The very name of the Lada XRAY hatchback is like a lot of unknowns. Has the French B0 platform gotten along with the next body? Is the new VAZ 1.8 engine reliable? What about a robotic gearbox? And now, having completed accelerated life tests of the Lada, we know many answers to questions about how XRAY will feel in five years or 100 thousand kilometers.
P five years in five months of work... Why not a time machine? But, as before, accelerated life tests are troublesome and very expensive.
Thousands of liters of gasoline and man-hours of the Autoreview test team at the Dmitrov test site, 32 thousand kilometers of cobblestone, expressway, mountain, and dirt roads, exhausting both people and cars... And in addition - a sixty-hour resistance to corrosion in salt fog, raising and lowering windows a thousand times, folding seats, slamming doors, hoods, trunk lids. But only such loads make it possible to equate each of the “resource” kilometers to three during normal operation, that is, to simulate a 100,000th mileage. And in addition to the speed of obtaining results, our resource test has another undeniable value - reproducibility: the load on all cars is identical, and this gives us the right to compile a rating of their reliability.
And there is a new addition to this ranking. In the spring we bought two Ladas: XRAY and Vesta (we will also tell you about that soon). -The hatchback was chosen in the Optima version with air conditioning, an audio system and front electric windows for 653 thousand rubles, now this one has risen in price to 690 thousand.
Let's talk about the good stuff right away. Both after the first and after the last of ten six-hour visits to a special chamber (it creates the most “nutritious” environment for corrosion: saturated salt fog with a 3.5% NaCl solution, a temperature of 37 degrees and a humidity of 95%), the Xray body did not rust at all - even in the deepest, down to the metal, notches that we made ahead of time on each body element. That is, even after three to five salty winters, the body of the Lada XRAY has every chance of looking like new. Such durability is uncharacteristic for VAZ cars: both, and, not to mention, did not even dream of approaching such a result. But for the same Renault cars, this picture is quite ordinary: the Sandero hatchback.
The results of the efforts of the corrosion chamber are visible only on some parts under the hood, and the notches on all body elements look pristine
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But we were immediately disappointed by the rear door seals: it would seem that there are two solid contours (both along the door perimeter and on the body itself), but after the first rain we admired the dirt in the openings, and after exercises on a dusty dirt road, they were painted brown Dmitrovsky loam elements of the interior. The VAZ workers heeded our complaints - and now the Yekaterinburg Uralelastotekhnika is supplying modernized seals to the conveyor.
The front door seals cope with their responsibilities more successfully, while the rear door seals perform their duties worse.
By the way, climbing in the mud on our Xray is a pleasure for another reason: with the non-switchable traction control system, the hatchback tried to sit down even in harmless places. And in September, VAZ added a button to turn off ESP. But they are still thinking about how best to secure the brake pipe running along the rear suspension beam: when we were reversing along a deep rut, a wet clay ridge pulled it out of the clamps.
Leaking windshield washer nozzles are caused by paint buildup after painting them in body color
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The flood in the engine compartment after more or less prolonged rain has its own reason: gaskets under the windshield washer nozzles. More precisely, their absence! Water seeps under the injectors, saturates the hood's sound insulation, which swells and causes dripping. In Togliatti they admitted that the cause of the leak was a flash when painting the jets in body color, and they solved the problem radically: they simply stopped painting the jets. Perhaps for limited batches of cars (such as the Anniversary Series for the fiftieth anniversary of the plant), while introducing additional control of the jets after painting. So we, like other owners of “non-anniversary” Ladas with beautiful jets, are left with a file and sealant.
Over the course of three months, we assembled a collection of three leaky cooling system expansion tanks
However, there was periodically another, much more unpleasant reason for the appearance of dampness under the hood. And if we take into account that the XRAY is deprived of a temperature indicator in the cooling system, then it is even more dangerous: expansion tanks losing their tightness. Moreover, the first one began to gush already on the second day of testing, after 240 km! And soon, willy-nilly, we learned to change them almost with our eyes closed: this procedure had to be carried out three times during the run, and each time they made holes in the same way, along the weld.
VAZ workers stated that the problem with the tanks was purely the fault of the supplier, the Togliatti company Ekoplast. And they promised, when contacting the service, to replace them according to the service campaign (in total, almost 1,300 cars with a failed unit were produced). The tanks were modified at the beginning of June: the technological process for welding plastic was changed. And it seemed to work: we installed the updated one in the middle of the distance and finished with it.
