How to choose and install a roof rack on the Lada Vesta

What is the difference between the original trunk for Lada Vesta

First of all, AVTOVAZ offers only one version of the original Vesta Cross roof rack. It has article number 99999218107182. This addition is suitable for those SW Cross cars that have roof rails. Anodized aluminum is used to make the crossbars of the structure, so it is light, durable, and resistant to corrosion. The kit includes everything you need to secure the rack.

The streamlined shape of the arches allows you to minimize the impact of oncoming air flows, so there will be virtually no noise in the cabin. To purchase an original luggage compartment, just visit the official website Lada.ru, accessories section.

How to buy a luggage rack profitably

Dealers set inflated prices for parts, so every buyer is looking for a way not to overpay. You can purchase spare parts in simple car stores, and it will be even more profitable to buy them online. It is enough to go to a specialized website and enter the article number, and many offers will immediately appear. Luggage compartments are several thousand rubles cheaper than at dealers. The production of parts is not carried out directly by the AVTOVAZ plant; this is the task of third-party companies that focus on the production of a specific part. You can select a roof rack for SV Cross by the name of the manufacturer, find its article number, and continue the search using it.

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What about competitors?

The cargo compartments of the Datsuns have a good flat floor and a low loading height, but the arches here protrude too much, and the width of the opening leaves much to be desired. The situation is even worse with the Solaris' trunk, which (with the smallest volume among sedans) has one of the largest wheel arches, which forced the developers to create a complex sidewall geometry.

Trunk Hyundai Solaris sedan

However, this is partly offset by a flat floor, neat hinges, a large opening, and a low loading height. The Rio platform brother offers the same set of pros and cons, but its useful volume is noticeably larger.

Trunk Kia Rio sedan

In addition to the above-mentioned advantages of competitors' trunks, Rapid also offers a convenient door lid, the opening of which creates the largest loading opening in height. The downside is that it is slightly higher than the other participants in the comparison.

In turn, Logan’s “bins” are close in layout to Vesta and have a similar “disease” in the form of massive hinges. In addition, Logan has a less convenient loading opening, as well as more prominent wheel arches.

Renault Logan sedan luggage

Available types of roof racks for Vesta SW Cross

It is not necessary to install arches; there are other types of luggage compartments for the roof of the Lada Vesta SW Cross. Many people prefer car boxes; this is an aerodynamic, sealed design for transporting various things, which is perfect for long trips.

For those who often transport skis or snowboards, there is an alternative solution - these are special roof racks with Vesta roof mounts. In the same way, you can choose a design for transporting a bicycle, and a fisherman can find the right option for a small boat. You can also attach a special basket to the roof, and secure things with a belt, net or rope.

What is the actual trunk volume of the Vesta SV Universal?

The Vesta SW station wagon model is the first domestic car to use a special body structure design technology.

The roof sloping towards the rear is considered the hallmark of all modern station wagons. Thanks to this design solution, the manufacturer managed to improve the streamlining and appearance of the car.

However, the introduction of this body option significantly affected the overall practicality of the car. After all, the specific shape prevents the installation of classic versions of luggage racks. Accordingly, there is a reduction in useful space inside for the transportation of various goods.

According to the manufacturer, the volume of the luggage compartment of the SV version when folded is 480 liters, which is actually no more than that of serial sedans. If necessary, the car owner has the opportunity to fold the rear row of seats to obtain a 60/40 distribution of free space and a total volume of 850 liters.

The data is not so impressive for a station wagon, but all shortcomings are compensated by the presence of a large number of auxiliary niches and pockets.

Proper distribution of things allows you to increase the usable volume. It is worth noting the quality of the trunk finishing, which is made mainly of high-strength dark-colored plastic.

As befits a full-fledged station wagon, the dimensions of the Lada Vesta are rather large. At a quick glance, it seems that the car is very long. This is an optical illusion and not entirely true. Yes, the sizes are rather large, but not beyond the bounds of reason.

overall dimensions of the Lada Vesta
station wagon The length of the body is 4400 cm, by the way, the same as that of the sedan. The width of the car along the body is 1.764 m, and the height along the roof with roof rails is 1.512 m. Such indicators provide not only a solid appearance, but also a large amount of interior space. The car has a wide wheelbase of 2.635 m, which provides Vesta with excellent stability on the road.

In general, the car looks sporty, especially its Cross version, but that’s not what we’re talking about now. The “front” of the station wagon clearly shows the X-graphics familiar from X-Ray.

The radiator grille smoothly transitions into a trapezoidal air intake. All this forms an X-shaped pattern. Looks cool, especially in combination with classic headlights.

Well, AVTOVAZ engineers couldn’t help but leave at least something from their cars of yesteryear. Even though the station wagon has a lower ground clearance than the Cross, this does not deprive the car of its “height” at all: it looks tall.

The model is produced from 09.2015 to the present time. Read the review of Lada Vesta 2016.

The model is produced from 06.2018 to the present time.

The model is produced from 07.2017 to the present time.

Mounting type for additional luggage compartment

There are two categories of luggage racks - a unified design with fastenings suitable for various models, and individual - it requires special fasteners. The choice of trunk type depends on factors such as the design of the car, the presence of roof rails, and so on.

