Only after leaving the salon, I could say I was shocked by the “robot” - everything that was written about it turned out to be true.
How I chose between Polo, Rapid, Solaris, Rio, Creta and Capture (I don’t think I forgot anyone :)) and why, after testing a bunch of options, I still bought the Vesta Cross station wagon, I described in detail here. Now it's time to share first impressions. First of all, from the long-suffering robot. I’ll say right away that at first we couldn’t find a common language with him, “not at all.”
Modifications of Lada Granta - types of gearboxes
| Equipment | Gearbox type |
| Lada Granta Sedan | |
| Standard | MT |
| Norm | AT/MT |
| Lux | AT/MT |
| Lada Granta Liftback | |
| Standard | M.T. |
| Classic | M.T. |
| Classic Optima | MT/AMT |
| Comfort | MT/AMT |
| Luxe | MT/AMT/AT |
| Luxe Prestige | M.T. |
general information
The first Lada cars with automatic transmission rolled off the production line in 2012, and their sales began at the same time. The cost of the car was about 400 thousand rubles. For this money, the car enthusiast gets a car with a 1.6-liter engine and 98 horsepower.
Conveyor Lada
Japanese automatic transmission in Lada Granta - works like a clock
The process of integrating the Japanese gearbox with the Tolyatti Lada engine was very difficult. To coordinate the operation of these units, domestic engineers had to turn to their Austrian colleagues for help. Many settings of the Japanese automatic transmission had to be abandoned, since the box with them was too slow. As a result, VAZ specialists, together with the Austrian company AVL, managed to eliminate all the shortcomings of the system and successfully match the JATCO transmission with the Lada engine.
Test drive Lada Granta automatic (automatic transmission) video
Today, about 50,000 Lada cars with automatic transmission are sold annually. In addition to Granta, later automatic transmission was also installed on Kalina. Needless to say about the reliability of the JATCO transmission itself, if it is equipped with many world-famous car models. According to the results of numerous test drives and reviews from owners, it can be stated that the quality and reliability of the Grant automatic transmission are ensured at a high level. The domestic auto industry has finally managed to create a truly high-quality product.
Automatic transmission background information
Jatco - four-speed automatic transmission with transverse arrangement. Factory index JF414. Installed on Lada Granta Sedan/Liftback cars.
Initially, the Jatco JF414 automatic machine was manufactured to equip the Japanese brands Nissan and Suzuki. Since 2013, the Zhatko automatic transmission has been equipped with the Chinese automobile brand March.
Salon
Explanation of the abbreviation JF414:
- J – Jatco;
- F - front-wheel drive;
- 4 — number of gears;
- 14 — ordinal modification index;
- E - electronic control.
Features of Grants with automatic transmission • Lada Granta 2017
| Reviews of the Lada Granta Automatic - the pros and cons of this car Many drivers working with the delivery of products or promotional materials pointed out the problems of traveling in populated areas with poor-quality roads. Moreover, it is more difficult precisely in the cold season, because in the heat the owner only needs to monitor the engine temperature and the operation of the air conditioner. |
| Reviews of the Lada Granta automatic - the pros and cons of this car According to the manufacturer, the service life of the switching unit is at least ten years, all wiring, terminals and the control board are reliably protected from dust, moisture and low temperatures, which made it possible to expand the temperature range of use of the gearbox . Despite minor shortcomings and problems in the operation of the model, the general opinion is positive and most buyers recommend it to their compatriots. |
- J – Jatco;
- F - front-wheel drive;
- 4 — number of gears;
- 14 — ordinal modification index;
- E - electronic control.
Tips from experienced car owners and mechanics • Simply replacing the sensor can solve the problem.
