Sports escort car "GAZelle NEXT" (A32R32)

Step for the driver and leap for humanity

Andrey Filippov, photo by the author

The model entered the market in 2016, but a full test drive was carried out only at the end of 2017?! Alas, these are the realities of life - the test “combi” based on the GAZelle NEXT CMF, even two years after the premiere, is in great demand. Journalists ride it, potential clients take it for long-term trial use, and it also periodically accompanies sporting events in which it participates. By the way, this is why the car retained the wrap in which it covered the entire route of the Silk Way Rally 2017 from Moscow to Xi’an, they say, know ours!

In fact, the fact that the van has covered a sufficient number of kilometers, and not loyally located near Moscow, but rather “combat” (because the same roads of Kazakhstan cannot be called anything other than off-road), is even a “plus” for our test drive. – with mileage, the “crickets” come to life, vibrations wake up and hidden defects come to light. It’s not for nothing that there are no cars with 20,000 miles in the press parks of European companies...

Inside the casket

Describing the exterior and interior is a thankless task in principle, especially since there are photographs. So I’ll go straight to the nuances that I remember.

The most important thing is that the front panel of the GAZelle NEXT will be adapted for the Business family, so partly everything said about it can be applied to all GAZ light-tonnage vehicles.

During the test, I was able to catch all the “charms” of nature that accompanied this winter: snow, rain, bright sun, fog, etc. Accordingly, I had to get acquainted with almost all the functionality of the driver’s workplace: I turned the sun visors, increased and decreased the brightness of the backlight, checked the operation of the windshield wipers and air blowers in various modes, used the heaters and even opened the windows for ventilation. In general, I tried everything possible.

Brief summary - this is not a GAZelle. Or rather, a GAZelle, of course, but not the same as everyone imagines it to be. A modern car with well-thought-out ergonomics and a set of functions that allow you to feel comfortable behind the wheel both over short distances and on long journeys. Headrest instead of armrest? What are you talking about, forget it!

A controversial point seemed to be turning the pages of the on-board computer with an indistinct “pin” protruding from the instrument panel - this is how odometer readings were usually reset in the past. Moreover, to work with the BC, you do not need to press it (this resets the readings), but turn it a quarter turn clockwise. To say that this is inconvenient is to say nothing.

Well, the small button for turning on the emergency lights on the steering wheel console is not serious.

The “combi” modification made an excellent impression. I remember that at one time I really liked the idea of ​​​​the back of the rear row of seats, which with a slight movement turns into a sleeping place. In reality, everything turned out to be even better: the backrest lock is released by lightly pulling the loop, which in turn, ATTENTION!, is threaded into a special eyelet so that it does not fall into the space between the backrest and the pillow. Am I definitely still testing the GAZelle?!!

Of course, I did not miss my chance and spent the night several times in camping conditions on the described bed. You may not believe it, but it’s convenient! The sleeping place, due to the fact that it consists of two halves, does not require leaving the cabin to organize it, while it turns out to be wide and rigid, which is good for the back. In addition, an additional stove directed to the second row area allows you to maintain a comfortable temperature inside even in cold weather. In general, a full-fledged dream in a GAZelle is now a reality.

There is nothing special to talk about the cargo compartment - everything is in the photo. The promised floor covering with cargo loops and side trim, like on presentation cars, was preserved and went into production. A nice feature is that the rear doors swing open 270° with the possibility of intermediate locking at 90°.

Advantages of the car

• Functionality - the vehicle is a cargo-passenger representative of the NEXT line, used both for transporting personnel and for cargo transportation. The rear seats easily fold down into a sleeping area
• Handling - improved steering and braking systems, as well as independent two-link front suspension
• Comfort – climate control, heated mirrors, electric windows, adjustable seats, audio system, etc.
• Economical engines – low fuel consumption with maximum power (in any version petrol/diesel/propane)
• Safety – increased area of ​​side mirrors to reduce “dead” spots, imported TANAKA seat belts, additional reinforcements in the frame.

Buy an all-metal van A32R32/A32R33 combi in Samara

The AUTOTECH car dealership sells all-metal GAZ vans on favorable terms. Buying an all-metal van A32R32/A32R33 in Samara from us means getting professional advice, assistance in selecting the necessary modification, as well as checking the equipment for malfunctions and defects before purchasing.

GAZelka rushes along the highway

When you turn the key, the “combi” responds with a moderate diesel rumble, which, as you gain speed... practically does not change. No, of course, it becomes noisier inside, but this does not cause the need to communicate in a raised voice, even if the conversation is with those sitting in the second row. And my personal test with the GAZelle NEXT portable DVD player passed with ease - everything is audible perfectly.

