At any parking lot, the domestic UAZ Patriot SUV looks majestic and menacing, towering above the modest small car. Of course, if there is any Range Rover nearby, the impression will go bad, but nonetheless. Today we will get acquainted with the latest version of the car. We learn what lies behind the very menacing, and what advantages give the car its overall dimensions. UAZ "Patriot" of the latest generation is very different from its "older brothers". To understand how, a little plunge into the history of the model.
History tour
Many people think that the history of this car began in 2005, when the plant announced that the Patriot model will replace the Simbir model, but this is not so. And even the year 2000, when “Simbir” appeared, was not the beginning of the history of the “Patriot”.
It all began in 1993, when the Ulyanovsk plant overtook a deep crisis . The army and law enforcement agencies, which were the main buyers of UAZ vehicles, practically stopped purchasing. It was necessary to create a new car, the so-called SUV for private owners. And then the company had two options. The first is to complete the development of the UAZ-3170. This car was focused on the army, but it had a civilian version, outwardly resembling a Nissan Patrol of the third or fourth modification. Everything would be fine, but too much investment required this project. There was a second option, more advantageous, as was considered at the factory. It sounds simple - take the UAZ-469 chassis run-in for three decades and install a comfortable body on it. This option was approved, in the hope that the Russians rush to buy their own car instead of any foreign SUVs.
The design of the new body was ordered to the VAZ style center, whose representatives did not become very sophisticated. They just took the body of the model 2111 and "stretched" it under the dimensions of the Patriot. The question with the fifth door was decided very simply - made like the Mitsubishi Pajero model, which was popular at that time. The tailgate was hung on hinges located on the right side, just like the Japanese. Nobody took into account that such a door would block access to the trunk from the sidewalk. In Japan, after all, left-hand traffic.
As a result, the car turned out to be strange in appearance, and completely unstable on the road. Frustrated UAZ took over the work on errors. Its results were the appearance of the Simbir model, and then the birth of the current Patriot. In each new generation, the machine has noticeably changed, but even to this day it cannot be said that work on the bugs is close to completion. Nevertheless, there is progress, and today we will get acquainted with its last stage - the Patriot of the 2016 model year.
Exterior
The front part, which once again received a new design, looks pretty good. The radiator lining is like a smile, but this does not interfere with the brutal appearance. Bumpers have also been updated, and now they are attached not to the frame, but to the body. But the most important innovation of the front end is modern lighting technology, dressed in a common transparent cap with a strip of running lights. Foglights have become larger. On the huge folding mirrors, the turn signal repeaters are located. At the back there is a carrying case for a spare wheel and a deflector with a “stop” repeater.
The wheels, whose outer diameter is 29 inches, are frankly small, given the dimensions of the Patriot. With wheels of 31 or better, even 33 inches, the car would have looked more proportionate.
Interior decoration
Salon also noticeably changed. Plastic is surprisingly soft and pleasant. There is an on-board computer. The ergonomics of the cabin are commendable. In some places there are parts made of hard plastic, but there are very few of them. Transmission modes are switched by a convenient, round switch to three positions.
Well, the main attraction of the cabin is an information and entertainment center with a touch screen, a diagonal of seven inches. Everything is in order here. There is a navigation with a decent interface. You can connect your smartphone very quickly and easily to listen to music from it or talk on the phone.
Of course, without tar in our car industry is not complete. Here it is represented by a simple black plastic steering wheel. Tough, unpleasant to the touch, it carries the driver several decades ago. The engineers of the Ulyanovsk plant promise in the future to bring the volume control buttons and the answer button to a phone call to the steering wheel. However, the exact dates are not yet given.
Open space
The space inside the machine is determined by its overall dimensions. UAZ "Patriot" has a lot of space in the cabin, which, of course, is its advantage. There are so many places in the back row that little children can even play games. There is no transmission tunnel in the car, and this is wonderful. In addition, rear passengers now have some kind of heater control and cup holders.
But without a fly in the ointment, it could not have done. A flat floor in the back row is great, but it is raised to such a height that it is quite difficult for old people and children to get into a car. And a high landing, as you know, does not guarantee a high clearance at all.
Trunk
The boot volume of the new Patriot is as much as 1,150 liters, which, of course, is the advantage of the car. Well, if you fold the back sofa, you get a real truck. There was a time when a wrench was required for this procedure. Now it’s enough to pull the fabric loop and lower the back. This forms a small step. Of course, this is inconvenient, but excusable, given the overall dimensions. UAZ "Patriot" with its huge trunk can easily carry a large load, and the step is not an obstacle.
