Car enthusiasts have always criticized the domestic auto industry. When asked which is better, Granta or Kalina, they answered that an old rusty Opel is better. However, despite the reviews and opinions of car enthusiasts regarding VAZ products, car sales are at a stable level, and sometimes growing, especially recently. Therefore, the question of which is preferable, Kalina or Grant, worries many drivers.
Lada review
Kalina was launched into production back in 2004. This car was the first and only of all domestic B class developments. The characteristics of the sedan are almost the same as those of cars from European manufacturers. Kalina was produced in a 4-door version. The trunk volume was 380 liters, the vehicle weight was 1,070 kg. The car is equipped with a gasoline engine with a capacity of 81 hp. With.
Kalina had a 5-speed manual transmission and front-wheel drive. The suspension is spring, the front brake is disc, but the rear is drum. Development of Kalina began in 1993. Since the first drawings appeared, a lot of time passed before the car came off the assembly line. Manufacturers delayed the release due to the fact that this model had already become outdated at the time of release. After all, 10 years passed from the first drawing to release.
Despite the difficulties, Kalina managed to earn herself particular popularity and, for the most part, positive reviews from car enthusiasts. This is a budget car, so the prices were very attractive. The large scope for tuning was also impressive.
Car appearance
The appearance of the first Kalina did not have any significant features. There is nothing attractive about the exterior, especially if you look at the first photos of the car in 1993 and the production version. Kalina was distinguished by a smooth, even contour and a streamlined roof. The bumper and headlights resembled old foreign cars. The designers tried to come up with a comfortable body and interior with sufficient capacity.
This sedan, according to numerous critics, looked ridiculous. Over time, the project was closed, and Kalina was replaced by Grant. Kalina's body is 65 percent galvanized. All main parts are also galvanized, but this does not protect the components from corrosion. According to the manufacturers, the reason is a violation of the conditions in which the cars operate, or improper, untimely care.
The sedan's interior looks as discreet and unprepossessing as the body. The plastic surfaces are finished with a two-color material, which made the interior a little livelier. The basic equipment of the Kalina includes a power window and an adjustable steering column. The dashboards are easy to read, and the computer allows you to make the car modern, convenient and safe.
Although Kalina’s dimensions seem small on the outside, inside, in the driver’s seat, a large person can easily fit. The rear seats are also spacious. As for handling, in Kalina it is quite easy. However, there is no need to compare this model with European cars. She still has problems. This is poor sound insulation, body sway at high speeds.
Lada Kalina, version 2
For 10 years now, domestic car enthusiasts have been driving Kalina. But in the summer of 2013, VAZ released the long-awaited car - the updated second generation Kalina. AvtoVAZ developers did not provide a separate platform for it.
Kalina 2 is built on the basis of the previous Kalina, like Grant. The body has not undergone any fundamental changes. Engineers made only minor improvements. So, the car received new bumpers, fenders, and the rear side windows were updated. He inherited the hood and front fenders from Granta. And the bumper, headlights and grille are completely exclusive. The front bumper protrudes slightly forward due to the new radiator. The new headlights are equipped with running lights, but the car will not have lensed headlights.
The new Kalina in Norma and Lux trim levels will receive an electric drive for the fifth door lock. Now it can be opened with a button on the key fob. However, a regular button on the door is still missing. Since the body of Kalina 2 remained the same, the interior remained the same dimensions as the old Kalina. It is also comfortable for tall people and very spacious.
There are new details in the car's interior: door panels and wide armrests from Granta, and a cup holder for rear passengers. The seat belts were hidden in the wall. Kalina 2 has a completely new original instrument panel. At the same time, it was designed for climate control. The new climate system is much more successful; during operation it is noticeably quieter than the old one.
The Norma will only be equipped with air conditioning, while the Lux will be equipped with a new American air conditioner. He is much smarter, he can control the temperature and air flow himself. The multimedia system in Kalina 2 is completely new. There is a touch screen and the display is mounted quite high, making it quite spacious. There was no breakthrough with the chairs. Nothing has changed here, although the seats are just as soft and comfortable.
There are still problems with the headrests. The tilt steering wheel is also quite tight. Kalina 2 has three engines. They are gasoline, designed for A-95. The Standard and Norm will have a 1.6-liter 8-valve engine with 87 hp. With. The engine is slightly more powerful than the previous generation. Luxury trim levels will have a 1.6-liter 16-valve engine. The intake system was not upgraded. It will only be combined with a cable transmission.
