Despite all the difficulties that have arisen in the automotive industry due to the pandemic, new items continue to appear on the market: this year there were several dozen of these cars in Russia. “RG” has collected ten of the most long-awaited and discussed cars, sales of which started in 2021.
Lada largus
AvtoVAZ has released the updated Largus, which received a VAZ-11182 engine with a capacity of 90 hp, which promises to be more reliable and economical than its predecessor.
Outside, the model received a new X-shaped tail of the body, which changed the aerodynamics, and headlights from the Renault Logan II. Inside, there is a new steering wheel, improved media system and side-bolstered seats. The luxury equipment includes additional noise insulation.
Updates have undergone not only standard Lada Largus, but also Cross-performance. The factory price for the Largus Cross starts at 982,900 rubles, the Largus station wagon – from 812,900 rubles. With dealer specialties it will be even more expensive.
Lada Niva Travel
The restyled compact SUV has topped the list of best sellers this year. Production of the car officially began at the end of 2020, but it appeared at dealerships in February 2021. In the summer, the SUV began to be produced at AvtoVAZ.
Niva Travel received an updated exterior: not only body elements, but also a bumper group along with headlights. The model has four-wheel drive, a 1.7-liter gasoline engine with 80 hp, a five-speed “mechanics”. The transfer case has a downshift and a forced center differential lock.
Users complained about the low-power motor. However, it is distinguished by great endurance and relatively cheap repairs. The cons can be written all the same transmission units and wheel bearings. On the plus side is the increased survivability of the body metal.
Obviously, a full-fledged modernization of technical units would directly affect the price of an SUV. The manufacturer promises a qualitatively new Niva not earlier than 2024. The factory price for the car starts at 858,900 rubles. Do not forget about the dopa and mentally twist the numbers up.
Hyundai Tucson
Sales of the fourth generation of the Hyundai Tucson crossover in Russia started in the summer. Unlike Europe, a version with increased dimensions is presented on the domestic market. The long hood has transformed the look of the crossover, which now resembles a coupe. And the interior and trunk have become noticeably more spacious.
The Russian buyer can choose one of several configurations: Classic, Family, Lifestyle, Prestige and Family Plus and Lifestyle Plus specially designed for our market. The basic version has front-wheel drive, the rest are all-wheel drive. There are several engine options depending on the equipment. Basic gasoline atmospheric engine 2.0 with a capacity of 150 hp. comes complete with a six-speed “mechanics” or automatic transmission. A more powerful new petrol power unit 2.5 with 190 hp. is paired with an eight-speed automatic. There is a version of the diesel 2.0 with 186 hp. with the same machine.
But the main feature of the premiere is a bunch of electronic options that turn the car into a fashionable gadget. It can be started remotely, heated windows and seats can be selected, and the microclimate can be adjusted. There is adaptive cruise control, lane hold function, remote parking, and a bezel-less digital instrument panel with a 10.25-inch screen. Combined with a futuristic design and excellent ride performance, all this makes the Tucson very fresh and attractive to young people.
However, the pleasure of becoming the owner of the updated Tucson will not come cheap: the factory price for the Classic starts at 1,954,000 rubles.
Kia Carnival
The fourth-generation Kia Carnival cross-van in Russia was met with great demand. First of all, because it has no competitors in its class.
The ground clearance increased to 182 mm, a spacious trunk, a wide wheelbase and an eight-seat layout with the possibility of transforming the entire interior space – this is not a complete list of features that please the heart of the domestic consumer.
The CrossVan has two Smartstream engine options. This is a 2.2 liter diesel with 199 hp. and a 3.5 liter gasoline V6. with a capacity of 249 hp. True, the second option is available only in top-end configurations. The Carnival has an eight-speed automatic and front-wheel drive. Fans of new technologies are pleased with intelligent “chips”.
Of the minuses – a harsh suspension, insufficient agility of a loaded car on a diesel engine (and such options are usually taken in order to load them to capacity), the gluttony of the gasoline version of the engine. And, of course, the price: the minimum factory price starts at 2,814,900 rubles. To get a real price tag, you can safely throw 700-800 thousand on top in top versions.
Hyundai Santa Fe
Another popular Korean – the Hyundai Santa Fe crossover – has undergone more than just a facelift. Although it is the appearance that is noted in the first place when they talk about changes. The front part received a wider radiator grille, the running lights moved closer to the bonnet. A rather large digital instrument panel and a touchscreen multimedia display appeared in the cabin.
The Family, Lifestyle and Prestige trim levels have received a new 180 hp G2.5 Smartstream gasoline engine with a six-speed automatic transmission. Lifestyle, Prestige and High-Tech options are available with 199 hp Smartstream D2.2 diesel units. And the High-Tech package is also available with a powerful G3.5 gasoline engine with 249 hp. In all versions, the car is equipped with all-wheel drive, but due to the relatively low ground clearance, it does not have off-road qualities.