A little earlier, back in May, in Togliatti they finalized the technical process for another welding - fastening the bushings of the decorative engine cover: in our Xray from the first batches they certainly fly off during dismantling. And at our first attempt to undock the intake system resonator and the engine air filter housing, the retainer fell off - the engineers, together with the supplier, spent a long time choosing a way to eliminate the problem, and in November it was decided to make the housing from a different, more elastic material.
The mounting bushings of the plastic engine cover were slipping out of their places due to poor welding.
How did the new 1.8 liter (122 hp) engine with index 21179 behave? Let me remind you that the sixteen-valve engine 1.6 series 21126, long familiar from Kalinas and Prioras, was taken as the basis, but the new crankshaft gave an increase of 200 “cubes”, and in general the design was changed so much that there were practically no interchangeable parts left.
We didn’t even drive a dozen kilometers along the expressway at maximum speed: the engine, having worked close to the maximum power speed (which is approximately 5600 rpm), began to mope, work intermittently, and immediately turned on the check engine signal. The engine rescue team we urgently called from Tolyatti rendered a verdict: the engine control unit needs to be recalibrated. Therefore, all Xrays with a 1.8 engine that have been coming off the assembly line since mid-July already have new firmware - with an index ending in XF06, whereas the previous one had XF05. And on previously released cars, dealers are required to update the updated software free of charge.
We still have to figure out the reasons for the increased consumption of engine oil.
The interruptions are gone. But in the first quarter of the run, the engine’s oil consumption began to increase before our eyes, soon reaching five liters per ten thousand kilometers. And after several minutes of parking with the engine running, XRAY began to pretend to be a steam locomotive, spewing a thick gray smoke screen with a characteristic smell from the chimney. We did not detect any wear on the piston group, but we did notice “extra” oil in the crankcase ventilation system.
We are back to the VAZ engine engineers. And they admitted that the 1.8 engine from the first batches (we are talking about only a few dozen copies) may have problems both due to the quality of processing of the valve stems (they are supplied from China by the Mahle company) and because of the cleanliness of the rubber mixtures when launching the production of valve stem seals at the Velkont plant in Kirovo-Chepetsk. And they quickly sent out instructions to their dealers on how to fix the problem under warranty: in case of mild illness, when the exhaust is only tinted with bluish smoke without noticeable fumes, simply fill in thicker oil, and in case of exacerbation of the disease, if oil consumption is measured in several liters per ten thousand kilometers, you will have to change the cylinder head assembly.
And we were already thinking about changing the cylinder head for our Xray, when the engine suddenly... began to recover! By the end of the run, the smokiness disappeared, and the appetite was modest to one and a half liters. This, however, is still a lot: VAZ engines in normal condition were never known for such gluttony. Therefore, we are waiting for the results of the analysis of oil samples periodically taken from the engine, which the petrochemical concern Total helps us do, and the verdict of Uncle Vanya Shadrichev, who will disassemble the Xray engine for a full diagnosis.
Muffler heat shield burst near mounting
What else happened to Xray? At the very beginning, we were under warranty, but, as VAZ employees assure, similar incidents did not happen with other cars. If our water-filled dummies had legs (and half of the car’s mileage is carried out with two or three 75-kilogram “passengers” and half a centner of lead shot in the trunks), towards the end of the run they would begin to freeze: after 29 thousand kilometers the corrugated tube for supplying cold air to glove compartment After another thousand kilometers, the cracked heat shield of the exhaust system muffler required replacement, and the spare wheel began to dance on the bumps: the pin securing it to the floor fell off.
The only complaint about the robotic gearbox is the sweating of the left wheel drive oil seal.
The air supply hose to the glove compartment cracked in several places at once
In the trunk, the fixing bar for the stud securing the spare wheel is cracked
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Did the VAZ-2182 “robot” cope with the load? After all, once upon a time the five-speed gearbox of the Lada Priora only miraculously survived until the end of the life tests, and on the Lada Grant it even required a rebuild after a mileage of 15 thousand kilometers. But the “robot” of Ixray - even though he has a bad character - is like water off a duck’s back! German electric drives for the gear selection mechanism and clutch drive of the ZF brand are alive and well, and have made life easier for the most loaded synchronizer of the second gear of the VAZ gearbox. So the biggest trouble that happened was the wheel drive shaft oil seal that fogged up after driving 28 thousand kilometers.
