Comparison of VAZ-2114 Samara or Lada Granta

5-7 years ago, comparison of these budget-level cars was very popular, because they were in the same price group. At the same time, "Samara" was a time-tested car, and Grant was a newcomer who had just started to roll off the assembly line, being a "dark horse". The interest in the new product was high also because the VAZ 2114 could be purchased in almost any car dealership, and Lada Granta had to wait, and wait a considerable amount of time.

But since in 2013 "Chetyrka", as the 14th model was fondly nicknamed, was discontinued, interest in it shifted to the secondary market. But it has not faded away, so today we will try to compare these two products of the domestic auto industry, despite the skepticism of many readers.

Technical features of the models

Samara is a typical hatchback, while the sedan is considered the prevailing body type for Granta. So we deliberately compare these two bodies, although the Grants also have hatches. The models do not have identical engines, so we took cars with approximately the same engines.

Exterior

Although the Lada 2014 is a direct and immediate descendant of the nine, when viewed from the front, it is quite difficult to find something in common even for a specialist. Not surprisingly, it was the front end that underwent the greatest changes. The main visual difference is the body-colored bumper. This combination on the classic "nine" was considered a model of tuning. Of course, both the radiator grille and the head optics unit, fenders and hood have radically changed their appearance - the latter have become more streamlined.

But the designers decided not to bother with the stern - it remained practically unchanged, even the lanterns remained the same shape. Changes include the appearance of a spoiler and, again, painting the bumper in body color.

Of course, even by the standards of that time, such a design could hardly be called modern. All the more so today. But when you buy a budget car, the question of appearance usually recedes into the background.

Lada Granda looks like a princess against the background of her opponent, but we understand the relativity of such a comparison. In fact, after the last restyling, the car really became more modern and fresher. Of the main innovations, it is worth noting chrome inserts along the edges of the false radiator and air intake grilles, extending far into the wings and forming the halves of the letter X.

The new head optics unit has shifted a lot to the sides, which also required changes in the shape of the wings and hood. Turn signals were installed in the rear-view mirrors, as required by the standards of the current automotive fashion. Factory wheels look very fresh and interesting.

There are also changes at the back: the trunk lid received a protrusion that strongly resembles a spoiler, a large LADA inscription appeared, a plastic insert appeared in the lower part of the bumper. Now the trunk cannot be opened with a key due to the absence of a larva - this can be done either by means of an electromechanical drive from the passenger compartment, or with a key fob.

The question of which is better, the appearance of a VAZ 2114 or a Lada Grants, we consider incorrect. For some it does not matter, for others - and there is nothing to compare, and so everything is clear.

Salon and trunk

Another thing is the interior, where beauty is also not the main thing, and convenience and comfort come to the fore.

In this regard, the differences are also significant. But not everything is so bad for the VAZ 2114 - for example, an adjustable steering column with a very convenient steering wheel, which absolutely does not interfere with contemplating the instrument panel.

If the designers had guessed to diversify the interior with wood-like inserts, it would have looked quite good. The presence of power windows pleases, albeit only the front ones - for budget cars and this is a luxury. The standard heater is absolutely new, this was not the case on any predecessor.

The car began to look a little more stylish after adding door sills, but in this case the solution turned out to be a double-edged sword - it is in this place that the paint peels off in the first place. The torpedo of the "four" became more rigid, thanks to which it was possible to get rid of a significant part of the noise and creaks in the cabin.

The backrest of the rear sofa folds down to form a single cargo compartment, like a typical station wagon.

Compared to Samara, Granta's interior looks much more modern. The center console acquired complete features, the tidy was made similar to the Vestovsk one - the digital scales received orange edging, and the digitization itself acquired a radial orientation. The deflectors also have an X-shaped edging.

The driver's seat has become even more comfortable thanks to increased lateral support; in the top-end equipment, it is possible to adjust it in height. Vesta's salon is much more spacious than that of a competitor, and the trunk volume is one of the largest for budget cars.

Engines and transmissions

If the body of the Lada 2114 was practically not modernized throughout the entire period of the car's production, then the engine line has evolved quite intensively. First, an injection 77-horsepower engine from a VAZ 2111 with a volume of 1.55 liters was installed on the hatchback, which was distinguished by good economy, but was rather weak. Strictly speaking, it was a copy of a VAZ carburetor engine equipped with an injection system. Soon it was replaced by a more powerful 1.6-liter analogue, developing 5 "horses" more. Its main feature was compliance with Euro 3 standards (thanks to the presence of a catalytic converter).

A year later, this engine became part of history, and it was replaced by an 89-horsepower sixteen-valve. The latest modification of the "four" was equipped with a prior's 98-horsepower engine, so powerful that they began to install it on the classics.

Of course, the box was only mechanical - no robots, let alone automatic machines, were not dreamed of in such cars - this was the prerogative of much higher class cars.

But then Granta came - and the situation changed. Here we can already talk about a full line of motors.

