The Lada Kalina was AvtoVAZ’s supermini family, built from 18 November 2004 to July 2018 in sedan, hatchback and estate forms and named after the Russian word for viburnum. In Finland, where kalina means rattle or clatter, it was sold as the Lada 117 and 119.
Lada Kalina at a glance
| Maker | AvtoVAZ, Tolyatti, Russia |
|---|---|
| Production | 18 November 2004 – July 2018 |
| Bodies | sedan, five-door hatchback, estate |
| Factory codes | VAZ-1118 sedan, 1119 hatchback, 1117 estate; 2192 and 2194 second generation |
| Platform | Gamma |
| Engines | 1.4 16v 91 hp; 1.6 8v 81 hp; 1.6 16v 98 hp |
| Second generation | 1.6 8v and 16v, 86–105 hp |
| Export name in Finland | Lada 117 / Lada 119 |
| Price in Western Europe | about €7,000–8,000 |
| ARCAP crash test | 5.6 of 16 points, one star (2005) |
| Russian sales in 2009 | 60,746, fourth place |
| Electric version | El Lada, 2011, 100 built |
History of the Lada Kalina
Work on the Kalina began in 1993, and the projected car received its name in 1998. Prototypes were shown in 1999 as a hatchback, in 2000 as a sedan and in 2001 as an estate. The family was built on the Gamma platform and was the last VAZ range to use it. Pre-production cars had separate front lights taken from the Oka, and the front was revised before series production.
First generation
Series production started with the four-door sedan on 18 November 2004; the five-door hatchback followed on 21 July 2006 and the estate early in 2007. The body used hot-dip galvanised steel with enhanced corrosion resistance, developed specially by several Russian steel producers. In a 2005 frontal crash test by the Russian ARCAP programme the first-generation Kalina scored 5.6 points out of 16 and was awarded one star out of four. It was exported to most Western European markets at about €7,000–8,000, with driver and passenger airbags, ABS, electric power steering, air conditioning and folding rear seats. Three petrol engines were offered, from 81 to 98 hp: a 1.4-litre sixteen-valve, a 1.6-litre eight-valve and a 1.6-litre sixteen-valve.
In Finland the car was marketed as the Lada 119 because kalina means rattle or clatter there; the 117 name was also used for the range. Its main competitors were low-priced cars such as the Dacia Logan and Hyundai Accent. A sportier Kalina GS Sport was produced, and the Super 1600 concept used a turbocharged 1.6-litre engine derived from the standard unit. A Kalina served as the Reasonably-Priced Car in the Top Gear Russia television series. It was the fourth most popular car in Russia in 2009 with 60,746 sales and ranked first in 2012.
Second generation
The second generation was revealed at the 2012 Moscow International Automobile Salon. It was basically a facelifted first-generation car with a slightly longer wheelbase and length, 13- or 14-inch wheels, electronic throttle control and production only as a hatchback and estate. Two 1.6-litre engines with eight and sixteen valves developed 86 to 105 hp and 140 to 145 N·m. The hatchback entered production in May 2013 and the estate in September. A sport version was offered in Russia, and the Kalina Cross estate of 2014 added 20 mm of ground clearance, altered gear ratios and a plastic body kit. The Kalina also provided the basis for the Datsun mi-DO built for the Russian market.
El Lada
The electric El Lada was introduced in 2011 as a Kalina estate with a 30 kW motor and a 23 kWh battery. Only 100 electric cars were built. The sedan body was given the separate Granta name in 2011, and the hatchback and estate were renamed in 2018.
Design and features
- Three body styles: sedan, hatchback and estate on one Gamma platform.
- Galvanised steel: a corrosion-resistant grade developed by Russian steel producers.
- Comfort for the class: airbags, ABS, electric power steering and air conditioning were available.
- Sport and crossover versions: the Kalina Sport and the raised Kalina Cross widened the range.
Lada Kalina versions
- VAZ-1118 sedan (2004–2011): the first Kalina, replaced in the line by the Granta.
- VAZ-1119 hatchback (2006–2013): the five-door model.
- VAZ-1117 estate (2007–2013): the last body style to arrive.
- Kalina Sport (2008): a sporting version based on the hatchback.
- Kalina Cross (2014): an estate with raised suspension and plastic cladding.
- El Lada (2011): an electric estate, 100 built.
The Kalina followed the Lada 110 family and sat below the Lada Priora. More models are in the Lada collection.
Video: 2013 Lada Kalina 2. Start Up, Engine, and In Depth Tour.
Video by MegaRetr on YouTube.
Sources
- Lada Kalina, English Wikipedia: history, engines, crash test, sales
- Лада Калина, Russian Wikipedia: factory codes, production dates, platform