The engine itself pleased us with easy starting in frosts down to -10 °C and quick warming up to operating temperature. This is due to the optional Webasto, but the fact remains a fact. By the way, there is a button on the panel to turn on the heating of the coolant.

A 150-horsepower engine in tandem with a 5-speed manual transmission allows the CMF not only to confidently stay in the flow, but also to dictate its own rhythm. The main thing to remember is that people are still not used to the fact that a car with a deer on its emblem can accelerate quickly. Even in dense Moscow traffic, driving the GAZelle NEXT is a pleasure, and there are no problems with maneuvering.

The situation on the highway is similar. If you need quick acceleration when overtaking, you simply switch to fourth gear and get what you need, although at speeds above 80 km/h this is not required - there is already enough power reserve.

More than once I have spoken kindly about the creator of the rear axle differential lock. It turned out to be much easier to stall in snowy courtyards than expected, and the classic “swing” often did not help at all, since one of the wheels was helplessly grinding the ice. But pressing the treasured button on the panel immediately solved all the problems - the “combination” left instantly. Bravo!

I can’t help but mention the excellent visibility. The brushes not only clean almost all the glass, but also, importantly, do not leave a dead zone near the left pillar. There are no questions about the mirrors either - the viewing angle is good even in the main section, and what is not visible in it is reflected in the additional lens. Despite the absence of parking sensors, the dimensions feel good, and pedestrians are protected by an audible signal that turns on when shifting into reverse gear. By the way, it has a setting that is comfortable for hearing: it is heard well and does not hurt the ears.

Now about what I didn’t really like.

Firstly, the Cordiant Business tires installed on the car can be considered anything but winter tires - they absolutely do not hold up on a road covered with snow. And if the situation when, when overtaking a truck in slushy snow, the “combi” suddenly began to point sideways, I can still attribute it to my arrogance, “the snow is like a wall and the speedometer is 90 km/h, where is it faster?!”, then a guaranteed skid when pressing the gas pedal a little more sharply to complete a turn at an intersection in the city is already too much. Yes, you can refer to the fact that the car was empty and, given the rear-wheel drive, this behavior is predictable, but in real life, 50% of the time the CMF will drive without a load... So I recommend installing either “spikes” or high-quality “Velcro” for the winter. And when transferring drivers from front- and rear-wheel drive “Europeans” with sophisticated stabilization systems to “GAZelle NEXT”, additional instruction is required!

Secondly, a 5-speed manual transmission for a car of this format is evil. Yes, in the area of ​​the “green zone” of the tachometer, an empty car gets 9.5–10 l/100 km on the highway, which, taking into account the large windage, is quite good. However, the trouble is that this zone ends at 2450 rpm, which corresponds to 90 km/h. At 110 km/h the engine spins up to 2900 rpm, with fuel consumption increasing to 12.6 l/100 km, and this is with an empty car. Let's be honest, we have more and more roads with a higher speed limit, where small “businessmen” drive at exactly that speed, so a 6-speed gearbox just begs to be included, at least as an option.

And thirdly, the system of supplying washer fluid through a hose directly to the brush, which migrated from the “Europeans,” does not justify itself in our realities. In the cold, any, even high-quality “anti-freeze”, freezes in the tubes and you have to either stop and wait until the heat of the engine thaws it, or simply smear the dirt on the glass “dry”. In my case, we were talking about a liquid designed for –30 °C at a real –10 °C. Yes, you can refer to the fact that the previous “driver” filled in something from a “roadside service” and it was this that froze, but experience says that no one is safe from a surrogate, but you have to go...

As you can see, there are no comments regarding the roar of the engine, howling of the transmission, overheating of the engine or hypothermia of the cabin. There are also no complaints about extraneous sounds from the panel or the rattling of seats. Yes, the plastic interior partition creaked a little, but if I were the owner, I would have resolved this issue long ago, fortunately, it is attached with self-tapping screws and its dismantling/installation takes half an hour. Taking into account the above-mentioned mileage, this is a more than decent result.

“Tough”, and that’s all

As we expected based on the results of our first acquaintance with the all-metal GAZelle NEXT vans, the car turned out to be killer. No, not in terms of “the brainchild of the domestic automobile industry,” but in the opposite sense - the “NEXT generation” is methodically squeezing foreign analogues out of the market, simultaneously replacing the “Business” generation on the assembly line. With the overall growth of the Russian LCV market in 2022 by 14%, sales of the new generation of GAZelles increased by 40%! For a moment, the overall growth in the output of small “businessmen” GAZ was only 17%. You can draw your own conclusions.

