Lada Largus Cross

In mid-summer 2014, VAZ presented the Lada Kalina Cross station wagon and immediately afterwards reported a lot of information about another car of the same class – Lada Largus Cross. Already at the end of 2014, the debut of the all-purpose vehicle took place at the MIAS 2014 exhibition. Speaking in general, Lada Largus Cross is a small class vehicle, which is a Dacia Logan MCV 1 of the 2006 family adapted to the domestic market and produced in Romania.

This universal was in great demand almost immediately, which, together with all the advantages of the car and its cost, was quite expected. Taking into account the serious market decline in 2014, dealers sold more than 65000 units of vehicles, which was 7500 more than last year. The whole model range is Lada.

Exterior

Largus Cross isn’t much different from the usual Largus, except for some details. These are the parts that needed to be upgraded. The designers wanted the car to be able to move freely on the off-road and not be afraid that the exterior would need to be worn out.

When buying a car for the buyer it is important not only that under the hood, but often even the opposite, in priority comfort and good appearance. In this regard, the basic version was not bad, and the supplemented modification “Cross” only improved in this respect. And at presentation nobody told that there will be any special rebirth, the main purpose was improvement of passability and corresponding qualities of the universal.

When examining Lada Largus Cross you notice differences from the basic version, but first of all it is expressed in the increased clearance and is supplemented with small details. Thanks to this solution, the model has finally found a more harmonious and finished look. The front bumper has a black dodger with fog lamps, which definitely adds an off-road car image to the car.

In general, everything remains the same. The headlamps express calmness and confidence. Between them there is a false radiator grille with a chrome strip and the company logo. And the air inlet from below even creates an illusion that the face of the car smiles at you.

The hood is minimalist with barely visible ribs running along the front mirror. The side of the hood is still laconic. The side skirt is also made of black plastic. There is a strip to protect the doors from shocks. Door windows are located high. And on the front doors are mounted large mirrors of the rear view.

It should be added that the wheel wings are made of the same black plastic. The back of Largus Cross is comfortable and practical. The modern design of the rear headlights is placed on the corners of the body, above which the plastic protection is again. The same material is used for the rear bumper, which is supplemented with reflectors and creates a small edge in front of the luggage compartment, behind the dodger there is an unremarkable exhaust pipe.

The doors open 180 degrees, the large of which is equipped with a janitor, and can be attached in such a position that it allows you to easily get into the luggage compartment, the volume of which depends directly on the equipment. For example, the family version – seven-seater – reduces the capacity to a minimum of 135 liters.

The most standard set with five seats has a much larger trunk, already 560 liters. But even a freight wagon will allow you to place in the appropriate compartment up to 2 350 liters of different luggage. Dilutes the overall appearance of the presence of chrome elements, which, in addition to giving the image a more modern look, prevent boredom when looking at the car.

In addition, the wheels were renewed, if earlier Lada Largus Cross drove 15-inch “ice rinks”, now on wheels with a diameter of 16 inches. And the window frame supports are also protected by colorless plastic. The roof has traditionally remained flat. In addition, the appearance quietly reaches the level of top European versatile trucks such as Fiat Doblo, Volkswagen Caddy and Renault Kangoo, which is definitely a compliment to the designers of VAZ Autocorporation.

Interior

The new station wagon hasn’t been updated much, not just on the outside, but also on the inside. First of all, the interior of the car has been changed in terms of design, but the functionality and service elements remained largely untouched. The most noticeable here was the introduction of orange elements in the interior of doors, front panel and seats, by the way, of high-quality leather.

The upholstery of all chairs is clearly underlined by a line of orange color. On the thresholds you can see the inscription “Largus Cross”. Unfortunately, the steering wheel, which has undergone certain changes, causes mixed feelings about the convenience of its use. In addition, the sound signal remained under the steering wheel.

Buttons and switches have been reduced to the minimum required. The ones that are available are still in the same places as the basic version of the Largus. The steering wheel has no multifunctionality, behind it there are information sensors: speedometer, chronometer and reminder indicators.

On the right is a modern car stereo with standard functions built in in the middle of it: CD, USB, AUX, Bluetooth and radio. Below are the service keys and the control unit of the stove and air conditioner, which are already present in the database. Even closer to the driver’s hand is a high gearbox lever and parking brake lever.

