Our first Vesta Cross test can answer the question of whether you need to overpay 43 thousand rubles for a Cross or stick with the quiet, universal Vesta. Cross seems to be shouting, take me, he tried his best to prove that he was right and even climbed the almost vertical wall of the Sochi forest. Video Vesta Cross test, about how we, blasting stones, took mountain heights below, technical characteristics at the end of the article.
I won’t list all the station wagons I’ve owned, starting with the VAZ 2102; my evolution today has stopped at the sloping rear door of the Audi A7. Surprisingly, it seems that in pursuit of the tastes of buyers like me, Lada in its new station wagon moved away from the almost vertical rear wall. True, the slope of the rear window was not so strong that, as in my Sportback, I would have to abandon the wiper, but it was sufficient for the roofline to acquire the now fashionable dynamics.
Lada-Vesta-SW and Lada-Vesta-SW Cross: Let’s imagine for a moment another VAZ-2104 next to it. It seems to me that it will stand here like an ancient stone. What kind of dynamic roof line were they thinking about then, I loaded the refrigerator into the dacha. And the universal Vesta even has a “shark fin” on the roof - it’s also an external antenna. This is what competition for me, my beloved, means.
According to Lada designer Steve Mattin, “the roof line, starting from the exterior mirrors, and the “shark fin” form a kind of airy, elegant X.” It turns out that there are never too many X’s on a clean car. If it weren't for the X's, I would have thought it was a Volvo. The dual chrome exhaust tips are modern, and there's room on the right for two more fake pipes.
Lada-Vesta-SW and Lada-Vesta-SW-Cross: produced in Izhevsk. The basic station wagon (right) looks simpler. It does not have two-tone bumpers or plastic linings surrounding the body; it is 4 mm shorter and 25 mm lower than the Cross.
Prices for Lada-Vesta-SW start from 639,900 rubles, in the Cross base it is 116 thousand more expensive. But at the top, in the most expensive configuration, the difference is only 43 thousand (1.8 l, 16 cl, 122 hp, 5 AMT). The difference of 43 thousand can be found in the middle of the price list (1.8, 16 cl., 122 hp, 5 MT).
Our first Vesta Cross test took place in Sochi, where we drove through the forest and along steep hills. The Cross sports more aggressive bumpers with black and silver linings, and, of course, a body kit around the perimeter of the entire body. It seems like a sham, but with frequent driving on unpaved and simply dirty roads, the overlays should extend the life of the paint on the sills and wheel arches. And this is a question of corrosion resistance and presentation of station wagons after several years of intensive use. But owners of simple station wagons can save money in the event of a rear-end collision - their bumper is completely borrowed from the sedan. But Cross’s bumpers are original and quite complexly organized.
For the Lada Vesta, the cross in the forest is somehow calmer, the plastic body protects.
Is it possible to load the refrigerator?
The declared trunk volume is 480 liters. It seems not bad at all, but when you lift the back door, you find a clearly smaller hold; not every refrigerator will fit. However, the floor panels are liftable, and underneath them hides a pair of organizers with a total volume of 95 liters. For convenience, the trunk can be divided into 2 parts, and plastic organizers can be completely removed.
On the left there is a place for storing containers with a fixing strap, a 15-liter niche on the right
wheel arch, covered with a cover.
With the second row seats folded – 825 liters. The double floor with organizer aims to create a flat surface when folding the rear seatbacks, but, as we can see, it doesn’t work very well. The rear seat cushion will not stand upright; it must be removed from the passenger compartment to level the floor; you can remove it, but this is not an easy task.
Under the main floor, of course, there is a full-size spare wheel, although it is 15-inch and on a steel rim. Next to the spare tire is another organizer and a thick layer of sound insulation. On the sides of the trunk there are also compartments for small items, hooks for packages and even a 12-volt outlet. Unexpected luxury for a budget car. The fifth door is closed with powerful handles, which are provided both on the right and on the left.
We sit in the back.
Lada-Vesta-SW-Cross: Here the head does not rest against the ceiling, and there is enough space for the legs. Unlike the sedan, the distance from the seat to the ceiling has increased by 25 mm. Reach forward and you will find heated rear seats.
With the new rear doors, getting into the back seat has become more convenient. A central armrest with a pair of cup holders has appeared, and in the maximum version, for those sitting in the back, there is a heated rear sofa, a USB connector and a 12-volt socket. But the headrests are not very comfortable - in the upper position they are too low for people 180 cm tall and above.
