Vyacheslav Galuzinsky, Deputy General Director of Lifan Motor Rus LLC, telling reporters about Solano II, noted that in the course of presale marketing research, Lifan's clients could not find any shortcomings in the new sedan - he made such a big leap forward compared to its predecessor ... Whether it is true or not, the Za Rulem experts have to find out, but for now let's get to know the new product, as they say, in numbers.
With an unchanged wheelbase of 2605 mm, it is argued that the car is completely new, at least in terms of the body. Overall length increased from 4550 to 4620 mm, width and height are the same - 1705 and 1495 mm, respectively, ground clearance increased from 150 to 165 mm. Trunk volume is still the largest in the class - 650 liters.
Uncontested at first 1.5-liter Gas engine now complies with the Euro-5 environmental standard and develops the previous 100 hp. The maximum torque during the "cleaning procedures" decreased slightly - from 131 to 129 Nm. The gearbox is still only a 5-speed manual, an alternative in the form of a Punch CVT will be offered in 2017, as well as a more powerful 1.8-liter engine.
In the minimum configuration Basic the new Solano is worth 499,990 rubles, it includes ABS, two airbags, LED running lights, air conditioner, electric drive of all windows, central locking with remote control, burglar alarm, on-board computer, front and rear center armrests, leatherette seat upholstery, audio system with CD-player, USB-connector and four loudspeakers.
Version Comfort per 569,990 rubles richer with frameless wiper blades, wheel caps, immobilizer, cigarette lighter and heated front seats.
Top-end equipment Luxury per 599,990 rubles will delight the owner with alloy wheels, a multifunctional steering wheel, electric and heated outside mirrors, parking sensors, a rear view camera, as well as a multimedia system with a touch screen and six speakers.
The Solano II is already available for order from dealers, sales of the previous generation model are about to end. The Derways plant, the traditional partner of Lifan in Russia, has already stopped the production of the old Solano and switched to a new one.
As for Lifan's own plant in the Lipetsk region, since August, when it became known about the freezing of its construction, nothing has changed: representatives of Lifan Motor Rus LLC could not even name an approximate date for the launch of the enterprise, citing the crisis in the Russian economy, which did not will allow selling 60 thousand cars a year - this is the planned capacity of the plant.
Nevertheless, the journalists were assured that the plant would certainly be there, and that Lifan was in Russia "forever", despite all the hardships and hardships. The Chinese company has reason to be optimistic: Lifan sales in the first eight months of 2016 increased by 40% compared to the same period last year, dealers sold 10,405 vehicles. Thanks to Solano II, the positive delta may grow further by the end of the year. In addition, in October it will go on sale updated crossover Lifan X60, which accounts for nearly half of the brand's sales.
- Read about why the plans of Chinese automakers in Russia are crumbling or not being fully implemented in the analytical material of the Za Rulem expert.
The Chinese sedan Lifan Solano engineers from the Middle Kingdom significantly reworked, after which they awarded it with the prefix "2", which, according to them, means the second generation of this model.
Indeed, although Lifan Solano 2 is still based on a platform from Toyota corolla in its ninth reincarnation, after modernization, the "Chinese" has changed significantly in better side and looked like a decent car.
Quick jump to sections
Exterior and interior
In length, Lifan Solano 2 has grown by 8 cm, but the distance between the axles has not changed. Outwardly, the sedan looks quite respectable, like an almost European car.
The driver's seat is easy to adjust for your height, but I must say that the driving position is not without features and, as before, is designed for a person of small stature. The backrest has to be placed in the maximum vertical position, otherwise the steering wheel cannot be reached, since steering column adjustable only by the angle of inclination.
The Lifan Solano 2 seat is also not adjustable up and down. The seat cushion is a bit short, but in general, the inconvenience of landing, if it occurs, remains within the permissible range. You can get used to it, after which the car owner will no longer pay attention to it.
The build quality for a car of this value is not bad. There are gaps, but they are even and small. The plastic is, of course, tough, since the Lifan Solano 2 is a purely budget car. The door cards are made with a pretense, you can see imitation leather with stitching on them. Piano black finish is quite appropriate here. There is plastic and “metal look”, but this is no longer the same ridiculous silver. The central tunnel has two cup holders and a box with AUX and USB connectors.
Driving Toolkit
The dashboard is new, the speedometer and tachometer are swapped. The on-board computer, as before, is able to show the temperature of the coolant and the level of fuel in the tank, whether the doors are open or closed. What's more, it now also shows the average fuel consumption and distances to refueling.