The engine runs quite confidently. The automatic transmission will first be installed in the Lux package, and then in the Norma package. This machine is not new, it was installed in Granta. All three engines will now be equipped with new American, more efficient radiators. The developers of Kalina 2 managed to solve many problems that Kalina had in the first version.
Choice by eye: review
An attempt to compare cars, one of which has been on the market for several years, and the other is only a potential rival, is not entirely correct. However, certain features of each of them should be noted. Lada Kalina 2 station wagon generally looks harmonious. But it is necessary to note such a feature as its dependence on color. Subjectively, a car in bright color looks very tall, and only soft tones from certain angles make it balanced and bright.
At the same time, the Lada Granta station wagon visually seems noticeably longer, and it is the large, solid rear that clearly stands out. The car has clearly outgrown class B, to which the younger model should be classified. However, here again we need to remember such a trump card in Kalina 2’s sleeve as the developed modification with the Cross index. It is giving the appearance of the car a touch of an SUV that brings it closer to an attractive crossover. And if the car also gets all-wheel drive, then it will be successful.
Thus, the element of the universal version of the Grant model should be recognized as a good highway, where you can travel any distance without obstacles. But the fate of Kalina 2 is suburban roads and the way home from work. But the car can also become a good city car. As for the modification of the Lada Kalina Cross, this car received not only additional plastic body kits and increased ground clearance, but also a number of improvements that are designed to eliminate shortcomings that are possible when operating in difficult conditions. Door creaks, short-travel suspension - these and other similar little things have been slightly modified.
Can we say that a car was identified that turned out to be better than its rival? Probably not. We can say with confidence that both models turned out to be worthy. Machines cannot oppose themselves technically. But due to the differences associated with geometric parameters, trunk capacity, and behavior on the road, each of the models occupies a certain place and finds its buyer.
The cars are also comparable in terms of price. The optimal Luxury package in both cases will exceed 400 thousand rubles. But the cost of modification of Kalina Cross only starts from this mark. In particular, the Norma equipment will cost 470 thousand rubles. But the car has not yet become familiar on the streets, and the additional advantages will attract many buyers.
Competition of popular domestic models
Every year AvtoVAZ saturates the domestic market with new Lada models. Some of these cars are budget cars, and often different models fall into the same price segment. So, in 2011, Grant came off the assembly line, the base for which was Kalina. After 1.5 years, AvtoVAZ updated the previous model Kalina, releasing the second generation of cars.
Both car models fall into the budget price segment, so most potential buyers cannot decide which one is better. Each car has its own advantages and disadvantages that you need to know about before making a purchase. This will help you choose a car that suits the needs of a particular car enthusiast.
Review of Lada Granta
This car is said to be the best-selling of all domestic brands. Granta premiered in May 2011. It is made on the basis of the famous Kalina first version. We managed to effectively solve the price problem and improve quality. The developers kept within the cost limits, and Granta became more practical and attractive.
The body is enlarged, the front part is equipped with rectangular headlights, the front bumper has a false grille. According to the technical parameters of the Grant, it is a C class. From the inside it has become more elegant. But the plastic is hard, the interior is decorated more strictly, there are practically no frills. The seats are flat, the interior is spacious, there are cup holders and various shelves.
They did a good job on the sound insulation of Granta, it is at a very high level. The system has been improved structurally. However, the mass of soundproofing materials has not increased. Comfort in terms of noise is quite satisfactory. As for the technical parameters, the engines that are installed on the Grant have different characteristics, from 1.4 to 1.6 liters, depending on the type of configuration.
A negative point for many car enthusiasts is the price of the Grant, even though it is positioned as a budget car. The motor has good traction parameters. The suspension is quite energy-intensive and can work well on bad roads, or even off-road. The steering wheel is strong, you can feel the connection between the driver and the car.
Granta drives clearly and predictably.
Granta vs Kalina
We looked at the Kalin and Grant models. It would seem that these cars are practically no different from each other. It is not surprising that many are wondering what to choose: Lada Kalina or Lada Granta? The design was created by different groups of engineers. Lada Granta and Lada Kalina have a modern appearance, both have a recognizable appearance. Granta was created practically from scratch. The second Kalina has a more aggressive appearance.
AvtoVAZ used one engine for several models. The difference between the Grant and Kalina is small; the power part is practically the same in both cars. The engineers did a great job with the suspension. As a result, the Grant, like the Kalina, has a redesigned suspension, which also has a good service life.
