The debut of Lifan Solano 2 2016-2017 model year took place at the Moscow motor show in August this year. The new Lifan Solano has been significantly updated, the prefix "II" has appeared in its name. The four-door received a fresher appearance, increased overall dimensions, a completely modern interior, as well as upgraded technical specifications. We note right away that the price of Lifan Solano in a new body starts from 499.9 thousand rubles.
Appearance and overall dimensions
Lifan Solano 2 generation retained a large number of exterior elements of its predecessor. At the same time, photos of the new generation Lifan Solano indicate that the sedan looks more stylish and solid compared to the previously available version. The front part of the body has acquired beautiful optics and a massive radiator grille. At the rear, the changes also benefited - the lights look very good, and the bumper was able to add even more solidity to the appearance of the sedan.
As we wrote above, the updated Lifan Solano received a significant increase in size compared to the first generation of the model.
Dimensions Lifan Solano II (Lifan Solano 2) 2016-2017:
- length - 4 620 mm;
- width - 1,705 mm;
- height - 1 495 mm;
- wheelbase size - 2 605 mm.
The manufacturer says that ground clearance (clearance) Lifan Solano 2016 in a new body is equal to 165 mm. The curb weight of the sedan reaches 1155 kg, and the gross weight is 1530 kg.
Inner space
Salon Lifan Solano 2017 model year looks very stylish and harmonious. According to this indicator, the car will be able to compete with classmates in its price range.
Attention is drawn to the new three-spoke multifunction steering wheel, thoughtful instrument panel and well-arranged center console. On the latter, there is a 7-inch touch screen multimedia system, as well as the usual “twists” for controlling the operation of the climate system.
The interior of the Lifan Solano 2 2016-2017 model year fully complies with the requirements of the current buyer in terms of design. We can mention the beautiful metallic frame on the center console, as well as the convenient dashboard lighting. The upper part of the front panel is made of a rather pleasant material.
There are no problems with the amount of free space in the front and rear seats. But it is worth noting the fact that the seat profile is not the most comfortable, so some difficulties may arise. The trunk volume of the new Solano is 650 liters, and this figure is easily increased by folding the rear backrest.
Engine, gearbox, technical stuffing and fuel consumption
The technical characteristics of Lifan Solano 2 2016-2017 involve the use of only one power unit. We are talking about the atmospheric "quartet" with a working volume of 1.5 liters, which develops 100 hp. The maximum torque of this motor is 129 Nm (at 3.5-4.5 thousand rpm). This engine received a cast-iron cylinder block, which makes it quite reliable. The maximum speed of the sedan declared by the manufacturer is 180 km / h, and the average fuel consumption of Lifan Solano in the new body is 6.5 liters per 100 kilometers. The car is equipped with a 5-speed manual transmission and front-wheel drive.
Specialists from the Celestial Empire have seriously worked on improving the efficiency of the power unit. So, the new Lifan Solano 2017 boasts the presence of CVT and VVT systems. Electronic ignition timing is used, which allows you to constantly change the ignition of the fuel. This helps to reduce fuel consumption and reduce harmful emissions. Also, the 2nd generation Lifan Solano engine received separate ignition coils for each cylinder. This means that there will be no problems with the ignition of a mixture of gasoline and air, regardless of the load and engine speed.
The sedan is based on an improved platform of the first generation model. In front of the car, an independent suspension with McPherson struts is used, but at the back there is a semi-independent linkage suspension on springs and hydraulic shock absorbers. According to the developers, Lifan Solano 2 is equipped with updated chassis elements and steering. The novelty has an electric power steering, which allows you to easily turn the steering wheel and guarantees ease of maneuvering in difficult conditions on the road. Unfortunately, the steering column is adjustable only in height.
Already in the base on the new Lifan Solano 2016-2017 there are disc brakes on all wheels, which are complemented by ABS and EBD systems. Recall that ABS prevents the wheels from locking when sliding, and EBD helps prevent skidding. Both systems guarantee the safest operation of the sedan. The three-volume truck boasts the presence of rear parking sensors.
