In the summer, AVTOVAZ presented a new modification of the Lada XRAY Cross. Now this crossover is equipped with the Renault-Nissan H4m alliance engine (1.6 l, 114 hp) and the JF015E continuously variable automatic transmission (hereinafter referred to as “variator” or CVT). We found out how the car turned out during the test drive.
New image of AvtoVAZ
Even when he was the president of the domestic automaker, Bo Inge Andersson tried to ensure that the new products created at his instigation - Lada X-Ray and Lada Vesta - had as little as possible in common with previously produced models. After all, only the lazy did not kick VAZ products, since the quality really left much to be desired. And the emotions from the car were not the most rosy.
And, as it turned out, the Swede managed to break the “traditions” that no one could overcome for years. The new sedan and hatchback can compete well in their segment even with the market leaders, and in some aspects they are noticeably better. The assembly has become an order of magnitude better quality, there are no more strange noises or squeaks, and the handling of the cars is in complete order.
The stylish X-Ray looks much more attractive than previous AvtoVAZ models!
The situation with the engines
However, for all this we had to pay for a large number of imported components, which immediately affected the price. But the situation with motors is even more interesting. A 106-horsepower, 1.6-liter engine was chosen as the engine for the Lada Vesta from the very beginning. But under the hood of X Ray they installed a foreign engine. However, Russians knew it from Alliance models - Nissan Tiida, Nissan Sentra, Nissan Juke, Renault Duster and others.
Technologically, it is distinguished by the presence of a timing chain drive and an aluminum cylinder block. The engine was derated to 110 hp. With. and 150 Nm, which guaranteed dynamics of 11.1 seconds for the Lada X-Ray. up to hundreds, as well as a maximum speed of 181 km/h.
110 hp H4M engine.
At the moment, you can purchase a LADA XRAY with such an engine, but you will have to agree exclusively to a manual gearbox, as well as to the uncontested “Yubileinaya” package. The price of the 110-horsepower X-Ray is 799,000 rubles.
About the variator
According to this site, the upgraded JF015E variator replaced the JF011E. The constructive idea is fundamentally different from its predecessor. The JF015E also has a torque converter that softens the load on the shafts, a planetary gear for reverse, but the main feature is two forward stages and three clutch packages: Direct No. 1 (Low), - No. 2 (High) and Reverse. This design made it possible to reduce the cone, increasing the gear ratio to a record 1:7.3 using two forward gears. Thus, this Jatco transmission can be called a two-speed CVT.
During the test drive of the Lada XRAY Cross with a CVT, the following features
:
- There is a creeping mode (in “D” mode, the car itself begins to move smoothly when the brake pedal is released).
- During acceleration, there is an imitation of gear shifting (during normal driving, shifting occurs at 3500 - 4000 rpm, at full throttle - after 5000 rpm). There is no monotonous howl of the engine during acceleration, which many owners of cars with a CVT do not like.
- “Shifting gears” occurs without the slightest jerk.
- In the manual shift mode “M” there are 6 virtual gears (lever forward - up, back - down).
- In manual mode, the virtual gear is automatically reset to 1st when stopped.
- In manual mode, the virtual gear will automatically shift at 5500 rpm.
- CVT settings keep engine speeds low, allowing the engine to run quieter than other transmissions.
- With a sharp start, a slight delay is felt before the start of movement.
In general, everything is simple, clear and practical. Have you ever driven a Lada XRAY with a CVT? What feedback and impressions can you leave?
Reviews about the model
AvtoVAZ itself rates its own car quite highly. In particular, there is a competent setup of the chassis, which allows active maneuvering. An important role here is played by the front subframe and gas-filled shock absorbers, which provide traction on the surface. The energy intensity of the suspension, combined with high ground clearance and decent geometric cross-country ability, make it possible not to worry on the countryside and in the city. And the driver's position, cozy interior and excellent sound insulation complete the picture.
And the owners note in their reviews that a car equipped with an H4M engine causes practically no trouble. There are no problems with dynamics, it is also not noticeable in terms of noise, and the appetite is small - it usually does not rise above 9 liters even in a metropolis.
X-Ray has no problems with cross-country ability.
VAZ-21179. Maximum power
As in the first version, this motor is manufactured. The engine performance is very attractive, especially in combination with a robotic gearbox. Unlike previous modifications of the internal combustion engine, the gearbox was designed by a subsidiary of SuperAuto.
By increasing the piston stroke length (instead of the usual traditional block boring), the manufacturer was able to achieve an increased engine volume. In addition, the crankshaft along with the connecting rods have also been changed in size. The graphite pistons are a product of Federal-Mogul.
The reliability and wear resistance of the motor without compromising other characteristics is achieved by reducing the number of small elements. The internal combustion engine has excellent torque, and the new engine consumes much less engine oil.
The parameters of motor 21179 are as follows:
- Engine displacement: 1.8 l.
- Number of cylinders: 4 pcs.
- Number of valves: 16
- Cylinder diameter: 84 mm
- Power: 122 l. With.
Acceleration to 100 km/h in the car is just over 10 seconds. The maximum speed is 182 km/h. Driving cycles and fuel consumption look like this:
| Cycle | Consumption (l) |
| City | 8,8 |
| Mixed mode | 7,5 |
| Route | 6 |
This engine in the new Lada XRay will allow you to accelerate quickly, has excellent dynamics, without burdening you with excessive gasoline costs.
Is there a difference in maintenance costs?
This question is much more important than it initially seems. Indeed, given approximately the same power, torque and minor differences in dynamic characteristics, many expect that the service price tags will be approximately the same. But it was not there! There is a difference and it is very significant!
