If you remember what the previous Solano looked like, you can not compare it with the new one, they are completely different. Solano II is a completely new body, the manufacturer claims that not a single body part was repeated from the old model. The novelty has a massive front part, an expressive radiator grill, sharp embossed stampings on the body. Looks impressive and solid. At the presentation of the car in Tula, one of the guests compared it with BMW and Honda sedans, and in this they were both right and wrong. Wrong, because, again according to the manufacturer, the appearance of the Solano II was not copied from any of the existing cars. And they are right - because in terms of its dimensions the novelty is really closer to a higher class. In comparison with competitors from the C-class (and these are Renault Logan, Lada Vesta, Hyundai Solaris, etc.), the car is noticeably longer, and in terms of dimensions it is close, for example, to the Renault Fluence or BMW3 series.
What will this fact give the owner of the car?
More representative, expensive exterior design and much more space in the cabin compared to the "classmates".
On our test drive, the three of us sat in the back - and it was not crowded. They planted a long-legged driver forward, behind - the same photographer, and both found where to put their legs without feeling discomfort.
In general, the car is comfortable anywhere. At the driver's seat, both the backrest and the seat are adjustable in height and angle of inclination, and the steering wheel is adjustable in height. You can find the ideal settings for a driver of any height and build. The passenger seat also has adjustments, the rear sofa has a comfortable wide seat. If two people are driving behind, you can fold down the wide armrest, which also opens.
If you meticulously examine the interior trim, then ... you won’t notice anything criminal! The Chinese have become more attentive to detail, and in Lifan Solano II this is obvious. High-quality materials without any pungent odor, adjusted, even gaps between the elements, a very nice design of the front panel, white instrument and button illumination - no "New Year's" variegation, everything is stylish and restrained.
In the latest configuration, the car has a multimedia system with a display on the center console. It has a navigator, radio, the ability to connect a phone, a flash drive, a microCD card and a number of other options. The image from the rear view camera is also displayed.
All versions of Solano II are equipped with a 1.5 liter engine with 100 horsepower. Not enough? For riders, maybe yes. But if you do not forget that this is a city car that does not mark the category of sports cars, then its dynamics for driving according to the rules are enough for the eyes. Yes, and on the track, he confidently holds the road, is not inferior to his neighbors downstream and does not fail when overtaking. Soundproofing seemed a bit weak, but in this case, you can buy special soundproof fender liner from the dealer.
The transmission of the new model is a 6-speed manual, and this is also the only option for all trim levels so far. In the near future, as promised, luxury versions with a CVT will appear.
Although Solano II is an urban sedan, it will also be a useful companion for country trips and business.
On the highway, it consumes only 6.5 liters of fuel per hundred. And for transporting things and crops, a trunk is useful: its volume is a record for C-class cars, 650 liters, plus additional volume when the seats are folded.
Interestingly, the trunk in this car opens in three ways: a button from the passenger compartment, a button from the alarm remote control and a mechanism for opening from the inside. The last option is useful if, for example, you are accidentally closed (anything can happen). But seriously, it is needed in cases where the battery is dead in the car and other opening methods are no longer available. In other brands, you would have to disassemble the lining of the trunk, but here it is enough to fold the rear seats and open the lock from the inside.
You can treat cars of Chinese origin as you like, but there are two facts that you can’t argue with. Firstly, EVERYTHING is now made in China, including your iPhone, your branded clothes and shoes, as well as the engine from your German/Korean/Japanese car. Since China is trusted by Apple, Versace, Audi and hundreds of other world brands from all industries, it is already illogical to doubt the quality of Chinese cars.
Secondly, Chinese cars beat all competitors in terms of price.
And when you compare prices and equipment, there is no trace of prejudice against the "Chinese".
For example, let's take Solano II, Logan and Solaris, all in the minimum, cheapest configuration.
Logan for 469,000* will have ABS with brake force distribution, power steering, front mudguards, heated rear window, one airbag, full-size spare tire.
Solaris for 551,900* has audio preparation (4 speakers), ABS and EBD, immobilizer, 2 airbags, power steering, front power windows, front and rear mudguards.
_____________
* Prices and configurations - from the official websites of these brands.
And here the Solano II triumphantly enters the stage. For a price of 499,900 rubles, we get: leather interior, anti-dazzle rear-view mirror, trip computer, LED optics, ABS and EBD, 2 airbags, alarm, central locking, power windows for all doors, air conditioning, audio system, 4 speakers, AUX and USB, trunk opening function from the alarm button and from the passenger compartment, driver's seat adjustment in 3 directions, front and rear mudguards. The list of equipment for one car is the same as that of two competitors combined.
