Remember, at the ComTrans-2019 exhibition we did not speak very flatteringly about the new brainchild of Gorky Auto? And now we had the opportunity to test this unsightly truck at first glance. For which we are very grateful to our old friends - the multi-brand dealer Orion Motors.
They allowed us to do more than just explore the car and drive along the road. We took it out for a test in real off-road conditions. Steep hills, river, clay, bumps and holes, rough terrain.
In general, the native element of SUVs. And the manager of the GAZ car sales department of AvtocentrGAZ Orion LLC, Dmitry Melcher, helped us with this.
First impressions
The first thing that caught my eye was that, purely visually, the hero of our today’s test seemed to have grown at the withers, compared to the sample presented at the exhibition. It may, of course, be an optical illusion, but to get into the cabin, the leg had to be raised higher.
Either the tires were different, or they were pumped with more air, or the terrain played a role. But that's not the point.
“Sadko Next” is the great-grandson of the legendary GAZ-66
Before us is the third generation of a cargo SUV from the GAZ Group.
They took as a basis the “grandfather” born in 1964, who was popularly nicknamed “Shishiga”. From its “father” - GAZ-3308 - the new all-terrain vehicle inherited almost nothing except axles and a frame. Perhaps the wheels can also be included here. But a box from the old Sadko would be nice, completely covering the batteries located behind the cab on the right side of the frame.
However, flying splashes, dust and dirt do not contribute to the long service life of the terminals, even though they are covered with a lid.
That's all the battery protection in Sadko Next
Well, okay, let's continue the inspection. As you can see, the cabin here is from GAZon Next . The same bevels, rear-view mirrors, radiator grille, optics with German bulbs. True, the side turn signals were moved to the top of the plastic wings. And the bumper is not double.
Also from GAZon Next, the new generation of Sadko received the YaMZ-534 engine, 5-speed gearbox and suspension.
Original fuel filter "Sadko Next" from Mann
Behind the cabin there is an onboard platform with an awning. The folding tailgate is made of wood, the sides are made of steel.
And here again the discrepancy between the 100 German-made KUKA robots announced at GAZ production is striking.
The welds of the body are rough, as if the welder worked hastily and did not even bother to erase the flaws. Although we will not rule out that the on-board platform was installed by a third-party manufacturer. However, the overall impression is spoiled.
Of course, for foresters and oil and gas workers, appearance is not particularly important, but they don’t particularly need a short side platform. But for suburban transport it was possible to try: the cabin is beautiful.
For now, dealers receive Sadko Next only with an on-board platform
We couldn't help but ask about the wooden connections between the frame and the superstructure.
“It’s a softer attachment to the frame. The load-carrying capacity of the side itself is not so large and does not require additional channels, so the designers used this solution,” explains Dmitry Melcher.
Design for attaching superstructures to the Sadko Next frame
We climb onto the bumper and fold back the hood. Here is an in-line turbocharged “four” from the Yaroslavl Motor Plant with Common Rail injection from Bosch, a cooling radiator traditional for GAZ products from the TRM joint venture, Tork clamps, and Naberezhnye Chelny RVDs. By the way, the fuel filter at the bottom of the frame is from Mann.
Under the hood of Sadko Next there is a YaMZ-534 turbodiesel with a capacity of 149 hp. With.
Let's now look at the interior.
We open the door, stand on the hanging step, grab the handrails for the right and left hands and then go up the steps.
The interior is unified with other models of the “Next” family. But, for example, unlike the same "GAZON", here instead of a gear shift poker there is a short-throw joystick on the dashboard, like a GAZelle. The basic equipment includes electric windows, heated mirrors, and cruise control.
"Sadko Next" got rid of the poker for changing gears
The cabin is designed for three people. The driver's seat is sprung, and the two passenger seats are essentially a soft bench.
