Lada Vesta or Granta - which model is better to take on the used market

Buying a car is a joyful event. And it doesn't matter if the car is new or not, as a rule, it is better than the old one.


Unfortunately, it is not always possible to get the car that you dreamed about in childhood and adolescence. Often you have to choose based on financial capabilities. It's good when they allow you to take at least a budget, but a new car. Stubborn statistics show that most transactions for the sale / purchase of passenger cars take place on the used market.

Sometimes you want to get the maximum in the budget segment. Therefore, you have to look for a "young" copy, but at the same time affordable. Plus, it is desirable that the spare parts are available, they are inexpensive, and the car can be repaired on its own.


Say, this has not happened since the time of the Zhiguli and Lada? But AvtoVAZ produces two budget models that occupy first places in sales ratings. These are Lada Granta and Vesta. The last car has not been produced since February, but at the beginning of 2023 they promised to restart the conveyor. However, this did not affect the used market, there are enough cars there.

Today we will compare two bestsellers from AvtoVAZ and find out which one is better. Let's get straight to the finances. Lada Vesta will be pre-styling - it has been produced since 2015. The price of cars starts from 450 thousand rubles.


If it doesn't matter how to get from one point to another, then you should take Lada Granta. It is "younger" and cheaper. But not everything is unambiguous - it is better to understand the points.

Body

The first thing that catches your eye when looking at two cars standing side by side is that Lada Vesta is definitely larger. The second point - it looks more modern and harmonious. Many say that Granta looks frankly ridiculous, although the owners do not agree.


But where does the most budgetary Russian car have an exquisite appearance? The model was developed on the basis of Lada Kalina, cheaper and in a short time. The main task of the designers was to create the most budget car to make it affordable.


Lada Vesta is even beautiful. Station wagons look especially harmonious - this is recognized by ardent opponents of the domestic auto industry. And if this is the SW Cross version, then you can call the model beautiful without exaggeration.


Russian cars have proven themselves from not the best side due to rotting bodies. Lada Granta continues to maintain traditions and rusts with age.

Therefore, when buying, you need to carefully inspect the body. If he is already touched by the "red plague", it is better to refuse this instance. 300 rubles is a significant amount, you should not buy a rotting car for this money. Moreover, you can find whole copies on the used market. This does not cancel the anti-corrosion treatment - it will not be superfluous in the case of domestic cars.

By the way, Lada Granta after restyling, which is being considered today, does not rot so much. It is difficult to say what it is connected with. The manufacturer claims to have improved processing technology. But maybe the cars are still too “young”, the time has not come for them to rust en masse?

The body of the Lada Vesta is better protected from corrosion, but there is no reason to call it a reference. Even the notorious galvanization here, like that of Granta, is “cold”. Therefore, when buying, it is advisable to look for specimens without "bugs", and it is recommended to periodically process the body. Of course, if the future owner is not a taxi driver who needs a car for a maximum of 5 years.


In terms of bodywork, Lada Vesta is definitely in the lead, but it’s right for her - the model is more expensive and higher class. On the used market, Vesta costs 150 thousand more - for many this is crucial.

Salon

What can you expect from budget cars inside? At a minimum, free space in the cabin for the driver and four passengers.

At Lada Granta, the interior is not distinguished by sophistication:

✅ Cheap fabric upholstery
✅ Plastic is budget and hard
✅ Dashboard is simple

But ergonomics pleases and visibility. There are complaints about rattling plastic in the cabin - this manifests itself after 2-3 years of operation. There are also issues with door seals. By the way, the restyled Lada Granta has fewer problems.


Lada Vesta is larger in size than its competitor, so there is more space in its cabin. Three people on the back sofa are placed freely, and not like herrings in a barrel - this is a pebble in the Granta garden.


Salon Lada Vesta has its own design - not as pretentious as some foreign cars, but the car is stylish. There are knocks and creaks inside the Lada Vesta, but cars from the early years of production suffer from this. It is these cars that fall into the price category from 400 thousand rubles, so when searching, you need to pay attention to this.

Engines and gearboxes

The main engine for Lada Granta on the used market in the price range from 300 to 400 thousand rubles is 1,6 liters per 87 liters. With. This is an eight-valve power unit. Of course, it does not differ in dynamics, but it is easy to maintain and repair.

Sixteen-valve engines for 98 or 106 liters. With. are less common, and at a price such cars are more expensive.

Lada Vesta has two engines. The first is 1,6 per 106 liters. With. like Grant. The second - 1,8 liters per 122 liters. With. At first glance it seems that the last option is the best, but this engine is problematic and unreliable. By the way, it has not been produced for a long time, despite the fact that it is a domestic development.


Gearboxes in both cars are mostly mechanical. There are robots that everyone scolds in unison, an automatic transmission on the Lada Grant and a variator on the Vesta. Since the car is supposed to be bought second-hand, it is better to take the classic "mechanics".


Summing up the information on engines and gearboxes, we can say that in this category there is a draw. The most common Lada Vesta engine gives conditional dynamics, but the eight-valve on the Granta is structurally simpler, respectively, it is more reliable.

Behavior on the move

It doesn't matter which road you have to travel on, Lada Vesta dominates. No wonder - this car is structurally more modern. Chassis Lada Granta comes from the USSR - then the requirements for maneuverability were different.


Vesta is clearly the leader in this category, both on the highway and in the countryside. In terms of safety, this car is also head and shoulders above. So Lada Vesta is definitely better in this category.

So which car should you choose? It seems that Lada Vesta is the leader. Why then does the level of sales say otherwise, both in the new and in the used market?
It's simple - if you really choose a comfortable car with a spacious interior, it will be a Mercedes, BMW or Audi premium. Why aren't they bought in bulk? They are expensive, maintenance and repairs can cost the cost of Granta or Vesta.

Therefore, Lada Granta is the leader both in sales and in our review. This car is the epitome of budget.