In the maximum configuration for 599,900 (that is, slightly more expensive than the cheapest Solaris), Lifan, in addition to the previous list, will have heated front seats, a multimedia system with a touch screen, a rear-view camera and navigation, rear parking sensors, 2 more audio system speakers, an electric drive and heated rear-view mirrors, immobilizer, multifunctional steering wheel, alloy wheels.
Our conclusion about LIFAN Solano II: this is a car for those who are used to driving at a calm pace, who love space in the cabin, who need the car to be also roomy. A great option for family people: the Solano can be comfortably driven by four or five people, and everything that a large family needs on the road can be placed in the trunk. And it is also a car for those who want to get everything at once for relatively little money. With Solano II, you don't have to spend extra money to bring your car to perfection. It already leaves the assembly line fully prepared for comfortable and safe trips.
Whole photoshoot“Climbing a mountaintop meant doing something concrete, tangible, and undeniable,” as American climbing journalist Jon Krakauer put it in his book on climbing Everest. The Chinese company Lifan is like a climber, step by step, steadily moving towards the intended peak. It's hard to believe that she started producing cars just ten years ago. Progress is evident, and this is very noticeable in the next model that has just been introduced to the Russian market - Lifan Solano II
At the Lifan dealership in Simferopol, buyers look with interest not only at the cars displayed in the showroom, but also at our group. They also listen to our opinions about what they saw under the hood of the new Solano. What draws attention here? The engine is covered with a decorative and noise-proof cover - as we will see later, not without benefit: it is almost inaudible in the cabin. The cover is easy to remove by simply pulling it up, it is fixed with rubber bushings on four plastic studs. Removing 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. Coils are from Bosch.
Under the watchful eye
The fuel rail is also easily accessible, along with the injection nozzles located underneath. The Solano engine is descended from the "Toyota" motor. It is equipped with variable valve timing (i-VVT), and this is a plus. The assembly of the motor ("Lifans" for the Russian market descend from the assembly line of the Derways enterprise in Cherkessk) makes a favorable impression. But the "peephole" - the battery charge indicator (standard capacity 60 Ah) is dark, but should be green. The welded seams of the body side members are not neat everywhere, the lid of the hydraulic brake reservoir is not completely wrapped, and one of the air filter housing latches is not latched. Little things? Yes, but not very pleasant. Of course, we do not pay attention to them buyers. But in their place, any of us, after buying this car, would take care of its “broach” - branded or independent.
It is noteworthy that Lifan dealers offer a lot of additional equipment and services. You can order anti-corrosion treatment of hidden cavities. For external surfaces, it is not relevant: the lower part of the body is covered with a layer of protective compound at the factory, and it simply does not make sense to spread oil on oil. But to install "felt" fenders - it makes sense, because when moving, you can clearly hear how the pebbles drum on the metal. Also on our roads, the protection of the engine compartment is also 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 (leaves, poplar fluff) can accumulate in this “gap”, but all this will be easy to wash with a jet of water from a hose under pressure. However, such a wash will not be needed soon, not earlier than after two or three years of operation.
And the salon? And it looks attractive, ergonomically thought out and well-built. As for the latter, this is not an advertisement, the places of inconsistencies in the finishing elements must still be looked for. One of the journalists participating in the test finds that when the door glass is raised 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 it is less pronounced. For myself, I note other disadvantages.
First. The sound of closing the driver's door 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 doesn’t slam shut, the car will report this on the go with both a sound signal and 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 display of the on-board computer. The speedometer and tachometer are visible perfectly at any time of the day, and the indicators of average fuel consumption, mileage on the balance of gasoline and some other data are well read 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 an obvious pickup occurs. According to the passport, the maximum torque (129 Nm) this motor develops in the range of 3500-4500 rpm, according to the driver's feelings, the traction begins to actively increase already from 2500 rpm.
The third minus is that the rest area for the left foot is too wide, so it turns out to be close to the clutch pedal, and while driving, you constantly touch this plastic part with your left boot. It is clear that the site is made for the "automatic" version, but such (with a CVT) 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 the unlock button is made in the cabin.