Well, it's time to go. We start the engine. And here we pay attention to the fuel level readings - it is below zero. It turns out that during the last test drive with the client, the sensor failed and they had not yet had time to replace it. So owners of Sadko Next should be careful when crossing rivers and dirty roads.
Lamps in “Sadko Next” are German
About operation
Let's immediately note the high landing - we are more than a meter above the ground. Even though the hood is sloping, you still can’t see anything in front of you. In fact, what is in front of the hood is located about three meters away, so you need to get used to the maneuvers.
The rear-view mirrors provide a good overview; a wide-angle mirror is installed above the right door, which displays the road surface on the right side of the car. It is called anti-underrun.
Clearance of "Sadko Next" on the rear axle - 260 mm
The carrying capacity of Sadko Next is greater than that of its predecessor. Officially, it can carry 2.6 tons, while the GAZ-3308 could lift 2 tons.
“The resource of the engine declared by the factory is 700,000 km. But I think it’s an order of magnitude larger,” emphasizes Dmitry Melcher.
The fact that this is a Russian car is reminiscent of the creaking of the steering wheel. Although the steering mechanism itself is integral here, unlike its predecessors, and even Bosch, it seems they either saved on rubber bands or did not lubricate some parts.
Although there are no complaints about handling - the car obediently follows the slightest turns of the steering wheel.
“The braking system here is new - from Wabco. If earlier there was a pneumohydraulic brake, which is less convenient for freight transport, now the brakes are completely pneumatic. It’s more responsive to the pedal,” explains our tester.
The Sadko Next dashboard is unified with other models of the Next family
Meanwhile, we are turning off the road. What begins next is not the road, but the direction. And - sharply down.
Using the engine brake (yes, there is one) we carefully descend and move along the potholes towards the river. And here everything is ambiguous.
The car itself handles any bumps perfectly. The same cannot be said about passengers. The driver can hold on to the steering wheel, plus an armrest to help. The passenger near the door can also somehow hold on to the handle on the ceiling, but you won’t envy the one in the middle.
All that remains is to either rest your hand on the ceiling, or grab the ceiling console with niches for documents and the speaker of the ERA-GLONASS system. But it won’t take long to tear it off.
In the three-seater cabin "Sadko Next" on potholes, the passenger in the middle can only hold on to everything that his hands can reach
Whether it was long or short, we slowly rolled down to the foot of the hill. There is a steep climb ahead: you need to fly up this one with acceleration. But we turn the three-position handle of the electro-pneumatic transfer case mechanism to four-wheel drive with the rear axle locked and slowly begin to rise.
“Here there is a plug-in front axle; optionally, you can install a winch powered by the power take-off. Each wheel is inflated for cross-country ability,” comments Dmitry.
Getting into the Sadko Next cabin is easier due to the step and additional handrails
I took the “Sadko Next” slide playfully. You can feel the torque of the engine.
It's time to check the frame for torsion. We drive over bumps to hang the wheel. Behind the cabin, through the slightly open window, eerie grinding sounds are heard, it seems that something is about to fall off or break. But no, the design withstood our mockery.
"Sadko Next" successfully passed frame torsion tests
It's time to try the ford. We didn’t dare to go into the depths, since this example does not have a snorkel - it is optional. But the high ground clearance of 260 mm (along the rear axle) allows the wind to raise a bunch of splashes in the river. The main thing is not to forget that if you are careless, you can fill the batteries.
Brod is no barrier for Sadko Next
Having tortured “Sadko Next” for a photo shoot and video on all kinds of off-road terrain, we set off on the way back. On the highway the car behaves very well. Empty, it easily accelerates to 105 km/h and overtakes passing trucks.
We liked the dynamics. But since the springs work out the unevenness, as befits a truck, passengers jump in the cabin.
Fuel consumption is not easy here. On the highway, the car eats about a little more than a GAZelle, but off-road with all-wheel drive, appetites grow. The average value is somewhere around 18 liters per hundred.
