A little history
Lanos was first shown in 1997 at the Geneva Motor Show, but then it was presented under the Daewoo . Later, the Korean concern became owned by General Motors, and since 2002 the passenger car has already been produced under the Chevrolet .
The first year the car was produced in South Korea, in total there were three body options:
- hatchback in five-door and three-door versions;
- four-door sedan.
In the same year, but a little later, cars began to be assembled in Poland, and in 1998, assembly of budget-class cars was established in Ukraine. It was Ukrainian Lanos that most often went on sale on the Russian market until 2013 , but later, due to strained relations between the countries, car exports ceased.
Since 2004, Lanos has ceased to be produced as a three-door hatchback, and in 2008 the car was no longer mass produced in Poland. Since the same 2008, Zaporozhye switched to the full production cycle of Lanos, including painting and welding of the body, and the brand became practically a Ukrainian car.
Options
Chevrolet Lanos is available in three trim levels:
- S;
- SE;
- SX.
R 14 steel wheels , the interior of the car is velor, there is a full-size spare tire in the trunk, and a radio is installed.
The most “advanced” configuration is SX , and it provides:
- fog lights;
- electric windows for front doors;
- air conditioner;
- driver airbag.
Also, an airbag and ESP front doors are also available in the SE equipment.
Engine
If such “related” models as ZAZ Chance or ZAZ Sens are equipped with engines from the Melitopol plant MeMZ, then the Chevrolet Lanos, assembled in Ukraine for Russia, is equipped with only one type of power unit - an 8-valve four-cylinder in-line engine A15SMS with a power of 87 hp. With. and volume 1.5 l .
Almost the same as on the Lanos, the internal combustion engine was once installed on the Opel Cadet car of the 1984–1991 model. , but only the German car was equipped with a 1600 cm3 . The A15SMS power unit is reliable, it has practically no characteristic “illnesses”, except that the valve cover gasket leaks periodically on these engines. On average, the engine service life before overhaul is 250–300 thousand km ; the timing belt must be replaced every 60 thousand km .
Vehicle specifications
Chevrolet Lanos is equipped with only one 1.5-liter gasoline engine
There is absolutely no choice of engines for this model, since the Chevrolet Lanos is equipped with only one 1.5-liter gasoline engine, which works in conjunction with a 5-speed manual transmission, which also does not provide other options. This gasoline power unit develops a power of 86 horsepower and a torque of 130 Nm, and at the same time consumes 10.4 liters of fuel in city mode and 5.2 liters outside the city on the highway.
The main technical characteristics of the “people's car” can be depicted in the form of a table.
Chevrolet Lanos technical specifications table
Transmission
The transmission on the Lanos is a mechanical five-speed, quite reliable, and does not cause any particular complaints. It is recommended to change the transmission oil every 70 thousand km ; sometimes axle shaft seals leak into the gearbox.
Unlike a gearbox, the clutch is not highly reliable - it rarely lasts up to 100 thousand km If you drive a car with slipping and sudden braking, the clutch disc can “fly” for 30 thousand km . On a Chevrolet Lanos, the gearbox linkage often needs to be adjusted, or the part has to be changed completely.
Salon and trunk
The interior of the Chevrolet Lanos is of normal size, not too large, but it cannot be called very cramped either, although there is not enough space for rear passengers. The finishing materials are inexpensive, but the plastic fits well, without cracks or gaps. The steering wheel in the SE and SX trim levels is equipped with an airbag; the steering column has no adjustments. The side mirrors on Lanos are simple, without electrical adjustment or heating. The seats for passengers and the driver do not belong to the “Lux” class, but are quite comfortable.
The trunk on the sedan (and these are the cars that were delivered to Russia) is roomy - the side niches do not hide the space of the luggage compartment, and therefore quite large cargo can be placed here. The trunk lid can only be opened with the key, but you can’t expect more from a budget-class car.
Options and prices
The equipment of the Chevrolet Lanos is not much different between the different versions: the body dimensions, technical parameters, and the set of applications are the same. In general, the manufacturer prefers to produce standard cars without restyling them too often.
The basic package of the Chevrolet Lanos includes:
- stove;
- air conditioner;
- multimedia;
- Chevrolet Lanos fuses;
- finishing with plastic and fabric materials;
- signaling.
Everything is done at a basic level with a minimum of options. If necessary, almost all elements can be ordered more modernized and original. For example, a Chevrolet Lanos stove can cover a larger interior size. The same goes for multimedia: you can choose something more functional. You can also install a navigator.
You can complement the Chevrolet Lanos at your discretion: a leather steering wheel or the interior as a whole, a larger alloy wheel. The steering wheel can also then be adjusted in height and tilt to more positions.
It must be taken into account that then the car will lose its main advantage - budget.
For a new Chevrolet Lanos, the price varies between 1.5-2 thousand dollars (depending on the selected type of equipment). If you choose a used Chevrolet Lanos model, the price can vary significantly. The final cost depends on the mileage already available and the condition of the car. Often additional tuning of a Chevrolet Lanos can be done and then the cost may not be lower than for a new car, but such a model is more functional.
