The modern “VAZ” model Lada Granta has justifiably gained popularity over its history (since 2011) in the market space and has become a worthy replacement for the outdated “fifteenth”. In the first couple of years of its existence, every 15th model sold on the Russian market was a Lada Granta. Multiple demands forced the manufacturer to resort to production optimization. Since 2014, a new modification at that time - the liftback - has been officially sold. The then new product had a more advantageous design and improved design solutions. After the release of the progressive modification, many car enthusiasts wondered which Lada Granta liftback or sedan body to give preference to? And in order to understand which is better, and actually what to choose, you need to compare the versions.
Next, we will dwell in detail on the differences between the designated versions of the Lada Granta liftback and, accordingly, the sedan in order to identify the priority option in terms of consumer qualities.
About the advantages of Lada Granta - sedan
The inherent popularity of this modification of the Lada Granta is indicated by:
- versatility, because the sedan is characterized by the practicality of a “workhorse” and applicability to the status of a family car for various types of trips;
- a wide range of configuration options: from the cheapest “Standard” to the comfortable and sophisticated “Lux”;
- enviable ground clearance (160 mm), which allows you to overcome minor off-road conditions;
- spacious interior that can comfortably accommodate adult passengers;
- practical interior decoration;
- spacious luggage compartment, in addition to which the manufacturer has equipped the car with a full-fledged spare tire.
Currently, the indicated qualities of the Lada Granta car are among the most valuable and advantageous aspects for the owner in comparison with the not very elegant exterior. This inclines many customers to choose a sedan; many believe that a sedan is better. They even sacrifice the more beautiful design of the Lada Granta liftback in order to get a significantly lower price for the car and its availability in terms of maintenance activities.
What is better to buy: Lada Granta sedan or liftback
Basic equipment1.6 16V MT Comfort1.6 16V AMT ComfortAdditional equipmentPrice of basic equipment, rubles597 900622 900Price of tested car, rubles629 900654 900
| ABS | ||
| Front airbags | ||
| Immobilizer | ||
| Signaling | ||
| Isofix child seat attachment | ||
| ERA-GLONASS | ||
| Electric power steering | ||
| Steering column with tilt adjustment | ||
| Adjusting the driver's seat height | ||
| On-board computer | ||
| Heated front seats | ||
| Folding key | ||
| Central locking with remote control | ||
| Front electric windows | ||
| Heated and electrically adjustable exterior mirrors | ||
| Climate control | ||
| Audio system with USB and SD connectors | ||
| Integrated Bluetooth hands free system | ||
| Railings | ||
| Alloy wheels with 205/55 R16 tires | ||
| Robotic gearbox | – | |
| Luxe package | 26 000 | 26 000 |
| Rear electric windows | ||
| Fog lights | ||
| Rear center armrest | ||
| Rain sensor | ||
| Light sensor | ||
| Electrically heated windshield | ||
| Rear parking sensors | ||
| Cruise control | ||
| Speed limiter | ||
| Metallic color | 6000 | 6000 |
The new modification received new options. Among the good things worth noting is the appearance of:
- standard immobilizer;
- sound reminder about the key left in the ignition;
- indicator of unfastened seat belts;
- hydraulic headlight leveler.
None of this was on the sedan. The liftback parts are fastened with screws that are reliably protected by an anti-corrosion coating. The previous version of Grant could not boast of this.
Liftback or sedan?
The most visible differences between the Lada Granta liftback and sedan, described above, enable the potential owner to make a more precise choice. The main difference between the two cars is the external design. Compared to the Grant liftback, the sedan looks boring and dull.
Despite the fact that in our country sedans are treated much warmer than hatchbacks and other body styles, most owners of the four-door Granta shrug their hands dejectedly: if they had known that the hatchback would turn out to be so successful, they would have delayed the purchase.
But the list does not end with those changes that are visible to the average buyer. In addition to the fifth door, updated design and equipment, the Granta liftback received many technological innovations.
Firstly, AvtoVAZ designers tried to correct as much as possible the flaws that plagued the Granta sedan (the automaker’s employees learned about the main complaints from the relevant forums on the Internet).
So, the fastening screws were replaced, which in the four-door Grant simply crumbled from corrosion.
The importance of the liftback body
The release of the Lada Granta liftback modification became the primary project for AvtoVAZ in terms of applying foreign experience in the production of several body styles.
But did the manufacturer really limit himself to body modifications only, or did the modernization affect the interior and driving performance? To understand which is better, the versions must be compared, and probably then the question of which to choose will disappear by itself.
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Grant speed sensor
Hatchback in the city
What is the difference between a liftback and a hatchback, what is the difference? We begin to answer the question by considering the first body type, namely the hatchback. Today in a large city you need to have a car that provides maximum comfort and at the same time has excellent maneuverability. It can be noted that the last century was 100% the reign of sedans on the roads, but with today's boom in cars, they are no longer so welcome in urban environments.
For example, you can often hear that due to the length of the sedan, it is not always convenient to maneuver from lane to lane, and parking is not worth explaining.
