Comparison of Lada Granta or Lada Priora

Despite the permanent increase in the share of foreign cars, the positions of the domestic auto industry remain unshakable. This is understandable: even the middle class knows how to count money, and in the conditions of constant growth of inflation, a car that was considered inexpensive five years ago is becoming unaffordable today. But it would be a mistake to believe that AvtoVAZ products are not affected by evolution: they are becoming more comfortable and safe, reliable and of high quality, competing with many budget foreign cars, especially those made in China. So it is not surprising that two popular models are involved in our review: Priora, the last copy of which rolled off the assembly line in 2018, and Grant, which is still being produced, but with the prefix "bye".

Technical features of the models

To participate in the review, we took the latest generation cars with the same 1.6-liter 87-horsepower engines and a manual transmission.

As you can see, the Priora is larger and heavier: the weight of the Priora and Grants differs by 30 kg, and the length - by 8 centimeters. But Grants have more ground clearance, and it is more economical. In all other respects, sedans are approximately equal.

Exterior

Lada Granta debuted in 2011 and it was a front-wheel drive sedan. Initially, the car was designed to replace the rear-wheel drive versions, in particular, the line of "nines". Later, a five-door liftback was added to the sedan, which at the front was slightly at odds with the base model (only the bumper). Behind, for obvious reasons, the cars were not very similar. In general, Granta's appearance, especially after the last restyling, has become youthful, reminiscent of typical "dudes" of the 90s. The bumper, front head optics, running lights have undergone improvements.

The start of sales of Priora dates back to 2007, and the model itself was intended to replace the top ten, the demand for which was falling every year. In 2013, the car underwent a facelift, during which running lights were added and noise insulation was improved. The exterior design itself has practically not changed and today is perceived as morally outdated.

So, in appearance, the question of which is better, Grant or Prior, is not worth it: the first model looks uniquely more modern and aesthetically pleasing. A wider choice of body types speaks in favor of the Priora: in addition to the sedan, a station wagon is available and two hatchback modifications, a three- and five-door.

Salon and trunk

Since Granta was designed later, her interior is just as modern as her exterior. The designers tried to take into account all the fashion trends in the global auto industry. The round shape of the deflectors and the presence of a shelf in front of the front passenger seat attract attention - this is the influence of the French school of auto design. True, the quality of the plastic leaves much to be desired - it is tough, and over time it begins to emit unpleasant creaks. However, there are soft inserts on the dashboard, and even decorative elements for aluminum on the dashboard. An oval watch looks good too.

Priora's dashboard has also become much younger, but it is felt that here, too, there is clearly a lack of ergonomics. As for the roominess, the relatives have approximately the same capacity both in the front and in the back. There is a slight shortage of width at the back, three of them will be clearly uncomfortable here, especially during long trips. Landing heiress "ten" is much lower - an echo of the nineties. Lada Granta will appeal to those who like to sit high, and there are obviously the majority of them. And it's not so much about better visibility: getting in and out is much easier here than on the low Priora. The Granta's trunk volume is 90 liters more, which may come as a surprise, because the dimensions of this sedan are smaller than those of a competitor.

Unlike the Priora, the Granta backrest of the rear sofa is lowered, but not for all trim levels, and it will not work to get a flat cargo platform.

Engines and transmissions

Almost the same eight- or sixteen-valve 1.6-liter engine, which they inherited from Kalina, is installed on both cars. But the degree of forcing is different for them. Priora has 98/106 liters. with., the younger brother has added less powerful, 82- and 87-horsepower to these two power units. But even on identical engines, purely subjectively, Grant seems more responsive - perhaps due to the presence of a lightweight connecting rod-piston group. In any case, these motors are less noisy, vibrate noticeably less and consume less fuel. As the latter, only AI-95 is used.

As for the transmission, then Granta's leadership looks obvious - her cable box looks much preferable. In essence, this is a modernized manual transmission from the VAZ-2108, which works much more clearly, although it is considered more noisy.

Considering all of the above, the answer to the question of whose power unit is better, Priors or Grants, will be unambiguous, but this advantage cannot be called decisive.

Dynamics, fuel consumption

Lada Priora, equipped with an 87-horsepower engine, consumes as much gasoline as its companion in the review, equipped with the same power plant:

• City - 9.0 liters per 100 kilometers;
• Highway - 5.8 liters;
• Mixed mode - 7.0 liters.