At the front struts, the compression stroke buffers combined with the boot first collapsed, and then the shock absorbers themselves failed
This is not the first time we have tested cars on the French B0 platform: we have had Renault Sandero and . And every time there are its own nuances. For example, the Duster withstood the tests the best, without requiring replacement of parts at all; the Renault Sandero only needed a single rear shock absorber. And Almere had the hardest run: the stabilizer struts failed, and because of the overweight stern, in addition to the suspension beam with worn-out silent blocks, we had to change the rear shock absorbers four times.
. Stabilizer struts are inexpensive - but also short-lived">
The rear shock absorber failed in the same way as the front ones - due to a leak
. Stabilizer struts are inexpensive - but also short-lived
And who did XRAY take as an example with its original rear suspension beam, increased track and other settings of springs and shock absorbers? Alas, from Almera. The rear shock absorber gave up - though only one - after a mileage of 18 thousand kilometers. But in addition to the same stabilizer struts, which wore out after 27 thousand kilometers, and the silent blocks of the rear beam (collapsed after 31 thousand), after 26 thousand kilometers, both front shock absorbers were needed, whose compression buffers first fell apart.
The rubber bridges in the silent blocks of the rear suspension beam were completely torn
It’s a bleak picture - and, alas, completely atypical for original VAZ cars: neither the Priora nor the Grant had any similar troubles with the suspension.
In French, Xray also has extensive maintenance (let me remind you that for the purity of the experiment, we buy spare parts exclusively from dealers, and the frequency of maintenance under test conditions is reduced by 20%, that is, the service mileage was 12 thousand kilometers). Unlike the Lada Vesta, which at the first maintenance is content with only new oil and filter, the XRAY (exactly like the Renault Sandero) also required updating the cabin and air filters, and the second time, in addition to all three filters, the spark plugs.
The rear pads wear out in the same way as the front ones - unevenly. To replace them, the drum must be removed from the hub along with the bearing
As a result, consumables for scheduled maintenance were spent on a completely “Loganov” amount of 10,395 rubles. Of course, the prices are “French” - both for suspension parts with Renault markings, and for brake pads with discs of the same name (and XRAY distinguished itself by managing to erase the pads in the rear drum brakes for the first time in the history of testing), so in the end the maintenance and repairs reduced the editorial budget by 67,575 rubles. Which, taking into account the consumption of tires and fuel, places the Lada XRAY in only fourteenth place out of nineteen in our reliability rating.
The braiding of the handbrake cable is frayed by its own clamp, miraculously attached directly to the plastic gas tank
And even the fact that the prices for spare parts after our previous testing seasons increased by 30-50% (and for tires by 10-15%) does not change the balance of power: any of the Ladas without admixtures of French blood cost us less than the XRAY. And of the cars on the B0 platform, costs were higher only for the Nissan Almera sedan.
Well, we just have to find out how the Lada XRAY will survive the upcoming frontal “insurance” crash test using the RCAR method at a speed of 15 km/h, which allows us to estimate the cost of subsequent restoration. Also not cheap in French?
XRAY did not surprise me with the set of parts that required replacement: shock absorbers, silent blocks, brake pads, discs. Everything is predictable. Except that the rear brakes almost didn’t last until the end of the run; I didn’t expect this, because before there were no problems with “drum” pads. The problem with a bunch of burst expansion tanks is understandable: the dealers in their warehouses had exactly the same defects that were installed at the factory.
I was afraid for the new VAZ engine, but towards the end of the run it stopped smoking and began to consume oil moderately. The “robot” functioned disgustingly from the very beginning, giving hope that it would break. But he didn’t get any worse, and that’s how he approached the finish line.
I think that X has proven itself to be a strong middle peasant. But what I definitely don’t like is the prices for spare parts; kind words don’t fall on the tongue. Moreover, they are not in stock - order and wait. There is, of course, a three-year and one hundred thousand warranty; but it is only flawed: a lot of details do not fall under it. The same shock absorbers, for example. And pads and discs are generally consumables. So the maintenance of this car will cost a pretty penny.
The inevitable future replacement of foreign suppliers by domestic ones is also sad. At the very least, this will not improve the quality of the product. Previously, one could put up with this situation: it might be bad, but it was cheap and affordable. Now, when the price of new VAZ models has risen sharply, the buyer has the right to demand quality from them. Will he receive it? There are big doubts.
Gl@s people
Messages from internet forums xrayclub.ru, ladaxray.ru, lada-xray.net
The tank burst at 4250 km, the car has been in service at the dealer for a week, a replacement has been agreed upon under warranty. But there are no tanks: we are waiting, they say, for the car to come from the factory, we can’t wait.