The serial GAZelle NEXT CMFs came out exactly as they were presented. No simplifications (“joystick” manual transmission, cruise control, electric rear axle locking, etc.), no giving up pleasant little things (USB connectors, power windows, multimedia system, additional heaters, etc.). In addition, the full range of various modifications is about to be replenished with options with a gross weight of 4500 kg and a wheelbase extended by 500 m, and in the future there will also be versions with automatic transmission, which European fellow competitors were unable to promote on the market.

Of course, those who switch to the GAZelle NEXT, even from budget “Europeans”, will feel that they are in a Russian-made car, which, even an excellent idea, can be spoiled by savings on materials - this cools the storm of enthusiasm that “GAZ could do it!” . However, all quibbles melt away after the price tag is announced, and GAZelle NEXT begins to play with bright colors again.

According to my personal feelings, “GAZelle NEXT” is not even a huge step, but a leap forward. Moreover, judging by the sales statistics, carriers also agree with me. Now all that remains is to organize the work of the service department and teach it to work according to the principle “a hammered self-tapping screw holds better than a twisted nail”, simultaneously changing the attitude of the servicemen towards the owners of GAZelles: a handy guy, he will tighten it himself - this, of course, is true, but this is the path that leads to nowhere, because a driver and a car mechanic are completely different professions, and I want the GAZelle NEXT to be more suitable for the former than for the latter...

Provided a car for testing

Technical characteristics of the GAZelle NEXT A32R32 car

GAZelle NEXT: our answer to Chamberlain

With the launch of production of the all-metal GAZelle NEXT van, GAZ Group finally entered the segment of vans with a body volume of more than 13 cubic meters. m, which previously only represented foreign manufacturers. We examined the features of the new product on the roads of Sochi

Sergey Zhukov
GAZ A31R32 “GAZelle NEXT”. Gross weight: 3500 kg. Start of sales: April 2016 Price: from RUB 1,230,000.

The power unit is a diesel Cummins ISF 2.8 with a power of 150 hp. However, there is a lower power option and a modification with a gasoline engine.

So, GAZ Group has begun mass production of the all-metal GAZelle NEXT van. At the first stage, the new model will be produced in two modifications: a cargo van and a cargo-passenger combi. In the summer they will be joined by a minibus with 16 seats. All vehicles have the same wheelbase, and therefore a total usable volume of 13.5 m3. As production develops, the range of vehicles produced by GAZ will expand: different wheelbases, roof heights and purposes.

The driver's workplace in the all-metal GAZelle NEXT van is now practically no different from those of its foreign analogues

Why was the usable volume of 13.5 m3 initially chosen? Firstly, to establish itself in the all-metal van market, which was previously dominated by imported models. Secondly, in order not to create unnecessary competition for our own product in the form of “GAZELLE BUSINESS”.

By the way, all-metal GAZelle NEXT vans and modifications based on them will be equipped only with this gearbox drive.

The trial assembly of the cars began in October last year, but the cars were provided for testing in Sochi only in the spring. Why did it take so long for there to be a public premiere? The designers and the entire engineering and technical staff were busy with one important thing - fine-tuning the gearbox joystick. Until recently, practically no one from “ours” was doing this. Therefore, it was very important to enter the market with a ready-made solution and without complaints. Now, after the presentation, we can say with confidence that the GAZ team hit the mark. Of course, not without the help of the Japanese company Atsumitec Toyota Tsusho, but still. Therefore, the main question has always been: “How do you evaluate the joystick’s performance?”

Subsequently, the joystick will be used for all other performances. After all, it was he who ensured the improvement of the ergonomics of the driver’s workplace, the elimination of vibrations on the gearbox handle, as well as the clarity of gear shifting.

From the most pressing topic, let's move directly to the van. As already mentioned, the useful volume of the cargo van is 13.5 m3, which is 30% more than that of the previous generation GAZelle vehicles. Convenient access to the cargo compartment makes loading and unloading the vehicle as easy and quick as possible. The rear doors lock in an intermediate position at an angle of 90 degrees and when fully opened at 270 degrees, giving the carrier freedom of action even in confined urban spaces. The upholstery of the side walls of the van is made of fiberboard, and the floor covering is made of special waterproof and wear-resistant plywood to protect the body from abrasion and damage. A set of 10 lashing eyes allows you to securely secure the load. Among the innovations, it is worth noting a special hatch under the passenger seat, which allows you to transport long items up to 5 meters long. Along the way, we were shown how four Euro pallets can be easily loaded into the back of a van using a forklift.

The GAZelle NEXT body is made of galvanized steel, and individual elements are made of high-strength fiberglass. This provides a long service life and good anti-corrosion properties of the car. The use of a new plastic fuel tank, the volume of which has increased to 80 liters, has made it possible to increase the range per fill-up. Amplifiers introduced into the frame made it possible to increase the strength and reliability of the entire vehicle structure.

