All-metal van Gazelle Next

The seven-seater Gazelle Next is a cargo-passenger van. The car is adapted to the changing Russian climate. Good cross-country ability allows the driver and passengers to feel confident on bad road sections.

The line of cargo-passenger vans is distinguished by smooth maneuverability, external and internal ergonomics, and smooth running. The AvtorGaz team offers to buy a seven-seater Gazelle at the manufacturer’s price. We officially represent the GAZ company in the Amur region.

Both chassis and engine

When the first photographs of Next generation trucks appeared, there was no sensation. Yes, the car has a lot of hidden advantages, but mostly professional drivers know about them. An all-metal van is a completely different matter!

Externally - a foreign car. A nice car does not seem like Cinderella compared to foreign Sprinters, Jumpers, Transits, Ducatos, Crafters and Dalys. Next debuted in two modifications at once in the new segment of commercial vehicles with a gross weight of up to 3.5 tons for Nizhny Novgorod - as a seven-seat cargo-passenger version (cargo compartment volume 9 m³) and a van with a high roof and an extended wheelbase (13.5 m³). Similar indicators for GAZelle Business are 10.5 and 6.5 cubic meters.

Gone are the days when they spoke more or less confidently about “the chassis being on par” and tried to remain silent about the dead engine. The new GAZelle has a Cummins turbodiesel with a volume of 2.8 liters and a power of 149 hp. Not every competitor has one like this. The fact that the engine is made in China does not bother me. Cummins is also Cummins in Africa: the declared resource is 500,000 km.

All-metal van Gazelle Next

New interior, comfortable driver's seat with armrest and, most importantly, joystick gear shift.
Electric windows are already available as standard. Electric mirrors are an option from the Comfort package. New interior, comfortable driver's seat with armrest and, most importantly, joystick gear shift. Electric windows are already available as standard. Electric mirrors are an option from the Comfort package.

A car with half a ton of cargo starts easily and accelerates quickly. But a powerful and torquey turbodiesel still has a narrow range - you have to change gears often. The suspension turned out to be quite energy-intensive, but not shaking. It’s quite comfortable on uneven surfaces, joints, slabs, and speed bumps. The main advantage of the new chassis with rack and pinion steering and power steering is its handling, which is completely uncharacteristic of trucks. The new GAZelle responds reverently to steering wheel turns, like a passenger car. The steering wheel and pedals are light - at least on a new van with low mileage. I am sure that with such weightless pedals the driver will not be exhausted by the end of the working day.

The original cruise control will also help him: there is a button at the end of the left steering column lever; if you press it, the electronic system for maintaining the current speed will turn on. But you cannot adjust the maintained speed. It’s convenient to use the truncated cruise control, and it’s good that all Next vans are equipped with it as standard.

We write “van”, “minibus” in our minds

The motor is imported, as are some components. And yet, the Next van consists of 60% parts made in Russia. This means it should be cheaper than foreign cars. Let's compare?

Construction of the cabin and interior of the Gazelle Next van

The cabin has seven seats - a driver's seat and two passenger seats in front, four passenger seats in the back. Passenger seats in the cabin are installed in one row. This landing does not cause discomfort for the driver. The rear seats can be used for sleeping on long flights. The interior is spacious, people will be able to move freely even when carrying luggage or cargo.

Large rear-view mirrors provide a full overview of the road situation. The latest generation cars are made with high-quality sound insulation, front lighting and an improved shock-absorbing system.

The equipment makes travel comfortable - the cabin is quiet and road vibrations are not felt. The drawers, pockets and toggle switches necessary for the driver are conveniently located. Any element is easy to reach by hand.

All-metal van Gazelle Next

There are folding tables in the backs of the front passenger seats.
There are folding tables in the backs of the front passenger seats.