I changed the expansion tank three times. On the third, I bought a cover from a two-liter Megan, drove eight thousand kilometers - so far everything is in order.
The car only ran four thousand kilometers, and the oil according to the marks on the dipstick dropped below the middle! During smooth acceleration, the “robot” abuses high gears, does not allow the engine to spin up more than 1900-2000 rpm, and detonation is clearly audible.
During a cold start, the hydraulic valve compensators of the 1.8 engine tap. When the car warms up there is no knocking noise.
After starting the engine, after three seconds the speed drops to a minimum. Then after a couple of seconds they rise to the workers.
The power steering whistles. More precisely, it is a squeaking or electronic sound. Appears during warm-up and when turning.
After inspection, the dealer discovered play in the upper steering rack shaft. There is only one way out - replacing the rack.
Immediately after the purchase, I noticed the increased jumping ability of the rear beam. It jumps quite a bit on speed bumps, as well as on bad roads in general.
Sometimes when you turn the steering wheel you hear a sound as if something inside is rubbing against the plastic. The most interesting thing is that after some time after the start of the trip, the knocking completely disappears.
On bumps you need to hold the steering wheel with both hands: on every pothole it jerks back and forth. In general, the car shakes on the highway, it’s difficult to drive faster than 80 km/h, it bounces all the time.
| Some measurement results Autoreview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Options | Start of testing | End of testing |
| Maximum speed, km/h | 185 | 182,4 |
| Acceleration time, s | ||
| 0—50 km/h | 4,4 | 4,5 |
| 0—100 km/h | 12,6 | 12,5 |
| 0—150 km/h | 31,5 | 31,1 |
| on the way 400 m | 18,4 | 18,4 |
| on the way 1000 m | 33,9 | 33,8 |
| 60-100 km/h (D) | 6,8 | 6,9 |
| 80-120 km/h (D) | 8 | 8,1 |
| Run-out, m | ||
| from 50 km/h | 687 | 703 |
| 130—80 km/h | 868 | 881 |
| 160—80 km/h | 1299 | 1299 |
| Braking from 100 km/h | ||
| path, m | 39,1 | 39,4 |
| deceleration, m/s² | 9,9 | 9,8 |
| Costs for a Lada XRAY car | ||
|---|---|---|
| Mileage, km | What was spent on | Amount, rub. |
| 0 | Generator (under warranty) | — |
| 240 | Expansion tank | 400 |
| 5000 | Intake system resonator | 1650 |
| 8030 | Engine plastic cover retainer | 110 |
| 8980 | Front brake pads | 4980 |
| 11790 | TO-1 (oil, oil, air, cabin filters) | 4895 |
| 11820 | Expansion tank | 400 |
| 13830 | Front brake pads | 4980 |
| 13830 | Front brake discs | 8700 |
| 16940 | Expansion tank | 400 |
| 18660 | Rear shock absorber | 3360 |
| 24060 | TO-2 (oil, oil, air, cabin filters, spark plugs) | 5500 |
| 25000 | Front brake pads | 4980 |
| 26900 | Front shock absorbers | 11400 |
| 26900 | Front shock absorber boots | 1160 |
| 27300 | Stabilizer links | 980 |
| 29000 | Air supply pipe to the glove compartment | 120 |
| 30300 | Exhaust muffler screen | 960 |
| 31000 | Rear suspension beam silent blocks | 6800 |
| 31500 | Rear brake pads | 2500 |
| Topping up engine oil (for the entire period) | 3300 | |
| Total for maintenance and repairs | 67575 | |
| Other expenses | Tires (3 sets) | 37200 |
| Gasoline AI-95 (average consumption 14.3 l/100 km) | 168840 | |
| Total expenses | 273615 | |
Firstly, the “crossover,” as the Volga residents themselves called it, has nothing in common with crossovers. Consumers never saw the all-wheel drive once promised by AVTOVAZ, and the ground clearance of 195 mm can be called enviable at a stretch - for real SUVs it starts at 200 mm.
What can I say, if only a couple of months ago the Tolttinians had the function of disabling the traction control and stabilization systems. In other words, the Xray is the most ordinary passenger car, a B-class hatchback, only a little taller. So, it seems that the Volga residents failed to outsmart consumers with reports of the appearance of the first crossover in the history of the domestic auto giant.