Let's get behind the wheel.
The interior of the Vesta station wagon differs little from. But the Lada Cross is painted from the heart.
Lada-Vesta-SW-Cross
Over the past 2 years, VAZ has not only managed to develop a station wagon, but also slightly modified the interior. In the top versions, a full-fledged central armrest finally appeared. It is convenient to place your right hand on it, and there is a small compartment inside. In order to cheer up the driver, Vesta SW and Vesta Cross received a painted instrument panel.
Tolyatti residents clearly picked up this idea from, he also has orange accents in the interior.
The simple station wagon has only slightly colored instruments, while the raised version has the Cross inscription on the speedometer and brighter accents. In addition, it is distinguished by contrasting inserts on the seats, a different pattern on the plastic inserts of the front panel and doors, as well as chrome handles. The handles on the station wagon are matte.
Motor
Lada-Vesta-SW: 1.8-liter, 122-horsepower, 16-valve.
But the 1.8-liter 122-horsepower engine disappointed. Even paired with mechanics borrowed from Renault, the engine clearly does not live up to expectations. We drove the Vesta together, and when accelerating to the floor, the acceleration in higher gears occurs slowly. Perhaps the problem is that the test cars have not yet been run-in, and the odometers only have 500-600 km. However, Korean classmates, already leaving the factory, drive better even with a more modest volume of 1.6 liters. Compared to them, the VAZ engine trembles under load and even after 2000 rpm does not indulge in a reserve of traction. Yes, Togliatti units have proven themselves to be very reliable and repairable, but in the modern world this is no longer enough. They clearly need to improve traction both at low and high speeds.
Lada-Vesta-SW-Cross, like its station wagon brother, is equipped with two engines - 1.6 (106 hp) and 1.8 liters (122 hp).
The classic machine gun is missing.
And, of course, the main problem of the entire Vesta family is the lack of a full-fledged automatic transmission. It is no coincidence that only cars with manual transmission were tested; the VAZ team is well aware of the inferiority of its robot (AMT) and tries not to show it to journalists again. We can only hope for help from abroad. Either Vesta will receive a 4-speed Jatco automatic transmission, which is again being installed on the Grant, or the French will share a CVT from Renault Kaptur.
Let's go for a ride again.
On the road, the Vesta station wagon is practically no different from the sedan. The body turned out to be very rigid and the car follows the wheel perfectly. The steering wheel with a standard electric booster is an example of accuracy and information content. Vesta Cross is 25 mm higher (station wagon ground clearance 178 mm) and this had its effect. While you're driving quietly, the difference is almost imperceptible, but on the shifts you feel a little deeper body roll, which stems not only from the high suspension, but also from the wider and grippier Pirelli tires.
On crossovers, the Cross rolls a little more than a station wagon.
Lada-Vesta-SW-Cross
And when leaving the asphalt, it is better to slow down a little. Low-profile 17-inch wheels do not favor sharp bumps too much, and, secondly, the increase in ground clearance has led to a reduction in the rebound stroke. At bends in the road, the wheels continually end up in the air.
When hanging one wheel, the trunk opens easily, which indicates sufficient body rigidity.
If you lock the car in this position, the trunk opens perfectly, which is great. However, from the point of view of cross-country ability, the reduction in the rebound stroke is a definite disadvantage. So, if the needs for increased ground clearance are not too great, try to get by with the regular Vesta station wagon or think about switching to more modest rims; perhaps tires with an off-road pattern would be better suited. But this is a topic for a separate conversation, when the time comes for the all-wheel drive Vesta.
Will there be all-wheel drive?
Lada-Vesta-SW-Cross
When asked directly about the release date of the Vesta Cross with all-wheel drive, the VAZ team is evasive in Russian. They say that the market is unlikely to be ready to buy such a car in large volumes, and as long as there is no confirmed demand, there is no production. But considering that the rear beam on the Vesta is very similar to that of the Lada Largus, and therefore the Renault Duster, technically there is certainly such a possibility. All that remains is to attach the box not from Logan, but from the all-wheel drive Duster, to the VAZ engine, select the appropriate length of the cardan shafts and adjust the clutch in the rear wheel drive. But considering that the construction of the station wagon took the Togliatti residents 2 years instead of the promised one, the all-wheel drive Vesta will have to wait in the hope that it will remain in the fashion trend.
