All-wheel drive GAZ 27527 Sobol 4x4: technical specifications and prices

It is no secret that every manufacturer tries to present their product as almost the pinnacle of the achievements of all mankind. Using an expensive advertising campaign and carrying out all sorts of PR campaigns, all the most tangible advantages that a particular product has are put on display, while the disadvantages are usually kept silent.

To what extent do the manufacturer's promises correspond to reality? Reviews of specific people who have already had the opportunity to experience the advertised car in person always help answer this question.

It is on such reviews from the owners of the diesel Sable Kamens, who have operated and are using this vehicle, that this article is based.

GAZ 2752 and its modifications

The all-metal van GAZ 2752 was adopted as the base model. With a carrying capacity of 0.9 tons, the vehicle has the right to drive even into the center of Moscow, where during the day a travel restriction is introduced for vehicles with a carrying capacity of over 1 ton. The maneuverability and compactness of the Sobol allows the mini-truck to freely penetrate tight yards, while the car is quite economical and comfortable.

Design and arrangement of passenger seats in the GAZ-2752

After 2003, the GAZ 2752 was restyled twice, and the latest modification, Sobol Business (since 2010), meets all modern requirements for this class of car in terms of equipment, comfort and ecology.

“Sable” 2752 has modifications in body type and wheel drive. According to the body type, the car can be a three-seater or a seven-seater van. In the 3-seater version, the total carrying capacity of the car is 0.75-0.9 tons, in the 7-seater version this figure is slightly less - 0.75-0.8 tons. Both modifications can be either rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The all-wheel drive 4x4 model is called GAZ 27527, while the entire model range is equipped with different types of engines - both gasoline and diesel.

Overall dimensions of the car Sobol 2752

The luggage compartment is separated from the passengers by a solid partition; the luggage compartment doors are hinged - there are two of them, and they open to the sides almost 180° each.

Reviews from GAZ-2752 Sobol owners

According to reviews from drivers and owners, thanks to the front independent suspension, power steering and single rear tire; and also, of course, its compact overall dimensions, the Sobol, in terms of its operational parameters, can be placed on a par with passenger cars. Such as the Volga, or its modern imported classmates.

The Sobol combi cargo-passenger van has received numerous praises for its versatility: a spacious seven-seater interior, thanks to which, if necessary, the Sobol can replace... if not a minibus, then a minivan for sure. While maintaining a very, very roomy, more than 3.5 m3 cargo compartment with a carrying capacity of 800 kg (what are the “passport” 305 kilograms! – you can safely load much more). In any case, this is more than any pickup van based on a passenger car.

From a consumer point of view, the GAZ-2752 is called an absolutely universal car “for all occasions.” That is why Sobol cargo-passenger vehicles are in demand in small companies and public utilities as a service or emergency repair vehicle.

They note that the door locks on the Sobol, like the GAZelle, are very unreliable, simply consumables, and this has not surprised anyone for a long time. Fortunately, the cost of these locks is low. The quality of the metal from which the body is made and its painting is not of the highest level. Quite quickly it begins to “red and bloom”, and additional protection against corrosion will not be superfluous.

An absolutely useless thing on all all-metal vans is the rear hinged door locks in the open position. Of course, you need to lock the doors, sometimes you can’t even get up to the ramp without it, especially if you need to go a little uphill - the doors are constantly closing. But the existing latches, in their current form, are of no use - at the slightest gust of wind or jerk of the car, they jump out of their sockets and do not hold the doors. It’s strange that all these years GAZ hasn’t made a more reliable design for these clamps.

The build quality and reliability of Sobols largely depend on the year of manufacture. It was noted that after the economic crisis of 1998, along with the price, the quality of GAZelle and Sobol cars also fell sharply. And these cars at the turn of the 90s and 2000s were of such poor quality that it seemed that it was simply impossible to do worse. Reviews from owners of cars from those years of production are full of bitterness, sarcasm and righteous anger. But then the situation improved, and later cars can very rarely be accused of careless assembly and unreliability.

What conclusions have we drawn?

The conclusions of our large test drive in Krasnodar are simple. GAZ-27527 “Sable” 4x4 appeared in a new guise, which, as it turned out, suits it quite well. The evolution of the Sobol from a minibus to an SUV took place on the assembly line of the Gorky Automobile Plant without any mutations. As for quality and related things, it’s very good that “Loaf” has a worthy competitor. After all, as you know, quality is born in competition. Now UAZ and GAZ, under favorable market conditions in the future, will be able to surprise us with new products in the future. Prices and equipment for the car can be found at the official GAZ dealer in Krasnodar.