And finally, the main complaint - to the driver's seat. Sometimes, when testing a particular car, you just don’t know what to say about this seat. In the vast majority of cases, it does not cause any complaints. Most often, you just sit behind the wheel, adjust the seat for yourself in a couple of seconds and forget about it for a week, and remember only when you need to write something about the driving position. So, in Solano II, interior designers did everything to make the seat attract attention. They tried to disguise it as an ordinary wooden chair, and they almost succeeded. Lateral support? She just doesn't exist. Stuffing? Hard, uncomfortable. Material? Leatherette, the coldness of which does not please even in warm Crimean weather. Interestingly, fabric upholstery is not available in any of the three trim levels available with us!
But the disguise was a success: the front seats look very nice. And, to tell the truth, you can sit 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 adjustable. The steering wheel is adjustable in height (although I would add a couple more centimeters to its upward travel), but not in reach. In the "senior" trim levels, there are large buttons for controlling the audio system and the on-board computer on the steering wheel, for which the Lifan Solano II receives an unconditional plus.
There is also a “leatherette” sofa at the back, and not only three frail Chinese will fit here. Enough space for three average well-fed Russians. In general, in terms of external dimensions and internal dimensions, Solano II is very similar to Toyota Corolla, and only lags behind in legroom for the rear passengers: when landing “behind me”, a little more than 20 cm remains for their knees. By the way, in the process of moving the driver’s seat forward, back, it turned out that the backward movement is not so great: a couple of clicks plus “my” landing - and the seat sled rests against the limiter. My test partner, with a height of 187 cm, sat, as they say, at the limit.
All Russian Solano IIs are equipped with a full-size spare wheel located under the boot floor. The compartment for things has a good volume (at a glance, under 500 liters, the exact data is unknown). By folding the parts of the back of the back sofa, it can be enlarged, but you cannot get a perfectly flat floor, the joint turns out to be uneven and sloppy due to the folds of the upholstery. The loading opening is narrow, however, like that of the same Corolla, it barely exceeds 40 cm. Why Lifan does not intend to develop or produce a station wagon is obvious: in our country this form factor is completely out of favor. But this is the only reason why I would not consider this model as a potential purchase. Everything else, by and large, would suit me. After all, the Solano II rides quite well - for such and such money ...
“The track winds like life…”
We’ll let you know right away what the money will cost, and then we’ll 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 liters. With. and a five-speed manual transmission. Drive - front, suspension - "MacPherson" in front and semi-independent with a torsion beam at the rear, the most standard and common scheme for cars of this size class (the length of the new Solano is 4.6 m, those who are more familiar with the "Japanese" know that the same length for the "Corolla").
The "senior" equipment has multimedia system 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 could not be determined immediately, sometimes this function did not respond to touching the screen, just like some others. But when she managed to activate it, she showed us in detail the insignificant mountain roads of the Crimea. And the smartphone contacted the device properly.
As you guessed, the test route for Solano II was laid along the Crimean serpentines. And, basically, along serpentines, on ordinary roads, as well as city streets, we don’t have much time left. But first, right after the start in the Simferopol dealership, for some time we competed in impudence and intransigence with Crimean drivers. And, I must say, the Chinese Solano allowed us not to lose face ...
Of course, it was immediately noted that these cars have a long clutch pedal travel. And it “grabs” at the end of the pedal stroke. The gears switch 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 out immediately. It only gradually became clear that these cars do not like very low revs (below the “2000” mark), but as soon as they are slightly increased, an obvious pickup occurs. According to the passport, the maximum torque (129 Nm) this motor develops in the range of 3500-4500 rpm, according to the driver's feelings, the thrust begins to actively increase already from 2500 rpm. Did the Chinese measure something wrong or should you not believe your eyes?
In the case of the engine characteristics, it’s worth it, but as for the steering mechanism ... I haven’t seen such a “long” steering wheel for a long time: as many as three and a half turns from lock to lock! And yet, even on 180-degree mountain turns, you don’t feel at all that you are “winding” on the steering wheel. The car reacts to control actions clearly and obediently, it does not scare you with rolls and “looseness”, you don’t expect this from a relatively inexpensive “Chinese”. With acceleration, the sound of the engine begins, of course, to break into the cabin, but when re-gassing on a 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, the second again, once again the third for a short time, but the first one was needed ... When climbing the serpentine, we do not use the entire set of gears, especially considering the engine's dislike for the "lower classes". He hesitated a little when switching or dropped the "gas" on a straight line - and now it is necessary to go down not one, but two steps. Nevertheless, it is possible to work quickly and prevent the engine from stalling. This has never happened to our crew. This was facilitated, among other things, by the clarity of setting all the Lifan mechanisms. One can even say that this setting no longer gave the impression of being Chinese, that is, made “on the knee”.
