We have compiled our rating of AvtoVAZ models based on popularity among car owners.
Author: Dmitry Kovalev, editor
December 27, 2018
We can endlessly criticize our roads and our AvtoVAZ for the disgusting quality of workmanship, for their improper appearance, for their short service life, for expensive repairs and for the fact that we can constantly find new shortcomings. But at the same time, on these same roads, the number of these same VAZs not only does not decrease, but rather the opposite.
LADA 2181 "Priora"
Cars produced by PJSC AvtoVAZ from 2007 to 2022. A very popular car among young people due to its comfort and ease of assembly. By 2009, the production of this model became a priority for the plant. The first restyling took place in the 2013 LADA 2181 What's new here is that you can see daytime running lights, the suspension has been modernized, and a directional stabilization system has appeared. During its production, the car received both a manual 5-speed gearbox and a robotic 5-speed gearbox. As for the engine range, there is a VAZ-21116 with a power of 87 hp. and VAZ-21126 with a power of 98 hp. There is a company in Togliatti that specializes in tuning Russian production cars. It installed VAZ 21128–26 and 21128–27 engines with a volume of 1.8 liters and a power of 123 hp. and 130 hp respectively.
The easiest way to determine engine condition
As you know, there are two fools at the market, the first wants to sell at a higher price, the second wants to buy at a lower price. And since when selling a used car, the owner praises everything he can, but it’s not always possible to verify these words even after driving, even a broken engine can pull as it should, but consume oil, which cannot be determined in one drive. So many uncomprehending people get caught doing engine overhauls after buying a car.
But knowing the simple signs to determine the condition of the engine will no longer get you to this repair, but if you like the car, you can reduce the price for engine repair by pointing out these signs to the seller. Below is a video where the main features are given, using the example of an eared engine.
Gorobinsky S.V.
VAZ 2121 "Niva"
Which Russian doesn't like driving fast? Even if we assume that there are such people, they will definitely prefer impenetrable forests, swamps and other impassable terrain to speed. This is where it’s worth mentioning our nugget. The VAZ 2121 is recognized by many authoritative foreign publications as the progenitor of crossovers. This car is an example of unpretentiousness and many other qualities that are so valued by the simple Russian car enthusiast. Naturally, one could argue which car wins the title of the best Russian SUV, but you must agree that the VAZ 2121 is so universal that it allows you to feel comfortable both in the city and beyond. The model has been produced since 1977 to this day. There were many power plants. The most common after 2002 and restyling of the model was the VAZ-21214 engine with a volume of 1.7 liters and a power of 83 hp. The transmission was first 4-speed manual gearboxes, then 5-speed. "NIVA" has permanent all-wheel drive. I can talk about this car for a very long time. For example, here’s an interesting fact: the model was named “NIVA” in honor of the children of the model’s creator, Pyotr Prusov, Natalia and Irina, and the children of the first chief designer of VAZ Solovyov, Vadim and Andrey.
conclusions
Despite many questions that arise regarding domestic cars, modern VAZ and UAZ models have reached a level where they can compete with their foreign classmates. The main weapon of Russian cars is their affordable price and maintainability.
One of the main arguments in favor of the attractiveness of Russian cars in the eyes of domestic consumers is that despite dozens of factories of the world's best corporations opening in the Russian Federation, just remember Ford, Hyundai, Volkswagen, the number of VAZs and other Russian cars is not decreasing. They attract not only with their relatively low price and availability of service, but also with increased reliability.
VAZ - 2112 "Dvenashka"
Five-door hatchback, built on the basis of the 110 LADA . The model was produced from 1998 to 2008. Produced from 1998 to 2008. “Dvenashka” was produced with a body shortened (compared to the VAZ-2110) to 4170 mm (trunk volume 400 l), due to which the car has clearer reactions to turning the steering wheel. It was this body that retained all the positive qualities of the 110 LADA and received an increased trunk by folding the rear seats. The most powerful engine installed on this model is the 16-valve 1.6-liter VAZ-21124. The only thing better and more popular than this car was the same car in a 3-door configuration. The VAZ 2112 coupe still evokes enthusiastic exclamations from Russian youth. I don’t think it’s worth telling how many tuning projects based on the “twelve” can be found on the Internet.
Driver reviews
I bought myself a Lada 4×4 as a workhorse and for going fishing in remote places. The cross-country ability is excellent, the reliability corresponds to our realities. I took it in the coolest configuration to experience all the advantages of a domestic jeep. For more than 2 years nothing has broken, I only change consumables.
I exchanged my foreign car for a new Granta. The car turned out to be no worse, and in some aspects even better. In the first year and a half I drove 15 thousand km. During this time, the front wheel bearing and battery had to be replaced under warranty. I have no other complaints. The cabin is quiet, there are no “crickets” or squeaks, the engine and transmission operate smoothly, and the suspension is almost inaudible over bumps.
Locally assembled cars dominate the Russian market, accounting for almost 62% of the Russian vehicle fleet. Most of them are VAZ. The company's products have evolved noticeably in recent years, preserving the best traditions of the Lada brand, and delighting fans with modern solutions.