The quality of the diesel Sobol chassis

The car chassis consists of: transmission, frame and suspension.

The Sobol 4x4 transmission with a Cummins diesel engine, which has some of the most depressing reviews, does not shine with quality, to put it mildly. At good speed, according to the owners, the gears of the transfer case and gearbox create loud, unpleasant noises.

In addition, in lower gears the car moves jerkily. However, when moving to the 3rd lower gear, the smoothness of the ride evens out.

The frame of this car is no less problematic. It is quite often noted that when used in off-road conditions, cracks very quickly appear in the places where the engine mounts are mounted. Many motorists independently try to strengthen the frame structure by welding brackets from a GAZelle.

The suspension, sad as it may be, also leaves much to be desired. Usually, by 25 thousand km, according to owner reviews, noticeable play appears in the front part, accompanied by intense roar. The rear suspension is quite reliable and, for the most part, does not cause any problems.

Fuel consumption of GAZ-2752 • Pros of the car

The fuel consumption of the RT will be higher even if trips are made over short distances, and you often have to turn off, start and warm up the engine; In any seat, both passenger and driver, a person of even the most impressive, heroic build can freely and easily fit, and moreover, it will not be particularly convenient for a driver shorter than 170 centimeters to drive the GAZ-2217.

Technical characteristics of the GAZ-2752 “Sobol” in numbers

• Length – 4,810 m, width – 2,030 m (excluding side mirrors), height – 2,200 m (2,300 m – in the all-wheel drive version of the GAZ-27527).
• Wheelbase – 2.76 m. Front track – 1.7 m, rear – 1.72 m.
• The turning radius is 6 meters.
• Ground clearance – 150 mm (for rear-wheel drive versions), or 205 mm (for the 4x4 version).
• Curb weight - from 1.88 to 2.19 tons
• Total weight – from 2.8 to 3 tons.
• The volume of the fuel tank is 70 liters.
• Fuel consumption – 12 liters petrol, 9.5 liters diesel fuel.
• The standard tire size is 185/75R16C.

Specifications

1. For buses with 10 passenger seats.
2. For RVs with two rows of seats.
3. For flatbed vehicles, the cabin height is indicated.

1. The given fuel consumption is used to determine the technical condition of the vehicles, is checked under conditions regulated by the relevant standards and is not an indicator of operational fuel consumption standards.

Engine

Transmission

Chassis

Steering

Brake control

Electrical equipment

Suspension; chassis; steering and brake control

The Sobol GAZ-2752 vans are based on a frame chassis. At the front, they are equipped with an independent double-wishbone spring suspension with gas-filled shock absorbers and an anti-roll bar. Rear – dependent leaf spring suspension; on two longitudinal semi-elliptic springs, with double-acting hydraulic telescopic shock absorbers; addition – anti-roll bars (optional).

The Sobol's drive axle is significantly different from the GAZel's: single-pitch wheels, weaker hubs, thinner and longer axle shafts, narrower brake drums. The suspension needed two leaves for each spring.

The steering mechanism of the GAZ-2752 “Sobol” operates according to the classic “screw – ball nut” scheme, and is already equipped with a power steering as standard. GAZ-2752 “Sobol” in the simplest, starting configuration is equipped with 16-inch steel wheels, halogen optics, audio preparation and an interior heater.

The brake system is hydraulic dual-circuit with a vacuum booster, an emergency brake fluid level drop sensor and a pressure regulator. Disc brakes are installed on the front wheels, while traditional drum brakes are used on the rear wheels.