Pleased with the Chinese and the multimedia system. Press the NAVI key and launch Navitel. What it is, everyone knows. Anyone can handle it, everyone knows where to buy cards for this program. In addition, Lifan Solano 2 pleases with a rear-view camera, moreover, the screen transmits a high-quality picture. The marking lines are visible, however, they are static; when the rudder is turned, the position of these marking lines does not change in any way. Apart from some nuances, there are not so many reasons for nagging at the driver's workplace of Lifan Solano 2.
On the road
The main impression from the ride is that Lifan Solano 2 has clearly matured. We have struggled with the existing roughnesses and now the car seems to be a more finished product. At a speed of 80 km / h, the cabin is quiet, the engine is almost inaudible. The noise of the wind and tires is also absent, that is, the sound insulation is made soundly.
A 1.5-liter engine has a hundred horses and there are enough of them for this car. The engine briskly accelerates the car, although acceleration is accompanied by a clearly audible hoarse engine noise. However, the power and elasticity of the engine is sufficient.
The good news is that there is no vibration on the Lifan Solano 2 controls, such as the steering wheel, pedals and gearbox. Previously, it was, but the Chinese eliminated it. Now you can guess about the Chinese origin of the car only by landing, and you get used to it over time.
Although there is no vibration on the gear lever, it happens with roughness, you can feel the creak of the wings. I think this can be eliminated. In general, nothing bad, that is, the lever is securely fixed and does not dangle in gears.
There is enough motor, but at rpm up to 2000 it is passive and only after 2000 rpm it is actively driving. In order to effectively accelerate, it is not necessary to twist the motor into a ringing sound. 4000 - 4500 rpm is enough to effectively accelerate and outrun the flow.
The motor is actually flexible and from a subjective point of view it suffices. However, as the check showed, on an empty car, when there is only a driver in the cabin, Lifan Solano 2 accelerates to 100 km / h in 13 seconds. If there are three people in the cabin, then the acceleration becomes two seconds worse. A bit too much, but it feels like the motor pulls adequately and goes even faster than a car with only 100 hp under the hood is supposed to drive.
Controllability and maneuverability
Review and control of dimensions on the Lifan Solano 2 is not bad. The mirrors are of normal size, even larger than those of the competition. The salon mirror is located unusually close to the face, but it has a very wide angle of coverage. Yes, the rear window is not so shallow. In the part of the road survey, no jambs were found.
The Chinese do not install stabilization systems on their cars. You can feel it when you make an emergency "rearrangement" maneuver on Lifan Solano 2. When you turn the steering wheel, the car immediately starts to skid. However, this is not a sharp dip, not a sudden breakdown of the rear axle, but rather a smooth process. The driver has time to react, to correct the skid.
Even if you provoke the car into a deeper skid, the chassis performs well. Lifan Solano 2, during emergency maneuvering, behaves cohesively and tenaciously holds the road. The informativeness of the steering is low, but the car does not fall into a skid abruptly and suddenly, giving the driver a margin of time to correct the situation.
In general, the handling of the Lifan Solano 2 is not bad, although the lack of a stability control system is a significant drawback. Not every driver is experienced enough to be able to act correctly in a skid situation. So you have to be on the lookout.
On a bad road
In terms of energy intensity, the suspension is inferior to competitors, but it passes speed bumps well, better than its predecessor. The feeling is that the suspension is close to the cars of the European level.
The suspension is not rigid, it allows small irregularities to pass through, although it fulfills them with a hum and with small vibrations. In car settings, the Chinese were clearly guided by the European level of quality. As a result, Lifan Solano 2 turned out to be a verified car, in which there were obvious flaws.
Practicality and comfort
Seated in the back, there is ample legroom, albeit less than the competition. True, there is some kind of cross-bar that rests on the shins. For passengers in the back row, Lifan Solano 2 offers an armrest, two cup holders, an ashtray, a lighting shade and special recesses on the doors where tall glasses or bottles can be put.
Trunk Lifan solano II opens either with a button from the key or from the passenger compartment. There is no button on the trunk lid. The trunk is standard, the opening is wide. I am pleased with the pile of the upholstery and the way it is fixed. There is a full-size spare wheel in the boot underground. By the way, in the maximum configuration, the Lifan Solano II rides on a very budget-friendly tire size 195 / 60R15.
