Not long ago AvtoVAZ presented a global update of its budget model range. During the optimization of the line with the conveyor, the Priora and Kalina models disappeared, and instead of all these budget proposals, only Grant remained. It received three new bodies, changed its design, and became more pleasant in terms of appearance. The car has definitely become better than before, given the total obsolescence of all the features of the previous generation. The new model has good signature style features that make Granta one of the important steps towards the personal style of the Russian corporation. Now this is a kind of mini Vesta that motorists with a very modest budget can buy. Of course, we are not talking about total cheapness, but Granta remains traditionally one of the most affordable cars on the Russian market overall. So the popularity of the machine is guaranteed, and this is proven by the first sales figures, which are breaking all possible records.
The updated Granta has already managed to drive on the roads of Russia. The euphoria of the new product has passed, when in every review experts forgave the car for all its faults, real reviews from car owners began to appear. Today we will look at how many pros and cons this car has, taking into account all its features. Let's say right away that the car has become completely different, it has acquired new features and received a lot of updates that a budget buyer could not hope for. In the review, we will tell you a little about the car itself, its prices, trim levels, characteristics, and then consider the main pros and cons and present several competitors. Of course, for Granta, the area of competition is of rather relative importance, since this is a Russian car with the lowest price tag, and in any case it will be bought as actively as possible.
Savings on interior
There are many shortcomings - mostly minor, but annoying - related to the interior. It is strongly felt that the manufacturer saved money on it. For example, the handle for adjusting the seat often breaks - it must be handled very carefully. And the gear lever cover is made of low-quality material, so cracks quickly begin to appear on it.
The interior of the car looks unconvincing: the upholstery is made of fabric, plastic is of low quality, the instruments are designed simply and are not durable. Considering the cost of the car, there is nothing terrible about this, what is much worse is that after six months, fragments of the interior begin to make various noises - everything becomes loose, and it is extremely difficult to deal with this. The door seals begin to let in a lot of dust, and this is also not very pleasant. Window regulators are prone to rapid breakdowns: when lowering the glass, jamming or squeaking is common.
Exterior
The new product received a modern design, it stood out from its predecessors, which was appreciated by the buyers of this car. Unlike previous models, the shape of the headlights and front grille was completely changed, so at first glance it was difficult to determine that this was a Lada and not a “Korean” or a “Japanese” one. Improved aerodynamics had a positive effect on both cabin noise levels and fuel consumption was slightly reduced.
Frequent gearbox breakdowns
When driving aggressively, the Granta's gearbox does not hold up for long: the gears begin to “die” one after another, the lever simply does not lock in the desired position. The first two gears usually fail first. The problem with the car is hereditary, it was typical for Kalina, but the manufacturer was never able to solve it - or did not want to.
The reasons for gearbox failure are failures of synchronizers and gears; again, it comes down to the desire to save money. If you drive quietly and don’t bounce on bumps, problems with the gearbox may not arise at all, but fans of fast driving should know that the gearbox on this car under their control is unlikely to last more than a year.
Interior
The new car used a fundamentally new dashboard, which received a large black and white screen displaying information about the amount of fuel in the tank and a number of other important engine operating parameters. The ergonomics have been significantly improved, including the steering wheel, which fits well in the hands. At the same time, not very high-quality plastic was used in the finishing, which began to creak literally a few months after the car began to be used. The quality of the seat upholstery has improved somewhat; durable, non-staining velor fabric has been used, which has retained its original appearance for many years. In general, the interior combined simplicity and ergonomics, for which car owners valued these cars.
Gearbox howl
The gearbox on Grant is generally problematic: even if all gears work, it is prone to “howling.” This shortcoming of AvtoVAZ cars is also a long-standing one and the automaker still cannot cope with it: for Vesta they had to use a French-made box. Granta was deprived of such luxury, so the transmission howl is still the same as in the old models, except that it was made a little quieter. If you have been accustomed to it for a long time, then it will not become a problem, but if you are not used to it, it can be very annoying.
Installed motors
The base for the first generation Lada Granta was a 1.6 liter engine with 8 valves, developing 82 horsepower. Paired with this power unit was a 5-speed manual transmission. For an additional fee, you could get an improved eight-valve engine with a volume of 1.6 liters, which developed 87 horsepower and was equipped with a manual or 4-speed automatic transmission. The top versions of the Lada Granta now have a modern sixteen-valve engine, developing 98 and 106 horsepower, depending on its modification. However, this engine was available exclusively with a manual transmission.
Problems with directional stability when driving fast
Another reminder that this car is not intended for reaching high speeds: at speeds over 120 km/h it begins to have problems with directional stability, and the faster you accelerate, the more serious they will be. The car literally starts to sway from side to side even on a straight line, on a good road - and it’s quite difficult in turns or on an average surface. Interestingly, loading improves stability, so you can accelerate a little faster with passengers.
Let's sum it up
The Russian concern began to make good cars. This can be seen in Vesta, X-RAY, and now in Granta. The car turned out to be not just budget-friendly, but also beautiful, practical, relatively reliable and quite presentable in all its qualities. The concern is unlikely to improve its image with this machine, but it can significantly increase overall sales and influence on the market. Budget cars in Russia are still the most important class, and for us Granta continues to be a people's car in all meanings of the word. So it’s hard to call the model unsuccessful or not good enough for Russia.