Sable 4x4, UMZ-4216: average consumption 28l/100km

Good day! Don't kick too hard. In general, the problem is increased consumption. In our city, we have a problem with diagnostics; they can only read errors; when asked about the presence of a gas analyzer or a tester motor, they answer no, they haven’t heard. In general, here's the background: I bought the car in August. Sable 4x4 2011 tires stock engine UMZ 4216 Mikas 10.3 the car sat for half a year, I somehow started it and bought it, the price was attractive and the condition was excellent, mileage was only 53,000. I thought I’d take it and figure out the engine, but that wasn’t the case. I'm tired of figuring it out. When I drove the car, it didn’t move and was terribly stupid. First of all, as befits an ordinary teapot, I followed the path of least resistance, drove up to the final bus stop and found out where minibuses treat sores of the injection system. After listening to them carefully, I went to a local Gazelles diagnostics specialist, where I was successfully scammed out of 1,500 rubles. Having washed the injectors and condemned the pump, I, of course, rushed to the store for a new one. I changed one, another, then the injectors, then the PDZ sensor, wires, coils, then there were a couple more smart guys, after which I gave up on everything, having lost a lot of time, nerves and money (Loshar) and began to figure it out myself... I went and bought a fuel system pressure gauge and I connect the remote fuel pump directly to the battery, everything is OK, the pressure is 4, but when I connect it to the standard wiring, not only is the pressure 2, but it also starts pumping gasoline through the return line, I disassemble the module, it turns out that Plus and Minus are mixed up, I switch the contacts on the pump, pumped it up, and the FLS began to show the correct level of URA, but the pump does not have the pressure of the required 4 atm... I throw additional mass from the pump onto the body and lo and behold, the pressure returns to normal, I put the cool old gas pump on! Well, every cloud has a silver lining, there are still a couple of purchased fuel pumps left in reserve))) I’ve been driving for a couple of days, the acceleration dynamics are not bad, but I can’t get going normally, there are failures. We connect the SCANDOK failure to open the damper at 3-5%, what the hell is the sensor, it’s a new one... I buy another one from Bosch for food, it still doesn’t work, I still return it to the 1600 store. I've been driving like this for a month, I'm tired of going to Tula on the advice of a friend, we connect the diagnostics and after 5 minutes voila, they drive the car out with a smile on their face. I told him: - What's the problem? He told me: - The CO was screwed up, I set all the parameters from memory as they should be at XX rpm - 70, the main CO - 80. And indeed, the Gazelle is unrecognizable, it drove at low speeds, the dips disappeared as if by hand, and before that it stalled. On the way home, I feel that something is wrong, but it’s a long way back, I decided to give up, I’m tired, I think I’ll figure it out... I’ve been riding for a couple of weeks, the CHECK light comes on, I stop by for diagnostics, I ask you to just count the errors, I give you 200 rubles. I get the result - the error indicates a weak TPS signal))) and what do you think, when I go home I install the old original TPS sensor and the car is unrecognizable))) I’ve been driving for another month, I feel like I’m often stopping at a gas station. I buy a multitronics 580C on-board vehicle, I calibrate and calibrate the tank, I fill it to capacity, roll it with 25 liters, add 25.5 and now the consumption is 28 l/100 km at an average speed of 40 km/h. I’m sinning on Full Time, like the roll-up is bad, the transfer case is bad, I change the transfer case to Part-Time, I open the front axle, visually there’s no sound of metal in the oil, then I change the oil in all units to synthetic GL5 75W85 and do the wheel alignment, adjust the valves, measure the resistance on the explosives wires, changing the wheel bearings, and then winter has arrived, well, in general, I get a consumption of 31 liters... mixed cycle, and I also draw attention to the instantaneous consumption at idle, it is 2.3 l/hour. For comrades with identical cars, the consumption is 22-23 city at constant full. and 1.8 at XX.

New preferences of “Sable”

4x4 cargo-passenger van with Cummins diesel engine

GAZ-27527-398 “Sobol Business”
2.8 (120 hp) 5 MT price: from 701,500 rub.
For several years now, small trucks and minibuses of the GAZ brand have been produced not only with rear-wheel drive, but also with all-wheel drive.
But recently they have made changes under the hood: now the “Sable-Gazelle family” has received a diesel engine. This model turned out to be the lightest of all all-wheel drive vehicles currently produced by the Nizhny Novgorod plant. Our interest was initially limited to the range that a consumer with a regular category B driver's license could afford - that is, passenger cars with a number of seats, including the driver's, not exceeding nine, or trucks with a gross weight of no more than 3.5 tons. Now this is the old Gazelle, although significantly updated, and its little brother Sobol. Of course, we, like most readers, are primarily interested in passenger versions. However, the Gazelle bus has significantly more than the nine seats allowed for category B, which means that the driver will need a category D license to drive it. The Sobol also has a 10-seater modification that falls under category D, but 6 are still more common –7-seater. But even here we were faced with one nuance, this time a production one: GAZ does not yet produce purely passenger versions of the Sobol with all-wheel drive! The fact is that according to safety standards, all new buses must have an anti-lock brake system. The Gazelle has it, but it has not yet been adapted for the Sobol 4x4 due to a different suspension. Therefore, the “most passenger” of the all-wheel drive “Sables” today is... the cargo-passenger modification of the GAZ-27527-398 C, where a complex alphanumeric codification hides an all-metal van with a double 7-seater cabin and a small cargo compartment at the rear.