The trunk is neat, there is a plastic lining, the metal does not gap here, everything is done soundly. In this respect, the Chinese made me happy. But there is also a jamb: the Chinese forgot to attach a handle to close the tailgate, you have to take it by the splashed edge. But they did not forget to make sure that the person locked in the trunk could get out of it. To do this, there is a special hook inside the trunk, by pulling on which you can open the trunk. Such is the feature.
Of the pleasant little things seen in Lifan Solano 2, it's worth paying tribute to the backlighting, which not only goes out, but fades out smoothly, like a light in a theater. There is a rubber mat in the niches of the door handles, and therefore the little thing thrown there will not ring and roll. Of the unpleasant little things, it is worth noting the glittering glass. dashboard... The screen of the multimedia system is also actively catching the sun's rays, which is why its contrast decreases.
Prices and configuration
Prices for Lifan Solano 2 fit into the price range of approximately 500 - 6000 thousand rubles. At the same time, "in the base" there is an ABS, two airbags, air conditioning, full power accessories. In the most expensive configuration, the buyer will also receive a leather interior, as well as multimedia with navigation and a rear-view camera. Lifan Solano 2 cannot offer contactless access to the salon, engine start buttons and sunroof even in the top-end configuration.
Specifications Lifan Solano 2
- Length: 4620 mm;
- Width: 1705 mm;
- Height: 1495 mm;
- Wheelbase: 2605 mm;
- Engine displacement, l: 1.5;
- Power, h.p. 100;
- Torque, Nm: 129;
- Acceleration to 100 km / h, seconds: 13.
Many Chinese people tried to conquer our market. car companies, but for most of them the blitzkrieg ended in failure. Cars from the Middle Kingdom, despite the attractive price, could not compete with their classmates from Europe, Japan and Korea. Only a few manufacturers from China managed, if not to conquer, then at least not to disappoint our customers.
Lifan is one of those lucky ones. And with the advent of the second-generation Lifan Solano II sedan, things for the Chinese should go even better. Or not? With the fiercest competition that reigns in the segment budget sedans, a couple of miscalculations can be very expensive.
What did the first generation Lifan Solano look like? Who knows. Although chinese sedan meets from time to time on our roads, describe it appearance only the owners of the car will be able to. With the Solano II, the situation is slightly better. Calling a modest sedan a beautiful language has not yet turned up, but the appearance of Solano II does not cause frankly negative emotions either. There is less "china" in design, and on the contrary, there are more average design solutions.
It is no wonder that the front Solano II somewhat subtly looks like a Honda Accord Crosstour, and at the back - on a Nissan Maxima ten years ago. But that's not bad either. If Solano II will stand in every yard, then in a couple of months its appearance will become familiar and recognizable. Unless the wheels, which seem disproportionately small against the background of the body, will be difficult to get used to. They ask, oh, how they ask for bigger wheels on the Lifan Solano II.
The interior has also noticeably changed. There is no trace of phenolic smell familiar from the sedan of the previous generation. As well as there are no frankly simple finishing materials and lurid design solutions. The design has become stricter and absolutely not annoying. So if you do not know that Solano II is from China, then it is quite possible to decide that this is another inexpensive "Korean". Although without drawbacks, which is quite natural for a car of this class, it was still not without. The seat of the Chinese sedan is upset with an indistinct profile, and constant glare interferes with reading the readings from the on-board computer on the dashboard.
As for the second row of seats, its rating will depend on which class we enroll in the car. The manufacturers themselves attribute the Solano II to the golf class, but at the price of the Chinese sedan is much closer to the representatives of the B + segment. And against their background, the new Solano II looks very advantageous, offering, in addition to a sufficient supply of free space, an armrest with a cup holder. And in terms of trunk volume, Solano II claims to become the best in the class - 650 liters. But using them all to one is unlikely to work.
Part of the usable space is eaten by the tailgate rods. Another penalty point Lifan Solano II gets for the missing inner handle for closing the trunk.
Specifications Lifan Solano 2
The engine of the second generation Solano, like its predecessor, has a volume of 1.5 liters and produces 100 horsepower. But the torque is slightly less. The reason for this is the environmental standards of Euro-5, because of which the engine had to be slightly strangled. And you can feel it. At low revs, the Solano II seems to be somewhat sluggish, revealing its full potential only when the tachometer needle comes close to the 5 thousand rpm mark. So you shouldn't be ashamed of actively wielding the manual gearbox lever if you want to drive dynamically. "Mechanics", by the way, pleasantly surprised me with small moves. Another would be to work on the clarity of the switch.