The “Universal” is provided with a full electric package, but its control is inconvenient. Surprisingly, the transmission control was not added, because only the front axle remained in the wagon.

Of course, this is an option control arrangement to get used to. But despite the different nuances of sitting in the Lada Largus Cross cabin you feel very comfortable, and it concerns not only the front row, but also the second row, and if there is one, the passengers will not feel closed on the third row. Moreover, it can be seen that even in the basic version there are already Airbags protecting people sitting in front of them.

Such arrangements can be disappointing. In fact, VAZ has introduced only minor changes. But do not write this model off for this reason alone. The list of ergonomic shortcomings is not so big, but was inherited from the coplatform models.

Looking at the photo of Lada Largus salon, you realize that it is still far from perfect, but the interior does not look so wooden. The level of comfort is the responsibility of the front profiled seats, which have received a tangible side support and heating function. The driver’s seat itself can be adjusted in height and lumbar support.

Three taller passengers can easily sit on the rear sofa without any discomfort in the head or legs. There’s plenty of room to spare. In the seven-seater version of the Lada Largus Cross 7, there is another sofa with a couple of seats in the stern.

It is possible to sit on the “gallery” without any difficulties, and there will be enough space, so there will be no embarrassment. The developers have worked well on the functionality of the interior, so they were able to equip the cabin with various unique elements. The shoulder area now has attractive orange leather inserts. Largus Cross 2018, the new model will undoubtedly delight motorists with its sophisticated functionality.

Although Lada Largus Cross was built on the platform of a foreign car, it has more advantages, as it costs a lot less than its European competitors. In addition, the service of the domestic car is much cheaper than the foreign variants.

Specifications

Powertrain

Those who had encountered the Renault Logan MCV before the presentation, were able to make a rough estimate of the engine in the Lada Largus Kross, because in cars they are identical. There is only one engine here – with four cylinders and a volume of 1.6 liters. It produces 105 “horses” and a mark of 3750 rpm. (maximum torque is 148 N*m).

Meeting expectations – the engine works perfectly at low revolutions and pulls the car uphill, but at acceleration it does not differ in sharpness and when the speedometer hand exceeds a hundred, activity does not differ.

The fuel mixture is controlled by a 16-valve timing device. Nevertheless, as promised by the representatives of the Volga automotive industry in the application – the car without a knot and jerk overcomes various obstacles.

Transmission

A good contact between the transmission and the Largus Cross 2016 engine allows it to be held still even at a lower gear. This data helps to maintain dynamics in different driving conditions, even when the luggage compartment is full. Mechanical gearbox is the biggest difference from Renault Logan, because here it is installed on other models of VAZ plant.

It has five switching stages, not counting the rear. Gear ratios are perfectly matched and give a good impression of gear control, and in the compartment it allows the gearbox to blend perfectly with the engine and its data. Naturally, it will not do without flaws, and the gear switching is not the most laconic process, but with this drawback, and travelers from other countries.

And here’s a really valuable plus – Largus’ service is quite cheap compared to the same Renault Logan. And the general costs of engine maintenance will require much less than the power unit of a half-brother. These two systems, working together, easily accelerate the universal to 165 km / h. Eats the car in the combined driving mode of 9 liters per 100 kilometers.

In the city for the same distance will go about 12 liters, and on a line no more than 8 liters. Up to the speed limit of 100 kilometers per hour, the car is accelerated in 13.5 seconds. However, as mentioned above, the model has received a small fuel consumption, if we compare it with the rivals. The fuel tank has 50 liters of volume.

Suspension

There’s an independent suspension in front and a semi-independent suspension at the back. The French suspension hasn’t changed and didn’t do anything with it (except for the shock absorbers settings), engineers made the right decision. Only the springs, silent blocks and rack supports were replaced.

Taking this into account, and the presence of already mentioned high clearance Largus Cross easily saves its passengers from unpleasant effects from overcoming various kinds of obstacles, and, in general, behaves appropriately when driving outside the asphalt. Any large flaws like high lying policemen or deep pits are felt by barely appreciable tremors, about small ones it is not necessary to speak at all, in fact they simply are not felt.