The next day, after all these design and production nuances were literally explained to me right on the assembly line, I finally found myself behind the wheel of a brand new Sobol with a 4x4 wheel arrangement and a diesel “heart”. The car for journalistic “bullying” was specially brought to the GAZ training ground, which was hidden from prying eyes in the forests near Nizhny Novgorod. It is, of course, not as big as Dmitrovsky, but it also has a full range of roads necessary for testing automotive equipment, perhaps except for mountain roads. And good asphalt, and broken, and Brussels pavement with roughly laid stone. And also ravines and dirt roads for testing off-road vehicles. Of course, in winter some routes lose some of their inherent properties, but they acquire others that are inaccessible in summer.

The all-wheel drive essence of this “Sable” is already visible from afar. There is no need to bend over and look under its bottom. An attentive eye will certainly notice the high ground clearance. And an experienced person cannot help but pay attention to the transfer case, which is perfectly visible strictly in the middle of the bottom when viewed from the side. And in front is the front axle gearbox.

The seven-seat cargo-passenger Sobol has a two-row cabin, with three seats on the first row and four on the second. But it has only three doors: the front side doors are traditionally hinged, and the rear side door is only one - on the starboard side, sliding. The cargo compartment door is a double-hinged door. It is separated from the passenger side by a metal wall (which, however, if necessary, can be easily removed, at least temporarily, using a simple tool).

Getting into the driver's seat has nothing in common with getting behind the wheel of a regular car. Rather, it is penetration into the cabin of a real SUV with high ground clearance, where the word “climbing” mentioned in the previous sentence has more rights. Already sitting behind the wheel, the driver feels not like in a truck, but, of course, not like in a passenger car. The feeling is rather the same as inside an old classic SUV. But more comfortable. The plastic panels and cabin trim are quite simple, and it would be strange to expect something more from a domestic car for such a price.

Permanent is better than plug-in

Despite the almost 20-degree frost, the diesel engine started quite easily. By the way, for a moderate surcharge, the car can be equipped with a pre-heater at the factory. Now, after numerous trials and errors with engines from different manufacturers, GAZ has decided to opt for diesel units from the American company Cummins. As if especially for the “Sable” and “Gazelle”, the Americans found an in-line “four” model ISF 2.8 with a power of 120 hp. with turbocharging. For it, GAZ engineers developed a 5-speed manual gearbox and a transfer case with a reduction gear. Having thought about the type of all-wheel drive, Nizhny Novgorod residents decided to abandon the classic “permanent rear, front connected” scheme (which, by the way, is used by Lithuanians in Rokiskis when assembling gazelles with a Polish diesel engine and a Czech transfer case) and settled on the more common one in today’s realities “permanent all-wheel drive with central differential lock.” This is used not only on crossovers, but also on very famous “rogues” such as the Land Rover Defender. There is no forced locking of cross-axle differentials yet, but the existing “lowering” significantly increases the vehicle’s cross-country ability.

With this equipment, the Sobol confidently took off from a standstill on a very slippery road, almost without slipping. Acceleration turned out to be quite brisk up to about 80 km/h, although up to 2000 rpm the engine seemed to sleep. He began to wake up only at 2500, and at 3000 it was as if a demon had possessed him. Asphalt or soil - there is no difference for those sitting in the car. “Sable” runs confidently, “swallowing” small potholes and swaying a little on large ones. But the broken, once paved country road - a typical road in our province - simply forces you to slow down from 90-100 to 50-60 km/h. I imagine a Defender or Land Cruiser in these conditions and I understand that it would be simply impossible to drive them more than 40 km/h here.

The Sobol runs quite comfortably along the Brussels Road even at 80 km/h. You can immediately see in which country and for which roads it was made!

But not everything in the car is “chocolate”. A constantly loaded transfer case makes itself felt with a nasty hum. It, as the developers say, is no longer as loud as it was before, but you can’t call it quiet either. Therefore, work to reduce it is still underway. On rough terrain, when the driver is tense and constantly monitors road irregularities, the hum almost does not bother him. However, on the asphalt straight it gets on your nerves. But you can also make the radio louder! Although by the end of the day I no longer paid attention to him even without music.