So what should you choose?
For those who want a truly large trunk, it is definitely better to look at the larger Lada Largus; it will carry almost twice as much luggage, and it will also be more convenient for passengers. But in essence, Largus is a big first-generation Logan, with all that it implies. Vesta is the choice of a driver who wants, first of all, to get a stylish and dynamic car, and a beautifully finished trunk and increased ground clearance are a pleasant bonus that sets Vesta Cross apart from the line of ordinary sedans. Well, in general, we got the hint.
Let’s also add that Vesta Cross is a good signal that Lada... (ugh, ugh, ugh) can.
Video Vesta Cross test below, at the end technical specifications.
LADA VESTA SW - LADA VESTA SW CROSS
Specifications| COMMON DATA | Lada Vesta SW 1.8 5MT (5AMT) | Lada Vesta SW 1.6 5MT (5AMT) | Lada Vesta SW Cross 1.8 5MT (5AMT) | Lada Vesta SW Cross 1.6 5MT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions, mm: length / width / height / base | 4410 / 1764 / 1512 / 2635 | 4410 / 1764 / 1512 / 2635 | 4424 / 1785 / 1532 / 2635 | 4424 / 1785 / 1532 / 2635 |
| front/rear track | 1510 / 1510 | 1510 / 1510 | 1510 / 1510 | 1524 / 1524 |
| Trunk volume, l | 480 / 825 | 480 / 825 | 480 / 825 | 480 / 825 |
| Ground clearance, mm | 178 | 178 | 203 | 203 |
| Curb weight, kg | 1330 | 1280 | 1350 | 1300 |
| Acceleration time 0 - 100 km/h, s | 10,9 (12,9) | 12,4 (14,4) | 11,2 (13,3) | 12,6 |
| Maximum speed, km/h | 180 (182) | 174 (174) | 180 (181) | 172 |
| Fuel / fuel reserve, l | A92/55 | A92/55 | A92/55 | A92/55 |
| Fuel consumption: city / suburban / mixed cycle, l/100 km | 10,6 / 6,3 / 7,8 (9,9 / 6,2 / 7,6) | 9,5 / 5,9 / 7,3 (9,2 / 5,7 / 7,0) | 10,7 / 6,4 / 7,9 (10,1 / 6,3 / 7,7) | 9,7 / 6,0 / 7,5 |
| ENGINE | ||||
| Location | Front transverse | Front transverse | Front transverse | Front transverse |
| Configuration / number of valves | P4/16 | P4/16 | P4/16 | P4/16 |
| Working volume, cubic meters cm | 1774 | 1596 | 1774 | 1596 |
| Power, kW/hp | 90 / 122 at 5900 rpm. | 78 / 106 at 5800 rpm. | 90 / 122 at 5900 rpm. | 78 / 106 at 5800 rpm. |
| Torque, Nm | 170 at 3700 rpm. | 148 at 4200 rpm. | 170 at 3700 rpm. | 148 at 4200 rpm. |
| TRANSMISSION | ||||
| Type | front-wheel drive | front-wheel drive | front-wheel drive | front-wheel drive |
| Transmission | M5 (P5) | M5 (P5) | M5 (P5) | M5 |
| CHASSIS | ||||
| Suspension: front/rear | McPherson / elastic beam | McPherson / elastic beam | McPherson / elastic beam | McPherson / elastic beam |
| Steering | rack and pinion with electric booster | rack and pinion with electric booster | rack and pinion with electric booster | rack and pinion with electric booster |
| Brakes: front / rear | disk / disk | disc / drum | disk / disk | disc / drum |
| Tire size | 185/65R15 or 195/55R16 | 185/65R15 or 195/55R16 | 205/50R17 | 205/50R17 |
Vesta SV Cross is probably the only domestic car that you can buy with your eyes alone, without connecting your brain. Just look at her - beauty! Especially in this exclusive Mars color. A dream, not a car.
Looking at the exterior of the car, it seems that the “off-road” version was drawn first, and only then, through simplification, they got a simple station wagon. If the regular Vesta SW has 15-inch wheels that look like “wheels,” then in the visually widened arches of the SW Cross the wheels with 17-inch rims “sit” like a glove. Also contributing to the overall speed is the black plastic on the threshold, which visually reduces the height of the body and increases ground clearance, and here it is already with a reserve - as much as 203 mm.