Prices and equipment Lifan Solano 2
In Russia, they offer three trim levels of Lifan Solano 2016-2017: Basic, Comfort and Luxury.
- basic. In the basic version, the sedan received two airbags, an audio system with 4 speakers, four electric windows, a standard alarm system, remote central locking, air conditioning, ABS, leatherette upholstery, and metal wheels. Price - 499 900 rubles.
- comfort. In the next configuration of Lifan Solano in a new body, a cigarette lighter, an ashtray, an immobilizer and heated front seats are already available. Price - 569 900 rubles.
- luxury. The top version of Solano 2017 is additionally equipped with rear parking sensors, a rear-view camera, heated and electric mirrors, a multifunctional steering wheel, a standard navigation system and 15-inch alloy wheels. Price - 599 900 rubles.
Video test drive Lifan Solano II (Lifan Solano 2) 2016-2017:
Lifan Solano 620 is a Chinese class C sedan produced in China since 2008. The car appeared on the Russian market in 2010, and its production was established at the Derways plant in Cherkessk.
The Lifan Solano sedan is based on the base from the model, but the overall dimensions of the latter are noticeably inferior to the model in question. The Solano is 4,550 mm long, 1,705 mm wide and 1,495 mm high.
Options and prices Lifan Solano 2017
The appearance of the sedan is rather unremarkable, and of the features, only the presence of LED running lights integrated into the front bumper can be noted. Ground clearance (clearance) Lifan Solano 620 is 150 mm, trunk volume - 386 liters.
Inside the car, two-tone trim catches the eye, as well as an infotainment screen framed by air ducts and enclosed in a separate unit on the front panel.
The engine for the Lifan Solano was initially offered only one - a 1.6-liter gasoline unit with a capacity of 106 hp. (149 Nm), paired with a five-speed manual gearbox. Acceleration from zero to hundreds of such a sedan takes 15.5 seconds, top speed - 170 km / h.
Later, a more powerful modification appeared with a 125-horsepower 1.8-liter engine, which provides acceleration from 0 to 100 km / h in 1.2 seconds. and a top speed of 200 kilometers per hour.
It was possible to buy the pre-styling Lifan Solano 620 in one of two configuration options. The price of the basic version of the DX was 439,900 rubles. Its equipment includes two airbags, ABS, air conditioning, full power accessories and a head unit.
The price of Lifan Solano in the CX configuration with a 1.8-liter engine is 439,900 rubles. This version flaunts leather upholstery, heated front seats, a light sensor, rear parking sensors and alloy wheels. In the fall of 2013, we began to receive a sedan equipped with a CVT - it is only for a car with a base engine in the CX version (519,900 rubles).
Updated Lifan Solano
In the summer of 2014, sales of the updated Chinese Lifan Solano 2015 sedan in a new body, which received a retouched appearance and a modernized interior, started on the Russian market.
Outside, the restyled Lifan Solano (2015-2016) attracts attention with a radiator grill in the style of the latest Lexus models, as well as other head optics with orange turn signal strips integrated into it.
In addition, the car got a modified front bumper with different foglights, as well as redesigned rear-view mirrors and taillights. Due to other bumpers, the overall length of the sedan has increased to 4,610 mm (+ 60).
Inside, the updated Lifan Solano 2017 can be recognized by the new design of the instrument panel and the redesigned center console, and a more modest 1.5-liter gasoline unit with a capacity of only 74 hp has been registered under the hood, which, as before, is available with a 5-speed mechanics, or with a variator. The cost of the model at the time of sale ranged from 499,900 to 579,900 rubles.
Photo Lifan 620
For several years now, Lifan has been the leader in the Russian Federation among Chinese automakers. Despite the fact that the sales volume of the “celestial” brand is now more modest than before the crisis, it still occupies a leading position in the Russian market: its main competitor Chery sold more than 3 times fewer cars in 2016. Lifan is on the 18th line in the ranking of the most popular brands in Russia and is only slightly inferior to Mazda, while at the same time overtaking Audi. The main sales volume of the brand falls on a couple of "SUVs", and approximately every 10th client buys a four-door Solano. For what merit? Read about this and how the updated Solano differs from the first generation model in our review!