Multi-link… transmission

What immediately surprised me when looking inside the cabin was the abundance of various “pokers” sticking out of the floor. It was as if it smelled like something from time immemorial... In addition to the traditional manual gearbox shift lever (large), two smaller ones have made their way into the light of day. One blocks the center differential, the other switches the transfer case modes. What is done on most modern SUVs with one lever, the Gazovites still offer to do with two. Let it be so: this solution also has its advantage - you can turn it down without blocking (although I have great difficulty imagining a situation where this is necessary). But at the most crucial moment it would be nice not to get entangled in these “pokers”! Opposite them, on the dashboard, a control diagram for this “multi-link transmission” is pasted, but it’s impossible to figure it out right away due to the three-dimensionality of space: the levers move in a horizontal plane, and the diagram is pasted vertically! However, the driver will figure it out over time.

But this “multi-lever” knows its stuff! Our Sobol went almost everywhere we wanted. Maybe not the first time, but the second, the third, but he made his way and even crawled out of the ravines! And only where the snow turned out to be really deep did he sit on the bridges - and then he had to call in the super-Sadko, specially made for polygon “entertainment”, for help. It was then that another design flaw of the Sobol was revealed: it does not have a tow hook at the back. You can put a towbar on it, but you can’t tow anything without a towbar. There’s not even anything to tie a rope to! I had to attach it to the spring.

Overall, the car left a favorable impression. Especially if you look at the price. I remember when GAZ released its very first all-wheel drive Gazelles (Sables didn’t exist yet), they cost almost 2 times more than regular ones. Now the difference between all-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive Sobols in the same configuration is only 52,000 rubles, while the prices of a diesel car and a gasoline car differ by 135,000 rubles, regardless of the type of drive. It turns out that you can buy the cheapest 7-seater Sobol with a 2.9-liter UMZ-4216 Ulyanovsk injection engine for only 566,500 rubles. But not everyone has a fiery love for diesel engines yet.

**For a fully loaded vehicle.
**Tire outer diameter. text: Vyacheslav VARENOV photo: author

Transmission

Transmission GAZ-2752 “Sobol”

Each of the engines listed above is paired with the same five-speed manual synchronized gearbox. It is connected to the engine via a standard friction clutch of a dry design, equipped with a hydraulic control drive. All-wheel drive versions of the Sobol van (GAZ-27527) are additionally equipped with a locking center differential and a 2-speed transfer case with a reduction gear.

GAZ-2752 “Sobol” 4x2 and all-wheel drive: bottom view.

Interior

The modernization has significantly changed the interior of the new GAZ Sobol 4x4 2022 model year. In particular, the list of options now available even in the simplest version has noticeably increased, the ability to work with a multimedia system has appeared, and the quality of fabrics and plastics has noticeably improved.

Control and management bodies

The center console has become much more angular, and due to this its size has increased. In its center there is an insert on which there are four round air ducts, a modest display of the multimedia complex with physical buttons and washers along the edges, and just below there are control units for climate and off-road options. Also on the dashboard there were several compartments for things and connectors for connecting external storage media.

There is no tunnel as such, but in the place where it is usually located, we managed to place: a lever for operating the gearbox, a parking brake, a cup holder and a pocket for small items. The driver's seat can be equipped with a folding armrest.

The large-diameter steering wheel has a comfortable grip and boasts several buttons located on the side spokes. Immediately behind it, in the deep cavity of the dashboard, you can find a rather informative instrument panel with a dial tachometer and speedometer, as well as a small trip computer in the middle.

Seating

The cabin seats are well made, have lateral support, adjustments using mechanical drives and are even heated. The cabin will accommodate two- and three-seater sofas, as well as a single folding seat near the door. Despite the fact that there is no functionality here, and the seats themselves are not very comfortable on a long journey, they are separated by good-quality armrests and can be transformed into two very comfortable sleeping places.

GAZ presented two prototypes of the Sobol Next 4×4 Pros of the car

Features • The maximum permissible vehicle speed is 120 km/h.

A little about the history of the Sobol family

Serial production of cars of the GAZ-2752 Sobol family started in Nizhny Novgorod in 1998. By that time, the GAZelle had been in mass production for four years already, and it became obvious that the demand for cars of this class, which had not yet been completely mastered by the domestic automobile industry, turned out to be much higher than the wildest assumptions. Therefore, the range of modifications within the family grew; and, in accordance with market requirements, a related family was created - “Sable”.

The UAZ-3727 prototype is one of the “ancestors” of the GAZelle and Sobol.

