Reviews from Lada Kalina Universal owners. Technical specifications and photos

Brief history of the family

Lada Kalina is a car with fairly high technical performance and driving characteristics.

Another feature of the line is its stylish appearance. And the Kalina Universal car is also quite roomy, this is definitely a big plus. This family of models is a good choice for those who value original design, ride comfort and useful options. "Kalina" was produced in several bodies. This is a station wagon - VAZ-1117, a sedan - VAZ-1118 and a hatchback - 1119. All modifications are distinguished by a spacious interior and good ergonomic characteristics.

AvtoVAZ designers and engineers combined the most modern technologies, style and reliability in Kalina. All this is a guarantee of safe and, most importantly, pleasant travel. Development of the series began back in 1993. And the model range received its name only in 1998. AvtoVAZ was able to present the first ready-made prototypes to the automotive public and journalists only in 1999, and in 2001 they showed the VAZ Lada Kalina Universal car.

Exterior

During almost 10 years of preparation for production, the design of the Lada Kalina was changed several times. Many car owners and experts note that in appearance the front part of the Kalina is vaguely reminiscent of the Volkswagen Golf, produced in the early 2000s. You shouldn’t expect any special refinements in Kalina’s appearance, but, in comparison with the previously produced VAZ classics, the new car has a truly modern design.

"Kalina" station wagon: features

What can you say about this car? The VAZ-1117 was developed on the basis of the 1118 sedan that already existed in 2007, which appeared on the market three years earlier. The car was created for frequent and intensive use in city conditions.

Depending on the technical equipment, the car was equipped with two different injection power units, which provided good dynamic characteristics. Despite the fact that the basic technical capabilities are the same across the entire line, the Kalina Universal car has some advantages. This is a longer body. Unlike the hatchback, it is larger by as much as 19 cm. This move has increased comfort for rear passengers. The trunk volume has also increased. In addition, the ground clearance of the station wagon is 2.5 cm higher than that of the sedan and hatchback. This is a serious advantage, because Russian roads are not distinguished by their quality. But AvtoVAZ did not stop there. The model was constantly being improved. Thus, in 2010, potential buyers appreciated the new interior. And in 2011, the engines began to fully comply with Euro-4 standards. AvtoVAZ also began installing an electronic accelerator pedal on these cars. Although this did not have a very good effect on the Lada Kalina-2 Universal car. Owner reviews about the electronic gas pedal are mixed.

Interior

The interior of the first generation Lada Kalina, although somewhat improved compared to its predecessors, is still frankly outdated, losing to its main competitors, including budget Europeans and Koreans. The quality of the plastic used in the finishing does not stand up to criticism; soon after the start of use, the interior panels creaked mercilessly, and it was almost impossible to get rid of such crickets. Buyers were offered several color options for velor trim, and in top versions it was possible to get cars with headrests in the rear row of seats.

Specifications

This range of front-wheel drive B-class cars was equipped with three engines.

A choice of 16- and 8-valve power units was offered. Thus, the 16-valve engine has a displacement of 1.4 liters. Its power is 89 hp. With. With such a power plant, the car can accelerate to 165 km/h. What are the reviews from Lada Kalina Universal owners? Drivers note the efficiency of the car. Fuel consumption is about 7 liters per 100 km. The second 16-valve engine has a volume of 1.6 liters. It pleases with an average consumption of 7.2 liters, and its power is 98 hp. With. There is also a 1.6 liter 8-valve engine in the lineup. What are the reviews from the owners of the Lada Kalina Universal with this engine? The car is very dynamic and at the same time has a small “appetite”. Consumption is 7.3 l/100 km according to the passport. The maximum possible speed is 164 km/h.