Reviews of Lada Granta automatic
| № | Positive |
| 1. | Vladimir: the transmission is functional, picks up from the bottom, picks up speed very quickly from the start at traffic lights. |
| 2. | Kirill: a vigorous start from a standing start, which is convenient and practical in megacities. Fuel consumption is 1.0 liter more than the mechanical type, but for me this is not significant. |
| 3. | Vyacheslav: the dynamics of picking up the lows is clearly noticeable on the machine. Unlike a number of other brands, including European ones, lethargy is not typical. |
| 4. | Ivan: The automatic transmission works quite smoothly, the moment of gear shifting is practically not felt. What is missing is sound insulation. Of course, it is present, but the thickness of the felt upholstery is not enough for complete silence. |
| 5. | Sergey: It’s very nice that when you sharply press the accelerator pedal, the “Kickdown” mode, the automatic transmission quickly shifts the gear to a lower position. You can feel the speed of transition when overtaking or sharp maneuvers. |
| 6. | Oleg: despite the lack of manual control in the automatic transmission, the manufacturer left manual control for the first two speeds. Very convenient and practical when overcoming road obstacles, |
| 7. | Vyacheslav: the machine has a mechanical “Overdrive” button preinstalled; turning it off helps to operate the engine at higher speeds. This is very convenient and practical when overcoming road obstacles, snow drifts, and shallow fords. |
| Negative | |
| 1. | Alexander: despite numerous modifications to the Zhatko automatic transmission, vibrations and increased noise at speeds over 100 km/h are still present. This causes discomfort; the driver is forced to raise his voice so that passengers can hear him. |
| 2. | Ignat: a 16-valve engine is installed together with the automatic transmission, the maximum torque is set at the “top”. During rapid acceleration, the automatic transmission pulls the torque to the top, the tachometer needle borders on the red zone. At such moments, the roar of the engine in the cabin can be clearly heard. |
| 3. | Dmitry: during long climbs, the automatic transmission systematically shifts to lower gears, pushing the tachometer needle into the red zone. |
| 4. | Vasily: Unfortunately, Zhatko does not have a manual gear shift mode. This is very inconvenient if you frequently use the machine on rough terrain. Those who live on the periphery will understand me. |
| 5. | Vladimir: Zhatko’s gearbox is of the direct type. The “Drive” position is located third from the beginning. To move the selector to the “Drive” position, you need to take your attention away from the road. There is a preset indicator on the dashboard to indicate the current gear, but the display size is very small. |
| 6. | Victor: I don’t recommend this type of automatic transmission for the Lada Granta, as it’s already at 45,000 km. Replaced gaskets and solenoids. The torque converter clutches were also damaged. |
| 7. | Vasily: my sensors and the electrical ROM board of the automatic transmission “flyed”. The reason is a manufacturing defect. Fortunately, they replaced it free of charge under warranty. |
Link on topic:
Review and technical characteristics of manual transmission - automatic transmission Lada Granta. Typical faults
Lada Granta with automatic and robot
After the appearance of the Granta version with an automatic transmission in 2012, which was installed on this model until 2015, many experts agreed that AvtoVAZ really brought to the market a high-quality budget model with an automatic transmission.
In fact, the experience of ordinary car enthusiasts confirms that this is indeed the case. The reason is quite obvious, since VAZ did not experiment and went along the proven path, equipping the Grant with a “classic” 4-speed hydromechanical Japanese automatic transmission.
More precisely, the Granta was equipped with a Jatco JF414E automatic transmission, which is also installed on compact models of Nissan, Mitsubishi, Suzuki, etc. The specified Grant automatic transmission is simple, with a torque converter, quite reliable and quite repairable.
If you follow all the rules and recommendations for maintenance and operation, such an automatic machine can easily cover 200 thousand km. and more without repair. The main thing is to change the transmission fluid every 40-50 thousand kilometers. As a last resort, replacement is allowed at 60 thousand km. It is also strongly recommended to fill with original ATF EJ-1 or Matic-S oil.
Putting aside the significant increase in price of the Lada Grant with an automatic transmission, the increased fuel consumption, the need for more expensive and frequent maintenance, as well as a slight decrease in acceleration dynamics, otherwise there are no complaints about the automatic transmission on the Grant.
Premature failure usually occurs only through the fault of the owner himself, who operates the automatic transmission incorrectly or aggressively, does not change the oil in the automatic transmission for a long time, uses cheap analogues instead of the original ATF, etc.
