Car enthusiasts have always criticized the domestic auto industry. When asked which is better, Granta or Kalina, they answered that an old rusty Opel is better. However, despite the reviews and opinions of car enthusiasts regarding VAZ products, car sales are at a stable level, and sometimes growing, especially recently. Therefore, the question of which is preferable, Kalina or Grant, worries many drivers.
Lada review
Kalina was launched into production back in 2004. This car was the first and only of all domestic B class developments. The characteristics of the sedan are almost the same as those of cars from European manufacturers. Kalina was produced in a 4-door version. The trunk volume was 380 liters, the vehicle weight was 1,070 kg. The car is equipped with a gasoline engine with a capacity of 81 hp. With.
Kalina had a 5-speed manual transmission and front-wheel drive. The suspension is spring, the front brake is disc, but the rear is drum. Development of Kalina began in 1993. Since the first drawings appeared, a lot of time passed before the car came off the assembly line. Manufacturers delayed the release due to the fact that this model had already become outdated at the time of release. After all, 10 years passed from the first drawing to release.
Despite the difficulties, Kalina managed to earn herself particular popularity and, for the most part, positive reviews from car enthusiasts. This is a budget car, so the prices were very attractive. The large scope for tuning was also impressive.
Brief technical specifications
Dimensions (L x W x H), mm
| 4,246 x 1,700 x 1,500 | |
| Curb weight, kg | 1 160 |
| Ground clearance, mm | 185 |
| Trunk volume, l | 440 – 760 |
| Fuel tank volume, l | 50 |
| Engine | petrol, 1.6 l, 106 l. With. (98 hp)* |
| Transmission | mechanical, 5-speed; automatic, 4-speed |
| Drive unit | front |
| Acceleration 0-100 km/h, pp. | 11 (13,7) |
| Maximum speed, km/h | 177 (167) |
| Average fuel consumption, l/100 km | 6,7 (7,6) |
Car appearance
The appearance of the first Kalina did not have any significant features. There is nothing attractive about the exterior, especially if you look at the first photos of the car in 1993 and the production version. Kalina was distinguished by a smooth, even contour and a streamlined roof. The bumper and headlights resembled old foreign cars. The designers tried to come up with a comfortable body and interior with sufficient capacity.
This sedan, according to numerous critics, looked ridiculous. Over time, the project was closed, and Kalina was replaced by Grant. Kalina's body is 65 percent galvanized. All main parts are also galvanized, but this does not protect the components from corrosion. According to the manufacturers, the reason is a violation of the conditions in which the cars operate, or improper, untimely care.
The sedan's interior looks as discreet and unprepossessing as the body. The plastic surfaces are finished with a two-color material, which made the interior a little livelier. The basic equipment of the Kalina includes a power window and an adjustable steering column. The dashboards are easy to read, and the computer allows you to make the car modern, convenient and safe.
Although Kalina’s dimensions seem small on the outside, inside, in the driver’s seat, a large person can easily fit. The rear seats are also spacious. As for handling, in Kalina it is quite easy. However, there is no need to compare this model with European cars. She still has problems. This is poor sound insulation, body sway at high speeds.
Lada Kalina, version 2
For 10 years now, domestic car enthusiasts have been driving Kalina. But in the summer of 2013, VAZ released the long-awaited car - the updated second generation Kalina. AvtoVAZ developers did not provide a separate platform for it.
Kalina 2 is built on the basis of the previous Kalina, like Grant. The body has not undergone any fundamental changes. Engineers made only minor improvements. So, the car received new bumpers, fenders, and the rear side windows were updated. He inherited the hood and front fenders from Granta. And the bumper, headlights and grille are completely exclusive. The front bumper protrudes slightly forward due to the new radiator. The new headlights are equipped with running lights, but the car will not have lensed headlights.
The new Kalina in Norma and Lux trim levels will receive an electric drive for the fifth door lock. Now it can be opened with a button on the key fob. However, a regular button on the door is still missing. Since the body of Kalina 2 remained the same, the interior remained the same dimensions as the old Kalina. It is also comfortable for tall people and very spacious.