On the other hand, Lifan Solano II does not seem to pretend to be a car for an active driver. Although it is managed even better than expected. A sharp steering wheel, an elastic suspension, a slight oversteer - gradually it comes to the Chinese engineers and testers that it is necessary to work on the car settings for a long time and meticulously.
And the fact that it is impossible to save on sound insulation, they seem to have already understood. The background noise in the Solano II is noticeably lower than that of the previous generation sedan. Unless the engine soloing during acceleration would be made a little quieter. But this, given the class and cost of the car, is already nit-picking. Price! It is impossible not to remember her when speaking of Lifan Solano II. And all because in terms of price, the Chinese sedan will give odds to any of its classmates.
And this despite the fact that already in the basic version the Solano II is equipped very worthily - two airbags, ABS, air conditioning, central locking and much more. For many, this fully compensates for the minor disadvantages, of which the Lifan sedan has enough. What about major flaws? By and large, they are not. So the future for Lifan in our market seems to be bright.
Price for new Lifan Solano 2:
1498 cc cm / 5-st. ITUC
100 h.p. at 6000 rpm
129 Nm at 3500-4500 rpm
Look at what a handsome man has turned Lifan Solano second generation... Remember the first Solano, which at first looked like a BMW of the third series, then like some unknown animal? Now Lifan looks like a normal respectable sedan, its owners will not be shy now.
The architecture of the pendants has remained the same (has not changed). The 1.5 liter engine was modernized. In connection with the transition to Euro-5 standards, a phase shifter appeared on the exhaust camshaft.
At the heart of the second generation Lifan Solano is a thorough redesign of the E120.
Length x Width x Height
4620 x 1705 x 1495 mm
Wheelbase 2605 mm
Body became 7 cm longer, but the wheelbase has not changed. And it turned out to be an interesting thing. Among all its classmates, the Solano II has the longest body length with the shortest wheelbase. But outwardly the car looks very respectable - almost a European car. However, the quality of the Chinese assembly still makes itself felt. See what body clearances. They literally "breathe". However, this is easily eliminated and regulated. Therefore, ask your dealer to carry out the appropriate work.
Landing behind the wheel not without nuances. It is still designed for a short person. The seat back has to be placed as vertically as possible in order to comfortably and safely reach the steering wheel with your hands, since the steering column is adjustable only in tilt angle. The seats also do not have up / down adjustments. The saddle is short, but generally uncritically uncomfortable.
Build quality interior for a car worth 490-590 thousand Russian rubles (this is how much Lifan II costs) is very good. All gaps are smooth and small. There is no hint of a break. The plastic is hard. This is a sign of a budget car.
What has changed since the first generation? First of all it is design... Gone are the naive Chinese things, attempts to imitate some European brands. Now a laconic interior has been made without any borrowings. Door cards are made "richly" - artificial leather with red stitching. Glossy varnish looks appropriate. The metal-like plastic on the front panel really imitates metal.
Dashboard new. The tachometer and odometer are reversed. The on-board computer is now able to show not only the coolant temperature, fuel level in the tank, opening / closing doors, but also displays the average consumption and the approximate mileage on the available fuel. Display modes are switched with a pin key on the instrument panel. While driving, the dashboard glares, which interferes with reading information.
The center tunnel now has two cupholders. The armrest cover is no longer double, there is no niche for documents and small things. Now it is just a box with an outlet, AUX and USB port.
In the base picking: ABS, 2 airbags, air conditioning, full power accessories. The top trim levels add a leather interior, a multimedia system with navigation and a rear-view camera. Heated side mirrors are present only in the most expensive version. In 2017, Lifan Solano II will be equipped with contactless access to the salon, an engine start button and a sunroof will be added. Most likely, the hatch will reduce the headroom, which will be critical for tall people.
The Chinese delight with a wise and honest approach to multimedia system... When you press the NAVI key, the well-known navigation program "Navitel" is launched. Accordingly, there will be no problems with the cards. The multimedia system pleases with a high-quality picture from the rear view camera. There are marking lines, but they are static - they do not change in any way when the steering wheel is turned. Glare may appear on the screen while driving on a sunny day, which reduces the contrast and makes information difficult to read.
On back row of seats the legroom for passengers is small. The shins rest on the front seat. There is ample foot space under the driver's seat. The sofa is located on the middle level. Good support for adult passengers. I would like the rear seats to be made higher, but this cannot be done, since the ceiling height would seriously limit the growth for passengers. For the convenience of back row passengers, there is an armrest with 2 cup holders, an ashtray, a lighting shade and special recesses (niches) on the doors for tall glasses or bottles (0.5-1 liters). Competitors with a longer base have much more legroom in the knees. The central tunnel is not wide. The average passenger of average height will fit perfectly.