The base is a 1.6-liter 87-horsepower eight-valve, which is aggregated with a five-speed manual transmission.

It is complemented by a sixteen-valve analog developing 98 horsepower, which is paired with a four-band Japanese Jatco automatic machine.

The top in the range of power units Grants is considered to be a 106-siot 1.6-liter engine, which is installed in cars with a mechanical or robotic gearbox. The latter, by the way, proved to be very good, which was facilitated by the change in the gear ratio of the main pair of the gearbox to 3.9: 1 - acceleration to a hundred became a little faster, and gear changes were clearer. AMT now has a "creeping" mode, which came in handy when driving in city traffic jams. A Start button has been added, allowing you to switch much faster.

In general, a comparison of the VAZ 2114 and Grant engines allows us to determine the clear winner - Lada Granta is ahead by a large margin.

Dynamics, fuel consumption

We talked about the evolution of the 2114 Samara engines, but it would be interesting to track the changes in fuel consumption and acceleration dynamics (the car was refueled only by AI-95):

• 1.6 l. - 98 l. from. - 7.2 l / 100 km / 11.2 seconds;
• 1.6 l., 89 l. - 7.4 l / 100 km / 11.2 sec;
• 1.6 liters., 82 liters. - 7.6 l / 100 km / 13.0 sec;
• 1.6 l., 81 l. - 7.8 l / 100 km / 13.0 sec;
• 5 L., 77 L.- 7.3 l / 100 km / 13.2 sec,

Here are the indicators of Grants for comparison:

Controllability and security

VAZ 2114 holds the road surprisingly well. Even when entering a sharp turn, the car does not leave the trajectory, unlike the same "ten", and generally behaves more or less adequately.

When driving at high speeds, the behavior of the car is easily predictable, the moderately stiff suspension allows you to extinguish any unevenness in the roadway. Considering that Porsche specialists had a hand in the refinement of the Samara chassis at one time, it is not surprising that the hatchback easily overcomes roads on which foreign cars are categorically not recommended to drive.

Of course, the price for excessive rigidity is the noise of the car, but if desired, this disadvantage can be reduced by installing a high-quality "Shumka".

At Granta, the suspension was initially designed to be energy-intensive, since the developers had a good idea of ​​what the car would have to face. The Kalina platform was taken as a basis, which was improved taking into account other dimensions and weight of the car. It turned out well - the car behaves confidently both on the asphalt and on the primer, swallowing any defects. Likewise, she copes with "speed bumps", but when the wheel falls into a large hole, the rebound racks can manifest themselves with a characteristic knock.

There is another significant drawback of Grants - we are talking about the absence of a steering booster in the "Standard" package - it is difficult to drive a car at low speeds, especially if the driver represents the beautiful half of humanity. But already in the modification "Norm" an electric amplifier appears, which completely solves the above problem.

In general, the steering of Granta is noticeably better compared to Samara. But if you are a fan of steering at high speeds, do not forget about four full turns of the steering wheel. That's a lot for active high-speed maneuvering. But the negative camber of the rear wheels of the Grants, on the contrary, will add confidence to you, increasing the stability of the car when cornering. Of course, the tire life is thus reduced, which is a price to pay for driving safety.

Options and prices

With regard to the VAZ 2114, the choice is frankly small - all cars of the Samara family were offered in only two possible equipment options: Standard and Lux.

The cost of the VAZ 2114 in the minimum configuration started at 297 thousand rubles, Samara Lux cost 300 thousand. Since now unsold copies of "four" are almost impossible to find, these prices can be safely reduced by one and a half to two times, so that you can forget about the former being in the same price category - especially since inflation makes a significant contribution to the rise in prices for cars regardless of their category.

And now we will give a complete set of Grants with an indication of the cost and approximate equipment:

• Standard, 440 thousand rubles, includes a driver's airbag, 14-inch steel wheels, Isofix mount, audio preparation, ERA-GLONASS system;
• Classic, 476 thousand, added electric power steering, front power windows, tilt steering, BC with an indicator signaling the right moment to shift gears, central locking;
• Comfort, 521 thousand rubles, added car radio, second airbag;
• heated front seats, electric drive of external mirrors with integrated turn signals;
• Luxe, 560 thousand, added foglights, alloy wheels, full power accessories, climate control, alarm, immobilizer, remote central locking, heated windshield, folding the back of the sofa in a 6/4 ratio, adjusting the driver's seat height.

What to choose: VAZ 2114 or Grant

In fact, the question is limited only to your budget: if you have enough money to purchase Granta in the minimum configuration, the choice is clear. And the point is not only that Grant is ahead in almost all indicators, and it is essential - in any case, you are buying a new car. This means that in the coming years you will not have to think about where to get money for unscheduled repairs.

In the case of a used Lada Samara, this option is most likely. But if the main thing for you is that the car just drives, then the VAZ 2114 will be a good alternative to a competitor - in terms of efficiency it is inferior very little, and in terms of maintainability it is a cut above, and the cost of spare parts here is about two to three times lower.