Design
Compared to its predecessor, Solano II, of course, looks fresher, but you can’t call such freshness the first: there are too many borrowings in the appearance of the second-generation sedan. The front part of its body is painfully similar to the “front” of the Honda Accord, and the “stern” resembles anything from the old Mercedes E-Class to the Lada Vesta. However, this is not surprising, because Chinese manufacturers often sin by copying other people's designs, and copying results are often successful, which Solano II proves. Considering that the first generation model was created based on the 9th Toyota Corolla E120, the novelty also has a certain similarity with the “Japanese”, being a little more practical due to the presence of a trunk with a volume of 650 liters.
During the modernization, the distance between the axles of the wheels of the four-door did not change, and the length increased by 1 cm thanks to the new bumpers. As a result, the updated "Chinese" exceeds the length of Volkswagen Polo by 23 cm, Hyundai Solaris - by 25 cm, and Renault Logan - by 27 cm. This difference in dimensions is mainly achieved due to the large and solid hood - looking at it, as well as on stylish optics (including LED running lights) and quite appropriate chrome parts in the exterior, you really begin to feel respect for such a car.
Design
The Solano II is based on the borrowed Toyota MC design, introduced back in 1997 along with the first Toyota Prius hybrid. It has MacPherson struts on an H-shaped subframe at the front, and a torsion beam with a stabilizer at the back. On the steering shaft - EUR. On all wheels - disc brakes, handbrake - with a cable drive. Each version of the model is equipped with an anti-lock braking system and a brake force distribution system, and the stabilization system is not available in any configuration.
Adaptation to Russian conditions
For driving in Russian conditions, Solano II has a 165 mm ground clearance, which is pretty good for a sedan, as well as front seats, rear glass and heated exterior mirrors. Heated steering wheel and windshield, unfortunately, is not provided. In addition, there is a Bosch electronic ignition system, which makes it possible to save gasoline and reduce harmful CO2 emissions. By the way, the four-door engine is whimsical to the quality of fuel and prefers the 95th gasoline. Noise isolation in this case is far from ideal, and yet it is better than a number of cars from China offered at a similar price. Most of the noise is usually observed during acceleration.
Comfort
The interior of Solano II is decorated with higher quality materials than the interior of the previous version. In any configuration, it is necessary to trim the seats in eco-leather with red stitching and fabric upholstery on the ceiling. The plastic on the dashboard is harsh, but there is no riot of textures, unlike the same Lada Vesta. The small glove box is devoid of decoration, the steering wheel is polyurethane, with audio equipment control buttons (in the top version) and adjustment only for the angle of inclination. The doors of the sedan open without difficulty, providing a convenient entry into the cabin, but it is not always possible to close them the first time. The front doors turn on red lights when they are opened. There is enough space on the back sofa for two adults, but the three of us will be uncomfortable to sit, including because of the central tunnel rising above the floor. There is not enough free space above your head, like many other representatives of the Chinese auto industry.
The first row seats are not very comfortable and are exclusively manually adjustable: the driver's seat in three directions, and the passenger seat in two directions. But with visibility everything is in order thanks to large and very informative side mirrors with electric adjustment. On the center console is a seven-inch touchscreen multimedia complex, which is available only in the most expensive configuration. Elegant ventilation deflectors with chrome trim rise above it, and under it the air conditioning control unit is “registered” - climate control, alas, is not provided for any of the Solano II versions. The instrument panel, like the "multimedia", boasts a modern design and has a soft backlight. And in the cabin there are a bunch of cup holders, a USB connector for charging gadgets, a cigarette lighter and an eyeglass case built into the ceiling.
For the protection of the driver and passengers of the updated Solano, the ABS and EBD systems, only two frontal airbags, a “child” door lock, height-adjustable 3-point belts, a rear parking sensor and a safety steering column are responsible. In a frontal collision, the column absorbs the energy from the impact, and there is enough space between the driver's body and the steering wheel to avoid damage.