The design team, under the leadership of Vladimir Chetverikov, relied on both domestic and foreign experience when creating the GAZelle family. In particular, for the promising development of NAMI (Central Research Automobile and Automotive Engine Institute) and UAZ engineers - the all-metal van "UAZ-3727", which did not go into production. Many also point out the more than obvious similarities between the GAZelle and Sobol and the third generation Ford Transit.

“Externally, there really was a common motive,” Vladimir Chetverikov could not help but agree with this analogy, “but this common motive - a half-hood layout - is typical for most cars of this class.”

The frame for all modifications of the Sobol was taken from the GAZelle, with the side members shortened (wall thickness 3.9 mm) and the wheelbase reduced from 2900 to 2760 mm. The all-metal Sobol van GAZ-2752 is a GAZ van shortened by 660 mm.

"Pre-styling" "Sable" of the first generation.

Since the GAZ-2752 Sobol entered the assembly line four years later than the GAZelle, it was not affected by the time of early modernization of the new model - with the replacement of multi-leaf semi-elliptical springs with few-leaf parabolic ones; Spicer drive axle on banjo, cabin reinforcement; fighting the boiling of antifreeze in the radiator already with the arrival of April warmth... We can say that “Sable” was cured of “childhood diseases” even before its appearance.

In 2003, Sobol, like GAZelle, underwent restyling, which significantly updated its appearance and interior. In accordance with the current “automotive fashion”, the tail design was updated, the rectangular headlights were replaced with modern drop-shaped block headlights. The instrument panel in the cockpit has also been updated and radically changed.

In February 2010, the Gorky Automobile Plant began producing a restyled family of this car, under the Sobol-Business brand. The package of modernized components and assemblies of this version is similar to the GAZelle-Business family. “Sobol” is presented in the price list of the Gorky Automobile Plant in a variety of options: an all-metal van or minibus, a flatbed truck or a universal chassis for installing all kinds of superstructures and special equipment.

Basic data for adjustments and control

Steering and off-road qualities of the Sobol 4x4

According to drivers, the handling of a car with a Cummins engine is relatively sluggish, but, most importantly, intuitive and predictable. The main drawback of the control system is jerky movement when turning along a minimum radius.

This feature is connected, first of all, as the owners assure, with the front wheel drive. Instead of CV joints used all over the world, the torque to the front axle shafts, for some reason, is transmitted by ordinary cardan joints that have restrictions on the angle of inclination.

As for the cross-country ability of the Sobol, the owners usually consider 2 separate cases:

• dry off-road driving;
• movement on heavy and wet types of soil.

The vehicle's maneuverability on sand and rocks is simply excellent. High ground clearance and leaf spring suspension, combined with all-wheel drive, make Sobol a real “king of the desert.”

The Cummins crankshaft is located in the engine cylinder block and is a solid structural element. It is made of very strong steel, which is used only for diesel engine parts.

After long-term operation, the oil pump requires inspection of parts. An inspection may also be required if the pump’s performance has sharply decreased or there are interruptions in the oil supply system. Read about oil pump maintenance and repair here.

But when driving through swampy areas, things are much worse. The small gear ratio in the transfer case, and the not super-strong (albeit good) Kamins engine, make drivers think twice before rushing headlong over heavy soils.

The most common complaints

In addition to the listed disadvantages of the Sobol with the Kamens engine, negative reviews also concern some small things. Owners' dissatisfaction is often expressed in phrases such as:

• inconvenient microclimate control;
• factory wipers rub disgustingly;
• glove compartment lids do not fit well;
• The passenger window seal falls out.

In addition, the mounting of the headlights is poorly thought out, which makes their removal (if necessary) much more difficult.

As you can see, GAZ engineers still have a lot of work left to do. But, despite all the existing shortcomings, the fairly powerful and reliable Kamins engine, good dry off-road performance, a huge interior, combined with a low cost, allow the diesel Sable to find its buyer.

As for the opinions of people who have directly encountered all the pros and cons of the car, many of them recommend the Sobol 4x4 as a second car in the family, intended for periodic trips into nature.

Body

The body is all-metal, half-hood, has two hinged cabin doors, a sliding side door and two hinged rear doors (for vehicles with a medium roof) or one rear door that opens upward (for vehicles with a low roof).

1. For vehicles with an all-metal body.
2. For auto GAZ-2752 and mod. with two rows of seats.
3. For body with medium roof.

Appearance

The photo clearly shows that the design of the car has undergone significant changes from all sides. The new body now looks very menacing and is in no way inferior to many European cars of this class, which is good news.