Chassis
The suspension on the Lanos is standard:
- front - standard MacPherson;
- at the back there is a rigid beam.
Many chassis parts are interchangeable with Daewoo Nexia, respectively, and the characteristic suspension defects are the same. One of the weakest points in the Chevrolet Lanos chassis is the shock absorbers; they can become capricious after 30–40 thousand km . These parts are suitable for Opel Vectra A, and if you install original German shock absorbers, they will last much longer.
The front hub bearings are not very durable, and the steering rack is also not reliable - it begins to leak and knock even on the first “lap”. Steering rods last 50 thousand , ball joints - about 60 thousand . When repairing the chassis, one factor needs to be taken into account - if the car owner does not want to repair the suspension very often, only original spare parts should be installed.
Design
Where are Hyundai Santa Fe produced for Russia and other countries?
Externally, the Chevrolet Lanos is compact and practical. When creating a car, the main task of the manufacturer was to minimize the cost in order to make the car accessible to all categories of the population. That is why you will not find unnecessary frills here that have no practical purpose. Any decorative element has its own purpose. If you want to diversify the appearance of the car, you can always make additional tuning, expanding the capabilities of the car, creating a unique image.
Exterior
Inside the car, the decoration is very simple. You won't find any image details here. Everything is extremely simple and discreet: fabric upholstery, a sofa in the back designed for 3 passengers. There are no divisions for everyone.
But the Chevrolet Lanos cannot be called uncomfortable. There is everything you need for comfortable movement. You can also transport things - to do this you just need to fold down the rear seats. If there are passengers sitting there, then they will quite enjoy traveling in this car.
But there is one important difference - the car is not too spacious. This is definitely a minus
It will be very cramped for obese people.
But all the elements for controlling the Chevrolet Lanos are located so that the driver has to be minimally distracted while driving the car. There are also handles and pockets for passengers. That is, you can stay here as comfortably as possible. But you need to understand that there will be nothing superfluous here. You need to prepare for this in advance before purchasing a Chevrolet Lanos.
Interior
From the outside, one of the main advantages of the Chevrolet Lanos is immediately noted: ergonomics. The body is very streamlined, which ensures better efficiency.
The car is quite nice in appearance, but without any frills. The compact car also has a non-protruding bumper and standard headlights (not elongated in the latest fashion).
Electrical part
Electrics are one of the weakest points in Chevrolet Lanos; problems with it often arise. The sensors of the engine management system - throttle valve, absolute pressure - periodically refuse to work. The engine may start to idle rough, and the cause of unstable operation is mainly a faulty idle speed controller.
The generator is also not very durable; first of all, the diode bridge fails. Motors on the driver's door window lifters burn out, high-voltage wires on the engine break, and ignition modules break. Water can get into the trunk and interior, and for this reason the electrical wiring shorts out and rots.
Owner reviews: advantages and disadvantages
Despite the budget class of the car, reviews of Lanos are generally positive, and what car owners like most is the low price of spare parts and their availability. Among the positive qualities, car owners also note:
- high reliability - despite all the shortcomings, the car rarely fails on the road;
- good engine starting in any frost;
- low cost of the car itself;
- good build quality;
- excellent handling.
The disadvantages of the Chevrolet Lanos include poor sound insulation, poor quality paintwork, and slightly increased fuel consumption. This car is also not designed for dirt roads - its seating position is relatively low. In general, Lanos is a good car and worth the money.
Build quality
Where are Renault Dusters produced for Russia and other countries Photo: finished cars straight from the assembly line
I would like to immediately note one important point: domestic car enthusiasts are attracted to the Chevrolet Lanos primarily due to the fact that the car is not very demanding when repairing, and can be found at any car market a lot of necessary parts and components. Sherola Lanos owners do not have to wait weeks for the delivery of the necessary spare parts.
But, as it turned out, this plus is a double-edged sword. After all, how can you hope for a high quality car, parts for which can be obtained at any corner. Experts negatively note the quality of the body assembly, individual interior parts and the interior as a whole, and also the paint coating is definitely not the best. The main reason for this lies in the fact that the developers tried to save money on the assembly process using all available methods. And they did this so that the total cost of the car was low, and every resident of Russia could purchase it. If we talk about the shortcomings in more detail, then first of all it is worth noting the unsuitability of the body to corrosion. The metal itself from which the body is assembled is very thin, which often leads to deformation. The plastic used in the interior trim is also not impressive, because it is very scratch-resistant, but it will not hold it together. As noted above, the paintwork is not of the highest level, which also contributes to corrosion. Those who have driven a foreign car for some time will most likely not like the Chevrolet Lanos audio system, primarily because of its primitiveness and narrow functionality. Therefore, experienced car enthusiasts recommend immediately replacing it with something more modern.