Nice little things noticed in the car. The interior has a pleasant lighting that fades out smoothly. There are rubber mats in the door niches.
Trunk the second Solano is made neatly and soundly. It opens either with a key or by pressing a button in the cabin. There are no buttons on the trunk lid itself. The volume of the trunk is standard, the opening is wide. The pile of the upholstery is well fixed. There is a full-fledged spare wheel in the trunk underground. To close the boot lid, you will have to grasp the outside, which can be dirty. A special hook is provided inside, pulling on which you can open the trunk from the inside. The reversing camera is susceptible to dirt flying off the road.
The clutch pedal takes some getting used to. She works as if her hydraulic drive a little airy.
Suspension works well on speed bumps, better than its predecessor: quieter, but in terms of energy intensity it is slightly inferior to the best foreign counterparts. The suspension was tuned better: it is not stiff and does not allow small irregularities to pass through. It works them out with some hum, the vibrations go under the body.
The main impression from the trips is not such a "raw" car, as was the case with the first generation Solano. Overcome roughness and vibration. Soundproofing made soundly. When driving at a speed of 80 km / h, the cabin is quiet, the engine is almost inaudible, there is no noise of tires and wind. The engine power is sufficient for vigorous acceleration. True, acceleration is accompanied by a hoarse noise from the engine. At the same time, there are no vibrations on the controls. Up to 2000 rpm, the engine is sluggish, but after overcoming this mark, effective acceleration is possible. In a real test drive, the acceleration to 100 km / h of an empty car (driver only) with the air conditioning turned off was 13.1 seconds. With 3 people in the cabin, the acceleration time to hundreds increased by two seconds.
Gear changes occur with roughness, the squeaks of the curtain are felt. Perhaps this can be somehow eliminated (lubricated). But in general, nothing criminal. The shift lever is securely fixed, does not wobble.
Dimension control good when driving in the city. Mirrors are of normal size. The salon rear-view mirror is located close to the face, but has a wide viewing angle - you can see and rear glass and adjacent stripes.
Cars are not equipped with a stabilization system. In extreme conditions, during the "rearrangement" at the first turn of the steering wheel, a roll occurs and the car goes into a skid. However, this is not a sharp dip into a skid, not a sharp drift of the rear axle, but rather smooth. The driver always has time to correct the skid.
Actually chassis pretty good. During emergency maneuvering, the car behaves cohesively and tenaciously. The informativeness of the steering does not shine, but, most importantly, the car does not break into a skid abruptly and suddenly. It is better for inexperienced drivers to avoid situations that can cause a skid, and subsequently a U-turn, of a car. The settings are good enough for a Chinese car though.
Let's sum up results test drive Lifan Solano 2nd generation. The car has become better than its predecessor and at the same time retained the same price. In terms of design, there is clear progress. In terms of settings, driving performance the car has become better and approached the level of a European foreign car.
The whole photo session“To conquer a mountain top meant to do something concrete, tangible and undeniable,” as the American mountaineer journalist John Krakauer put it in his book on climbing Mount Everest. Chinese Lifan company- like a mountain climber, step by step, steadily moves to the intended peak. It's hard to believe that she started making cars just ten years ago. Progress is evident, and this is very noticeable for the next model that has just been presented on the Russian market - Lifan Solano II
In the Lifan dealership in Simferopol, buyers look with interest not only the cars exhibited in the showroom, but also our group. And they also listen to our opinions about what we saw under the hood of the new Solano. What attracts attention here? The engine is covered with a decorative and noise-insulating cover - as we will later be convinced, not without benefit: in the cabin you can hardly hear it. The cover can be easily removed by simply pulling it up, it is fixed with rubber grommets on four plastic pins. Having removed it, we get access to the individual ignition coils of each of the four candles, which are recessed into the "wells" of the 16-valve cylinder head. The coils are from Bosch.
Under the gaze
The fuel rail is also easily accessible, along with the injectors located underneath the injection system. The Solano engine has its roots in the Toyota engine. It is equipped with a variable valve timing system (i-VVT), and this is a plus. Assembling the motor ("Lifans" for Russian market off the assembly line of the Derways enterprise in Cherkessk) makes a favorable impression. But the "eye" - the battery charge indicator (nominal capacity 60 Ah) is dark, but should be green. The welded seams of the body side members are not neat everywhere, the brake fluid reservoir cover is not fully tightened, and one of the body clips air filter will not snap into place. Little things? Yes, but not very pleasant. Of course, we do not pay attention of buyers to them. But in their place, any of us after buying this car would attend to its "broach" - branded or independent.