VAZ 2107 "Seven"
Legendary car. Without exaggeration. There is not a single person in Russia who does not know about this model. Some people buy it as their first car, while others, once purchased, never part with it. VAZ 2107 “Zhiguli” is the longest project of the Russian automobile industry, it was produced for exactly 30 years. It first rolled off the production line from 1982 to 2012. This model is a modified luxury version of the VAZ-2105 , which, in turn, traces its origins to the Fiat 124, produced in 1966. Compared to the “five”, this version received a more powerful 77-horsepower engine, a modified chrome radiator grille, more comfortable seats with a built-in headrest, plastic bumpers with chrome lining and some changes in the electrical system. Interesting fact: the VAZ-2107 is very popular in Hungary, where it has long maintained the status of a cult car and is often used in car rallies.
Comparison of configurations
Lada Vesta is a newer model of AVTOVAZ, and accordingly has a number of modern options that are not available from Granta:
- Side airbags
- Automatic activation of the hazard warning lights during emergency braking
- Automatic door unlocking and hazard warning lights in the event of a collision
- Emergency warning system ERA-GLONASS
- Center armrest with angle adjustment
- Illumination of entry and exit points in the front doors
- Reach-adjustable steering column
- Driver's seat with height adjustment and lumbar support
- Rear View Camera
- Cooled glove box
- Cruise control and speed limiter
- Multifunction steering wheel
- Multimedia system with navigation
The TOP version of Lada Vesta Exclusive has even more options:
- Seat upholstery combined eco-leather/Alcantara
- Leather steering wheel
- Textile rugs
- Pads on the pedals
- LED interior lighting
- Reinforced tinted rear windows
- Spoiler
- Decorative exhaust pipe nozzle
- 16" alloy wheels original
VAZ-2109 "Nine"
Probably the most popular car in the VAZ line. Ask any person to name the first model of the VAZ brand that you remember, and in 90% of cases you will receive the answer “nine”. Of course, it is very debatable whether the car is a 5-door version or a 3-door version ( VAZ 2108 , in common parlance - “Eight”) Here the choice depended on the fact - whether it was purchased only for a loved one or for the family. This model began to be produced in 1987. Modifications were supplied to the market with 4-cylinder carburetor engines of 1.1 l, 1.3 l, 1.5 l and received either a 4-speed or 5-speed manual transmission. In 1994, the car received an injection version of the 1.5 liter engine. In Russia, the VAZ-2109 was produced until 2004, and in Ukraine right up to 2011.
What should the first car be like?
Today, the market offers a huge range of new and used cars, among which it is easy for a novice driver to get lost. The criteria for choosing a car for a beginner differ from the requirements for an experienced driver to place his iron horse. Why? It's all about lack of driving practice, which increases the likelihood of accidents. Therefore, it is worth listening to the opinion of experts who advise motorists without driving experience to buy a used car.
Experienced drivers recommend choosing a car that has been in use for no more than 1 year. If you're on a budget, buy:
- a domestically produced car that has been used for no more than 3 years;
- a foreign car that has been driving for up to 5 years.
This age of a car does not threaten frequent breakdowns
However, pay attention to the mileage of the car: it could be driven only on holidays and weekends and kept practically new, but it could be driven 300 km daily, accelerating the wear of parts and components
Why should you choose a used car? Due to lack of experience, beginners have a poor sense of the dimensions of the car, behave uncertainly on the road, and therefore often make mistakes while driving and parking that lead to damage to the car. Agree, hitting a brand new car is much more offensive than hitting a used car.
Some drivers believe that buying a new car will force a beginner to take more care of the car and follow traffic rules. In our opinion, this is misleading. Responsibility does not compensate for lack of experience.
Particular attention should be paid to safety issues. The first year of driving has a high accident rate
Not only the car gets damaged, but also the people in it. Your task is to protect yourself and your passengers as much as possible, so make sure your car has airbags and seat belts, as well as an anti-lock braking system (ABS), which helps you cope with driving in rain and ice.
It is not necessary to purchase parking sensors: they will protect you from the danger of crashing into a pole or tree, but they will not save you from the bumper hitting a curb or another car.
Choose a car with economical fuel consumption. Gasoline consumption for an experienced driver is one third lower than for a new driver. The driving style of an inexperienced motorist increases the appetite of the iron horse, so you should not buy gluttonous jeeps at the stage of gaining first experience.
- Buy a car from a famous brand. Accidents and breakdowns require spare parts that cannot always be found quickly. The more famous the brand, the higher the likelihood that stores and service stations will have parts for its cars.
- Give preference to cars with small dimensions. Nimble and nimble small cars make it easier to navigate city streets crowded with traffic and make parking easier. If you have some initial experience, subsequently transferring to a larger car and quickly getting used to its size will not be difficult.
- Should I buy a car with an automatic transmission? Expert opinions on this issue are divided. Some believe that having an automatic transmission helps you fully concentrate on the situation on the road, without being distracted by changing gears. Others argue that driving with a manual helps you get a feel for the car and provides invaluable experience that can be useful in the future. The choice is yours, but keep in mind: you can switch from a manual to an automatic without much difficulty, but to do the opposite, you will have to work hard.
- Don't bother with tuning. It is much more important that the car has good tires that ensure safe driving. If your car is unlucky with it, buy new tires separately.
Today on the Internet you can find statistical data containing information about what color cars are most often involved in accidents. If, in your opinion, they are convincing enough, when choosing your first car, also focus on its color.