There are 7 types of roof rack mounts:

1. Installation on a smooth roof. The design is secured with adapters on the doorway; it is only suitable for cars with three doors, when closed the trunk is locked and cannot be removed.
2. Fastening on gutters. This is the most common option for domestically produced cars, since foreign cars do not have drains. How exactly to secure the structure depends on the owner’s imagination.
3. Fixation with magnets. Suitable for transporting light loads only.
4. Installation in standard places provided by the machine manufacturer. The presence of such places should be stated in the vehicle instructions.
5. Using belts in the cabin. An option for inflatable roof racks, however, it may cause some inconvenience to passengers.
6. Installation on rails. The best option for modern cars that have crossbars on the roof.
7. Fastening on a T-shaped profile. In this case, there is no contact between the load and the roof itself, but it will look beautiful only on a large car.

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General conclusions and practical assessment

The compact trunk of the LADA SW Vesta is somewhat inferior in capacity and volume to other competitors in this class. However, due to the proper organization of space and the ability to conveniently use all functions, the car gained high marks from car enthusiasts.

Thanks to the folding rear row, the car is perfect for transporting large cargo and tourist trips. Therefore, many analysts and specialists are confident that the SV version can become a priority for the domestic market in 2022.

Vesta roof rack: pros and cons

Many owners are not sure whether to install a roof rack on the Lada Vesta SV Cross. This is an excellent way to increase capacity, a convenient and practical solution especially for those who have to carry a lot of things in the car, but it also has its disadvantages.

To load things onto the roof, they will have to be raised quite high, and this is not always convenient for everyone. In addition, there is a risk of damage to the paintwork when removing weights. When the car accelerates to high speed, unpleasant noises appear in the cabin due to the additional luggage compartment.

Autobox

An excellent option if you need to increase the useful loading volume of the Lada Vesta. The volume of a standard car box is 350 l, 430 l or 500 l, but you can also buy a 700-liter box.

With such a car box, Vesta will be not only functional, but also stylish.

Such devices are characterized by high strength indicators subject to mechanical stress. In addition, it does not need to be repaired, and over time its performance remains the same. The products are equipped with a central lock, handles and fastening straps.

Rates for luggage compartments for SW Cross

There are a large number of accessory manufacturers on the market, each of which has its own pricing policy. In the table you can see the prices for luggage racks from well-known and trusted companies.

*prices are current as of September 26

Factory luggage compartments for Vesta SW Cross

Modern drivers know that the AVTOVAZ plant does not work on creating accessories or parts - all these tasks are performed by partner companies. Therefore, there is no point in looking for a factory trunk. There are many manufacturers that offer various luggage designs for the SW Cross. Information about them is presented in the table above; you can get acquainted with the design in detail by looking at its article number on the Internet.

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Storage space in the trunk of Lada Vesta Cross

In addition to the fact that the manufacturers took care of the impressive trunk volume of the Lada Vesta, they also competently organized everything inside.

The first thing I would like to note is a niche for small items under the raised floor. It consists of two baths in which you can put all sorts of little things. This would include a warning triangle, a tool kit, a tow rope, etc. The trays are easily removed if necessary.

There are 2 hooks for bags on the right and left. The trunk lighting is organized using two lampshades located next to the bag hooks. On the right side there is a closed compartment for tools, and on the left there are two open niches. A 5 liter bottle, for example with anti-freeze, will fit well here.

I would also like to note that all Vesta Cross SV configurations are equipped with special nets that prevent things from spontaneously moving around the trunk. A very convenient thing!

Roof basket Vesta SW Cross

An additional roof rack for the Vesta SV Cross in the form of a basket can be attached to the crossbars or arches of the luggage compartment. It is a lattice tray with special sides that can be fixed or lowered. They can be from 5 to 15 cm in height. Elastic nets, belts and cords are used to secure loads. Such racks are called expedition racks; they are often used by tourists and hunters, because flashlights, a spare tire, and tools are conveniently attached to them.

Owners' opinions on roof racks

Conclusion

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Installing a roof rack is a personal decision for each owner. Of course, for a fragile girl it will be quite difficult to get heavy things from the roof, and for those who have recently driven, driving with additional cargo may seem difficult. But there is no need to permanently install the luggage compartment - it can always be removed. If there is no need for additional space. To save money, you may consider purchasing the supplement online or at a small automotive store. It is necessary to carefully check the fastenings, the quality of the material, you should not choose the cheapest option, an unreliable trunk can lead to big problems on the road.

To bet or not, pros and cons

The need for additional trunk space is difficult to argue with. The internal volume of the car body is divided into several compartments - the engine, the interior, and for things. The first two are among the main ones (for sedans, hatchbacks and liftbacks).

Everything that remains inside is allocated for the trunk. Often this is very little. For example, you have to transport skis, sofas, pipes, bicycles and other large equipment. How to place them in a car?

Various devices that are not included in the standard equipment of the vast majority of car brands come to the rescue. They are installed on the roof of the car - the least used part of the body. But, when installing a trunk, of any design, it is necessary to take into account that the behavior of the car on the road changes.

The most common consequences of installing a trunk:

• increase in air resistance;
• noise at high speeds (from 80 km/h);
• change in car behavior when cornering;
• increase in braking distance;
• “sagging” of the car on the front axle during sudden braking.

For many drivers who support smooth driving at acceptable speeds, these features are not very noticeable, except for a slightly increased fuel consumption. And for fans of high-speed aggressive driving, changes in the behavior of the car must be taken into account.

To decide whether a trunk is needed or not, it is necessary to analyze in what mode the car will be used.

If you need a car for trips to the country, tourist routes to the seas and mountains, transporting goods for sale, or shopping for the household, a trunk is simply necessary. And to operate the car as a personal vehicle for work trips, or for sporting purposes, a trunk is not required.