The base Solano II comes with a regular CD radio with 4 speakers and AUX/USB inputs. The top version is equipped with an infotainment system with a 7-inch touch screen and control buttons on the steering wheel. The touchscreen uses outdated technology: it responds to pressing, not touching. At the same time, the screen is quite responsive and responds not only to fingers, but also to any objects - with the onset of cold weather, you can press it directly with gloves on. The multimedia system is capable of playing music from mobile devices via Bluetooth, as well as from a flash drive or memory card. Sound quality - on the "four with a minus." The developers assigned a separate microSD card for navigation, which is provided by software from Navitel.
Lifan Solano Specifications
The technical "stuffing" of the second Solano is a single engine - a gasoline 4-cylinder 16-valve unit LF479Q2-B with a volume of 1.5 liters. The "four", created by the British engineering company Ricardo, produces 100 hp. and 129 Newton meters of torque. Her pedigree starts from the Toyota 5A-FE engine. The engine with a cast-iron block, variable valve timing and a plastic intake manifold complies with Euro-5 environmental standards. Instead of a Delphi controller, a Bosch control unit is used here. So far, only a 5-speed manual transmission is combined with such an engine, although the first generation sedan was also offered with a CVT transmission. Fuel consumption on the highway, according to the manufacturer, does not exceed 6.5 liters. 100 kilometers, which is one liter less than its predecessor.
When driving around the city, any driver often stumbles upon speed bumps. Not all cars can easily slip through such an obstacle. So Lifan Solano, which has recently been upgraded, is not designed for racing through obstacles.
Anyone who has encountered this problem, especially if there are 2-3 people in the car, understands perfectly well what is at stake. In addition to speed bumps, obstacles exist in the forest, on village roads and broken roads. If your car starts to “scratch” its bottom and threatens to break the muffler, then urgently take up the solution to this problem.
It is necessary to start it in a complex and cost increasing ground clearance in Lifan Solano will be far from cheap, but the effect of the procedure is obvious.
Let's see what affects the increase in ground clearance (clearance) on Lifan Solano.
Change tires first. In the basic configuration was 175 / 70R14, you need to put 185/80/R14.
The second task will be to change the springs, but this task needs to be solved with a little refinement. The springs must be put on one rubber hose for each coil.
As much as possible, this method can increase ground clearance up to 20 centimeters. As for the financial side of the issue, then such an upgrade will cost you 12,000 rubles.
Raising the rear of the car even by 4-5 centimeters will make it easier to drive on snowy roads, off-road, yards, potholes and pits.
A budget way to raise the ride height will make you feel more confident on the road, compared to driving before changing the clearance between the bottom and the road.
In the basic configuration, the springs, both rear and front, of the Lifan Solano car are very soft. Even if your goal is not to raise the rear of the car, the new springs will make the suspension stiffer.
In addition to all of the above, with a slight rise in the rear of the car, the rubber will not rub against the metal.
Rub. The appearance of the car makes a solid impression. Its design echoes the fashionable modern trends in the automotive industry. The car is equipped with LED headlights, popular among car manufacturers around the world, and with an exceptional design. The sharp edges and corners of the headlights exude style elegance and nobility. The headlights are flanked by blue LED bulbs, which emphasize the shape and enhance the appearance of the headlights. This car is an economical version of the sedan. It is equipped with a Brazilian Tritec engine with a capacity of 1.6 liters. and a capacity of 106 liters. with., which not only saves fuel, but is characterized by high performance. The car is capable of speeds up to 201 km / h. Even when driving at maximum speed, the car is well controlled - largely due to the long-travel and energy-intensive McPherson suspension. Salon Lifan Solano trimmed with leather in light beige tones. Attention is drawn to the bright inserts in the dashboard area. Made in red and gray colors, they smoothly "flow" on the door. You can buy a car in one of two trim levels - DX or CX. The basic equipment of the DX includes: air conditioning, power steering, full power accessories and a spare wheel. The Solano sedan is equipped with two airbags, automatic door locking when driving, ABS and EBD systems and an additional brake light, adjustable steering column, CD / Mp3 radio, parking sensors, fog lights, side rear-view mirrors with electric drive, alarm system, on-board computer and central lock.