It is noteworthy that Lifan dealers offer a lot additional equipment and services. Can be ordered with anti-corrosion treatment for hollow cavities. For external surfaces, it is not relevant: the lower part of the body at the factory is covered with a layer of a protective compound, and there is simply no point in smearing oil on oil. But it makes sense to install "felt" wheel arch liners, because when driving, you can clearly hear how pebbles drum on metal. Also, on our roads, the protection of the engine compartment is useful.
Even in the engine compartment, it is clearly visible that the radiators of the air conditioner and the engine cooling system are separated from each other. Various debris (foliage, poplar fluff) can accumulate in this "gap", but all this can be easily washed out with a jet of water from a hose under pressure. However, such a sink will not be needed soon, not earlier than after two or three years of operation.
And the salon? And it looks attractive, ergonomically designed, and well-built. As for the latter - not advertising, the places of inconsistencies in the finishing elements must still be looked for. One of the journalists participating in the test discovers that when the door glass is lifted up to the stop, the lower outer seal turns out slightly, exposing the velvet strip on the inside. I look closely at the car I drive myself: there is such an effect, but less pronounced. For myself, I note other disadvantages.
First. The sound of the driver's door closing is not bad, soft, the door does not respond with the ringing of internal equipment, but it has to be slammed harder than we would like. If it has not slammed, the car will inform about it on the move both with a sound signal and with an indicator on the instrument panel. Only this indicator will be poorly visible, and this is the second minus. The fact is that the visor over the instruments is not long enough, and the glare from the windshield during the day almost completely "eats" the on-board computer display. The speedometer and tachometer are perfectly visible at any time of the day, and the indicators of average fuel consumption, mileage on the remaining gasoline and some other data are clearly readable only in the dark.
The 1.5-liter 100-horsepower Lifan Solano II engine does not like very low revs (below the "2000" mark), but it is worth raising them a little, as there is an obvious pickup. According to the passport, this motor develops maximum torque (129 Nm) in the range of 3500-4500 rpm, while according to the driver's sensations, the thrust begins to actively increase already from 2500 rpm.
The third disadvantage is that the platform for resting the left leg is too wide, so it turns out to be close to the clutch pedal, and while driving, you continually touch this plastic part with your left boot. It is clear that the site is made for an "automatic" version, but such (with a variator) will appear on our market only next year.
The fourth drawback is the lack of an opening button on the trunk lid. To unlock it, you have to look for a key fob, then return to the driver's seat, next to which there is an unlocking button in the cabin.
And, finally, the main complaint is about the driver's seat. Sometimes, when testing this or that car, you just do not know what to say about this seat. In the overwhelming majority of cases, it does not cause any complaints. Most often, you just sit behind the wheel, in a couple of seconds you adjust the chair for yourself and forget about it for a week, and you remember only when you need to write something about the driver's seat. So, in Solano II, the interior designers did everything to make the seat stand out. They tried to disguise an ordinary wooden chair as it, and they almost succeeded. Lateral support? It simply does not exist. Stuffing? Tough, uncomfortable. Material? Leatherette, the coldness of which does not please even in the warm Crimean weather. Interestingly, there is no fabric upholstery in any of the three trim levels available with us!
But the camouflage was successful: the front seats look very nice. And, to tell the truth, you can get behind the wheel and not even get tired after several hours of the road, although in general the landing is not a pleasure. Chair height adjustment - yes. The steering wheel is adjustable in height (although I would add a couple of centimeters to its upward travel), but not in the outreach. In the "older" trim levels on the steering wheel there are large audio control buttons and on-board computer, for this Lifan Solano II receives an unconditional plus.
There is also a "leatherette" sofa at the back, and not only three puny Chinese will fit here. Enough space for three well-fed Russians. In general, in terms of external dimensions and internal dimensions, Solano II is very similar to Toyota Corolla, and only in terms of legroom for the rear passengers it lags behind: when landing "behind me", a little more than 20 cm remains for their knees. By the way, during the movement of the driver's seat forward - back it turned out that the backward travel is not so great: a couple of clicks plus to "my" landing - and the seat sled rests against the limiter. My partner in the test with a height of 187 cm and sat, as they say, at the limit.