There are new details in the car's interior: door panels and wide armrests from Granta, and a cup holder for rear passengers. The seat belts were hidden in the wall. Kalina 2 has a completely new original instrument panel. At the same time, it was designed for climate control. The new climate system is much more successful; during operation it is noticeably quieter than the old one.
The Norma will only be equipped with air conditioning, while the Lux will be equipped with a new American air conditioner. He is much smarter, he can control the temperature and air flow himself. The multimedia system in Kalina 2 is completely new. There is a touch screen and the display is mounted quite high, making it quite spacious. There was no breakthrough with the chairs. Nothing has changed here, although the seats are just as soft and comfortable.
There are still problems with the headrests. The tilt steering wheel is also quite tight. Kalina 2 has three engines. They are gasoline, designed for A-95. The Standard and Norm will have a 1.6-liter 8-valve engine with 87 hp. With. The engine is slightly more powerful than the previous generation. Luxury trim levels will have a 1.6-liter 16-valve engine. The intake system was not upgraded. It will only be combined with a cable transmission.
The engine runs quite confidently. The automatic transmission will first be installed in the Lux package, and then in the Norma package. This machine is not new, it was installed in Granta. All three engines will now be equipped with new American, more efficient radiators. The developers of Kalina 2 managed to solve many problems that Kalina had in the first version.
Review of Lada Granta
This car is said to be the best-selling of all domestic brands. Granta premiered in May 2011. It is made on the basis of the famous Kalina first version. We managed to effectively solve the price problem and improve quality. The developers kept within the cost limits, and Granta became more practical and attractive.
The body is enlarged, the front part is equipped with rectangular headlights, the front bumper has a false grille. According to the technical parameters of the Grant, it is a C class. From the inside it has become more elegant. But the plastic is hard, the interior is decorated more strictly, there are practically no frills. The seats are flat, the interior is spacious, there are cup holders and various shelves.
They did a good job on the sound insulation of Granta, it is at a very high level. The system has been improved structurally. However, the mass of soundproofing materials has not increased. Comfort in terms of noise is quite satisfactory. As for the technical parameters, the engines that are installed on the Grant have different characteristics, from 1.4 to 1.6 liters, depending on the type of configuration.
A negative point for many car enthusiasts is the price of the Grant, even though it is positioned as a budget car. The motor has good traction parameters. The suspension is quite energy-intensive and can work well on bad roads, or even off-road. The steering wheel is strong, you can feel the connection between the driver and the car. Granta drives clearly and predictably.
Drawing conclusions
Which car is better - the new Lada Granta liftback or the Kalina hatchback? In many ways, the issue of choice is determined by price. In this regard, Granta is a winner. Externally, Kalina looks better - it has greater potential for tuning and styling.
The interior of these cars is almost the same. "Lada Granta" only wins in trunk volume. The quality of plastic and sound insulation in both versions suffers greatly. But "Kalina" is slower than "Granta". For young people, price and acceleration dynamics are decisive factors. Therefore, the new Lada Granta (liftback) wins this “battle”.
Granta vs Kalina
We looked at the Kalin and Grant models. It would seem that these cars are practically no different from each other. It is not surprising that many are wondering what to choose: Lada Kalina or Lada Granta? The design was created by different groups of engineers. Lada Granta and Lada Kalina have a modern appearance, both have a recognizable appearance. Granta was created practically from scratch. The second Kalina has a more aggressive appearance.
AvtoVAZ used one engine for several models. The difference between the Grant and Kalina is small; the power part is practically the same in both cars. The engineers did a great job with the suspension. As a result, the Grant, like the Kalina, has a redesigned suspension, which also has a good service life.
If everything is clear about the suspension and engine, then nothing is clear about the transmission. What's better? The latest Grants are equipped with a manual transmission with cable traction. The same system is installed on Kalina. The box is excellent, there are practically no vibrations. It must be remembered that the Grant is equipped with an assault rifle, Kalina 2 will also receive this assault rifle.
After the Granta was released, car enthusiasts and car enthusiasts took measurements of the bodies and were surprised. Granta has thinner metal in the body. The factories explained this by using a different metal with different characteristics. The manufacturers said that the new metal has exactly the same characteristics as the first version of Kalina. But Granta’s body is easy to bend, the metal is very thin.