There is only one difference in the interior, but you can’t help but notice it: it feels like the car was transported with a full bucket of orange paint on a very bad road, and it was without a lid. “Orange” blotches are everywhere: on the seats, on the front panel and doors, and even on the instruments, a delicious charge of paint has fallen. Don't like color experiments? No problem, you can refuse this whole carnival of colors and choose a neutral gray finishing color.
In terms of equipment, the car is no different from a simple Vesta station wagon: there are heating systems for everything (5 pieces!), navigation with a rear view camera, and even climate control and cruise control.
The whole difference in equipment comes down to different wheels: larger rims, wider tires.
On the road, Vesta SW Cross behaves similarly to the simple version, but off-road it’s worse! The behavior of the suspension is similar to the operation of pneumatic struts in the highest position, there is small travel and rigidity, only here this is achieved not by clever mechanisms, but by simple physics: large wheels with not very high-profile tires allow impacts, then shock absorbers that are stiffer than standard allow shocks to pass through the blow is already on the body.
If off-road driving doesn’t interest you, then on good roads any Vesta can give you driving pleasure, and the “off-road” version is no exception. Accurate and moderately sharp steering, good brakes, slight roll (albeit more than in a non-cross), and in the end we get a very exciting car that you want to drive and drive.
What can stop the desire to drive a lot is high fuel consumption; in life, the average consumption is about 11 liters per hundred. Another problem for Togliatti cars is traffic jams, there was no good automatic transmission, and not many are in a hurry to be satisfied with the AMT robot.
Another disadvantage of the “elevated” version is that it has worse dynamics: the car is heavier and turning the 17th wheels is more difficult than the 15th ones, so we get a loss of one second in acceleration to 100 km/h, the fastest result in our measurements is 12.5 seconds.
You will find detailed prices below on the page, but in short, the Cross version is 43,000 rubles more expensive than the simple one. in the same Luxe configuration, but the simple SV comes in a more affordable Comfort configuration, and this will allow you to leave another 40,000 rubles in your pocket.
Photo gallery
At some point, I even closed my eyes, and everything inside was compressed to the point of colic. Not from the fear of falling into the abyss, but from the confidence that on this deep asphalt gulley of a fast mountain turn we would not only finish off the front wheels, but also leave both front suspension struts. And there - yes, through the stone barrier and head over heels down. There is room to fall.
Having almost chosen the compression stroke, Cross jumps up at the exit from the pit.
And once again - grunt! It was after the sharp compression that the rear wheels began to bounce slightly. The turning radius “opened up” a little - and the car went wider, outward into the bend...
With the update
There is nothing worse than carrying someone else's secrets. I drove this pre-production Lada Vesta SW Cross station wagon back in the first half of summer, and I can only share my impressions now. While you keep your mouth shut, nuances are forgotten, the exciting feeling of the “right of the first night” disappears, and emotions fade. However, there are advantages to this too: the main thing is cemented in the memory, and I will tell you about this main thing.
I had a chance to meet the pre-production Cross in the vicinity of Sochi, where VAZ testers live for months, replacing each other and driving thousands of kilometers along roads of various types, including mountain serpentines (they are used only for certification tests). The cars are in camouflage, since there are still almost six months before the start of sales. The interior is non-standard in places: some panels are made of smooth model plastic. But - and this is the main thing! - almost complete “riding” freedom. If you want, speed along the smooth Olympic roads. If not, just wander along the mountain serpentines.
The White Cross, from which I took the keys, is the dream of many. Because it’s roomy, with impressive ground clearance (203 mm!), with a 1.8 engine (122 hp) and a five-speed manual transmission. Over time, they will acquire such a power unit, but for now the combination of an “older” engine and mechanics is a novelty. And this Cross 1.8 also has rear disc brakes. Drums aren't as effective? Less reliable? I haven't heard of such problems. But it’s a fact that disc brakes are more expensive to maintain. But if the consumer wants it, voila. Marketing move: now like the “Koreans”!
The Cross is equipped with only 17‑inch wheels with tires measuring 205/50 R17. Regular station wagons have smaller wheels - 15 or 16 inches in diameter, like on a sedan.
Walking around the car, I noticed a lot of changes - we’ve already talked about some of them (ZR, No. 7, 2017). Vesta is gradually being modernized (for example, several power unit calibrations have been carried out); some innovations will be introduced first on the station wagon, and only then will migrate to the sedan.