All Russian Solano IIs are equipped with a full-size spare wheel located under the raised boot floor. The compartment for things has a good volume (at a glance, under 500 liters, the exact data are unknown). By folding the parts of the back of the rear sofa, it can be increased, but a perfectly flat floor cannot be obtained, the joint turns out to be uneven and sloppy due to folds of the soft upholstery. The loading opening is narrow, however, like that of the same "Corolla", it barely exceeds 40 cm. Why Lifan does not intend to either develop or produce a station wagon, it is obvious: in our country this form factor is not held in high esteem. But this is the only reason why I would not consider this model as a potential purchase. Everything else would suit me, by and large. After all, Solano II rides quite well - for such and such money ...
"The track winds like life ..."
We will immediately inform you for what money, and then we will go. So, in Russia, the updated sedan from Lifan is offered in three trim levels: Basic, Comfort and Luxury. Their cost, respectively, is 499,900, 569,900 and 599,900 rubles. The main units for all versions are the same: a 1.5-liter naturally aspirated gasoline engine with a capacity of 100 hp. with. and five-step mechanical box gear. Front-wheel drive, suspension - "MacPherson" in front and semi-independent with a twisted beam at the rear, the most standard and widespread scheme for cars of this size class (the length of the new Solano is 4.6 m, those who are better acquainted with the "Japanese" know that the same length at "Corolla").
The "older" equipment has multimedia control buttons on the steering wheel and, in fact, the multimedia system itself with an 8-inch touch screen, a rear-view camera and built-in Navitel navigation. The presence of navigation was not immediately detected, sometimes this function did not respond to touching the screen, just like some others. But when it was possible to activate it, it showed us in detail the insignificant mountain roads of the Crimea. And the smartphone was in contact with the device properly.
As you guessed, the test route for Solano II was laid along the Crimean serpentines. Moreover, mainly along serpentines, on ordinary roads, as well as city streets, we do not have much time left. But first, right after the start in the Simferopol dealership, we competed for some time in impudence and intransigence with the Crimean drivers. And, I must say, the Chinese Solano allowed us not to lose face ...
Of course, it was immediately noticed that these cars have a long clutch pedal travel. And it “grasps” it at the end of the pedal stroke. The gears are switched clearly, distinctly, maybe a little tight, but this is justified by the fact that the test "Lifans" had zero mileage. That is, in fact, they just left the assembly line and got to the Crimea on auto transporters. With the dynamic qualities of our "experimental", we figured it out right away. Only gradually it became clear that these cars do not like very low revs (below the "2000" mark), but it is worth raising them a little, as there is an obvious pickup. According to the passport, this motor develops maximum torque (129 Nm) in the range of 3500-4500 rpm, but according to the driver's feelings, the thrust begins to actively increase already from 2500 rpm. Did the Chinese measure something wrong or shouldn't you believe your eyes?
In the case of the engine performance, it is, but as for the steering mechanism ... I have not seen such a "long" steering wheel for a long time: as many as three and a half turns from lock to lock! And, nevertheless, even at 180-degree mountain turns, you do not feel at all that you are "winding" on the steering wheel. The car reacts to control actions clearly and obediently, does not frighten rolls and "looseness", you do not expect this from a relatively inexpensive "Chinese". With acceleration, the sound of the engine begins, of course, to break through into the salon, but when perezhazovki on the serpentine it is even pleasant to listen to it. Although, of course, he is far from the sporty-noble "roar" of expensive models.
The second, the third, again the second, once again the third for a short while, but the first was needed ... When climbing the serpentine, we do not use all the gears, especially taking into account the engine's dislike of the "bottom". He hesitated a little when switching or dropped the "throttle" straight ahead - and now it is necessary to go down not by one, but by two steps. Nevertheless, it is possible to work quickly and prevent the motor from stalling. This has never happened for our crew. This was facilitated, among other things, by the precise setting of all Lifan mechanisms. One can even say that this setting no longer gave the impression of a Chinese one, that is, made “on the knee”.
