From the very beginning of sales, AVTOVAZ has been installing a modified VAZ 2182 automated transmission (AMT with version 2.0) on the updated Lada Granta family. “Robot” received a number of improvements and new operating modes, which had a positive impact on user ratings. The article presents reviews from auto experts and owners of these cars.
What has been improved in AMT
The AMT upgrades of the new Granta are similar to those on the Lada Vesta with 1.8-liter engines:
- The main gear ratio has been increased from 3.710 to 3.940. This means increased fuel consumption, reduced noise and vibration levels in the transmission, and more dynamic acceleration.
- New AMT operating modes have appeared: creeping, sports and winter.
- AMT gear shift time has been reduced by almost a third.
- In the AMT clutch, the driven disc has increased heat resistance and the friction linings have become thicker, which, coupled with new algorithms, makes field driving more confident.
Main changes - first impressions of robot 2.0
Let’s say right away that AvtoVAZ this time did not promote itself by updating such an important component in the car; many buyers did not even know that the Vestas being picked up from the showroom already had a completely different unit under the hood. The engine remained the same, but the gearbox received more than 100 small and medium-sized corrections, so it would be hard to call it the same. After a test drive and a comparative ride in a car with an old robot, we can draw the first conclusions:
- AMT 2.0 works much more pleasantly, and this can be seen from the first kilometers of the trip. Soft shifts, no jerking, precise prediction of driver actions and an intelligent control system.
- A creeping mode has appeared. This means that the robot reacts to releasing the brake pedal like a real automatic machine. The car begins to move a little or stands motionless on the hill. Such a system was sorely missed.
- The selector's previous characteristics remained, but it began to feel somehow more reliable and convenient. It was as if I was sitting not behind the wheel of a Lada, but in the cabin of a Toyota or Volkswagen.
- The robot began to work noticeably more quickly, it reduced the time it took to complete the full phase of gear engagement by 30%, and this clearly benefited the dynamics of the car and the sensations of the trip.
- Many of the shortcomings have been corrected, which means that you don’t have to worry about whether the unit will withstand a particular load or cope with certain climatic conditions.
The winter mode remains, but its characteristics have changed slightly. Now the car owner can forcefully engage second gear using the selector. True, you need to do this every time you start. But in the previous version of the robotic gearbox it was not possible to start from second gear to overcome the challenges of winter roads. This makes the box happy; it has become more adapted for Russian operating conditions. So there are practically no disadvantages with the first acquaintance.
Reviews
During test drives of the Lada Granta Cross, leading auto media noted improvements in AMT.
Autoreview magazine:
AMT 2.0 with creep mode behaves logically when changing gears and when starting to move, now this transmission is convenient to use in the city. This is the best “robot” with one clutch, and even better than some AMTs with two clutches (for example, on the Mercedes A-class). The crawling mode on the Grant is implemented better (no vibrations at start) than on the Vesta, because the Grant is lighter. I like the AMT 2.0 better than the Jatco 4-speed automatic transmission (suitable only for driving in the city, it is difficult to overtake on the highway and has high gas mileage - 2-3 liters/100 km more than the AMT/manual transmission).
Portal Auto.mail.ru:
Over 300 kilometers, including city traffic jams, mountain roads, and highways, there was not a single situation when the gearbox would not work adequately. There is a small nuance - when starting in reverse up a hill, the car rolls forward, but in fact the only driving mode when it is really inferior to the mechanics is acceleration with the pedal to the floor. In general, the robot is well worth the additional payment of 25 thousand rubles.
AutoMPS website:
The robotic shifts are timely, and by turning on the sport mode, you can confidently overtake without feeling the need to select gears manually. The only nuance is related to the inclusion of reverse gear - AMT goes into reverse with a delay and this must be taken into account when maneuvering uphill. And yet, AVTOVAZ has done a lot of work on the mistakes: now the “robot” can be recommended for purchase.