Passengers may feel uncomfortable when the sway is systematic, for example, wavy asphalt or a large number of bumps and pits in the car path. When driving around the city, given the above qualities and big wheels, you will feel very good inside this car, which easily passes the borders, tramways and even hatches, not counting frequent for our roads (urban) flaws.

However, when leaving the civil road, it is necessary to maintain accuracy, as 170 millimeters of ground clearance is good, but not enough to reach the modern crossover.

This means that the car may not be able to cope with the task, moreover, having overcome part of the way the driver can get to a place where it will not be easy to get out of or even have to call for help. In addition, the quality of the off-road class makes it difficult to control the car well enough at high speed.

Steering and braking system

The steering column and brake system were also reconfigured in the technical part. The carmaker VAZ does not rule out that in the future there may appear a four-wheel drive version, but when exactly this happens, it remains a mystery to everyone (let’s hope not for the representatives of the plant).

Dimensions

In size, as well as in many other ways, the wagon remained almost the same: in length – 4470 mm, the width has become more than 6 mm, as a result – 1756; wheelbase has not changed at all and is equal to 2905 mm. But the growth and the above mentioned ground clearance have grown: the height is 1682 mm, 46 mm higher; clearance is 170, the difference is 25 mm.

Safety

This subsection can be attributed safely to the advantages, as Lada Largus Cross is designed to fall within the framework and requirements of European standards that relate to car safety. An essential role in this is played by the front sub-frame, which acts as an additional spar. This part allows the body to absorb more inertial forces in frontal collision.

Since the universal has a top-of-the-range equipment from the basic version of the Largus, there are a lot of safety systems here as well. From passive functions:

• Availability of airbags for both driver and passengers;
• Seat-belt pretensioners;
• Rear door locking features to protect children and rear row head restraints, which also play a role.

ABS, EBD and Rear Parking Assist sensors will actively protect the driver, passengers and the vehicle itself. Wastewater security systems are typical: remote-controlled central locking and immobilizer.

Inside, the vehicle has front seat belts that are equipped with force limiters. Airbags have also been provided for the driver and passenger. Three-point seat belts and head restraints have been installed in all seven seats. In addition, the car has an indication of the unbuckled belt and cellular inserts in the door panels. The entire image is successfully complemented by a heavy-duty bodywork.

Crash test

The Lada Largus Cross is very similar to the simple Lada Largus, so the crash test for them is almost identical. The machine is not new, so the crash-tests carried out by Lada Largus will show that the wagon has some weaknesses, as in any car. However, apart from the drawbacks, the car was able to surprise with its strengths.

The results of the crash-tests of the station wagon, “Autoreview”, noted at its true value. As well as all vehicles, the domestic car was tested in the tests on a mandatory basis. Such tests are carried out in accordance with the regulations, which include side impact, frontal collision and hitting the rear of the car with a moving barrier. All three surveys provide an indication of the suitability of the vehicle.

First crash test

During the side test, a specialized trolley flies into the car at a speed of 50 kilometers per hour. The car was able to withstand such a test quite calmly. But the inherited defects did not allow to open the doors of the car. The mannequin representing the person, during the Lada Largus crash-test, has inherited injuries on a part of a head in eight times lower, than it is supposed to allow rules.

If to touch upon a theme about injuries of a pelvis here the station wagon has executed the task confidently, therefore it agrees with requirements in the threefold size. If to speak for damages of the car after back collision Largus does not lose here too as it perfectly could protect people from unjustified injuries.

After a 36-kilometre per hour impact with a moving barrier, the cabin remained intact. It is also important that the side door windows, along with the trunk glass, were not broken. The fuel tank was well protected by “spare” and suspension design. During the collision, the tank was completely preserved.

The second crash test

During this test, it was possible to confirm that the vehicle complies with all safety standards. The tests were conducted under more severe conditions. Taking into account the applicable rules, the frontal impact should be carried out at a speed of 56 km/h, and Lada Largus was tested at a speed of 64 km/h.

After the tests, the car received 8.32 points out of 10 maximums, which is a pleasant success. It is possible to compare the scores with the Dacia Logan MCV, which received 8 points in 2005.

Complete sets and prices

The choice, however sad it may be, is not great. There are three versions of the cabin: five-seater, seven-seater and cargo (only the front row). The engine is also one, however, quite good and does its job properly. The set is identical to the package “LUX” of the usual “Lada Largus”.