The factory price for the updated model starts at 2,684,000 rubles. However, even taking into account the rather large special stages at dealers, this crossover is not so easy to find in stock.
Hyundai creta
Sales of the updated bestseller Hyundai – Creta – started in July. The crossover now has a slightly increased size and, as a result, a more spacious interior and trunk. The exterior and interior have been updated. Inside there is a T-shaped digital instrument panel, a multimedia system on a 10-inch color touchscreen. A nice and useful bonus was a whole bunch of electronic options – adaptive cruise control, panoramic roof, Bose audio system with 8 speakers, Bluelink telematics complex and a set of Smart Sense electronic assistants.
Outside, the crossover has acquired a “cascading” radiator grille, updated headlights and a number of futuristic design elements. However, simpler configurations do not look so intricate.
But the power units remained the same. These are the time-tested naturally aspirated gasoline engines Gamma 1.6 MPI with 123 hp. in the front-wheel drive version and 121 hp. in all-wheel drive version and Nu 2.0 MPI with 150 hp.
Test drives have shown a number of the benefits of the new Creta. The factory price for a set of Prime starts at 1,239,000 rubles. Dealer dopas are inevitable, as is the case with other new products.
Renault Duster
The long-awaited second generation Renault Duster premiered at the beginning of the year. He received a new modular platform and a new body with an increased trunk, as well as several variants of already proven engines – three gasoline and one diesel.
The main feature is the ability to choose any power unit, which is combined with a six-speed “mechanics” with a shortened first gear and all-wheel drive. There is also a top-end version with a CVT X-Tronic variator.
The exterior has been radically updated compared to the previous version: the SUV has retained its recognizable brutality. Equipped it with LED lights and daytime running lights. The interior has acquired pleasant ergonomics, more comfortable seats, and an electric power steering wheel.
Users noted the preserved high cross-country qualities: the new Duster copes with off-road conditions better than most popular crossovers. The winter options that the updated model is equipped with pleased Russian drivers. The set of options as a whole turned out to be quite wide – rear-view cameras with dynamic markings and all-round visibility, an assistant during lifting and others.
The factory price for a French brand SUV starts at 1,037,000 rubles. The queue for the updated model from dealers, despite the expensive special stages, stretches almost six months in advance.
Volkswagen Taos
The most affordable crossover of the German brand Volkswagen – Taos on the domestic market – has been on sale in Russia since mid-summer in three versions: Respect, Status and Exclusive, as well as in a limited edition JOY! He is the younger brother of the Skoda Karoq and is assembled at a plant in Nizhny Novgorod.
The Russian version of Taos received two engine options – an atmospheric 1.6 MPI with 110 hp, paired with a five-speed “mechanics” and front-wheel drive, and a turbocharged 1.4 TSI with a capacity of 150 hp, complete with an “automatic” and front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive 4Motion.
Taos received a lot of nice options, including winter ones. Plus a new 10-inch Android infotainment system and a digital instrument cluster with electronic assistants.
The factory price for the simplest set of Respect starts at 1,754,900 rubles.
Haval Jolion
The Chinese car industry is in high demand in Russia. And the off-road vehicle Haval Jolion, positioned as an urban crossover, was no exception: sales started in May and immediately attracted a lot of people. This is understandable: in its price range, it is not only not inferior to popular models, but also surpasses them in a number of positions.
Three configurations are available to Russian motorists – Comfort, Elite and Premium with a 1.5 turbocharged gasoline engine. On the all-wheel drive version, it is capable of developing 150 hp, on the front-wheel drive – 143 hp. There are both “mechanics” and “automatic”.
Jolion has many nice options – keyless entry, dual-zone climate control, rain and light sensors, 360-degree cameras, adaptive cruise control and an autonomous parking assistant. The driver will also be pleased with the 12.3-inch display with a good resolution. For Russians, winter options are also important: heated steering wheel, windshield and three-level heating of all seats.
Jolion turned out to be the most affordable in the Haval line. The factory price starts from 1,379,000 rubles, if we forget about the dealer specialties and the deficit, it looks quite attractive.
Toyota Land Cruiser 300
Russia holds the leading position in the number of Land Cruiser sales in Europe. And the novelty of this year – the Land Cruiser 300 – caused such a stir that the media even reported that the queue for it stretched out for more than a year.
The Land Cruiser has changed a lot in appearance, but this did not affect the recognition of the SUV. It received new turbocharged V6 engines. There is a petrol version 3.5 with a capacity of 415 hp. and a diesel engine developed specially for Toyota with a capacity of 299 hp. There is a downshift, simultaneous locking of three differentials, which allows the car to confidently overcome all Russian road and off-road realities.
Inside the cabin there is a four-zone climate control with an air ionizer, a multimedia system with a 12.3-inch display and a digital instrument panel.
The price starts at 5,776,000 rubles for the Elegance package.
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