How to solve the problem associated with the length of the car? Automakers found a solution by radically changing the car body, namely:
- The trunk compartment was connected to the passenger compartment;
- the rear of the car was greatly shortened;
- They placed the engine transversely and made it front-wheel drive.
Such a radical change in the sedan body led to the birth of a new body – the hatchback. It can be translated from English as: “hatch back.” The combination of the trunk and the interior is bad only in one case
: When a car is involved in an accident, the contents of the luggage compartment are thrown into the cabin.
Design changes and liftback auxiliary options
The new look of the LADA Granta Liftback gives it an undeniable brightness, but the sedan against its background looks a little dull and boring. For many, this is already an indicator of what to choose.
- A distinctive feature in comparison with the sedan is the color of the bumpers in body color.
- Minor changes affected the front bumper, where modified recesses appeared. This helped give the exterior a certain modernity. Otherwise, the appearance of the front end is identical to the sedan. Built-in niches for fog optics, which have a distinctive design, added a little charm.
- The contours of the exterior mirrors have acquired their own style and originality, which in turn adds an aerodynamic flair. Turn signal repeaters are also integrated into their housings.
- Moving the license plate to the lower edge of the rear door allowed the developers to place a fog light in the niche vacated on the bumper.
- The angle of inclination of the pillars and glass of the stern contributed to improved aerodynamic properties. The sloping shape allows the glass to not need to be cleaned for a long time, which eliminates the need for a rear wiper. This concept was first implemented in AZLK models.
- The shape of the rear headlights has become narrow, but in general terms it repeats the optics of the rear of the sedan.
If we compare, the design of the front door panels of the LADA Granta Liftback contains limiters that allow the effect of closers to be achieved at the moment of closing. The manufacturer also added an innovative seal. This solution led to the elimination of the creaking effect when unlocking the door and the elimination of glass rattling that occurred in the sedan.
Features of the liftback
Liftbacks are most popular in the American market
A liftback is a passenger car that is almost identical in design to a sedan and combines elements of both a hatchback and a sedan. In this model, the rear overhang is not made in a vertical form, but neatly flows into a protruding trunk.
Liftbacks often implement several methods to open the rear door - either entirely or exclusively with a protruding element.
The word liftback is derived from the English. lift - to raise, back - back and means “rising back”.
Transformations affecting the chassis and body components
The manufacturer made every effort to eradicate the flaws inherent in the sedan.
The Lada Granta configurations in the “Standard” and “Norma” versions have acquired new settings in the suspension, where a special role is given to modified shock absorbers. The springs were carried over from the sedan. The suspension has become more suitable for country roads. Here passengers perceive bumps and potholes more comfortably.
The luxury equipment will delight you with a new suspension design, where a powerful stabilizer and rigid spring elements are located as a separate link. This solution is aimed at increasing stability and reducing amplitude during rolls.
Also, you should not ignore the gas-filled shock absorbers, which were previously equipped exclusively with LADA sports cars. The brake unit has increased responsiveness and information content due to the use of an updated vacuum booster.
The ground clearance has increased by 15mm, which will be especially gratifying for those who like to conquer off-road terrain.
If we compare, the design of the liftback does not imply the presence of a body-strengthening bulkhead located in the stern. The rigidity of the body frame was increased by strengthening the underbody and roof panel, as well as making adjustments to the design of the middle spar.
How does a liftback differ from a hatchback?
The wheelbase is 2200.00 mm, the rear track is 1416.00 mm, and the front track is 1401.00 mm. Ground clearance (clearance) - 160.00 mm. The unladen curb weight is 824 kg. Under the hood of the Honda Ballade Sports CR-X 1.5i Automatic there is a 1488 cc naturally aspirated engine. see Type of gas distribution mechanism - SOHC (single camshaft in the cylinder head). The number of cylinders is 4, the number of valves per cylinder is 3. The cylinders are arranged in-line. The engine orientation is transverse, and its location is forward. The cylinder diameter is 74.00 mm, the piston stroke is 86.50 mm. Compression - 8.70:1. Engine power reaches 81 kW / 111 hp. at 5800 rpm, maximum torque 134 Nm at 4500 rpm. Fuel system - programmable fuel injection. The car has a frontal surface area of 1.7000 m2, a drag coefficient of 0.33, and a drag area of 0.5610 m2. The gearbox is automatic, provides 3 gear stages. The final gear ratio is 0.91:1. The final drive ratio is 3.59:1. The filling capacity of the fuel tank is 41.00 l. The steering is rack and pinion. Front tires size: 165/70 SR 13. Rear tires: 165/70 SR 13. Front brakes: drums, power steering. Rear brakes - drums, servo booster.
Honda Ballade Sports CR-X 1.5i Automatic E-AF (1983) - Maximum Power - Other Models
Maximum engine power of Honda Ballade Sports CR-X 1.5i Automatic E-AF (1983). Data on other Honda models with engines with similar or equal power.
Modernization of equipment
The question of what to choose is relevant, so it’s worth fully understanding what’s what. The liftback will please you with a more diverse version in terms of configuration, including the pleasant presence of the following options:
- immobilizer;
- seat belt indicator;
- hydrocorrector of headlights;
- play an audible warning if the key is left in the ignition.