Like local motorists, the Crimean roads also arranged an unfriendly meeting for us. And on the outskirts of Simferopol, and between rural settlements, and even more so on the mountain serpentines, there were many bumps, potholes, pavement swelling. Trying to maintain the general pace (the test participants were moving in a column behind the organizers' car), every now and then we had to slow down in front of this or that "flaw" of the canvas. In some places on the serpentine, the pits were deep, as after a bombing, and a couple of times, diving into such, we experienced blows ... What? Hard to say. All of our vehicles have been fitted with robust engine cover plates. But at the bus stop, looking at this sheet, I did not see any obvious traces of touching the ground. True, it was unhappy to note that the real distance from the protection of the engine compartment to the asphalt road was only 140 mm. According to the passport, Lifan Solano II's ground clearance is 165 mm. Apparently, it was measured without regard to protection.
Suspension is stiff but not shaky. It is better to go around especially deep pits and high hillocks, medium-sized " problem areas»Can be ignored. There are not so many unwanted squeaks and knocks in the cabin, the trim parts, although they are made of relatively tough plastic grades, are carefully fixed and securely fitted to each other. The smell of the notorious "phenol" characteristic of Chinese models can be caught, but it is noticeable that it is far from being as striking as it used to be.
What about the brakes? They are disc here in a circle, and I always welcome that. But I would wish a little more "tenacity" for the "Solanovka" mechanisms. Or maybe it would appear a little later, when the brake pads would finally get used to the discs. Let me remind you that our cars were "zero", that is, without a run, straight from the factory. It is possible that the pads have not yet worked in the discs. The Lifan does not have a lot of auxiliary electronics; for example, the stabilization system is not available on the Solano II, it is not included in any of the configurations. But there is ABS, and in those places where the asphalt road was completely worn out, this system willingly entered into action.
"Peephole" - battery charge indicator is dark, but should be green. The welded seams of the body side members are not always neat, the brake fluid reservoir cover is not fully screwed in, and one of the clips of the air filter housing will not snap into place. Little things? Yes, but not very pleasant. At the place of the buyer of this car, I would definitely attend to its complete check and "broach" - branded or independent.
What is the general state of affairs with the handling of the "Chinese"? It is necessary to maneuver more sharply, and it becomes noticeable that the car is not so eager to "rip" the front axle, and to "play along" with her rear wheels - too. It is surprisingly stable, and, in principle, I did not regret the lack of a stabilization system on any of the test roads. Although, of course, it would not be superfluous. We were just lucky with the weather. Although the asphalt under the wheels was uneven, it was mostly dry; wet areas in the mountains were encountered, but there were not many of them.
For some reason, the manufacturer hides the acceleration time of the car from zero to 100 km / h, but I think it is about 11-12 seconds. The curb weight of the Solano II is slightly more than 1200 kg, the gross weight is 1580 kg. Maximum speed declared at 180 km / h. On a relatively straight and level stretch of the seaside highway, my partner managed to accelerate the "experimental" Solano to about 140 km / h. Exchange rate stability did not deserve criticism, the noise in the cabin also did not press on the ears. Although, of course, we first heard the whistle of the wind, when we had not yet reached the speed of 100 km / h.
Fuel consumption? On serpentines, it did not exceed 8 liters per 100 km, in the cities of the Crimea it barely reached 10 liters. The inhabitants of the peninsula have already learned what traffic jams are, with the influx of Russian tourists, cars have noticeably increased here, and the roads cannot cope with the number of vehicles during the season. The expansion and renovation of streets and roads is in full swing. And yet, in the fall, the congestion of the road network is less. There is an assumption that in Moscow traffic, especially in winter, Solano II may turn out to be more voracious. Moreover, as we know, its engine does not like low revs. You can refuel the "Chinese" with both 95th and 92nd gasoline.
In pursuit of the heights
So, in segment C on our automotive market appeared new player... Let's not call it strong a priori, let it first prove its reliability in operation. In the meantime, we can say that in price it competes with the sedans LADA Granta and Priora, as well as the Uzbek model Ravon Nexia R3 (formerly the first generation Chevrolet Aveo). The advantages of "Lifan" are, of course, the size and attractive appearance. "Colleagues" by origin - Chery Arrizo 7 (741,900 - 800,900 rubles), Geely emgrand 7 (509,000 - 639,000 rubles), Brilliance H530 (579,900 - 664,900 rubles), Dongfeng S30 (509,000 - 579,000 rubles) - Solano II also opposes a favorable price, novelty, and increased build quality. And if the Lifanovites decided to release a station wagon, they would have only two rivals in our market: these are LADA Kalina and Largus. Both of these models have been experiencing a recent downturn in sales, but they still sell in numbers that market leaders envy. Had a potential Solano II Break been in between, there would have been buyers.
author Andrey Ladygin, columnist for the "MotorPage" portal Publishing site Photo of the author's photo
