The situation on the Russian automotive market is not the best right now, especially in the lower and middle price segment. There was hope for the domestic auto industry, now I’m talking about AvtoVAZ and the same UAZ, and not about the converted Chinese under the Moskvich brand, but the sanctions have made their own adjustments. For example, the production of the LADA Largus station wagon, which will be discussed in this article, has been completely stopped for today, the dealers of the brand are selling out the warehouse balances, which sell out quite actively, if not like hot cakes, so that by the summer the model may simply disappear from sale. AvtoVAZ itself says that it will restart the production of LADA Largus only in September 2023. Thus, for at least three months, this model (both a van and a regular station wagon) will disappear from car dealerships, and it will be possible to find it only in the secondary market.
Before today’s acquaintance with LADA Largus Cross, for some reason I was sure that the Largus is a very, very boring car that is used mainly for commercial purposes, but after testing the Cross version, my opinion has changed. It turned out to be a very pleasant station wagon, which, in the modification as we have on the test, can be visually quite interesting. Did you also know that Largus is also available in a seven-seat version? So I didn’t know, but it turns out that AvtoVAZ produces a model in such a version that it will be interesting for families with children.
On the exterior, LADA Largus Cross differs from the regular version by a different radiator grille and an additional body kit made of unpainted plastic. Plus, the manufacturer increased the ground clearance of the model to 200 mm against 172 mm in the “civilian” version, so it became a bit like a crossover. I will not say that the design of the model is modern and very attractive, but in general Largus Cross looks good. If only he had LED optics, and it would be great, but, alas, the headlights are halogen, with yellow light, from which many, I think, have managed to wean themselves, and they do not illuminate the road in the best way at night. Arguably looks, in my opinion, Largus only at the back, but this is apparently due to the fact that the model was sharpened to a greater extent for commercial use and transportation of goods.
Salon Largus Cross I would describe as simple, but tasteful. Yes, this is not something new and relevant, the same Chinese are a cut above both in visual design and in materials, but you still don’t feel flawed in Largus. The front panel is straight, with overlays that make it visually a little more interesting, with several open niches for storing small things and a very nice dashboard with three wells, which can also be seen in other LADA Cross versions. The central glossy part of the panel is framed by vertical inserts made of metal-colored plastic, and the door handles have slips of glossy black plastic. And in general, the interior is all plastic, and the material is hard everywhere, but its quality is at a good level, the assembly is normal, nothing creaks on the go.
Only a person of average height and below can sit comfortably behind the wheel of LADA Largus Cross. For some reason, a problem similar to Chinese models pops up in domestic cars, with difficulties when landing tall people. In the latter case, it is clear that engineers there measure everything on their own, but our developers could think about compatriots. Armchairs in LADA have a short cushion, and there is very little room for resting the left leg, so a boot of size 44 does not fit there. Plus, there is not enough steering column adjustment for reach (height adjustment only), and tall drivers will either have to drive with outstretched arms or move closer, while sitting is not very comfortable. During the test, with grief in half, I still found the optimal fit for myself, but still I can’t say that I felt 100% comfortable in Largus Cross. The front seats have only mechanical adjustments, they are moderately soft, but at the same time flat, plus I would like more pronounced lateral support. On a long trip in armchairs, you start to get tired faster, but in the city, an hour or two in a traffic jam is easy. Yes, the car itself is not wide, so the driver will have to fight with the front passenger for the narrow central armrest.
There are no special complaints about Largus Cross in terms of visibility, the mirrors are medium in size and easy to navigate, a good view through the salon mirror, but in bad weather, visibility through it worsens. This is due to the double-leaf door, on which only in its left part there is a janitor and heating, and on the right wing there is just glass.
By myself, with a height of 187 cm, I sit right back to back, it is absolutely uncomfortable for me to sit there. The child is also uncomfortable behind me, so I have to put him behind the front passenger, slightly infringing on the latter in free space. The gallery is generally only for children, there is not enough space there, but it’s easy to get through there, as the middle row seats quickly fold and rise, opening up a convenient passage back. It is a pity that the middle row is not adjustable longitudinally, so it would be possible to move it at your discretion and, for example, give passengers more space in the back. Isofix mounts are only found on the middle row, and they are inconveniently hidden between the pillows.