Now the price list in the salons of dealers for a station wagon is equal to $10,585 per five-seat. With two additional seats of the third row the price of $10977 is available. The equipment includes front airbags, ABS and fog lights.

They’re standard:

• Air conditioning;
• The electric drive of window lifters of all doors;
• Mirrors;
• Equipped with electric drive and heating;
• Immobilizer;
• Front seat heating function;
• The upholstery of a steering wheel in a skin;
• Modern audio system;
• Light alloy 16-inch disks.

The head restraints are not only on the front seats, but also on the rear rows. The driver is assisted by a computer, power steering and central locking on the remote control. Safety systems on board BAS and ABS. Also, the model from the factory provides a spare wheel.

The difference between Lada Largus Cross and a regular Largus

Brothers don’t look much different. If you look closely, you can decide that the “off-road” version is slightly higher than the basic version. It has unpainted bumpers, where there are gray inserts on the bottom of them and additional black overlays of arches of wheels and thresholds.

If the standard version of Lada Largus has 15-inch “rollers”, then the version of Cross has 16-inch. Although the “stock” is similar, designed for 15 inches, but if the first version has a full-size spare wheel, then in 2 only “finish”. The cross version has cast rims already in the base, but the usual Largus has a similar option only in Luxe Prestige version.

Speaking for the interiors, it is worth saying that they are quite similar, but the upholstery of the “crossover” chairs was revived with the help of intersecting stitches. The central console of the “crossover” model has inserts made of grey plastic, similar to the one installed on the doors. It would not be superfluous to add that it is possible to decorate the interior with similar inserts of bright orange color. The interesting thing is that all this does not require any additional payments.

From the measurements, it became clear that the height of the ground clearance of the Largus Cross model was as much as 210 millimeters. For the vehicle, which was planned for regular exits from the asphalt, this is quite a good option. The usual Largus Cross has a clearance of 182 millimeters.

According to the manufacturers, if you fully load the vehicle, taking into account the passengers on the 3rd row of seats, the height of ground clearance will be no less than 170 millimeters for the version of Cross and 145 millimeters for a standard car.

Also interesting is that Lada Largus Cross weighs 35 kilograms more than a normal car. However, one plastic dodger, which gives a brutal look and protects the car’s paintwork from scratches while driving on a bad road, can not weigh so much. A certain percentage of 35 kilograms can be attributed to larger wheels.

If you drive both vehicles on the lifts, take off the wheels and make a careful inspection, you can still find the difference. Largus with the name Cross has original front columns. For example, the designers welded a cup under the spring to the body by 30 millimeters higher than on the wagon. Part of the reason for this is the increased ground clearance.

It is also important that both models are equipped with Monroe racks. The rear wheels, on the other hand, have different gas springs. This can also be noticed by the identification numbers. The body and shock-absorber rod of the Lada Largus Cross are longer, and the springs of the rear suspension have increased in length.

Based on the words of VAZ’s employees, during the work with the Cross model suspension, they were set the goal to save as much as possible the settings of the standard vehicle suspension. It is worth saying that they have coped with this. Speaking for the controllability and comfort level of movement, the machines are very similar.

Simply put, a simple driver, most likely, will not feel the difference in driving a car on a good roadway. But if to leave on a primer or the broken asphalt, Cross looks a little bit better on smoothness of a course. This has been achieved thanks to the increased rolling radius of the wheels and the wider tyres.

Many drivers prefer machines that do not consume as much fuel. The Cross version consumes 1.4 litres more for every 100 km than a standard urban wagon and 0.8 litres more when driving out of town. The difference in the city is noticeable. Since the transmission data have not changed, we hope that the matter is in aerodynamics, size of wheels and additional weight – 35 kilograms.

If you sum up all the information said, the machines are not very different from each other. When you want to get a better smooth ride and a level of comfort, or you often need to drive through the fields and small shrubs, without damaging the body, then the option of Largus Cross is suitable.

When every rouble is important, a simple version that costs much less and is more economical will do. It is also important that the Lada Largus has an eight-valve power unit under its hood, which even accepts the 92nd gasoline. But the sixteen-valve power plant can consume only 95 brands of gasoline.