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"Sadko Next" is already prepared for use with a trailer
Options of the new GAZ C41A23 truck
Sadko Next has incorporated into its design the achievements of the world's leading automotive manufacturers. The instrument cluster, clutch, brake system, shock absorbers, gearbox, steering, cardan, control, ventilation and safety devices, as well as a set of door fittings are products of foreign companies.
An electric winch will slightly increase the length of the truck, but will provide additional advantages during operation. The driver's comfort will be ensured by air conditioning, a large display and an adjustable steering column.
Sadko Next 2015-21016 photo
Halogen optics, so unusual for domestic trucks, as well as all-terrain tires on 18-inch wheels will complement the list of options.
The traction control system is adjacent to the ABS system, which can be turned off manually by the driver. The brakes on both axles are ventilated discs, using pneumatics as a drive.
Verdict
“It’s not cut well, but it’s sewn tightly.” This proverb quite accurately characterizes “Sadko Next”.
Yes, with an on-board platform, the model is unlikely to be in demand among carriers. But what prospects open up when installing other add-ons: a “shift vehicle” for the oil and gas or forestry sector, a mobile auto repair shop, a two-row cabin with a hydraulic lift, etc.
Sadko Next has a lot of opportunities. It's up to the "bodybuilders".
But in terms of cross-country ability, this model has almost no competitors. Only the Mercedes-Benz Unimog fits the class. But its cost is much higher than 2,195,000 rubles, just like the off-road Urals and KAMAZs.
From afar, “Sadko Next” can easily be mistaken for “GAZon Next”
Vehicle configuration
The Sadko Next model is presented in three trim levels:
- "Standard".
- "Comfort" (without winch).
- "Comfort" with winch.
The “Standard” package includes:
- power steering;
- ABS;
- gearbox drive – remote;
- car central locking;
- presence of an on-board computer;
- the presence of electric windows;
- heat-absorbing glass system;
- presence of a ceiling console;
- The driver's seat is sprung and has armrests;
- insulated radiator system;
- car doors, both left and right, are equipped with pockets;
- the transfer case has a power take-off option;
- the presence of a pre-heater-heater.
“Comfort” (without a winch) differs from the standard equipment by the presence of fog lights, 2 DIN radio with buttons on the steering wheel and a USB connector.
In addition to any Sadko Next configuration, you can add the following options:
- tachograph (cost - from 35,000 rubles);
- pre-heater-heater (cost - from 40,000 rubles);
- air intake installed outside (cost - from 10,400 rubles);
- additional fuel tank (cost - from 34,100 rubles);
- winch - traction device with a drive drum (cost - from 60,000 rubles);
- towing device (cost - from 2500 rubles).
About
Technical characteristics of "Sadko Next"
- Engine – YaMZ-534 with a power of 149 hp. With.;
- transmission – 5-speed manual transmission;
- wheel formula - 4x4;
- transfer case – part-time with electro-pneumatic drive;
- brake system – Wabco pneumatic with ABS;
- steering system – ZF integral type;
- clutch – dry single disc;
- suspension - dependent, leaf spring;
- dimensions of the onboard platform – 3.46 x 2 x 1.8 m;
- load capacity – 2.6 t;
- ground clearance – 260 mm;
- comfort “in the basics” - climate control, cruise control, electric heated mirrors, electric windows.
Appearance of GAZ "Sadko Next"
The outline of Sadko Next strongly resembles a bull terrier. This impression is created by its rounded, blunt front end with a sloping hood and windshield. A powerful bumper emphasizes the car's off-road capabilities. Everything that is located behind the cabin indicates a characteristic feature - the versatility of the machine. In addition to the usual body with or without an awning, van designs are provided that differ in their dimensions, and the cabin itself can be 2-row, accommodating 7 people.
The creators of the new model do not hide the fact that they completely borrowed some elements of its design from another popular car - the Gazelle. Probably, this solution reduced production costs due to the unification of a large number of components used and, absolutely, increased comfort for the driver and passengers.
New GAZ Sadko