The trunk in the seven-seat version of the Largus is relatively small – 135 liters, but by expanding the third row separately, the seats of which form a tangible slide, we get a decent 560 liters of usable space. The luggage compartment doors are hinged. From the outside, we open the left wing, on which there are small pockets inside, and then from the inside we can unlock and then open the right wing. The opening is large and convenient, so loading / loading something in Largus Cross is not a problem. And in our version, a voluminous pocket was mounted on the ceiling of the cabin, in which passengers in the middle row can put something during the trip. And in general, everything is going well with niches for storing things in Largus.
If the standard audio system with Bluetooth is installed in the initial configurations of LADA Largus Cross, then the maximum version is already available with a media system with a 7-inch touch screen, built-in navigation and, most importantly, support for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The display of the IPS system, with a low resolution and rather faded, however, it is worth noting that its viewing angles are good, and the maximum brightness is high, so that even in the sun information from it is easy to read. In terms of responsiveness, there are no particular complaints about it, as, indeed, to its oleophobic coating.
The capabilities of the built-in media system are standard, and the menu is clear and logical. The built-in navigation has a simple drawing, but it is fast and has up-to-date cartography in it, in addition, it also lays out the best routes. The only pity is that graphical navigation tips are displayed only on the main screen and are not duplicated on the dashboard.
Connecting smartphones to the system via Bluetooth is fast and without problems, the import of contacts is correct, and the connection is always stable. The speakerphone in the car also works well, the interlocutor will never complain that you are hard to hear. All data on calls, as you understand, are displayed only on the central display.
To connect devices in the cabin, there are two USB-A, one on the front console, directly above the screen of the media system, which is absolutely inconvenient, and the second is available for rear passengers. In addition, even in the car and there is nowhere to put the phone in front, the manufacturer did not provide special niches with a rubberized coating, so you have to put the devices in open pockets on the top of the front panel, but this is at your own peril and risk. Modern gadgets do not charge quickly from the car’s on-board network, so it makes sense to use adapters for car sockets. There are three last ones in Largus: in front, on the middle row and one more in the trunk.
LADA Largus Cross driver assistants have nothing to brag about. There is a conventional cruise control with convenient control buttons on the steering wheel, and information about its operation is displayed in the right well of the dashboard, where the monochrome display is located. Also in the arsenal of the model are light and rain sensors that work without problems. In the maximum configuration, a rear-view camera is also available with an average picture quality, which is complemented only by rear parking sensors.
Of the comfortable options, the owner of Largus Cross has access to a regular air conditioner that works well, but it makes too much noise, and it is offered to control it with classic comfortable handles. For the winter period, a heated steering wheel with a dedicated activation button on the steering wheel itself is useful, in addition there is a full windshield heating and three-level heating of the front seats. The last two options are activated by buttons at the bottom of the front console right in front of the cup holders, so if there is some kind of container in them, then access to the keys will be closed. Yes, seat heating is also available for middle row passengers, and also separate.
The LADA Largus Cross model is offered with a 1.6-liter gasoline engine with 106 hp, five-speed manual and front-wheel drive. The engine power, in general, is enough to feel confident in the stream and move more or less calmly along the highway, but in the latter case, you have to go out very carefully to overtake, because after 100 km / h the acceleration of the car is completely sluggish. The manual gearbox has a short shift when shifting, which is convenient, also in Largus the clutch pedal is not too hard, but the gears themselves are short. The longest first gear is up to 20 km / h, but by 60 km / h, if you follow the visual cues of the car, you are already in fifth.
In terms of fuel consumption, the car consumes just over 10 liters per 100 km in the city, and about 8 liters in mixed mode. You can fill Largus with 92-m gasoline.
In handling, the Largus Cross feels like a bigger car, there is noticeable body roll when entering corners, and there is some wobbliness when changing lanes at speed. The suspension of the car seems to be elastic, but even small bumps in the roadway make their way into the cabin, the same asphalt waves that are not visible to you are well felt inside. But it is worth noting that the suspension copes well with large irregularities, it transmits protrusions and potholes with sharp edges into the cabin delicately, well, as far as possible, and does not allow breakdowns.
As for sound insulation, it is not very good here, the arches are generally poorly insulated, and a large amount of extraneous noise penetrates into the cabin through them. You drive through a puddle, and it seems that the water is overflowing somewhere inside the cabin.
Today, the price of Largus Cross starts at 1,452,900 rubles, and the maximum version, as we have on the test, will cost 1,511,900 rubles. Given the modest choice of cars in the current realities, the price does not look very sky-high, especially if you remember that at least 1.8-1.9 million rubles are asked for the cheapest Chinese. In addition, Largus Cross is one of the most affordable models with a seven-seat interior, which for some buyers can be a decisive factor.