Like the local motorists, the Crimean roads also gave us an unkind meeting. And on the outskirts of Simferopol, and between rural settlements, and even more so on mountain serpentines, there were many potholes, potholes, swelling of the coating. Trying to maintain the general pace (the test participants moved in a column behind the car of the organizers), we now and then had to slow down in front of one or another “flaw” of the canvas. In some places on the serpentine, the pits were deep, as after the bombing, and a couple of times, diving into such, we experienced blows ... What? Hard to say. All of our vehicles have been fitted with durable engine compartment protection sheets. But at the bus stop, looking at this sheet, I did not see any obvious traces of touching the ground on it. True, it was sad to note that the actual distance from the protection of the engine compartment to the asphalt was only 140 mm. According to the passport, the ground clearance of the Lifan Solano II is 165 mm. Apparently, it was measured without taking into account protection.
The suspension is firm, but not wobbly. It is better to go around especially deep pits and high hillocks, medium-sized “problem spots” can be ignored. There are not too many unwanted squeaks and knocks in the cabin, the trim parts, although made of relatively hard plastics, are fixed carefully and fit securely 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 brakes? They are here disk in a circle, and I always welcome this. But I would wish a little more "tenacity" to the "Solan" mechanisms. Or maybe it would have appeared 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 mileage, straight from the factory. It is possible that the pads have not yet worn in to the discs. Lifan has few auxiliary electronics; on Solano II, for example, a stabilization system is not available, it is not available in any of the configurations. But there is ABS, and in those places where the asphalt pavement was completely worn out, this system willingly entered into action.
The "eye" - the battery charge indicator is dark, but should be green. The welded seams of the body side members are not neat everywhere, the lid of the hydraulic brake reservoir is not completely wrapped, and one of the air filter housing latches is not latched. Little things? Yes, but not very pleasant. If I were the buyer of this car, I would definitely take care of its complete check and “broaching” - branded or independent.
How are things going with the handling of the "Chinese"? It is worth maneuvering more sharply, and it becomes noticeable that the car is not so eager to “rip off” the front axle, and “play along” with its rear wheels too. It is surprisingly stable, and, in principle, on none of the test roads, I did not regret that it did not have a stabilization system. Although, of course, it would not be superfluous. We just got lucky with the weather. The asphalt under the wheels, although uneven, was mostly dry, there were wet areas in the mountains, but there were few of them.
For some reason, the manufacturer hides the acceleration time of the car from standstill to 100 km / h, but I think it is about 11-12 s. The curb weight of Solano II is slightly more than 1200 kg, the total weight is 1580 kg. The maximum speed is declared at the level of 180 km / h. On a relatively straight and flat section of the seaside highway, my partner managed to accelerate the “experimental” Solano to about 140 km / h. Exchange rate stability did not deserve any complaints, the noise in the cabin also did not put pressure on the ears. Although, of course, we first heard the whistle of the wind when we had not yet reached a speed of 100 km / h.
Fuel consumption? On serpentines, it did not exceed 8 liters per 100 km, in the cities of 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 significantly increased here, and in the season the roads cannot cope with the number of vehicles. Expansion and repair of streets and roads are in full swing. And yet, in autumn, the congestion of the road network is less. There is an assumption that in Moscow traffic, especially in winter, Solano II may be more voracious. Moreover, as we know, his motor does not like low revs. You can fill the "Chinese" with both 95th and 92nd gasoline.
In pursuit of the heights
So, in segment C, a new player has appeared in our automotive market. We will not a priori call it strong, let it first prove its reliability in operation. In the meantime, we can say that in terms of price it competes with the LADA Granta and Priora sedans, 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 contrasts the best price, novelty, increased build quality. And if Lifanovites decided to produce 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 decline in sales, but they still diverge in such circulations that the market leaders envy. Had the potential Solano II Break been priced between them, there would have been buyers.
Author Andrey Ladygin, columnist for the portal "MotorPage" Edition site Photo photo of the authorOn September 21, he held an official presentation of the Russian version of the Lifan Solano sedan 2016-2017 model year. From the same day, the second generation of the budget model is available for order at a price of 499,900 rubles.