But due to the different weight, the accelerating dynamics are different: Priore takes 12.5 seconds to reach a speed of 100 km / h with a maximum speed of 176 km / h, Granta accelerates faster (12.2 seconds), but goes “quieter” ( its limit is 167 km / h).

The 106-horsepower 1.6-liter sixteen-valve is another common engine, but here everything is different, except for the maximum speed (183 km / h). Lada Priora fuel consumption in the city, highway and in mixed mode is 8.9 / 5.6 / 6.8 liters per 100 kilometers (acceleration to “hundreds - 11.5 seconds), for Lada Granta - 8.6 / 5, 6 / 6.7 (10.9 seconds) for manual transmission, and 9.9 / 6.1 / 7.6 (13.3 seconds) for a four-band automatic transmission.

So, according to these indicators, the comparison of Grants and Priors did not reveal a clear winner: the heir of the “ten” is faster with one power unit, and loses with another.

Controllability and security

AvtoVAZ's products can hardly be called as comfortable as those of modern foreign cars, but in terms of handling, the Priora is quite good. With an increased steering rack travel, the car confidently holds the road even at speeds exceeding 120 km / h. And it's easier to maneuver here because of the increased number of turns of the steering wheel (4.1). Granta loses in comparison with a competitor - the car rolls more when cornering, because there are less revolutions (3.1), and any unevenness can cause a deviation from the original trajectory. At the same time, her suspension is softer - this is a fairly comfortable car, regardless of the body type.

As for the indicator of reliability and safety, both cars are equipped with an airbag for the driver and the ABS / EBD / BAS system - this is, so to speak, the minimum European standard for basic equipment. In addition, there is a burglar alarm and a central locking system with remote control.

Options and prices

The configurations for both cars do not differ much. The basic version has daytime running lights, one PB each, the already mentioned EBD / ABS / BAS systems, audio preparation and tinted glass. At Priora, you can add an on-board computer, electric power steering, armrest, eyeglass case to this list.The cost of the Standard configuration is about the same - they ask for 460 thousand rubles for the Priora, and 430 thousand for the Grant. Why the base Priora is more expensive than Grants is unknown to science, but with the growth of equipment, the picture changes, becoming more predictable.

The Priora's Norma equipment costs 470 thousand, while the equipment level corresponds to the initial one at Granta. The top version of Image can be purchased for 530 thousand, while the competitor has a relatively expensive Luxe Prestige worth 610 thousand. Here you can enjoy air conditioning, a modern seven-inch touchscreen multimedia display, a passenger airbag, parking sensors, light / rain sensors - options that Lada Priora does not have.

What to choose: Grant or Prior

Summarizing the above, it is difficult to give preference to any one model. Moreover, there are modifications with different bodies - sedans, liftbacks, station wagons, hatches, sports versions. So it would be interesting to compare the reviews of real owners.

But here, too, opinions differ. Many argue that Grant is more reliable and of better quality than the Priora, that this car has minor malfunctions that make it necessary to go to a car service, occur later and less often. Moreover, in most cases, these are such defects that allow you to move independently, and not resort to the help of a tow truck (malfunction of the heater, window regulator mechanism, generator, etc.). The Granta cost is less, the appearance is much more modern and attractive. The only negative characteristic of all models is the whistle of the brakes, but sooner or later you get used to it and stop paying attention.

Another advantage of the successor to the "ten" is a more spacious cabin, especially in terms of legroom for passengers. Landing is also much more comfortable, the trunk is almost 90 liters more. Add to this richer equipment, and the picture emerges more or less harmonious.

But many people like the Priora, and it is quite reliable. Moreover, according to statistics, the owners of this car visit the car service less often. Perhaps the point here is in greater maintainability - many repair Prioru in garage conditions, since there are no problems with spare parts, and their cost is an order of magnitude lower than that of foreign cars. The only thing that upsets even fans of the car with an old-fashioned design is that it is too overpriced. But since the production of the model has been discontinued since last year, price comparisons are not entirely correct.

So which car is better - Grant or Priora - it's all the same for you to determine. If you are only interested in a new car, the choice is unambiguous, but the network has repeatedly slipped information that the production of Lada Granta is also planned to be curtailed, especially against the background of more frequent problems with suppliers. It is not known when this will happen, so we would advise you not to postpone the purchase indefinitely. And inflation is not conducive to maintaining the purchasing power of the population at the same level ...