Installed motors

Initially, the Lada Kalina was equipped with a 1.6 liter eight-valve engine developing 81 horsepower. In fact, it was a bored out 1.5 liter engine from a Lada Priora. The engine was quite economical and unpretentious, but one could not expect good dynamics from such a car. Soon, buyers were offered a more modern sixteen-valve 1.4-liter engine, developing a power of 89 horsepower. It was a fairly economical power unit, which consumed 7 liters in the combined cycle, and at cruising speed outside the city about 5 liters per 100 kilometers. The top modifications also offered a 98-horsepower sixteen-valve engine, which was not very popular among car owners because the timing belt on it often broke.

checkpoint

As for transmissions, all models were equipped with a five-speed manual gearbox. There was also a machine gun. What are the reviews from owners of Lada Kalina Universal with automatic transmission? At the moment, drivers have no complaints about this box. The only thing is the increased fuel consumption of the Lada Kalina Universal (automatic). Owner reviews say that the car spends 10 percent more than with a manual one. Suspension system: front - independent, with anti-roll bar. At the rear there is a traditional beam for such cars. But the suspension is characterized by high energy intensity. This is confirmed by reviews from owners. The car drives smoothly for its price. Also, the cars of the Kalina family are distinguished by better handling.

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Problems and resource

The main problems that many owners have encountered are too much vertical body movement, low levels of sound insulation, and wind noise when driving at high speeds. The engine has a surprisingly long service life and, with proper care, can operate for more than 400 thousand kilometers. But there are also problems that are noted by owner reviews. On a Lada Kalina Universal car, faults with electronics can begin after the 30 thousand km mark. By the way, AvtoVAZ engineers measured a limit of 100 thousand km for the gearbox, which is not very much. This is a significant disadvantage. According to statistics, clutch discs last about 30 thousand kilometers.

Disadvantages of the first generation Lada Kalina

Many car owners spoke negatively about the quality of the body metal, which began to rust even in the absence of visible damage, scratches or chips. There were numerous problems with the electrical system, which was not very reliable, and numerous electronic sensors often malfunctioned and required replacement.

Another weak point of this car is the injection engine, which often failed, after which it was necessary to diagnose the injection and repair the fuel system. The weak stove deserves special criticism, as it could not heat the car interior in winter even after 15-20 minutes of driving.

One could not expect good dynamics from a car with an engine power of 80-90 horsepower. The car clearly lacked power both on the highway and when accelerating in the city from traffic lights. Cars with high mileage could also experience problems with the cooling system, which led to frequent engine overheating in hot weather.

10.03.2021

Benefits according to reviews

Let's see what are the pros and cons of the Kalina Universal car. Owner reviews are where this information comes from. All only from the words of those who bought this car and used it. The main advantage is reliability. Over the years of operation, there are practically no serious technical problems. Naturally, this is true if you service the machine on time and change consumables. Further, owners note low fuel consumption.

Of course, the indicator differs from the passport one, but not by much. On the highway at a speed of 100 km/h or more, the car consumes about 6 liters. In the city, appetites are higher - from nine. They also highlight the absence of large gaps in the cabin. The heating system in the cabin is well made. Now the air flow can be adjusted so that warm air blows into the driver's and passenger's feet, as well as onto the glass. Plus, there are air ducts for rear passengers. There are also many positive reviews about the quality of the body assembly. There are gaps between the body parts, but they are small. Despite the modest external dimensions of the car, the interior is quite roomy. The high ceiling allows even tall people to ride comfortably.

Disadvantages of Lada Kalina

Now about the cons. Many people are dissatisfied with the stiff suspension. Although this is not entirely a minus. However, on station wagons specifically, the suspension is quite stiff. Almost immediately the front struts begin to knock. This problem occurs in every second owner. Also, many people do not like the bubbling sound of the 8-valve engine. This is especially noticeable on a cold engine. It's not a breakdown though. Also among the disadvantages is the long steering rack.

It takes 4 turns to turn the wheels all the way. Subsequent modifications solved this problem. Despite the high-quality assembly of the interior, the plastic is frankly cheap and hard. But this is normal for the Kalina Universal car - the price of a new car in the maximum configuration is 550,000 rubles. Over time, traditional creaks and crickets appear. Many people also don’t like the gearshift lever. It rattles and vibrates. Of course, this irritates drivers. In the next modifications this problem will be solved, but in the first versions everything is exactly like this.

