It is the ride that determines whether the car is really comfortable or whether it only seems so while it sits comfortably in the parking lot.
While the engine is idling, it is practically inaudible in the cabin, and this seems strange when you remember that the car is domestic. In addition, the first sounds appear at 3500 rpm, and at speeds exceeding 100 km/h, you can talk calmly without trying to shout over the car noise.
When taking the Lada Vesta car for a test drive, an interesting nuance emerged: the rated maximum speed is 178 km/h, and the speedometer showed more than 190 km/h! And this cannot be attributed to problems with the speedometer, since the GPS sensor showed that the speed was 186 km/h.
When driving a LADA with a robotic gearbox, after 160 km/h the hood opening sensor began to light up, while the hood itself remained safely closed. Testers believe that the hood was simply not installed quite accurately on a particular car, that is, this is not a defect of the brand, but simply an isolated error. This happens with pre-production cars. Moreover, nothing similar was found on another LADA Vesta - with a conventional manual transmission.
The Lada Vesta took a test drive in Italy, which is famous for its winding roads that are not particularly smooth. Steep descents and ascents are characteristic of Italian roads, especially in the mountainous regions of the country. Even on city streets there are an abundance of sharp turns, descents and ascents can compete with the mountains. But the Lada successfully passed all road tests, and the car passed even in the most unfavorable conditions at a fairly high speed. Testers claim that it’s all about the character of the car itself - they call it groovy! The car blends so well with the driver that it’s tempting to step on the gas. Moreover, imported electric power steering allows you to perform almost aerobatics, entering one turn after another. Also during the test, the neutral balance of the chassis was noted, and the Lada Vesta could go into a skid solely with the help of the handbrake. In addition, everything is under the control of the ESP stabilization system - it turns off only at low speeds, when skidding becomes almost impossible.
Prices and options
Lada Vesta can be enjoyed in three trim levels - Classic, Comfort and Luxury.
1.6 MT Classic - price 555 thousand rubles.
The standard equipment of the Lada Vesta, meanwhile, includes many interesting things. The interior comes only with fabric upholstery, there are five headrests, the second row of seats can be solid or separate. Among the electronic equipment, it is worth noting the remote key, central locking system, automatic windows, temperature control of seats, mirrors and windshield. A total of 26 setup programs. The developers hint that the Lada Vesta Cross will be even better equipped.
The safety system is equipped with airbags for passengers, three-point seat belts, automatic door locking when driving and child protection, child seat mounts, an alarm, an immobilizer, a brake light on the rear window and the GLONASS system.
Also included are halogen headlights, special rear fog lights, an audio system with four speakers, a spare tire, and external lighting devices.
For comfortable and safe driving, there is a dynamic stabilization system, a hill assist system and an electro-hydraulic brake booster system for emergencies.
1.6 MT Comfort - price 607 thousand rubles.
In addition to the standard version, there is an extended trim for the front seats with an armrest, a ventilated glove compartment, rear parking sensors, air conditioning, radio, AUX, USB, MP3, and a hands-free device. Side mirrors and door handles match the color of the entire car.
1.6 MT Luxe — 670 thousand rubles.
In addition to the standard equipment, there are front fog lights, a light sensor, additional functions in the front seats, and a front armrest. There are power windows in the rear and airbags in the doors. For the driver's convenience, there is also a ventilated glove compartment, rear parking sensors, climate control, audio system control from the steering wheel, AUX, USB, SD card slot, MP3 support, hands free, lighting with door open sensor, rain sensor, windshield temperature maintenance , container for glasses.
You can also order additional packages from your dealer:
- Image package - price 23 thousand rubles. It includes automatic rear door windows, a spare tire, and windshield temperature control.
- Multimedia package - price 64 thousand rubles. It includes a light sensor, an audio system control unit on the steering wheel, cruise control, climate control, a multimedia system, six speakers instead of four, an SD card slot, a navigator, a monitor, a rearview camera, and lighting with a door sensor.
- Start package - price 15 thousand rubles. It includes a ventilated glove compartment and air conditioning.
- Start 6FD package - for 10 thousand rubles. less. The client receives a ventilated glove compartment and air conditioning, but there will be no rear fog lights, electric heating and electric side mirrors, as well as electric heated front seats.
- Optima package - price 9 thousand rubles. less. The client receives aluminum wheels instead of decorative caps, plus a heated windshield.
- Lime package - price 5 thousand rubles. The customer receives the car's Lime color, but without the rear fog lights.
These are the basic packages that most dealerships will offer you. There are many other original packages; availability and prices should be checked directly with dealers. By selecting additional packages, you can reduce the cost of the classic package and bring it almost to the state of the most expensive. Absolutely everything is adapted for the convenience of clients.
Sales of new versions of Lada Vesta
In the new Vesta, the designers decided to refine what, in their opinion, was missing in the sedan. For example, the armrest will be much wider and it will also appear between the rear seats. And the trunk will not be just a container for things; a variety of compartments have been invented in it. There are a lot of rumors around the new species of Vesta, but the developers are constantly feeding the intrigue by releasing information in small portions. It was initially planned that the first batch would roll off the production lines only in 2022, but then, quite unexpectedly, in the middle of summer they announced that the first production batch had already been released.
And at the end of the year, the Lada Vesta station wagon and crossover will be sold. The price of the new Lada Vesta will be around 600 thousand rubles, however, several trim levels are planned there. The appearance and characteristics are almost completely borrowed from the sedan; in fact, only the body shape differs.
The creators of the Lada Vesta took into account the success of their brainchild and are actively developing this direction. Many developments are still being tested and we will be able to see them in the series of subsequent years. After all, a reliable domestic car that can enter the world market is something new!
Choosing a used car
When buying a used Lada Vesta, you need to pay attention to the windshield of the car - low-quality wipers often scratch it. With frequent use in adverse weather conditions, the varnish and paint on the bumpers simply peel off. Creaks may appear in the cabin due to discrepancies in plastic parts, and the rear door trim may fly off, because young children are often seated there. It is necessary to check the fit of the seals on the door glass; if reinstalled incorrectly, they can scratch the glass, or, conversely, lag behind, causing a characteristic gap to appear.
Regarding the driving performance of the car, it is necessary first of all to carry out electronic diagnostics of the automatic transmission and control system. A manual transmission should not have problems shifting gears. Of the serial shortcomings of the Lada Vesta, only weak stabilizer links can be mentioned; they usually require replacement a little more often.