Secondly, already in the first months of operation, the owners of the new product began to encounter - and talk about it on the Internet - various small but annoying problems that probably cooled the desire to acquire a car among some potential buyers. Well, who would like “crickets” and extraneous sounds in the interior of a new car due to poorly fixed plastic panels?
It’s better not to remember about the oil consumed excessively in some cases and the squeaking noise in the steering rack. The brooding “robot” also played a clearly negative role, not allowing the rather powerful 122-horsepower engine to fully reveal its potential. In the latter case, the Togliatti residents, however, corrected themselves. They just “married” the engine with an adequate five-speed “mechanics” from Renault a little late - at the end of 2016.
But main problem from the point of view of market prospects, of course, was its price. Despite all the shortcomings, which to one degree or another are characteristic of almost all new cars, the car was quite a success, but... Why put a price tag on it that exceeds the price of the “donor” - Renault Sandero Stepway? Moreover, the latter has proven itself well: it drives decently and is not fussy to use, even if it looks less modern and is poorer equipped than the Xray. In addition, although formally, it is a foreign car.
However, it is not for us to judge the marketing games in the AVTOVAZ-Renault-Nissan alliance, but the fact remains a fact. The most elegant configuration of the Stepway with a manual transmission and a 113 hp engine. costs 755,990 rubles, while for a 122-horsepower engine and manual transmission it will force the buyer to fork out 773,900 “wooden”. The difference of almost 20,000 for a rear view camera, rain and light sensors seems to be justified, but for a product of the domestic auto industry it looks provocative.
With the “two-pedal” versions the situation is even more interesting: for the notorious “Xree” “robot”, coupled with “luxury” options, you will have to pay at least 798,900 rubles. A Sandero with a traditional and indestructible hydromechanical automatic transmission, albeit in combination with a less powerful 102-horsepower engine, will cost 785,990. An interesting policy, you will agree.
It is clear that anyone new car Upon entering the market, it begins to “delight” with all sorts of surprises from time to time. It’s not for nothing that manufacturers refine “raw” cars right at the height of sales. But the situation is different - the Togliatti auto giant has never been distinguished by high-quality assembly and a long service life of its products, so, in general, there is no point in finding fault with them. If it weren’t for a high-profile novelty, not just any kind, but the first “crossover” (read: hatchback) in the history of the domestic brand, which the Volga residents presented so pretentiously and beautifully that they stopped looking at foreign cars. But did he reach their level?
LET'S CREAK A LITTLE LITTLE
In order to understand what you should prepare for when purchasing XRAY, we talked with the owners of these machines on the specialized forum XrayClub.ru. Typically, “ladovods” mostly drive cars, although some operational aspects still cause dissatisfaction. For example, “crickets” and extraneous sounds in the cabin: the most common concern is the creaking in the glove compartment, on the left side of the dashboard and in the area of the driver’s door. The reasons lie in poorly fixed plastic panels. After they are strengthened, everything falls into place and the sounds disappear.
ROCKING ON THE WAVES
Xray drivers have a lot of complaints about the rear pillars. On uneven road surfaces, the car jumps like a frog - the discomfort is especially felt by second-row passengers, who risk inadvertently getting rid of recently eaten food and leaving dents in the ceiling. In addition, on the transverse waves of asphalt, the car has to constantly steer. A way out of the situation is found by replacing the standard gas struts with oil struts.
WE REQUIRE TOP-UP
No less critical in some cases is the need to add oil to the engine. For some, almost all the lubricant is consumed over 1000 km, while others add 400 to 600 grams of liquid after every thousand. Moreover, regardless of the engine installed on the car. However, there are those who do not face such a problem at all. Dealers get off after the fact standard phrases: they say, this is how it should be, and the “oil burn” is just a consequence of running in the engine.
HOWLING WOLF
If you are considering buying an Xray with a manual transmission, then get ready for the fact that, among other things, it will remind you of itself with an unpleasant howl. This happens when starting from a standstill and at the moment of switching from first gear to second, until the engine speed reaches the two thousand mark. Apparently, this sore will remain ineradicable for VAZ workers. Owners also criticize the twitching of the gearbox when driving with a cold engine. True, owners of cars with a mileage of more than 15,000 km claim that jerking and howling will disappear over time.