The updated car has seriously added in terms of external design and interior configuration, while at the same time not offering anything new in the technical part. Nevertheless, the improvements made, flavored with a very attractive price tag, should allow Lifan Solano to strengthen its position in the low-cost car segment. Detailed specifications, equipment and prices Lifan Solano 2 2016-2017 in a new body will be presented as part of this review.
Overview Lifan Solano 2017 with photo
The change of generations did not affect the overall dimensions of the new Chinese sedan too much. Only the length was adjusted, which increased by 70 mm (up to 4620 mm). The remaining indicators retained their pre-reform values: width - 1705 mm, height - 1495 mm, wheelbase - 2605 mm. The front and rear tracks were also not revised - 1470 and 1460 mm, respectively. The turning circle of not the smallest car is 10.2 meters.
Externally, the new Lifan Solano looks much prettier than its predecessor. The designers tried to give the sedan a more modern and stylish look, bringing it as close as possible to European models. And I must say that the efforts of the developers were not in vain.
Photo Lifan Solano 2 - front view
The front part of the sedan does not indulge in super-original design solutions, but it attracts with a successful layout of seemingly uncomplicated elements. Among them, headlights with beautiful lens optics, a radiator grille with three horizontal slats, a laconic bumper with a pair of foglights on the sides and a small air intake cutout in the center stand out.
Photo Lifan Solano 2 - rear view
The stern is designed to match the front part - using simple shapes and clean lines. It is in this style that the overall lighting equipment, the luggage compartment lid and the rear bumper are made. The sidewalls of the Lifan Solano 2 body are decorated with a duty rib running along the line of the door handles and elegant mirror housings, complemented by turn signal repeaters.
Otherwise, the profile of the model repeats the outlines of a classic sedan with the usual proportions. Of course, the appearance is able to revive light alloy wheels 195/60 R15, which are the prerogative of older trim levels.
Interior design of the new Lifan Solano 2
The salon of the new generation of the four-door flaunts a completely redrawn front panel with a completely different, different from the pre-reform, arrangement of controls. Against the backdrop of the nondescript interior of the “first” Solano, the interior of the 2nd generation car seems almost standard.
Photo salon Lifan Solano 2 2016-2017
In the driver's field of view, there will be a simple, but quite informative dashboard with a pleasant backlight of the scales, and a new three-spoke steering wheel (multifunctional in expensive versions) in the hands. Much more interesting and modern architecture of the center console allows you to easily control multimedia functions or adjust the temperature inside the car.
Photo of leather seats in the new Solano 2
Already in the "base" of the Lifan Solano 2016-2017 seats are trimmed with artificial leather. Landing in front and behind is quite comfortable, except that very tall passengers will experience a noticeable shortage of free space.
Photo trunk Lifan Solano 2016-2017
But things in the trunk will feel very at ease - they have at their disposal a 650-liter cargo compartment, which has practically no analogues in the class.
Specifications Lifan Solano 2016-2017
If the new Lifan Solano succeeded in terms of design, then there were no special changes in the technical equipment. In the arsenal of the model, the former 1.5-liter gasoline unit, however, brought into line with the requirements of the Euro-5 standard. Hence a small loss in maximum thrust, which has decreased from 131 to 129 Nm.
Photo engine Lifan Solano 2nd generation
Peak power remained at the same level - 100 hp. Paired with the engine is a 5-speed manual, and the appearance of a CVT from Solano of the 1st generation is also possible. In the future, the possibility of equipping the model with a 1.8-liter 128-horsepower gasoline “four”, which is installed under the hood of the Lifan X60, is being considered.
The rest of the sedan technology has not changed. The suspension is configured in the old way: front MacPherson strut and rear semi-independent beam. Brake mechanisms of all four wheels are disk. The steering is supplemented by electric power.
Options and prices
The Russian specification provides for the presence of three trim levels: Basic, Comfort and Luxury. The initial version of the Lifan Solano of the second generation, offered at a price of 499,900 rubles, is well equipped. It has LED running lights, four power windows, air conditioning, a basic audio system (CD / USB / AUX) with four speakers, two front airbags, ABS and EBD.The mid-range sedan gets an immobilizer, heated front seats and 6 speakers. The top-end Lifan Solano worth 599,900 rubles will delight with a multimedia system with a touch screen (rear-view camera, navigation), a multifunctional steering wheel, drive and heated side mirrors, rear parking sensors, alloy wheels.
Lifan Solano is assembled for the Russian market at the Derways plant in Cherkessk.