It is important to understand that any torque converter boxes are sensitive to slipping (clutches burn), overheating and large “shock” loads (sharp starts, towing a trailer, etc.).
Also, in some cases, leakage of oil seals and gaskets, damage to the automatic transmission pan due to its low location, as well as contamination of the oil in the machine as a result of active wear of the torque converter locking friction linings were noted.
- Taking into account the disadvantages of the automatic transmission and the high cost of the unit, which led to an increase in the price of the car as a whole, VAZ decided to replace the classic Jatco automatic transmission with the AMT 2182 robotic gearbox.
The specified manual transmission began to be installed on Grant at the beginning of 2015. It is based on a 2180 mechanical transmission, where instead of cables and a clutch pedal, an electromechanical gearbox drive developed by the Germans from the ZF company is used.
As a result, the Lada Granta with the AMT robot has become more economical compared to an automatic transmission, acceleration dynamics have improved, and transmission maintenance costs have decreased. However, such a robot is a cheap solution, which also has disadvantages.
First of all, the AMT gearbox differs from an automatic transmission in that it is significantly inferior to traditional automatic transmissions in terms of comfort and smoothness of shifts. Single-disk robots of this type are characterized by jerks, jolts, dips and delays, which are especially noticeable during active driving.
For example, if you drive calmly at first speed and sharply press the gas pedal to accelerate, the transmission “thinks” for quite a long time, is in no hurry to engage second, immediately switching to third gear, etc. In other words, a robot in automatic mode can behave unpredictably, which excludes the possibility of actively using the car and practicing aggressive driving.
We also recommend reading the article on how to properly ride a robot box. From this article you will learn about the features, as well as the subtleties and nuances that need to be taken into account when operating a robotic gearbox.
At the same time, during a quiet ride, jerks during switching, as well as delays and dips, are kept to a minimum. For lovers of active drive, it is recommended to use the manual shift mode (similar to the Tiptronic automatic transmission).
This mode is semi-automatic, that is, the driver does not fully control the box, as is the case with a manual transmission, but when independently controlled, the manual transmission behaves more predictably in manual mode.
It should also be noted that some owners note a characteristic howl in first and second gear, although the noise level is not high and can disappear almost completely after break-in. However, later, by 50-60 thousand km. run, the robot may start to work noisily again.
Some owners in this situation are helped by changing the oil in the robotic box, while others still note the presence of extraneous noise to a greater or lesser extent even after this procedure.
Manual Transmission Background Information
The design of the Lada Granta manual transmission is nothing more than a modernized version of the manual transmission from the VAZ-2108. Until 2022, lever-type manual transmissions were installed. The new Lada Granta Sedan / Liftback (2018) is equipped with a cable gear shift mechanism.
Unlike the lever type, the cables are placed on top, which is convenient and practical when carrying out diagnostics and repairs. The shape of the clutch housing has also undergone changes and has become smaller in size. However, this did not affect the functionality of the manual transmission in any way.
Mechanics
Changing the oil in an automatic transmission Lada Granta Lada Granta 2022
| Lada Granta fuel consumption per 100 km Through an integrated approach to the development of a new gearbox, engineers managed to achieve a level of gearbox operation no worse than that of competitors in the price segment. Giving up the car is not an option, but trying to reduce fuel consumption, in particular on the Lada Granta, can be considered an acceptable option. |
- braking;
- acceleration;
- duration of the ride;
- its intensity;
- speed is both minimum and maximum possible.