The three-seater GAZ-2705 Business van, that is, the previous generation GAZelle with a 120-horsepower diesel engine, costs 1,047,000 rubles, and the new GAZelle Next with a 149-horsepower diesel engine costs 1,107,000 rubles. Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Classic 313 CDI with 136 hp engine. already amounts to 1,662,000 rubles. But it is also assembled by the GAZ Group enterprise in Nizhny Novgorod. Other foreign cars are also significantly more expensive.

According to factory workers, the demand for GAZelles with an all-metal body is distributed as follows: 40% goes to three-seater vans, 30% to seven-seater combis, and another 30% to buses.

The plans include the release of modifications with a 107 hp EvoTech gasoline engine. With it, the number of domestic parts in the car will reach 75%, and the price of the van will start at 1,090,000 rubles.

For what purposes is the Gazelle Next cargo-passenger van suitable?

A multi-tasking car can be used for:

work of construction, agricultural, repair teams, etc. — the team will be able to immediately begin work, since equipment or materials come with them in the back;
transportation of office or home furniture;
delivery of agricultural products;
transportation of large building materials, etc.

Cars are used for private purposes and for organizing businesses.

All-metal van Gazelle Next

For now, the majority of audio systems are simpler, but soon they will be completely replaced by double-din ones.
For now, the majority of audio systems are simpler, but soon they will be completely replaced by double-din ones.

A pilot batch of minibuses should appear in early summer. These will be both tourist modifications and minibuses. In the route transportation market, GAZelle Next has an excellent chance of ousting foreign cars. A relatively inexpensive minibus with a high roof simply has no competitors in terms of price and quality ratio. Even conversions from imported vans are more expensive than branded GAZ minibuses. But something tells me that, by hook or by crook, minibuses converted from all-metal Next vans will seep into the market.

All-metal van Gazelle Next

NEW IN GAZELLE NEXT VAN

„„All-metal body with Next style design; the volume of the cargo compartment and the openings of the side and rear doors have been increased „„
Completely renovated interior „„
The frame with reinforced cross members and additional amplifiers is designed for a total vehicle weight of up to 4.6 tons - so the safety margin of the 3.5-ton GAZelle is large. „„
Diesel engine Cummins 2.8L; torque increased from 270 to 330 Nm, power - from 120 to 149 hp. „„
ZF Sachs driven disk with a diameter of 280 mm - for transmitting increased torque „„
Gearbox with modified front and rear crankcases, additional shaft support, reinforced ring gears, bearings with higher load capacity, imported synchronizers in first and second gears; remote gear shift drive (joystick)
„„ Cardan shaft with flange mounting to the gearbox and splined compensator for longitudinal movements „„
Rear axle with reinforced axle shafts and drive gear bearing „„
Independent double wishbone front suspension; elastic element - springs
Rear suspension with new suspension and shock absorber mounting to the frame cross member „„
Rack and pinion steering with hydraulic booster „„
80 liter plastic fuel tank

All-metal van GAZelle Next: joystick instead of antenna

GAZelle Next - review and technical specifications

In 2013, a new model from the Nizhny Novgorod plant appeared on Russian markets - GAZelle NEXT. An all-metal van was introduced in September 2015, with sales starting in April 2016.

The vehicle is available in various versions: cargo van, cargo-passenger van, minibus, board. In addition, there are about 150 various modifications in the line - from a motorhome to a tanker truck.

Technical characteristics of GAZelle Next Engine

There are two types of engines available for the all-metal van: petrol (Cummins ISF 2.8) and diesel (Evotech 2.7). Both units are mated to a 5-speed manual transmission.

Cummins is a modern diesel unit. It is 4-cylinder, 2.8 liter in volume, equipped with direct common rail injection, turbocharging and charge air cooler. Power to choose from: 120 hp. With. with a torque of 270 Nm; 149.6 l. With. with a torque of 330 Nm.
The Evotech gasoline engine is a joint development of GAZ and Tenergy. The 2.7 liter engine produces 106.8 horsepower. Torque is 220 Nm.