WE DON'T CHALLENGE
Among other features of the car, it is worth highlighting the squeaking sound in the steering rack when entering a turn, glare from the front panel on the windshield and overly small mud flaps that serve no more than a decorative function. In addition, the floor is covered with non-rubberized carpet: rain-snow-dirt - and
Production of the Lada XRay at AvtoVAZ began on December 15, 2015, and sales began on February 14, 2016 at 120 dealers in 56 cities. During 2016-2018 the car was mercilessly tested by many car owners and based on their reviews we can talk about the pros and cons of Xray.
Almost three years have passed since the start of sales, allowing the owners of purchased cars to test them in the most different conditions operation, and this testing not only confirmed the advantages of the Lada X-Ray declared by the manufacturer, but also revealed shortcomings that the concern is working on during the production process.
From the many different reviews from car enthusiasts, we will select the negative ones, consider their reasoning and group them into areas:
- Body;
- Trunk;
- Salon;
- Engine;
- Optics;
- Transmission;
- Brake system.
Body
Lada Xray was expected since 2012, moreover, as a crossover, but, 3 years later, to the disappointment of those expecting the presentation, it still resembled a small hatchback with increased ground clearance to 195 mm and only front-wheel drive.
The spectacular profile of the sides of the Lada X Ray, the embossing of the doors and wings has a downside - the difficulty of restoring oval contours on these body parts after damage.
There are no roof rails on the XRay roof, so it is not possible to install a roof rack on top, other than a rare universal one from the 60s, and the price of foreign-made luggage boxes is several tens of thousands of rubles.
The hood in the open position is fixed low - by a short strut, which makes access to the engine compartment inconvenient - you have to bend over.
The body sills are not protected by any coating underneath, and as a result of the abrasive effect of gravel flying from under the wheels (common to a crossover), they quickly begin to corrode.
The volume of the Lada XRay fuel tank is small for a crossover - only 50 liters. In addition, the gas tank is equipped with a primitive metal inlet neck without drainage or any protective linings. The hatch cover, behind which the neck is located, is disproportionately large, does not have any locking device and opens freely from the outside without driver intervention.
The side mirrors of the Lada XRay, given the height of the car, are small, so they are not only visually disproportionate to the body, but also have little information. At the same time, the amplitude of mirror adjustments (the travel of the adjusting lever) is clearly insufficient, since tall drivers who move the seat far back have to manually install the mirror element into a comfortable position through the lowered window of the driver's door.
The protection of the engine compartment from below needs improvement, as the engine becomes very dirty even after a short off-road drive.
The doors of the Lada XRay do not have fixed positions after opening, which is inconvenient when there is wind or the car is stopped on a slope.
XRay glass, both side and windshield, has low abrasion resistance. After a few months of use, scratches appear on the windshield from the operation of the windshield wipers, and on the side ones - from lifting and lowering.
The X-Ray engine compartment seals, even though they are installed even in the front part, do not cope with their task of protecting the engine from dust from above. The reason for this is an unsuccessful cross-section profile and insufficiently elastic manufacturing material.
Trunk
The volume of the standard trunk of the Lada XRay is 361 liters - a decent figure, but still not enough for a crossover. In addition, there are other complaints about the trunk.
The body opening for the trunk lid is small and, moreover, due to the design of the rear lights, it is narrowed in width in the upper half. This imposes restrictions when loading oversized luggage.
The dimensions of the trunk lid glass do not provide sufficient visibility from the rear panorama from the cabin, so the manufacturer equipped the car with a parking sensor system and a rear view camera.
The floor in the luggage compartment is two-layer, the top layer is a removable false floor with eyelets at the corners for securing luggage. The strength of the raised floor is not designed for the transportation of heavy objects - under the influence of a load concentrated on a small area, it bends, and close friend The location of the fastening eyes to each other creates inconvenience when tying slings to them.
Under the raised floor there is a second bottom covered with a sheet of cardboard with a fleecy fabric trim. The distance between the trunk floors is 10-12 cm over its entire area, and the purpose of this space is uncertain. In addition, the material of the second floor is not waterproof.
Optics
A serious drawback of equipping the Lada XRay with optics is the lensless block headlights, although they are already divided into low and high beam.
The fog lights do not have a beveled reflector to illuminate the roadside, and are installed too deep in the bumper sockets - dirt and snow from the road accumulate in these sockets along the way, and weak fog lamps (not LED) aggravate the poor lighting situation.
Attempts to independently adjust these headlights do not improve the situation.
The red fog lamp, installed in the center of the lower part of the rear bumper, due to the aerodynamic features of the Lada X-Ray, is covered in a layer of snow from the road in winter, and the engine exhaust only aggravates the situation.