In order to understand this, it is enough to simply calculate the total costs of undergoing scheduled maintenance of a LADA XRAY with a 110-horsepower H4M engine. As an example, it is reasonable to take a mileage of 90,000 km and prices at Moscow LADA dealership centers. In addition, it is immediately necessary to clarify that the service interval for the Nissan H4M engine and the domestic 106-horsepower unit is the same - 15,000 km. They can also be filled with the same oil from Rosneft.
There are no differences in the list of operations and components during the first 5 maintenance procedures – up to a mileage of 75,000 km. It is necessary to change the engine oil and filters (air, cabin and oil). The only difference is the price, since the components for a foreign motor are slightly more expensive than for a domestic one. In particular, the amounts for TO-1, TO-3 and TO-5 differ - for an X-Ray with a Russian engine, service will cost 5,900 rubles per visit, and for a hatchback with an H4M under the hood - 6,500 rubles.
The difference in the price for maintenance for X-rays with different engines is quite noticeable.
Everything is complicated by the situation with the spark plugs. Their replacement interval is indicated at 30,000 km, but not everything is so simple. For a VAZ engine, their cost is already included in the price of TO-2 and TO-4, which cost 6,900 rubles each. But owners of X-Rays with H4M units have to pay separately for both spark plugs and replacements. As a result, TO-2 and TO-4 cost 8,800 rubles each, and another 4,000 rubles for each of these TO will be spent on replacing spark plugs.
This cost is due to 2 factors:
- For the H4M, spark plugs from the NGK company are used, while for the Russian engine, spark plugs from Bosch, made in Russia (Saratov), are intended;
- Difficult to replace - to do this you have to dismantle the intake manifold and throttle.
The H4M engine requires expensive spark plugs, and changing them is not easy.
However, the greatest expenses await the owner of an imported engine after traveling the first 90,000 km, when the time comes for TO-6. For the owner of an X Ray with a Russian engine, this maintenance will cost 12,000 rubles, but the owner of a hatchback with an H4M engine will have to pay the dealer as much as 34,500 rubles (including spark plugs)!
The almost 3-fold difference in price is explained by the cost of the alternator belt and rollers. For a Nissan engine they are much more expensive than for a Russian one.
The result is not the most rosy, because for the first 90,000 km the owner of a Lada X-Ray with a domestic, 106-horsepower engine will need to pay a total of 42,500 rubles. But the costs of the owner of a LADA XRAY with an H4M engine will reach 79,600 rubles. The final difference is 37,100 rubles.
LADA XRAY with H4M engine can only be purchased in the Yubileiny configuration.
Description of Lada X-Ray
Lada X Ray is a small crossover from AvtoVAZ, developed on the B0 platform (Renault Duster, Sandero, etc.) and produced since 2016. This car, despite its body type, has a front-wheel drive layout. X Ray's goal is to capture market share in the fairly popular and growing compact crossover segment. Competitors of Lada X Ray: Renault Duster/Sandero, Nissan Terrano, Hyundai Creta, Chery Tiggo, Great Wall M4, Geely MR Cross and other similar SUVs.
Like all the latest models from Togliatti? X-Ray received the latest motors possible. The weakest option uses the Vesta engine, this is the 1.6-liter 21129. The Lada X-Ray with the Nissan HR16 (H4M) engine is a more expensive option, although this engine has a displacement similar to 21129. The most high-torque options received 1.8-liter 21179 engines, their power 122 hp
WikiMotors will tell you everything about X Ray engines, how they differ from each other, their main problems and causes. As well as technical characteristics, service life, what kind of oil needs to be poured, how often it needs to be replaced and the volume of this oil. In the articles we will touch on the topic of engine tuning, how to slightly increase power without significantly reducing the service life.
Information is being actively disseminated on the Internet with reference to reliable sources close to the manufacturer about a new type of transmission for Lada cars - we are talking about the so-called continuously variable transmission, called a variator.
It is reported that such a CVT will be the Japanese model Jatco JF015E, known from some Nissan small cars, such as Micra and Juke, and on Ladas the variator will be combined with a 1.6-liter Renault / Nissan H4M / HR16 series engine, the power of which is “ VAZ versions will be 113 hp. Testing of the combination of this engine and variator is already in full swing on Lada Xray pilot series vehicles, assembled solely for the purpose of validation tests and obtaining the necessary certification. According to preliminary data, such “Xrays” will go into production in mid-2022; later, potential buyers of “Vesta” will also be able to count on “variator” versions.
By the way, the HR16 engine was already installed in early production versions of the Lada Xray cross-hatchback and test pre-production prototypes of the Lada Vesta sedan, albeit in a slightly weaker 110-horsepower version and, of course, without a CVT. The first rumors about the use of CVT on the products of the Volzhsky Automobile Plant first appeared shortly after the presentation of the Lada Xray Cross concept, the production version of which was supposedly supposed to carry over a combination of a 113-horsepower engine and a variator from similar versions of the Renault Logan Stepway and Renault Sandero Stepway, technically related to the VAZ hatchback with increased cross-country ability - in particular on the use of the common platform Global Access B0.
Is it a lot or a little?
Indeed, some will say that for 90,000 km you can fork out an extra 37,100 rubles. However, many will object. Still, LADA XRAY belongs to the budget segment, where not only the cost of the car itself is important, but also the cost of its maintenance. Other things - dynamics, sound insulation, etc. - are not looked at so closely.
In light of such expenses, there are fewer and fewer people disappointed that AvtoVAZ is discontinuing the X-Ray with a Nissan engine. In addition, the start of sales of a crossover with a 122-horsepower Russian engine will more than compensate for the loss.