Video and test drives Lifan Solano 2
Lifan Solano is well known to Russian motorists - the assembly of this model of the Chinese manufacturer has been established in Cherkessk. It's time to take a closer look at the sedan in its new incarnation.
Everyone chooses for themselves - this statement is no less applicable when discussing cars than in relation to people. Looking after a new car - no matter what price category, brand and country of origin, each of us pays attention to some of our own, clearly defined set of qualities. For some, appearance is more important, others are attracted by spaciousness and practicality, others are ready to look for rare lines about the nuances of “asphalt” handling even in the review of tracked bulldozers.
Who is the bravest?
Perhaps from the breed of cars for those people who always strive for a reasonable price to acquire as many formal signs of prestige as possible. And at the right time, flaunt them, arguing before others about their practicality and foresight. There seem to be many such people. Lifan Solano, whose assembly started in Cherkessk in 2010, has gained some popularity in the Russian regions. Many of these cars are still working in a taxi, which indirectly allows us to judge this sedan as quite unpretentious.In its second generation, Solano is ready to contribute to the above approach: the car looks restrained and somehow solid, the design has diminished overtly Asian motifs and attempts at embellishment. But its silhouette is not particularly harmonious - the bow and stern are heavy.
Compensation is a spacious trunk, in which you can easily tamp the necessary belongings when going to the country in the spring. If desired, skis will also fit: if you fold the sections of the back of the rear sofa, a wide opening is formed that allows you to transport long lengths. On the trunk lid, Chinese designers provided soft upholstery, but there was no place for a handle - to close the trunk without getting dirty, you have to grab the lock in a slippery plastic “case”.
II - an honest car. The basic equipment includes everything that in other budget models require an extra charge - air conditioning and airbags, ABS, power accessories, chrome, central locking and even an audio system, and immediately from USB. That is why II is sure to interest even those who are dismissive of the Chinese auto industry.
The only remark from the journalists caused a slight disproportion. In profile, the car looks massive, which is why the size of the wheels seems disproportionately small. It is worth noting that wheels of 15 radius are installed on the car.
Interior design has become stricter and more interesting. Nothing in it irritates and does not seem superfluous, inappropriate, uncomfortable. The only remark is the constant glare on the dashboard, which makes it problematic to read the readings of the on-board computer. Significant progress is also found in ergonomics, but perfection is still far away - the chair itself does not please with an ideal profile, and I also want to adjust the steering wheel for reach, but, alas, it is still adjustable only in height.
The interior of the car is quite spacious - the supply of space is at the level of the best representatives of the B + segment, despite the fact that the manufacturer himself refers Solano to the C-class. Of the amenities for rear passengers, journalists note an armrest with cup holders. By the way, cup holders appeared on the center console. for front passengers.
The trunk volume is 650 liters, it opens either with a button in the cabin or with a key. However, as the authors of the test drive note, the trunk lid rods take up some usable space. The lack of an internal handle can also be considered a minus - to close it, you will have to take on the outer edge, which is often dusty or dirty.
The 1.5-liter engine has been upgraded: now there are phase shifters both at the intake and at the exhaust, and the engine itself complies with Euro-5 environmental standards. They also promise that it has become more economical and that the average consumption has decreased by almost a liter, but this can only be verified on a run-in car.
Journalists note that the novelty's motor, even without a run-in, demonstrates excellent "bottoms" - the car starts off easily, you do not need to "rev up" at the start or put more pressure on the "gas" to compensate for "thoughtfulness". Everything is clear and instantaneous - the engine reacts even to millimetric movements of the right leg and accelerates quite briskly even from low revs. Already at the end of the test, the authors measured the dynamics of acceleration from 0 to 100 km / h using a professional measuring complex. It turned out a little more than 13 seconds - very good for a 100-horsepower C-class sedan.
The authors were pleasantly surprised by the soundproofing of the cabin, in general, the background became noticeably lower. The same can be said about the ride and behavior: nothing annoying. A sharp and informative steering wheel, a dense chassis, nimble reactions and a slightly oversteer that is pleasant for any driver - the turns have definitely become much more "fun".
Having driven the car all day, the journalists did not find any significant shortcomings, but at the same time they were convinced that the car had really "grown up", became quieter, more collected, more pleasant to drive, much more interesting and better in the cabin. Of the minor disadvantages, it can be noted: the “viscous” gearbox drive, the gaps are far from ideal in places, the door still needs to be slammed a little harder than that of the “purebred” competitors. They can probably be adjusted at the first MOT.