We have already written about the spacious and comfortable driver’s cabin. Let's just remind you of a seat with five degrees of adjustment, excellent visibility from the driver's seat, a lot of all kinds of shelves, supports and other everyday little things, without which a modern car is simply unthinkable. Servo drive for power windows in the base. A 2 DIN multimedia infotainment center can be installed. As is now customary, there is also an extensive list of additional equipment.

Rack and pinion steering with hydraulic booster, double wishbone independent front suspension, and a braking system with a good margin of efficiency provide excellent handling and a good level of comfort.

The van floor is made of special waterproof and wear-resistant plywood. 10 lifting loops are provided to secure the load

The test included cars equipped exclusively with a Cummins diesel engine with increased output (150 hp) and higher torque (330 Nm). However, this does not exclude ordering cars with a lower-power diesel engine and an Evotech gasoline engine.

In passing, let’s mention the deeply modernized gearbox and rear axle. Their installation made it possible not only to increase the reliability of the units, but also to increase the transmitted torque to 330 Nm. In particular, the use of bearings with increased load capacity from SKF, Hoerbiger synchronizers, Rubena and Simrit sealing cups, an increase in the width of gears, and the introduction of an intermediate support for the secondary and intermediate shafts will make it possible in the future to use the new gearbox even on a five-ton vehicle.

Doors that open 270° and wide doorways make loading/unloading processes as easy as possible, including with the use of forklifts

The original design of the rear suspension, which includes a new suspension and modern Mando shock absorbers with a modified mounting pattern, provides increased road stability and smooth operation of the unit when the vehicle is fully loaded.

In addition, the designers have provided the ability to dismantle the spare tire without the use of additional tools. Moreover, the holder and its drive are located in the car body, which eliminates the influence of the external environment on them. A remote drive for the fuel tank flap is also used.

There is a place to put documents, and we haven’t forgotten about the “tail” in the form of a USB connector

All participants of the event were given the opportunity to test cars on the streets of Adler, or more precisely, the part of it where the Olympic Village was located. The vehicles were prudently ballasted by approximately 60%. Naturally, increased attention was paid to the operation of the joystick. I dare say: gear shifting is clear, with minimal effort. There were no special complaints about the dynamics of acceleration, handling and smoothness.

I just liked the work of the box itself less. Turning a diesel engine and working the gearbox handle somehow does not agree well with such a concept as the elasticity of such a power plant. Unfortunately, this is a trend. Diesel engines will forever remain in my memory, which allowed me to engage, for example, fourth gear and drive it as if I had an automatic transmission. Along the way, I discovered a desire to find the sixth gear...

A hatch under the passenger seat allows for items up to 5 m long to be transported.

However, the main thing is that the product was successful, there is no doubt about it. There are, of course, small flaws, but they are not fundamental. As noted, it is easier to polish a successful product than to try to fix something that is obviously bad.

COMBI

The GAZelle NEXT cargo-passenger combi allows you to transport seven people (including the driver) and a payload of 9.5 m3. The car combines the advantages of a truck and a comfortable minibus. A wide sliding door provides easy access to the rear of the cabin. The rear row seats fold down into a comfortable sleeping area. At the same time, there are places under the seats for storing various kinds of things. But the conveniences are not limited to this: there are folding tables in the backs of the front seats, a convenient container with trays on the right, and a shelf for things above the heads of the front passengers with access from the second row. A Webasto pre-heater is already installed in the basic configuration.

IN PASSING

To prepare for the release of the new model, the Gorky Automobile Plant carried out a large-scale modernization of production. Investments in the project amount to about 9 billion rubles. New automated welding and stamping complexes have been created at GAZ facilities, and the painting production and assembly line have been modernized.

The automated stamping line is equipped with the latest multifunctional six-axis KUKA robots of the latest generation and presses with LG stamping equipment specially made for the project. The line produces large parts, including side panels, bases, sliding and swing doors. The creation of a new line made it possible to ensure high precision in the manufacture of parts and high productivity. Line capacity is from 6 to 8 parts per minute.

The new welding line allows automatic production of bodies of various modifications. Modern Fanuc robots with a lifting capacity of up to 700 kg are installed in the welding areas of the sidewalls, base, body and door assembly-welding. Each robot, independently changing equipment, is capable of performing operations such as transporting parts, welding, flanging, and applying adhesives and sealants.

Painting of GAZelle NEXT vans is carried out in the latest complex, equipped with equipment from the German company Eisenmann. A special painting program has been developed for each modification of the van.

• Responsible joystick, good controllability and smoothness
• Slightly short gears, desire to feel for sixth

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