Owner's review:
I'm happy with the robot. For me, it is better than an automatic and a manual: 1) it switches quickly; 2) it shifts predictably; if necessary, you can change gear by lightly playing the gas pedal; 3) there is engine braking. I use the brakes to a minimum; for me, braking when releasing the gas is important; cheap automatic machines can’t do that; 4) all my life cars have been manual, I switch without thinking anymore, on automatic. But after riding the robot I realized: it really saves time, frees up both your hands and your head); 5) fuel economy compared to an automatic; 6) subjective: the rigid connection of the engine with the transmission, the “slippage” of the automatic torque converter - irritate me. I always drive in “sport” mode. But this is not a sport, I would switch it like that myself))) In “auto” mode it is too smooth and when releasing the gas it holds the highest gears until the last. For example, it changes from fifth to fourth after the speed drops below 50 km/h. Therefore - sport. Bottom line: for me, a robot is the best solution. The only question is resource. Time will tell here.
Also, auto experts and owners of Lada Granta FL (facelift) highly appreciated the new sports mode.
You can leave your opinion about the work of AMT 2.0 on the new Grant in the comments.
Key words: Lada Granta gearbox
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Test drive Lada Granta liftback with AMT robot
The other day we took a test drive in a Lada Granta liftback equipped with an AMT robot. Feedback and impressions are in today’s material.
Granta in the liftback body immediately after its appearance caused mixed opinions. Some people didn't like its design, others didn't like it. Indeed, the rear of the car has changed significantly. Compared to the Grant sedan, the liftback looks a little more modern and fresh. In addition, in this body the car does not look as bulky as a sedan.
To be honest, in the modern AVTOVAZ line, this liftback looks very good. Unlike the sedan, many minor “sores” and childhood illnesses were improved on the liftback. For example, doors open and close with much less effort and noise, thanks to new closers. Hooks for attaching bags appeared in the trunk, plastic cables for securing the rear parcel shelf were replaced by elastic laces that do not burst in the cold, etc. The combination of these changes creates a more pleasant perception of the car.
The trunk volume of the Lada Granta liftback is a good 440 liters, and with the rear seats folded it reaches 760 liters. This is where the main advantage of the liftback body manifests itself - the large tailgate opens completely and makes loading and unloading easy.
Read more about crawling mode and its features
The so-called Creeping Mode was a real revolution for this type of gearbox, and in Russia it was not expected from domestic cars. This completely changes the perception of car operation and brings incredible pleasure from the trip. But if you go into the theory a little, you will begin to be a little surprised. At AvtoVAZ, this mode is implemented directly in the box, like on automatic machines. This is very expensive, and there are suspicions that such a system may fail.
The nuances of this creeping mode are as follows:
- the torque in Creeping Mode will be quite high, even on a hill the car most often starts to move rather than stand still, as in most other robotic gearboxes;
- the load on the clutch is crazy, and one can only guess what the service life of this unit will be on this gearbox; now, under warranty, everyone will change the clutch several times in 3 years;
- the mode does not allow you to roll back, and this is very unusual for those who have switched from any other robot, this unit operates solely according to an algorithm, without taking into account the actions of the driver;
- if you release the brake on a hill and sharply give the gas, the clutch will slip and the mechanism will suffer terrible wear, after several such starts you can prepare to replace the clutch;
- the design has become more expensive, but the car is gone, we can conclude that AvtoVAZ saved on something else in order to reach a financial balance, and for now we can only guess about the subject of savings.
By the way, one of the most important changes in robot 2.0 was the firmware. The official dealer stated that all interested car owners with the first generation of the robot can install the new firmware from official dealers. True, this statement was quiet and not too bold. And rightly so, since in the second generation of the robot there were many changes in technology. Installing the firmware separately from these changes will not always be a good idea.
Let's sum it up
Modern generation cars from AvtoVAZ have become much better than the previous ones, but buyers want even more progress and pleasant updates from the Russian concern. While buyers complain about high prices, Lada is actively saving on everything it can save on, and is also experiencing constant financial difficulties. It's amazing how you can sell so many cars and still struggle with money. The VAZ plant has always succeeded in this and continues old traditions with pleasure. But irony aside, Robot 2.0 turned out to be one of the concern’s best technical developments.
At least the company is trying to do something with the unit and improve it. Today, this technology provides certain additional capabilities to the driver, drives well, and copes well with difficult Russian travel conditions. Also, the robotic box can be slightly modified for installation on elevated versions of the Cross. Most likely, the robot will get a slightly smoother ride in first gear in crawling mode as an update, which will improve the clutch life and reduce discomfort for the driver in the process of getting used to the car. Did you like the characteristics of the new robot from AvtoVAZ?