It is clear that the XV is from a different price league, but from a technical point of view it is a direct competitor: the same standard size, similar engine power (we are talking about 1.6). Except that Vesta doesn’t have all-wheel drive. But on asphalt it is not needed.
All the way I could not recover from this “Subarovo” feeling. The strength of the Cross is also that it handles perfectly - better than a sedan. There is a complete feeling that even the ESP is triggered later than on the sedan, allowing you to drive a little more actively and slide longer without the intervention of the electronic guard. Special calibration for Cross?
No. The setting is universal for sedans and station wagons, including Cross - there are only different presets depending on the power unit (motor and gearbox type) and the type of rear brakes (disc or drum). And the effect of a shifted response threshold is created by tires. They are low-profile, with a stiffer sidewall, so when turning the steering wheel you deflect at smaller angles - the car changes course more readily and turns more actively into the turn than on higher and softer tires. And since ESP is also triggered, among other things, by the steering angle sensor, the smaller the angle of rotation of the wheels, the later it is activated, believing that the dangerous moment is still far away. This is where the response threshold is pushed back. And I completely agree with this soulless lady, who only has numbers in her head. I don’t know how it will be in the winter, but in the summer it’s a blast.
In addition, the grip properties of these tires are slightly higher, and the steering wheel becomes more “weighty” and understandable due to increased lateral forces. The main thing is not to become impudent and frankly not to overdo it with the speed at the entrance to the turn. After all, ESP is triggered primarily by drift, and when you start to smoothly slide with all four wheels, it takes it more calmly.
Active drivers will like it - you can afford a little more than usual. Living machine!
Speaking of brakes. For ESP operation, disc brakes are preferable: they are faster, especially on rough roads. So replacing rear brakes with disc brakes on cars in top versions is not just a whim
How does the regular Vesta SW station wagon drive - on standard 16‑inch wheels and with rear drum brakes? Don't know. But just the other day, Kirill Mileshkin already drove a production station wagon - I hope he will share his impressions.
Of course, testers drive not only on asphalt, but also on gravel, on openly broken roads and on dirt. And to assess the reliability of the suspension, they also go on cobblestones. I also shook SW Cross on the large cobblestones of a shallow mountain river. So, if you don’t fool around, the machine allows you to do a lot. It would seem that you are about to grab the stones with your belly - and there is still a reserve there! Of course, this is not a full-fledged crossover, but with such a suspension and such ground clearance you feel very confident. If only we could put a self-block here, it would be absolutely wonderful. But this is from the category of off-road wishlists.
Finally, I hung the station wagon on a sharp bend in the asphalt - so that the rear right wheel slightly lifted off the ground. The trunk door opening has retained its geometry, the door lifts freely, and the side doors also open easily. The torsional rigidity of the body is sufficient. But this is on an empty car - will the body withstand the load? Let's check it on a serial Cross.
What about the price?
Perhaps this is the main question. A few months ago, I assumed that Vesta SW Cross in the top version (with the AMT robot) would reach 850 thousand rubles. And at the end of the summer, Nicolas More told me that the car would be . (Prices were announced on September 19. The basic version of the station wagon in the Comfort package will cost 639,900 rubles - Ed.)
The start date for sales is most likely November.
For most buyers, the capabilities of the Cross are enough for their eyes. And the sum of its consumer qualities - capacity, maneuverability, handling, design, and so on - allows us to confidently say that it will more than earn back every ruble invested in it. And it is already obvious that the demand for the Vesta SW station wagon and its version SW Cross will be higher than initially expected. AVTOVAZ is already reviewing the ratio of production volumes of sedans and station wagons.
And if, in principle, you don’t need a station wagon, but you definitely want something more “elevated” and a little more passable, there is an elegant solution -. With black bumpers and “raised” suspension. I have already seen such machines on the assembly line - during a trial assembly. They look like garbage. So it makes sense to wait.
Lada Vesta SW Cross - first test driveBack in March 2016, the hosts of a YouTube channel called Big Test Drive showed us a domestic novelty - the conceptual model of the Lada Vesta Cross.
A year and a half later, a video of the Lada Vesta Cross Big Test Drive appeared on their channel, where the presenters showed us the production version of the car.