The front of the car is especially impressive. As before, it takes up very little space and is located at a significant slope to the road. At the very top you can see a huge rectangular windshield, which provides excellent visibility to the driver. The hood lid can boast of its embossed surface. The central part of the bumper turned out to be incredibly aggressive. Along the perimeter it is trimmed with a thick strip of unpainted plastic. The same material is also used to separate the main air intake system into several parts. The headlights have greatly changed their appearance. They are now rectangular and located at a large angle.

The lower part of the bumper boasts plastic reinforcement to make the car easier to drive on rough terrain and off-road. There are also special small recesses in which anti-fog optics are placed. The Barguzin version boasts several hooks for towing a car or other vehicle. They are hidden under the plastic, as well as under the license plate.

The profile part of the car acquired a rectangular shape, and also got rid of all the annoying sliding doors. Now you can get into the salon using a small door that occupies approximately one third of the entire body area. The massive windows, decorated with narrow black frames, also received a rectangular shape. The mirrors, trimmed with unpainted plastic, have increased in size. In the center you can find a lot of stepped relief, and below the car is decorated with wide arches with plastic lining and turn signals above the front wheels.

The rear of the car has a square shape. As before, there are a pair of doors here that open in different directions. They are also complemented by square windows with a black frame, a plastic handle, a small amount of relief and a platform for a license plate. The perimeter of the body is finished with plastic. The side lights are located on the side pillars, and the fog lights are located on the body kit below.

Wheel pressure on sable

Vehicles of the Sobol family are passenger, utility and cargo vehicles. GAZ-2217 (bus)

GAZ-2752 (van)

GAZ-2310 (with flatbed)

Air pressure in tires, kPa (kgf/cm2)

front wheels: seven-seater bus – 260+10 (2.7+0.1) eleven-seater bus – 260+10 (2.7+0.1) GAZ-2310 and GAZ-2752 – 320+10 (3.3+0 ,1)

rear wheels: seven-seater bus – 270+10 (2.8+0.1) eleven-seater bus – 300+10 (3.1+0.1) GAZ-2310 and GAZ-2752 – 380+10 (3.9+0 ,1)

Please tell me what pressure to pump into the tires of the all-wheel drive SOBOL?

Engines GAZ-2752 "Sobol"

The following engines were installed on cars of the Sobol family, as well as on the Gazelle, from 1998 to 2006:

• “ZMZ-402”: carburetor 4-cylinder 8-valve engine with a working volume of 2.5 liters and a power of 100 hp; cylinder diameter/piston stroke – 92 mm; Max. torque – 182 Nm/2500 rpm. per minute
• “ZMZ-406.3”: carburetor 4-cylinder 16-valve engine with a working volume of 2.3 liters; power 110 hp; cylinder diameter – 92 mm; piston stroke – 86 mm; Max. torque – 186 Nm/3500 rpm. per minute
• “ZMZ-406”: injection 4-cylinder 16-valve gasoline engine with a working volume of 2.3 liters; power 145 hp; cylinder diameter – 92 mm; piston stroke – 86 mm; Max. torque – 200 Nm/4500 rpm. per minute

A small number of cars came out with the unsuccessful licensed diesel engine "GAZ-560" / "Steyr" (2.1 l) with a power of 85 hp, and its turbocharged modification "GAZ-5601" with a power of 95 hp.

The UMZ engine under the hood of the Sobol.

Since 2003, the production of the Sobol family has used injection 4-cylinder gasoline engines of the Euro-2 level - "ZMZ-40522.10" - 2.5-liter, 16-valve, 152 hp; cylinder diameter – 95.5 mm; piston stroke – 86 mm; Max. torque – 211 Nm/4500 rpm. per minute

Since 2008, the GAZ-2752 Sobol has been equipped with Euro-3 injection 4-cylinder gasoline engines - ZMZ-40524.10 (2.5 l, 140 hp, cylinder diameter - 95.5 mm ; piston stroke - 86 mm; maximum torque - 214 Nm / 4000 rpm) and Chrysler DOHC 2.4L (2.4 l, 137 hp, cylinder diameter - 87.5 mm, stroke piston – 101 mm, maximum torque – 210 Nm/4000 rpm)

Cummins diesel engine under the hood of the GAZ-2752 Sobol.