Drawing attention to the sales statistics, half of the 26,460 Largus models sold in the first 11 months of 2016 were of a simple version. Approximately 30 percent of drivers chose the Cross version, while the remaining 20 percent chose the van.

The competitors of Lada Largus Cross

The most important competitors of the domestic Lada Largus Cross car are Peugeot Partner, Citroen Berlingo, Renault Kangoo, Volkswagen Caddy, Lada Largus Universal, Fiat Doblo, Skoda Roomster and Ford Connect Transit.

Of course, the most important advantage of the domestic machine is its rather democratic value. But if quality, thoughtfulness, comfort and practicality are important to the buyer, then still it is necessary to choose European variants.

Reviews from the owners

Based on Lada Largus Cross owner feedback, we can see that the drivers noted poor noise isolation, very high degree of clutch pedal actuation, complete lack of various support on the seats, irritating squeak of the turntable and uncomfortable placement of the control keys window lifts. The interior was assembled in the style of domestic engineering, so it looks very cheap.

Tactile sensations once again prove the budget of the car. Despite the assignment of the title of “luxury” to the multimedia system, in reality it is of poor quality. Bluetooth functions with interruptions, and quality of sounding of music below average. The steering wheel seems plastic and a little tight. It’s frustrating to see that there aren’t any passengers, cup holders or lights on the back.

Nevertheless, motorists note a number of advantages that Largus Cross received. This includes excellent visibility, long cabin, very soft suspension, quiet powertrain and soft gearbox. Acceleration is fast enough, as for such a car, however, only up to the mark of 100 kilometers per hour – it is inconvenient to move further. There is still a lack of sixth gear.

On the third row, the seats can be removed without much difficulty, but the middle row of seats lacks ways of transformation – the back can be tilted only forward. The large luggage compartment and the ceiling shelf for those sitting on the back row, where you can put various things, cannot but delight you. High ground clearance allows you to park your car where it was previously impossible.

If you pay attention to Largus Cross, you can understand that there is a lack of a more powerful “engine”, so you can still feel a good increase to the first hundred kilometers, and after that, the dynamics disappear somewhere. But on the other hand, we are pleased with the small consumption of fuel, which is very important for our customers. Most of the drivers are satisfied with their cars, and every car has its disadvantages. The Lada Largus Cross testimonials testify to this eloquently.

The pros and cons

We sum up

The overall impression of Largus Cross is quite pleasant. It is not a shame to drive such a car around the city, not that to cut through the village “highways”. The appearance, though not super innovative, but practical and even interesting in something. The car will be suitable both for a happy owner of a large family and for a businessman who needs a workspace for transportation of small cargoes.

And maybe you fall under both categories. Then this versatile will become for you a good assistant not demanding big expenses for “feeding” and service. And though the only engine that demonstrates stability, it will easily cope with the average tasks of a class B car.

The employees of the Volga Automobile Plant were able to borrow something from the Europeans, but the level of equipment, quality of assembly, ergonomic component and the degree of comfort is still seriously losing. Of course, on the side of the domestic vehicle there is an undoubted plus – a fairly low cost of the model and inexpensive maintenance. This is probably the reason why many people prefer Lada Largus Cross.

In general, the car is quite solid. The seats installed in front have not received a good side support, but they are quite soft, so sit comfortably. The steering wheel seems to be made of cheap plastic, which together with the cheap plastic of the entire front panel, spoils the impression of the car after the exterior. But inside the car is very free, so even tall passengers can sit there comfortably.

It is nice that you can use the version with seven seats, which is perfect for certain purposes. If you remove the last row of seats, the luggage compartment is very huge, so there should be no problems with transportation of things. There are also versions of the van, designed only for cargo transportation. It is also important that the cars have passed their crash-tests, so they will be able to make the movement safer.

The cars were equipped with airbags, three-point safety belts and so on. Rooftop rails allow for the transport of additional items on the roof. In general, it is extremely difficult to find a more accessible, non-privileged and quite economical workhorse for such means.

This includes a small amount of money for maintenance and repair of the machine. It remains to be believed that in the future, the car concern Lada will be able to improve this version, equipping it with a quality cabin, a wide range of power units and improved quality of performance.

We advise you to read the article: AutoVAZ history – LADA cars

Lada Largus Cross photo

Test drive

Video overview