Fastening elements, which in the sedan tended to quickly corrode and collapse, are replaced here with more durable analogues with improved corrosion resistance.
Distinctive features of the hatchback
In the event of an accident, the contents of the trunk may “fly” into the cabin and injure passengers sitting in the rear seats.
The hatchback is characterized by the following features:
- the luggage section is combined with the salon;
- the rear overhang has been significantly shortened;
- The main standard is a drive system with a transversely mounted motor.
New cars began to be called hatchbacks, since they are equipped with a rather unusual design with a rear door through which access to the luggage compartment appears. Today, hatchbacks are produced in three- and five-door configurations.
The word hatchback is derived from the English. hatch - hatch and back - behind, which literally means “rear hatch”.
Comparative technical parameters of the sedan and liftback
Next, we will perform an enlarged comparison of the technical aspects of these modifications of LADA Granta in order to provide greater clarity.
- The engine displacement of both versions is identical and is 1.6 liters.
- Gas tanks have the same volume in terms of capacity, 50 liters each.
- In terms of luggage compartment capacity, the leader is the sedan with a value of 530 liters, while the liftback can only offer 440 liters of free space for luggage. If the latter folds down the rear backrests, the trunk will increase to 760 liters.
- If in terms of maximum speed the sedan is ahead: 182 km per hour versus 179, then in terms of dynamic capabilities the liftback is already on the pedestal (12.3 seconds to a hundred versus 14.2 seconds).
- The modifications are equipped with 8-valve engines in the LADA Granta sedan and more advanced units with 16-valve timing mechanisms. Both engines have the same displacement of 1.6 liters. The engine option with 8 valves will please you with its design simplicity and, therefore, cheaper maintenance. But for the 16-valve unit, higher levels of speed, power and dynamics are available.
What is a liftback? What does it look like and how does it differ from a hatchback?
A liftback (sometimes you can find it spelled with the letter “E” - liftback, which is not entirely correct) is a type of hatchback in which the rear door (and the word hatchback can be translated as “rear door”) has a small protrusion and, in the closed position, looks more like a liftback classic sedan. This is what distinguishes a liftback from a hatchback
Here, for example, is what the Seat Toledo liftback looks like with the rear door closed. Is it really easy to mistake it for a sedan?
And this is what the same car looks like with the back door open:
On some liftbacks, the trunk opens in two ways - either together with the rear window, or only with a protruding metal part.
This is what it looks like in a Skoda Superb car - the photo shows a car with a closed trunk and two options for an open trunk:
Well, here is a typical Chevrolet Aveo Hatchback:
As you can see, his back door runs almost perpendicular to the ground and has no protrusions. Despite all the advantages of hatchbacks (they can carry oversized cargo, especially if you fold the back seat), not everyone likes this appearance, which is why liftbacks are gaining more and more popularity. This body type is especially often used by the Skoda brand, now owned by the Volkswagen concern.
By the way, in the USSR they also produced a car with a liftback body - this is the IZH-Combi
Literally from English liftback can be translated as “rising butt”.
We also recommend reading:
• Which drive is better - rear or front?
• Which is better - automatic or manual?
Cars with a Hardtop body have several features that set them apart from the rest, namely: there are no central roof pillars, no fixed window frames.
Moreover, the absence of central pillars is the main feature of a car with a Hardtop body.
Price
The minimum equipment level of the liftback is rated higher than the “Standard” version found in the sedan. More specifically, you will have to pay 314.8 thousand rubles for the liftback. Whether it is rational to overpay for the improvements indicated here is up to the buyer to decide.
The manufacturer plans to equip the sedan with the options present in the liftback in the near future. The restyling process for the LADA Granta is expected to be carried out this year. Today, the liftback has a number of undeniable advantages over the sedan regarding the exterior and driving parameters, but still, which is better, everyone chooses for themselves. When choosing a suitable modification, you should first study the full list of features. It is also not recommended to neglect your own priorities and preferences. Consider the difference between modifications not only in characteristics and equipment, but also in a financial sense. If you are willing to pay more for a presentable design, interior improvements and slightly increased performance, then the liftback is your option. But in fairness, we note that today the liftback is brighter and more balanced in comparison with the sedan, and this allows us to mark it as the leader of our review.
What is better to buy: Lada Granta sedan or liftback
The Grant sedan, mass-produced since 2011, has become the most popular car in Russia. The high level of sales was determined by the affordability of the car and its disproportionately large external attractiveness, which distinguished the car favorably from the fairly outdated model 2115. Decent demand forced the manufacturer to expand its offer by introducing a liftback to the market in 2014. This variation of the Grant has a more advanced exterior and body structure, as well as many other innovations. Given the opportunity to choose, lovers of domestic cars seriously thought about what to take - an older, but already proven sedan, or a modern liftback? This article will help you understand this issue.
Specifics of Grants sedan
The good sales level of the Lada version under consideration is explained, first of all, by practicality. The sedan perfectly fulfills the role of a family and business car. It is convenient to use for transporting heavy things and can be easily converted into a taxi.