The presenters of the program, Sergey Stillavin and Rustam Vakhidov, took a new product from the domestic automobile industry for testing - LADA Vesta Cross SW and tested it over several hundred kilometers. In their video, they are ready to tell us about their emotions, impressions and everything that they noticed and were surprised by in the new LADA VESTA SW CROSS. Expect information in the release about how the car drives, how it handles on the road and how it steers. The video lasts just over 20 minutes. Go!
Big test drive Lada Vesta SV Cross
Here is the video from the channel, which you can watch below:
Now let's look at everything in detail. From the very beginning of the video, we were shown that the presenters do not hide their obvious delight from the model. The car turned out to be the most beautiful, the highest quality and generally the best among all domestically produced cars. Car rides!
The video begins, as usual, with technical information, the presenters tell you what kind of car they are testing, what kind of car it has, how it differs from its brother - the regular West station wagon. The following is a little information about the one with which the leading BTC took the test. After which, the guys talk about and also rear disc brakes. The guys, with a bit of irony, say that we finally got rear disc brakes. In general, a little irony and sarcasm and we will learn all the main details about the station wagon - trunk volume, ground clearance, etc.
Big test drive Lada Vesta Cross video
Big test drive Lada Vesta SV Cross photo
Disputes regarding the safety of domestic cars do not subside, and supporters of both the first and second points of view persistently prove that they are right, which became even more noticeable after the release of new products from AvtoVAZ - Lada Vesta and X-Ray - onto the market.
However, after the new off-road version of the Lada Vesta Cross station wagon went into production, the controversy flared up with renewed vigor. This means that it is necessary to analyze as thoroughly as possible not only the results of crash tests of the Lada Vesta Cross station wagon, but also the conditions under which the tests and evaluation were carried out.
Pre-production tests
As you know, even before the start of serial production, comprehensive tests were carried out, which took place in May 2017. One of the stages of testing was caught by an analyst from the authoritative publication Autoreview.
Below are the design features of the car body.
On that day, the crash test of the Lada Vesta Cross SW involved a side impact with a ram weighing 900 kg with a crushable tip at a speed of 50 km/h. In this case, the “test” was a car with the maximum configuration, “armed” with 4 airbags.
Side impact
The results did not make the AvtoVAZ designers blush with shame. Vice versa! The car showed a decent result. The threshold absorbed a significant portion of the energy during the impact, the side airbags worked as they should, and only the driver's window broke - the rear window remained intact.
According to information from AvtoVAZ reports, it became clear that the sensors attached to the dummy did not indicate excessive loads, and the HIC (head injury) standard showed an excellent result of 21.8 units.
Condition of the dummy after the impact
However, an expert from Autoreview noticed one interesting fact - AvtoVAZ did not test the cross-version of the station wagon with a loaded trunk, although such a test suggests itself. The same applies to security systems that would allow securely securing large luggage that is located above the window line.
The plant commented on its decision, explaining it by the purpose of the machine itself. According to company representatives, a crash test of the Lada Vesta Cross station wagon was not carried out in such conditions, since this is only a lifestyle model with increased cross-country ability, and not a vehicle for transporting cargo.
No less interesting is the plant’s decision to refuse to equip the car with rear side airbags - even in top versions there are only front ones. In this case, the reason was that the presence of such airbags in itself (without the corresponding active safety systems) will not in any way affect the final rating during testing according to EU criteria. Although many are sure that buyers of top trim levels would agree to pay a little extra for additional protection for rear passengers.
The LADA Vesta Cross station wagon does not have rear side airbags even in the top
Tests of the serial version
After the start of sales, crash tests were carried out on the Lada Vesta Cross station wagon of the production model. First, let's look at the frontal strike, which was carried out by Autoreview forces directly using their ARCAP method. And then we will evaluate the results of the side impact carried out at AvtoVAZ.
The need for repeated tests of the full cycle, in comparison with a conventional station wagon, is due to the increased ground clearance and increased weight of the Cross.
Frontal kick
By the way, the journalists themselves noted that the choice of this particular model was predetermined by readers, who gave many votes for this option - more than for Renault Captur, Hyundai Creta and Toyota Camry together. As a result, the car was purchased and destroyed for 797,900 rubles. Frontal impact on a deformable ceiling at a speed of 64 km/h.