Options

The car was offered in three trim levels - “Standard”, “Norma” and “Lux”. In 2012, a hatchback could be purchased for around 400 thousand rubles. Now prices have increased by 20 percent. Kalina Universal is also offered - the price is about 500 thousand. The standard basic equipment is equipped with a reverse locking system. There are inertia seat belts in the cabin. They are height adjustable. Options include an immobilizer, central locking with remote control and alarm system, light control function, and variable throttle drive. The cabin is quite spacious and the interior is decorated with high-quality fabrics. "Lada Kalina Universal Lux" is distinguished by the presence of ABS and a climate control system. There is electric power steering. The rear seats are equipped with headrests. Wheels on rims with a diameter of 14". But they are very small, according to reviews from owners. The Lada Kalina Universal Norma is equipped with the same options as the Luxury, except for ABS and air conditioning. By the way, at first there was no “Standard” configuration for the Lada Kalina Universal car. The offered cars were only available in “Lux” and “Norma” versions.

Watch your back!

TO GET acquainted with the car, Togliatti residents laid out a driving route through the whole of Kazakhstan - from north to south. In the vicinity of Almaty, the heat is 30 degrees, and in the cabin of the Kalina, pleasant cool air blows from the deflectors. Conventional air conditioners are no longer uncommon on domestic cars. They are installed on “Samara”, and “Priors”, and on “Volga”. But climate control is still a novelty for our automakers. “Lada Kalina” in the “Lux” configuration is actually the first production Russian car equipped with this device. True, the algorithm for its operation is not entirely clear - the deflectors alternately emits arctic cold and desert heat.

Climate control, soft seats, good ergonomics... It would seem, what more could you want? However, after a long trip in the second row of seats, my back ached all night. The point is not at all in shaking and not in the quality of Kazakh roads (they, by the way, are quite decent, with the exception of the 150-kilometer stretch between Balkhash and Alma-Ata). Just so that when folding out the rear sofa you don’t “lose” the seat belt buckles, plastic latches are built into the back of the chair. They are located exactly opposite the lower back - you want to lean back in a chair, but hard plastic digs into your back.

With the exception of this fastener, there are no other comments regarding comfort in the passenger seats. Thanks to the high body, there is quite a lot of headroom. Despite the relatively small external dimensions, the rear passengers will not feel cramped, even if a tall driver or passenger is sitting in front: there is enough legroom.

Tuning options

Many car enthusiasts modify their cars, because despite all the pros and cons, AvtoVAZ has left a lot unfinished, this concerns various annoying little things. Almost anything can be modified. So, wanting to improve power and dynamic characteristics, car owners are engaged in engine tuning. The easiest way to increase power is to reprogram the software that adjusts the injection. This is chip tuning. "Kalina" will increase acceleration characteristics. This modification will give a power increase of 12%, but no more.

However, this method of tuning has no disadvantages. During the work, it is necessary to select another exhaust system and dismantle the catalyst. You can also replace the camshafts, fuel pump, and injectors. By the way, only the 8-valve 1.6-liter unit is amenable to such modifications. You can significantly change the appearance. Today there are a lot of different linings, body kits and other parts for this. Install tinted headlights. This is also a kind of tuning. “Kalina” is also being improved in terms of suspension. A lot can be replaced. For example, equip the car with those options that the car lacks - air suspension, sports struts or springs. Fortunately, today there are many opportunities for this.

Engine VAZ 11194-1000260. Characteristics of the VAZ 11194 engine.

The engine is four-stroke, with distributed fuel injection, the cylinders in the block are arranged in one row. The design provides for an overhead placement of the camshaft. The engine is equipped with a closed-type liquid cooling system with forced circulation of liquid. Combined lubrication system.