The volume of the fuel tank is 80 liters. A lever is installed on the front panel to control the remote drive of the gearbox (drive from Atsumitec Toyota Tsusho).

Dimensions

The all-metal GAZelle NEXT has three modifications: cargo and cargo-passenger vans and a passenger minibus. Depending on this, the body dimensions have some differences.

Cargo and cargo-passenger vans have two wheelbase lengths: medium (LxWxH - 5607 x 2068 x 2753 mm) and long (LxWxH - 6207 x 2068 x 2753 mm).

The passenger minibus has the following dimensions: length – 6415 mm, width – 1750 mm, height – 2837 mm. Moreover, the model has a different seat layout (see photo below):

Cargo space

The all-metal cargo van GAZelle NEXT received a three-seater cabin. The volume of luggage space is 13.5 cubic meters. meters. There is a special hatch under the passenger seat that allows you to transport long items up to 5 meters. For convenient loading and unloading there is a side sliding door and rear doors that swing open to 270 degrees.

The Combi cargo-passenger version is a universal solution for transporting passengers and cargo. The interior of the car is equipped with seven seats and a luggage compartment with a capacity of 9.5 cubic meters. Above the first row of seats there is a deep shelf for things weighing up to 30 kg, and the “gallery” chairs are equipped with the ability to transform into a berth. The convenience of riders is provided by folding tables, a 12-volt outlet and LED lighting.

Safety

In order to increase the level of safety for passengers and the driver, the body of the GAZelle NEXT has become stiffer, and programmable deformation zones have been incorporated into the design of the power parts of the vehicle. Ergonomic chairs are equipped with seat belts. There is also a cruise control function.

In the cabin

The car interior is distinguished by functionality and ergonomics. Salon equipment includes:

anatomical driver's seat with five degrees of adjustment, armrest, lumbar support and heating (optional)
height-adjustable steering column from CSA (Castellon Automotive)
electric mirrors and windows, electric heated mirrors (optional)
informative instrument cluster with on-board computer
a large number of convenient storage compartments
DELPHI climate system with cabin filter and air conditioning (optional)
multimedia infotainment center 2 DIN format.

Technical data

Options	Cummins ISF2.8s4129P	Evotech A274	Evotech A275 with LPG (Propane)
Engine's type	Diesel, with turbocharging and charge air cooler	Gasoline, 4-stroke, injection	Bi-fuel, 4-stroke, injection (gasoline/gas)
Number of cylinders and their location	4, in-line	4, in-line	4, in-line
Cylinder diameter and piston stroke, mm	94×100	96,5×92	96,5×92
Cylinder displacement, l	2,8	2,69	2,69
Compression ratio	16,5	10	10
Rated power, net kW (hp) at crankshaft speed, rpm	88,3 (120) 3600	78,5 (106,8) 4000	78.5 (106.8) on gasoline; 76.7 (104.3) on gas 4000
Maximum torque, net, N*m (kgcm) at crankshaft speed, rpm	270 (27,5) 1400-3000	220,5 (22,5) 2350±150	220.5 (22.5) on gasoline; 219 (22.3) on gas 2350±150
Cylinder operating order	1-3-4-2	1-2-4-3	1-2-4-3
Crankshaft rotation speed in idle mode, rpm minimum increased	750±50 4500	800±50 3000	800±50 3000
Direction of rotation of the crankshaft (observed from the fan side)	right	Right	Right
Cruising range from one refueling when driving on all types of fuel	475	—	870
ECU	one	—	single
Total capacity of the gas cylinder system, cubic m/kg	—	—	80/96*
Control fuel consumption when driving at a constant speed: 60 km/h, l/100 km 80 km/h, l/100 km	8,5 10,3	9,8 12,1	—
Control gas consumption when driving at a constant speed: 60 km/h, cubic m/kg 80 km/h, cubic m/kg	—	—	11,8 14,5