Before the test, experts immediately noted the large wheels, because the Cross station wagon has 17-inch wheels at the top, versus 15-inch wheels on the sedan. In addition, weight measurements were carried out, and it turned out that the car is 148 kg heavier than the sedan - 1298 kg versus 1150 kg, respectively. Therefore, it must absorb 13% more energy (kinetic).
Naturally, specialists from AvtoVAZ were invited to crash test the LADA Vesta Cross station wagon.
Structurally, the Cross version is identical to a simple station wagon. However, compared to the sedan there are changes:
- Additional reinforcement in the A-pillars - this reinforcement extends to the center of the doorway.
- The thresholds have been strengthened.
It is worth noting that the ERA-GLONASS service worked perfectly, and after the impact the operator immediately contacted the car.
As for the results of the impact, at first glance, the car withstood it just fine! The front pillar remained in its place (apparently, the presence of an additional amplifier had an effect). In addition, the spar on the left side worked perfectly - it folded, absorbing most of the impact energy, whereas on the sedan this power element simply bent. In addition, part of the energy fell on the cast wheel disk, which cracked from the impact.
The driver's door opened with minimal effort, the airbags worked effectively, which can also be credited to the carriage.
The driver's door opened easily
- Head and neck - everything is within normal limits. Only the driver turned his head when the car bounced, but this does not threaten his health.
- Chest - no complaints about the belt, since the force of compression of the ribs is completely normal and even weaker than on a sedan. It is very important that upon impact the steering wheel moved away from the driver by 30 mm.
- Knees - the right knee hit the dashboard slightly, while the left did not touch the plastic at all.
- Feet - despite the slight displacement of the pedal assembly, nothing dangerous happened.
Consequently, at first glance, the crash test of the LADA Vesta Cross station wagon during a frontal impact passed at the highest level and the car is worthy of the highest rating. However, everything is not so smooth...
The fact is that in Europe they use a much more progressive assessment methodology and if you apply it, the results will not be so rosy. During testing using the Euro NCAP system, the “structural integrity of the passenger compartment cage” is also assessed.
If you remove the decorative plastic that covers the sills and fenders, metal creases on the rear and front sills will become noticeable. The situation with the front threshold is especially important, because this area was modified and strengthened by the plant in 2016 - thicker metal was used.
Also, the floors and floor sound insulation were removed from the station wagon. In this situation, the picture is the same - the floor is torn and crushed, which is defined as “destruction of the legroom” and means one point is deducted from the assessment. Moreover, the welding survived - breaks appeared around the points. Therefore, AvtoVAZ should pay attention to the quality of sheet metal supplied to the plant.
The situation with the driver’s legs also became more complicated. The floor heaved up and created unnecessary stress on the legs - according to the result, the rating was not “excellent” or even “good”, but only “satisfactory”.
All this significantly reduced the score in the category “Protection of the lower legs” - according to the crash test results of the Lada Vesta Cross station wagon, the car scored only 1.7 points out of the maximum 4 points.
The deformation of the threshold also deducted 1 point from the final score, because according to the Euro NCAP system this is regarded as a “violation of the stability of the doorway.”
In addition, due to the break in the threshold, AvtoVAZ lost the opportunity to apply the “Front Panel Safety” protocol. During testing, the dummy slightly hit his left knee on the plastic of the steering column. This is not dangerous at all, but is made worse by the fact that there are metal components underneath the plastic. As a result, another point was removed from the assessment.
This could have been avoided if not for the damage to the threshold, which provoked a violation of the “structural integrity of the passenger cabin cage.” Under this condition, AvtoVAZ failed to ensure the safety of the structure, and a fine for knees was imposed.
The final score is 11.7 points out of a possible 16, and only 3 stars.
Plant reaction
This result greatly puzzled AvtoVAZ engineers. As a result, the car company bought the car that was broken during the test and thoroughly examined it. At first there were suspicions of a defect during assembly, but this version was not confirmed.
Everything became clear after computer modeling, when the data obtained was compared with tests that were carried out directly at AvtoVAZ and then gave a much better result. The reason is the ballast.
Any car is prepared for a crash test according to a certain algorithm. It means:
- Front seats - 88 kg each (dummies);
- Rear sofa - 32 kg (ballast);
- Trunk - 36 kg (weight necessary for testing equipment);
- Gas tank – 90% full (water is used).