Salon
The interior of the Lada X-Ray is a bit cramped for a crossover, especially in the rear. The comfortable seats are decorated with a high-quality, non-staining and pleasant-to-touch fabric, but even moving the front seats not completely back makes it uncomfortable for the passengers sitting behind them.
Moreover, there is no light above the rear passengers, and there is nowhere for them to put drinks - there is only one cup holder for 3 seats, and the pockets in the backs of the front seats are of small capacity.
Plastic interior trim - door cards, front panel look attractive, but are very hard to the touch and noisy on contact.
The upholstery material is low-quality carpet, not dense enough, and rubber mats for this model are not cheap - 3 thousand rubles.
In the first batches of Lada XRay that came off the AvtoVAZ assembly line, the backlighting of the instruments on the control panel was turned on manually; after modification by the manufacturer, the instruments are constantly illuminated, but there is still no indication of the coolant temperature.
There is no reach adjustment for the steering wheel, only height adjustment.
The location of the window lifters is unfortunate - you have to use them with your hand bent backwards.
The width of the A-pillar trim covers impairs visibility from the driver's seat; hidden areas could be smaller.
The noise insulation of the wheel arches leaves much to be desired - every pebble can be heard from under the wheel.
The display size of the standard head unit is large, but its information content is low - at a time, not counting the amount of fuel in the tank, only one parameter is displayed.
Engine
Equipping the Lada X Ray with HR16DE engines (1.6 liters, 110 hp), despite its reliability and efficiency, has been discontinued since June 2016. The Nissan engine is installed only in the “XRay” anniversary series modification, limited in quantity; all other cars are equipped with domestic VAZ-21129 and VAZ-21179 engines. Let's look at the disadvantages inherent in both of these internal combustion engines.
The dense layout of the space under the hood, due to the irrational arrangement of the air ducts, makes it difficult to access the engine for routine maintenance, especially keeping it clean, as discussed in the “body” section.
The service life of both engines is 200 thousand km, which is not enough for a crossover. The gas distribution mechanism (GRM) drive is a belt drive, which is significantly inferior in reliability to a chain drive.
It is recommended to replace the timing belt after 180 thousand kilometers, while on the VAZ-21179 this operation is complicated - there are no usual marks on the pulleys, so the camshafts must be removed, and they are secured with a special tool.
If the timing belt breaks, the standard pistons of both engines, due to their configuration, bend the valves, and replacing the pistons with tuning ones deprives the car of warranty service.
The VAZ-21129 and VAZ-21179 engines are quite noisy, and only additional layers of sound insulation in the engine compartment reduce the noise level in the cabin.
Transmission
The Lada XRay is equipped with two transmission options: mechanical and 5-band robotic transmission type AMT of the VAZ-21827 series.
There are no objective complaints about the manual transmission, but there are complaints about the “robot”:
- according to the operating rules, a robotic automatic transmission does not need to be warmed up, but in practice, driving without warming up is accompanied by jerks;
- when standing in a traffic jam for a long time, you need to switch to “neutral”;
- the VAZ-21179 engine in combination with this transmission ensures acceleration of the car to 100 km/h in at least 10.2 seconds;
- quick overtaking on the highway is only possible when the gearbox is switched to manual mode.
Suspension
The Lada Xrey suspension is assembled from components from the manufacturer Renault and adapted to operating conditions on Russian roads.
The first impression is that it is a little harsh, but this assessment becomes an advantage after you are convinced of the stable operation of the suspension, regardless of the profile and type of road surface - it confidently “eats” unevenness and does not break through in potholes.
Brake system
On the Lada XRay, depending on the configuration, wheels are installed on R-15 or R-16 rims. Regardless of the size of the wheels, the brakes are disc in front and drum in the rear, the efficiency of which is much lower.
The list of shortcomings will probably be added to by car enthusiasts over time. Some of them will be taken into account by the manufacturer and eliminated, while others will be considered consistent with the declared class of the car. However, we can say with confidence that the list of advantages of this car is many times greater than the number of disadvantages, and after the manufacturer improves the Lada XRay model, it will become an even more desirable acquisition for a wide range of car enthusiasts.
The “X”-shaped series of domestic cars continues to delight its fans with new products. The latest creation of this series was the Lada X Ray, which from the first minutes of its appearance became the subject of many disputes. Since the car is an improved twin brother of Renault Sandero, strict critics immediately began to compare it with its progenitor.