Since 2009, the Sobol family has been equipped with a 4-cylinder injection engine “UMZ-4216.10” (2.89 l, 115 hp, cylinder diameter - 100 mm, piston stroke - 92 mm; maximum torque - 235 Nm /4000 rpm), and since the fall of 2010 it is also equipped with a Cummins ISF 2.8L turbodiesel (2.8 l, 128 hp, cylinder diameter - 94 mm, piston stroke - 100 mm; maximum torque torque – 297 Nm/2700 rpm),

Salon

Fans of the car also received a noticeable improvement in the interior. The new GAZ Sobol Next 4x4 2022 model year now has a completely stylish and comfortable interior, which boasts all the most necessary modern options. Of course, only inexpensive materials such as fabrics and plastic are used for interior decoration, but their quality has noticeably improved, and numerous extraneous sounds made by interior elements while driving have disappeared.

The center console here is quite large and has a rectangular shape. All the most important things are in the middle. The main elements include the large display of the multimedia installation, which is controlled using several buttons located on the sides of the monitor. Below there is a small panel that includes switches for activating off-road options, and it all ends with heater and air conditioning control washers. On the sides of this entire structure there are four round deflectors. Like most vans, some elements of the tunnel are located on the dashboard. Here you can find a gear shift knob, various organizers and even one cup holder that is hidden in the dashboard. At the standard place of the tunnel there is only the parking brake handle.

A total of eight people can be in the car at the same time. Quite comfortable seats have been prepared for each of them, which boast good fabric finishing and soft filling. Those people who are located in the front can adjust their seats forward or backward using mechanical drives, as well as activate heating in cold weather. The salon has a pair of sofas designed for two and three people. Another place is located near the front door and can be removed as unnecessary. These seats are equipped with nothing other than seat belts and folding armrests in the center, but they can be folded out into an almost flat single sofa. There is also a lot of space left here for storing some things. The car doesn't even need a test drive to understand that it's great for traveling.

Cabin GAZ-2752 "Sobol"

It was with the advent of GAZelles and Sobols that our views on equipping the cabins of domestic trucks changed in many ways. In the second half of the 90s, when they began to spread, the interior trim in the cabins was perceived as nothing less than luxury. Judge for yourself: the voluminous plastic dashboard was unusual on a domestic truck, where previously painted metal surfaces reigned. The instrument cluster of the GAZelle had a tachometer, which at that time was not yet found on all domestic passenger cars, and the interior of the cabin was made of light molded panels instead of boring leatherette.

After restyling, working behind the wheel of the Sobol became even more enjoyable. Those who have used cars of the old and new versions will probably unanimously say that the updated panel is an order of magnitude higher and more convenient than the previous one. I’m glad that on top of the new panel they left a “glove compartment” for documents, and it is very roomy. Drivers who have to carry a lot of accompanying documents have more than once recalled with gratitude the GAZelle designers for this box.

Another successful discovery by Gorky engineers is a double cell for installing additional electronic devices. Many times, on cars of the first releases, a radio station was inserted instead of a radio (on an ambulance, for example, or on operational vehicles of law enforcement agencies) and there was simply nowhere to install “music”. In cars with the new dashboard, this problem was solved.

By the way, something special can be said about audio preparation in the cockpit. Initially, the place for the speakers was allocated somewhere at the level of the feet of the driver and passengers. After restyling, this annoying mistake was corrected, and a place was allocated for the speakers on top of the dashboard, so that they were directed directly at the windshield. This is a very good option from the point of view of proper sound distribution in the cabin - glass is a good screen for its reflection.

The interior heating in the Sobol cabin is good: it works efficiently, the air duct deflectors are located where they need to be. The lighting system has not only a common lampshade, but also lens lamps that allow you to use the light at night without disturbing the driver.

This is what the Sobol interior looked like before restyling.

Among the things that need revision in the modern Sobol cabin is the fleecy door upholstery. Here we need more hygienic material. Since this upholstery is poorly cleaned using improvised means, and during use it inevitably takes on an unsightly appearance, with stains.

The driver's seat, by modern standards, does not have a sufficient number of adjustments and is completely devoid of shock absorption. Instead of the damping suspension that has already become common on imported Odnoklassniki, ride comfort is ensured only by the seat cushion itself - this, of course, is a thing of the last century of trucks (including light-duty ones).

Just like the long gear lever sticking out alone from the floor. Modern light-duty trucks have long used compact joystick levers. And, of course, it’s also convenient to work long, but not on a trip with two passengers. Its moves are so huge that when working with a lever, you constantly need to “poke” it at the legs of the passenger sitting next to you.