During tests at AvtoVAZ, 2 child seats with Isofix mounts and a pair of child dummies were used as ballast for the rear sofa. But in Autoreview they used ordinary metal ingots, screwed to the floor, weighing 20 kg. This approach is permitted by the Euro NCAP criteria, provided that it does not affect the result. And it is worth noting that during other tests (Vesta sedan, Volkswagen Polo, Hyundai Solaris), the same ballast was used (blanks on the floor) and it did not affect the final rating in any way.
This fact is best proven by the fact that all tests were attended by representatives of the company that produced the car (Hyundai, Volkswagen, AvtoVAZ) and there were no complaints.
After creating a mathematical model, it became clear that 2 metal ingots, weighing 20 kg each, increase the load on the reinforcements and welds by 20%, resulting in floor deformation.
When this fact came to light, AvtoVAZ conducted 2 more similar tests with metal ingots near the rear sofa and the result was exactly the same as that of Autoreview. During the third test, there were child dummies on the back seat. As a result, the crash test of the Lada Vesta Cross station wagon went as well as possible - the belts worked in the required mode, no folds on the floor, metal tears or welding.
If we consider this situation, then out of the maximum possible 16 points, Vesta no longer received 11.7, but 14.9 points!
As for AvtoVAZ, its designers have already carried out calculations and figured out how to make the Cross station wagon stronger in order to avoid floor breaks.
Side impact
In this case, the situation echoes the one that arose after testing with a frontal impact. The final result varies depending on the assessment criteria.
This time everything happened in the AvtoVAZ passive safety laboratory. For the test we took the Cross station wagon in the top configuration. A side impact involves a collision with a 950 kg trolley equipped with a collapsible barrier at a speed of 50 km/h. The impact itself falls on the center of the car.
All details of the tests are demonstrated in the video.
The side cushion in a car is sewn into the back of the seat. When struck, it opens, blocking part of the window opening, and protects not only the torso, but also the head.
After the cart accelerates on the catapult and hits, after 27 seconds. An ERA-GLONASS operator contacted the car, once again demonstrating efficiency. Like most modern models, the center of gravity of the car is shifted forward, which is why after the impact it was partially turned by its stern. The driver's door glass shattered, while the rear door remained intact, as did the rearview mirror.
After the impact, damage analysis begins, the condition of the interior is assessed, the force required to open the doors is recorded, etc. Only after all this is the condition of the dummy analyzed.
It is worth noting that immediately after the impact, Andrei Matveev, who holds the post of chief engineer of the entire Vesta station wagon project, came onto the site. He said this is the 10th of 12 planned trials and he is pleased with the results. The side airbag inflated at the specified time.
During the development of the project, the designers strengthened the threshold, since the car has increased ground clearance, which means that the impact will fall precisely on the threshold. Therefore, it was necessary to reduce the influence of the threshold on the displacement of the central pillar.
Regarding the likelihood of crash tests of the Lada Vesta Cross station wagon with a full trunk - loaded to the ceiling or with heavy luggage - they are not planned yet. But all the technical solutions aimed at increasing the strength of the seats, implemented in the sedan, are also available in the station wagon.
It would seem that everything went as well as possible - the doors opened easily, the fuel remained in the tank, no serious damage was recorded on the dummy and it was taken out without the use of tools, no dangerous parts got into the cabin, the battery remained intact. All injury criteria are several times lower than acceptable values!
But this is only if we evaluate the crash test and its results according to the “Rule No. 95” standards in force in Russia. These criteria were developed back in the early 80s of the twentieth century, and in 1997 they were adopted by Euro NCAP. However, 2008 and the end of 2015 were marked by serious adjustments to these standards.
First, the EU tightened the evaluation criteria, and later changed the weight of the trolley. AvtoVAZ uses a trolley weighing 950 kg, but there are almost no cars of this weight on the roads anymore, because even the Lada Granta in its basic version weighs over 1000 kg.
Even if we consider the new Euro NCAP criteria with the same trolley weight of 950 kg, the driver’s head is safe, but the ribs and pelvis are already at the limit of the probability of injury - 5% for the ribs and 20% for the pelvis.
But the main thing is that at the beginning of 2016, the weight of the trolley used in Euro NCAP increased from 950 kg to 1300 kg, while maintaining the same evaluation criteria.
EURONCAP rules are stricter
Naturally, with such standards, the crash test result of the Lada Vesta Cross station wagon would not be so impressive, but not a failure, of course.
However, this is not AvtoVAZ’s fault. It's all about the laws passed by the government.