Owner reviews about Lada Granta mechanics
| № | Positive |
| 1. | Vyacheslav: in general, manual is better than automatic, especially for rough terrain. Poor quality road surfaces are not suitable for automatic transmissions. This is what became the key factor in choosing the type of transmission. |
| 2. | Sergey: I wanted to buy an automatic, but due to the peculiarities of the geographical area in which I live, a manual one is the only right solution. |
| 3. | Slavik: I’ve been familiar with mechanics for several decades now, I know the strengths and weaknesses, the machine is still a little damp. Let them improve it a little. |
| 4. | Vitaly: in bad weather conditions, it’s hard to find a better manual transmission. Despite the presence of a mechanical “Overdrive” button in the machine, it is not possible to fully control the engine. |
| 5. | Victor: I’ve been actively using the Granta for a year now, I have no complaints, the transmission works properly. I believe that it doesn’t matter what type of gearbox, the main thing is systematic maintenance and timely oil changes. |
| 6. | Volodya: I like the mechanical type of gearbox, it picks it up from the bottom, who knows, he will understand. If an emergency maneuver is necessary, you can always switch to a lower gear and complete overtaking. You can also do this automatically, but it will take much more time. |
| 7. | Vitya: for me, as a taxi driver, manual gearbox control is much more effective than automatic. In a metropolis, it is necessary to quickly respond to changes in traffic conditions; this will not work with an automatic transmission. |
| Negative | |
| 1. | Vasily: despite the efficiency of the manual transmission, one liter less, the automatic is much more practical and functional than its predecessor. |
| 2. | Dmitry: Japanese “Zhatko” is an ideal solution for the domestic VAZ. The transmission is very “smart”, it understands when to shift to a higher gear, and when, on the contrary, to engage a lower one. |
| 3. | Gennady: after 60,000 km, the synchronizers on my mechanics began to fall off, so I contacted the service center. The workmanship is poor, it is better to buy with an automatic. |
| 4. | Ivan: for a 16-valve engine, the mechanics are not enough, the gear ratio is not adjusted by the gearbox. Automatic transmission is essential. |
| 5. | Savely: I bought a Granta with mechanics, I thought I made the right choice, but it turns out I was wrong. The transmission failed at 70,000 km. |
| 6. | Vladislav: except for replacing the cable control levers, nothing has changed from the VAZ 2108. For that kind of money, it’s better to buy with an automatic transmission. |
| 7. | Kirill: I don’t recommend the mechanical type of transmission, it’s a weak box for such a powerful engine. |
Related link:
Device diagram and step-by-step instructions for replacing the clutch on a Lada Grant
General first impression and features of AMT
During my first trip (directly from the car dealership), I immediately felt sad and sad: an automatic is not an automatic, but god knows what: the car jerked, and the gears were switched according to a principle I did not understand. During the test drive, although there were comments about the robot, they were not like that! In all other respects the car is of course super. There are no questions: it’s comfortable to sit, everything is there, it’s soft (and this despite the fact that the height of the tires is only 50.
As for AMT: after driving about 20 km, I decided to switch to manual mode (I started changing gears myself) - it became much better, the car drove great! As a result, I drove almost like a handicap for several days.
After about 5 days (the mileage at that time was about 300 km), I began to use the regular AMT auto mode more often. The box has probably already been rolled in, because... Shifts have become much smoother. This was a relief, because, to be honest, by this point I was already doubting the correctness of the choice, and thought that it was better to give preference to the mechanics.
After another week (about +300 km), I completely stopped using the manual mode, and also eliminated the use of gas (I stopped releasing it when switching). It should be noted that even between 1st and 2nd gears the car does not sag: it is not much different from a 4-speed automatic. It so happened that AMT and I got used to each other (I get used to AMT, and AMT gets used to me!). I have formed a new habit: I press the gas about a second before the maneuver, which allows the transmission to switch to a lower gear (do not stop at a traffic light, but smoothly roll up to it, like in a manual transmission). But the robot still changes gears quite slowly.
Lada Granta automatic or manual, which is better?
Each of the above types of transmissions certainly has its own advantages and disadvantages. Before purchasing a machine, clearly determine the type of geographic area where the machine will be used and the climatic conditions.
It has been verified that the automatic machine does not like frequent switching or start-stop modes. The solenoids wear out quickly and the torque converter clutch knocks. Since all automatic transmission parts are interconnected, prevention alone is not enough; a major overhaul is needed. It is expensive and time-consuming.
Mechanics are another matter. Despite the complaints addressed to it, the unit is quite working and functional. The final word belongs to the owner.