The car has retained all the advantages of the old generation Grants, and also added new advantages, and now the car is becoming even more interesting for the buyer. Of course, all this indicates a large sales volume. But there are already dissatisfied customers who write angry reviews, turning to AvtoVAZ with all the existing curses. Therefore, you should be prepared for the fact that this is not a dream car, and it is unlikely to become one of the best in its segment. This is just an inexpensive car that will allow you not to buy a used vehicle, but to become the owner of a new car. What do you think about the new generation of Grants?
Unreliable braking system
Although there is another argument against driving fast on the Grant: its brake pads cannot boast of quality. They often begin to make squeaks and squeals, and the discs quickly wear out. And this is already very serious; such a problem can easily be considered one of the main ones. Another drawback related to the brakes: the handbrake cable is secured inconveniently, you will have to get used to it.
Advantages of the LADA Granta car
The advantages of the first generation Lada Granta include its affordable price and high ground clearance, which is important when operating the car on broken Russian roads. The cost of spare parts for the Grant is not too high, and its repair and maintenance is not particularly difficult. With powerful 16-valve engines, this car showed good dynamics, which significantly simplified its control in city conditions.
The car turned out to be quite economical, both in terms of fuel consumption and the car owner’s costs for servicing the car. This is an inexpensive, roomy and versatile sedan that was often used as a car for the whole family. This model was perfect for use in the Russian climate; it had a powerful stove that quickly heated the interior.
Common features between Sedan and Liftback
To be honest, despite some upgrades and external differences in design, the internal components have remained mostly the same and here are some proofs of this:
- The Liftback's taillights, of course, have become narrower, but at the same time they remain the same on the inside.
- The engine capacity of both models is 1596 cc.
cm . - Gas tank volume is 50 liters
. - The difference between the maximum speeds of the Sedan and Liftback is only 3 km/h: the Sedan has a maximum speed of 182 km/h
, and the Liftback
179 km/h
.
Cuter
Until recently, we believed that it would be naive to count on something “designer” in the most affordable segment. Steve Mattin buried this stereotype with his Vesta and Xray. Grant was painted before his arrival at AVTOVAZ, and now the eminent artist has improved the appearance of the car as best he can.
VAZ cars have also reached the budget Grants. It suits her!
VAZ cars have also reached the budget Grants. It suits her!
Specifications
The new body of the Lada Granta 2021 is built on the basis of a front-wheel drive platform from Kalina with a transversely mounted engine. An independent MacPherson-type suspension is installed on the front axle of the four-door, and a semi-independent suspension with trailing arms and coil springs is installed at the rear.
There are disc brakes on the front wheels, drum brakes on the rear wheels, as they are more accessible.
Overall dimensions, mm
- Length - 4 268
- Width - 1,700
- Height - 1,500
- Wheelbase - 2,476
- Ground clearance (clearance) - 145-160
- Trunk volume 520 l (one of the largest in its class)
- Fuel tank volume 50 l.
General technical characteristics:
For engines 87, 98, 106 hp respectively
Why are there so many broken Lada Grantas on the secondary market?
As specialists from a number of service centers and service stations that are directly involved in restoring equipment after an accident assure, the percentage of broken ones is in the average range. The opinion is wrong and the numbers are exaggerated.
If we look objectively at each of the brands/models, then the number of broken ones will be at the same level. The problem is typical for any technical means. The reason lies in driving skills, car control, style and manner of driving.
The vast majority of accidents occur due to exceeding the speed limit or violation of established rules. Unfortunately, drivers love to drive around, which ends in an emergency.
To summarize and answer the question: is it possible to buy a used Granta - it is definitely possible and necessary. If you have enough budget to purchase a more expensive brand, choose the latter.
Engine
The design of the engine, which is based on a cast iron cylinder block, is quite reliable. Recently, all the engines that are installed on Grants have become non-plug-in, that is, if the timing belt breaks, the pistons do not meet the valves. This allows owners to save a tidy sum that they could otherwise spend on repairs. But it does not eliminate the main problem - low-quality components. Our editorial team has undergone long-term testing of three cars: Lada Granta, Kalina and the platform-compatible Datsun mi-DO. In each car, the timing belt broke before it reached the deadline for its replacement according to the regulations.
When repairing one of the engines whose timing belt had broken, it turned out that an excess amount of oil was getting into the combustion chamber. But the mileage is not that great, only 70,000 km. The issue is most likely due to the unstable quality of components. It is impossible to establish the exact cause, because deviations in dimensions, the quality of materials, and even poor-quality parts of the intake system that let in too much dust could cause harm.
When repairing one of the engines whose timing belt had broken, it turned out that an excess amount of oil was getting into the combustion chamber. But the mileage is not that great, only 70,000 km. The issue is most likely due to the unstable quality of components. It is impossible to establish the exact cause, because deviations in dimensions, the quality of materials, and even poor-quality parts of the intake system that let in too much dust could cause harm.
Problematic parts also include the thermostat and ignition coils. The latter sometimes have to be changed several times with a mileage of up to 100,000 km. Other malfunctions characteristic of Grant engines, although they occur quite often, do not have any serious consequences: unstable engine operation (speeds fluctuate) at idle, increased (in some copies) vibration during operation.