If everything is clear about the suspension and engine, then nothing is clear about the transmission. What's better? The latest Grants are equipped with a manual transmission with cable traction. The same system is installed on Kalina. The box is excellent, there are practically no vibrations. It must be remembered that the Grant is equipped with an assault rifle, Kalina 2 will also receive this assault rifle.
After the Granta was released, car enthusiasts and car enthusiasts took measurements of the bodies and were surprised. Granta has thinner metal in the body. The factories explained this by using a different metal with different characteristics. The manufacturers said that the new metal has exactly the same characteristics as the first version of Kalina. But Granta’s body is easy to bend, the metal is very thin.
Manufacturers even managed to save on bumper plastic. If we make a comparison, then Grant is inferior to Kalina. Over time, closing and opening doors on Grant becomes difficult. You need to make an effort. This was not observed on Kalina.
Characteristics of "grants" (hatchback)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDuXl4n69tg
Let's look at Granta first. This car, regardless of the body, is equipped with one of two power plants. The base engine is a 1.6-liter engine with an 8-valve head producing 87 horsepower. In luxury versions, a 16-valve power unit with 106 horsepower is available. What is noteworthy is that the volume of this power plant is the same.
New Lada: Which car is better to choose: Grant or Kalina 2? — New Lada
As for transmissions, the manufacturer offers the following gearboxes:
- Five-speed “mechanics”.
- Four-speed Japanese “automatic” (“Lada Granta” with automatic transmission is available in the initial configuration, but for an additional fee).
- Robotic “mechanics” from ZF. Appeared on Grant in 2020.
Interesting fact: Lada Granta became the first mass-produced car at VAZ, which was equipped with an automatic transmission from the factory.
Vehicle configurations
If you do not focus on cost, but compare only the functionality based on the configuration, then you can compare these indicators. Kalina 2 comes standard with electric power steering, a shorter steering rack, airbags, top rails, an ashtray, 14-inch wheels, a cigarette lighter, and power windows. Grant doesn't have all this.
Lux and Norma have a greater range of different options. You can compare the luxury Granta and the middle versions of Kalina; they practically do not differ in price. The most expensive Granta has heated and electric front mirrors, fog lights, electric windows on the front doors, door handles and mirrors in body color.
Kalina 2 only has a heated windshield. In addition to the functions described above, the luxury Granta, like the Kalina 2 Norma, has an on-board computer, an alarm system, athermal windows, heated seats, power accessories on the front doors, an air filter in the cabin, ABS, climate control, and multimedia.
Kalina 2 or Granta hardly differ from each other in terms of the dashboard, and there is a significant difference in the seats. The seats on the Lada Granta are uncomfortable; relatively cheap materials are used on the seats. Kalina 2 has more comfortable, convenient anatomical seats.
Lada Granta is not a very quiet car. If you drive on gravel, the impacts of stones on the body are felt well. Viburnum is also imperfect, but the difference in these indicators is very noticeable. So, from all of the above it follows that Kalina is more comfortable, but Granta is cheaper. What to buy is up to you. Good luck with your choice!
Which car is right for you
If after reading the article you still cannot compare Kalina and Granta liftback and have not decided which car is best for you, pay attention to the most basic nuances:
- Exterior of the car. It is of no small importance, because every day it is you who drives the car, and not someone else.
- Price. Think carefully about what you are willing to pay for and what doesn't seem necessary. Based on this, choose the appropriate package
- Specifications. Decide what is more important to you - power and speed, or comfort and maneuverability on difficult roads? And perhaps the size of the trunk and the space in the cabin? Do you want to show off your car’s dynamic design to your friends and fly through the city at night, or just comfortably get from point A to point B? Only by thoughtfully and truthfully answering these questions can you choose the car that will completely satisfy you in all respects and will become a real “friend on wheels” for you!
New Lada: Light vibration at idle
And for a more visual comparison, we present to your attention a brief table of the main 6 characteristics:
| Lada Kalina 2 (hatchback) | Lada Granta Liftback | |
| Body length | 3893 | 4260 |
| Trunk | 355 l. | 440 l |
| Transmission | Manual/automatic | Manual/automatic |
| Engine capacity | 1600 | 1600 |
| Speed indicators | 171 km/h | 176 km/h |
| Price | 375,000 rub. | RUB 344,000 |