Manufacturers even managed to save on bumper plastic. If we make a comparison, then Grant is inferior to Kalina. Over time, closing and opening doors on Grant becomes difficult. You need to make an effort. This was not observed on Kalina.
First meeting
"Lada Kalina" is a family of front-wheel drive small class cars (B-segment). The car has been mass-produced since 2004 in two generations (the body is a five-door hatchback). "Kalina-2" was released in 2012 and amazed many. The manufacturer refined the appearance, improved the interior and added new engines. "Kalina" has earned the title of people's car. This is a nice and inexpensive car, as reviews characterize it. The Lada Granta has been mass-produced since 2011. This is a subcompact car, which is available in different bodies:
- Liftback.
- Five-door hatchback.
- Sedan.
The main feature of Grants is its low price. It is due to its low cost that this machine has become so widespread. "Granta" replaced several outdated models at once - "Lada Samara" and "Ten" in different bodies. The manufacturer claims that the components of these cars are 70 percent unified with Grant. This indicates the high maintainability of the model.
Vehicle configurations
If you do not focus on cost, but compare only the functionality based on the configuration, then you can compare these indicators. Kalina 2 comes standard with electric power steering, a shorter steering rack, airbags, top rails, an ashtray, 14-inch wheels, a cigarette lighter, and power windows. Grant doesn't have all this.
Lux and Norma have a greater range of different options. You can compare the luxury Granta and the middle versions of Kalina; they practically do not differ in price. The most expensive Granta has heated and electric front mirrors, fog lights, electric windows on the front doors, door handles and mirrors in body color.
Kalina 2 only has a heated windshield. In addition to the functions described above, the luxury Granta, like the Kalina 2 Norma, has an on-board computer, an alarm system, athermal windows, heated seats, power accessories on the front doors, an air filter in the cabin, ABS, climate control, and multimedia.
Kalina 2 or Granta hardly differ from each other in terms of the dashboard, and there is a significant difference in the seats. The seats on the Lada Granta are uncomfortable; relatively cheap materials are used on the seats. Kalina 2 has more comfortable, convenient anatomical seats.
Lada Granta is not a very quiet car. If you drive on gravel, the impacts of stones on the body are felt well. Viburnum is also imperfect, but the difference in these indicators is very noticeable. So, from all of the above it follows that Kalina is more comfortable, but Granta is cheaper. What to buy is up to you. Good luck with your choice!
What's under the hood of cars?
Both cars have fairly similar 4-cylinder engines, having the same volume - 1598 cm3. Three trim levels have maximum engine power, which is 87, 98 and 106 hp. With. At the same time, Granta has a basic configuration with an 82 hp engine. With. Car engines run on gasoline, their torque reaches 4200 rpm. at 148 N.m in the most expensive configuration. Fuel consumption is 8.5 liters in urban conditions, 7.3 liters in the combined cycle and 5.7 liters per 100 km outside the city.
The engine allows you to reach a maximum speed of 175 km/h for Granta and 171 km/h for Kalina. The higher speed of the first model is due to the optimized aerodynamic characteristics of the body. In general, both cars are equipped with engines that differ little from each other. According to the head of the Grant and Kalina projects, Oleg Grunenkov, the cars are equipped with an updated type of suspension, the development of which was focused on the suspension of budget cars produced in Russia. This means that both cars have an upgraded suspension with increased service life.
Speaking of transmission, it is worth mentioning that there is no clear leader in this issue either. The latest configurations of both models are equipped with a modern 5-speed manual transmission. Gears shift quite smoothly, and there is no unnecessary noise or rumble while driving. Each of the cars has special configurations with automatic 4-speed gearboxes from the Japanese manufacturer Jatco, which specializes in manufacturing automatics for foreign cars such as Nissan Tiida and Nissan March.
Under the hood of Kalina
It is necessary to dwell separately on the Granta generator, since it fails on almost all cars produced in the first half of 2012. Owners complain that the breakdown is detected after 3-5 thousand kilometers, and dealer service stations refuse to fix it, citing a lack of spare parts.