To everyone's amazement, the results were as follows: the car is significantly superior to the Sandero both in terms of maneuverability and quality of control. In addition, its appearance has been improved by designers who have given it a certain touch of authentic German design.
Many car owners are pleased to note that there is a certain similarity with Cayenne
However, during use, some malfunctions of the Lada X-ray were also noted, which are worthy of being voiced. Their systematization and features of manifestation will allow potential owners to understand which aspects should be emphasized.
Engine Lada X Ray
Speaking of engines, it’s worth mentioning right away that the engineers took full care to provide a choice. So, the machine can be equipped with the following engines:
- VAZ-21129 with a volume of 1.6;
- HR16DE with a volume of 1.6;
- VAZ -21179 with a volume of 1.8.
All engines love to “eat” 95 gasoline, but the Renault-Nissan HR16DE will not refuse 92 gasoline.
Statistics based on long-term observations tell us that the VAZ-21129 has the longest life expectancy. Unfortunately, its slight advantage does not mean that it is not susceptible to common X Ray "diseases", which include:
Gas pedal drops, followed by inability to reduce speed
This problem, as paradoxical as it may sound, is caused by the inability to operate correctly at low temperatures. Residents of the northern regions claim that when the temperature drops to -20 degrees, the pedal becomes inhibited and does not allow the speed to decrease. The treatment is to replace the original electronic pedal contact, as it cannot withstand severe frosts.
The engine is adjusting
VAZ -21179 distinguished itself here. Owners note unstable operation in frosty weather, but as soon as operating temperature is reached, the symptom goes away. There is no treatment as such - this point, rather, relates to the characteristics of the engine model and does not have obvious dire consequences.
Leaking seals (crankshaft, camshaft)
All engines from the series have a decent oil appetite
To avoid this problem, an immutable rule for every owner will be.
Transmission Lada X Ray
Of all the obvious problems with the transmission (which, by the way, the Lada engineers succeeded better than other parts of the car), one can only include noisy operation.
The main problem is noted by the happy owners of traditional mechanics. Very often, increased switching noise frightens owners, who turn to service in a panic. , this problem can also be traced, but to a lesser extent.
There is no treatment as such, since the study has established that even with deliberately loud noise in operation, the mechanism operates according to the “protocol”. For those who want to reduce noise, there is only one piece of advice - change the oil in the box. When new oil arrives, the mechanism will operate at maximum productivity and minimal damage, which means reduced operating noise.
If you want to choose the X Ray with the quietest box, we recommend focusing on the robot
The time frame for each possible operation is not limited to 100 thousand km. Practice has shown that their potential can exceed the “norm” by 2 or even 3 times (with proper care).
Chassis Lada X Ray
The walker is not X Ray's trump card. The engineers borrowed everything that was possible from Sandero, “seasoning” the arsenal of capabilities with increased ground clearance.
Before plunging into the world of suspension malfunctions, it should be noted that in front it is represented by the expected MacPherson strut, and in the rear by its semi-independent brother. This solution has some advantages, namely:
- significantly reduces the cost of repairs;
- creates the possibility of availability of spare parts.
Roughly speaking, the chassis is made in such a way that you don’t mind driving on not very good roads. Now to the “diseases”. It is necessary to mention that all the data given below are, rather, the norm, since the operating mode of most models leaves much to be desired.
Excessive wear of CV joints
“Changing grenades for our brother is the same as going out for bread,” one respected compatriot once said, and it’s quite difficult to disagree with him! The hinges, which ensure the transmission of equal angular velocities, work in conjunction with the entire suspension, and it, in turn, has a “habit” of finding itself in “indecent” conditions.
Some owners claim that, thanks to the selection, they found other options from foreign manufacturers that show best result. However, it is stupid to recommend this action, since if a foreign body “wedges” into Lada’s “organism”, it may respond with failure of other systems.
Noisiness
It is what it is. The walker works mercilessly, absorbing the blows of fate from our roads. Naturally, the sounds of its “struggle” with the road can be heard in the cabin (apparently, the designers decided that this was a kind of piece of boasting - they say, listen to how great the chassis works). This feature is not easy to treat - the owner will have to deal with sound insulation, which involves ripping out the interior, followed by installing everything back.
Body and interior of Lada X Ray
make sure that your “iron horse” is reliably protected by covers
In terms of performance, owners note that the seats are uncomfortable (replacing them is quite expensive, as there are many factors to consider). In addition, their coating loses its external luster over time.
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