Quality
Here, as before, the real lottery. For example, there is no guarantee that you can connect a USB adapter to at least one of the cigarette lighter sockets. It is not at all a fact that the backs of the back row will fold as it should. It is possible that the latch of one of them will be tightly jammed. Well and so on.
Specifications
Much has changed since the last generation, but overall dimensions remain the same. UAZ "Patriot" -2016 has the following parameters: 4750/2120/2005 mm. Ground clearance is 210 mm.
The car is equipped with two power units ZMZ. The first is gasoline, with a volume of 2.7 liters. Its maximum power is 128 horsepower and a torque of 210 Nm. According to the manufacturer, this is enough to accelerate the car to 150 km / h. Fuel consumption when driving on the highway is 11.5 liters per 100 kilometers.
The second engine is a 2.3-liter diesel engine. Its power is 114 horsepower, and the moment is 270 Nm. A car with such an engine can accelerate to 135 km / h. At the same time, his appetite is 9.5 l / 100 km.
Both motors are paired with a five-speed manual gearbox.
On the road
It's time to talk about how the car behaves on the road. Let's start from the very beginning. The key fob is, of course, convenient and modern, but it’s very difficult to pick it up and not press one of the buttons.
The car is running, you can go. Gears are included quite clearly and easily. And the clutch works very informatively. On a flat road, you can safely move off from second gear. With competent work with the Patriot checkpoint, it accelerates quite briskly.
But first you need to leave the parking lot. The car has no problems with this. The light steering wheel, good visibility, a rear-view camera and parking sensors allow even an inexperienced driver to cope with maneuvers in a limited space.
At a speed of about 60 km / h, the car behaves quite decent, but there is a lot of noise in the cabin. But it is worth accelerating to 80-100 km / h, the roots of the car immediately make themselves felt. Information and steering sensitivity drops sharply. So for safety reasons, it is better to ride in this car in the right lane and not to make yourself a rider.
Nevertheless, in comparison with the elder brother, the UAZ Patriot 2016, whose overall dimensions have not changed, has become less inclined in corners. But before foreign SUVs he still has to grow and grow.
Obstacles on the road for the "Patriot" - not a problem, only if he goes at a snail speed. And if you drive a speed bump at the usual speed for SUVs and even passenger cars, you will throw a stern pretty much.
Off road
Where roads end, the relatives of the Patriot element begin. On the road, the car is really happy. Here you can completely relax and calmly steer, choosing a trajectory suitable for the overall dimensions. UAZ "Patriot" is quite large, so some time is needed to get used to its bulkiness. And if you want to prepare this car for real extreme, you will have to spend extra money. Power bumpers, a winch, an additional fuel tank, a snorkel and an expeditionary trunk will make a real all-terrain vehicle out of Patriot.
Pickup
It is worth noting that the restyling also survived the Patriot pickup. It was finalized in the same areas as the SUV. Therefore, externally (front, of course), and inside (interior), these machines are very similar. The dimensions of the Patriot pickup are slightly different from the SUV - 5125/1915/1915. At the same time, the cargo compartment has the following dimensions: 1375/1265/635. The rear passengers of the pickup will have to make room, but this is a classic of the genre. In general, the pickup looks even more colorful and aggressive.
Prospects
Despite the rather mediocre indicators, the Russians are buying this car. And even the crisis did not adversely affect Patriot's sales. The reason is simple - the lack of alternatives. A car is bought in several cases. Someone acquires it to replace the 24th Volga, as a large and affordable car. Someone needs an SUV for trips on hunting and fishing. Well, someone just wants a car of this class, but so far can not afford a foreign car.
Thus, the future of the model is very vague, especially since the auto industry is going through hard times. Nevertheless, the plant claims that despite the economic turmoil in the country, the model will not go up in price. This is due to a decrease in the number of components purchased abroad, and their replacement with domestic ones.
Conclusion
Today we found out what the new UAZ "Patriot" is. The review of the model showed that the car deserves attention, despite the fact that much more needs to be developed in it. At least on the road, he copes with his task perfectly. Well, a comfortable ride around the city is the prerogative of foreign crossovers who stop where roads end. It is here that in all its glory UAZ Patriot is able to show itself. Overall dimensions of the body, high ground clearance, and competent settings allow it to be the best on rough terrain. Time will tell if this is enough for good sales.