"Slavic cabinets": what surprised the crossovers from the Union State
Last fall, two new crossovers entered the Russian market: the Xcite X-Cross 8 and the VGV U75 Plus. The first is Russian—made, the second is Belarusian. Large, roomy — a kind of "Slavic cabinets". But which closet doesn't keep unexpected secrets is described in the Izvestia article.
Mr. X and a very nice truck
The Xcite brand is the "Mr. X" of the Russian market. The manufacturer keeps the secret of the origin of the models produced in St. Petersburg at the former Nissan plant sacred. We will keep it, but the attentive reader will easily guess what is hidden behind the nameplate with the letter X. The X-Cross 8 crossover appeared in car dealerships in November, complementing the more compact model number seven.
But the Chinese brand VGV jumped out like a jack-in-the-box. It turns out that the truck manufacturer Sinotruk had a passenger division. Unfamiliar crossovers with a familiar cargo logo have been manufactured at the Belarusian Unison plant since April last year. Using a large-node method, but immediately adapted to Russian conditions. Sales in Russia started only in September, and Chinese-Belarusian crossovers are still very rare on the roads. It is quite possible that the U75 Plus was created based on the model of another Chinese company, Brilliance.
The dimensions of the Xcite X-Cross 8 are 4740×1860×1705 mm. The wheelbase is 2710 mm. The declared ground clearance is 190 mm.
VGV stands for immodestly — Very Good Vehicle, that is, "a very good vehicle." Xcite is apparently a derivative of the English excite: "to excite", "to excite", is also, to put it mildly, an immodest name. Both cars play in the same segment of mid-size seven-seat crossovers. The X-Cross 8 looks more elegant due to the X-face and copper-colored inserts, but the only bright color in its palette is blue. In addition to blue, the VGV crossover also offers a spectacular red color. In addition, it is available in two versions — U70 Pro and U75 Plus with different designs.
Which of the "cabinets" is the most spacious
The U75 Plus is noticeably longer than the X-Cross 8, while being slightly narrower and lower. It has a 90 mm longer wheelbase, which made it possible to make the doorways wider and gave the advantage of legroom for the rear passengers. Moreover, in the X-Cross 8, the distance from the back of the front seats to the knees of passengers is by no means small. Another thing is that the second row of seats in crossovers moves longitudinally. To free up more legroom for third-row passengers, you'll have to squeeze in second-row passengers. So, the VGV allows you to accommodate adult riders more comfortably. It has a higher margin above the heads, but at the same time the interior is narrower "in the shoulders".
Dimensions of the VGV U75 Plus: 4825×1870×1691 mm. The wheelbase is 2800 mm. The declared ground clearance is 200 mm.
In addition, the U75 Plus has a larger trunk. There is an approximate parity in the convenience of loading — the VGV has a lower door threshold, while the Xcite has a higher luggage door.
Without departure and climate
The driver's seats of the cars are welcoming, but behind the wheel of the Xcite it is easier for drivers of different heights and complexions to get a job. The same cannot be said about the VGV — the steering wheel is devoid of adjustment for departure, the seat cushion is noticeably shorter, and there is no adjustment of the lumbar support.
The Xcite, unlike its competitor, warms not only the cushions, but also the backs of the front seats. In general, both crossovers are fine with warming up the interior in the cold. A separate touch screen, separated from the multimedia screen, is provided for the control of the Ixite dual-zone climate control. The touch control of the blowing intensity and temperature is duplicated by physical levers. The X-Cross 8 holds the selected temperature quite confidently.
The VGV U75 Plus is greeted with the glossy sheen of a vertical "tablet" that seamlessly transitions into the center console. After starting the engine, it turns out that the multimedia display occupies only half of the "tablet", under it there is a touch control unit for the air conditioner with simple screens. There is an air conditioner here, and therefore it will not be possible to set the temperature in degrees. The controls are terrible — the touch unit is "blind", and the touchscreen reacts to clicks somehow. You have to constantly press the "plus" or "minus" on the temperature scale — a very cold wind blows from the ducts, then very hot. In addition, when moving, the climate tab is constantly closed by a window with a picture of the side camera.
The heated seat is frying you from below, the shutdown of which is hidden in a separate menu tab. You feel like the food that is being prepared by an inept presenter of a culinary program: your legs are "burning", but there is already an icicle on your nose, your ears are already smoking, and your feet are still "raw". The U70 Pro air conditioner is controlled by physical keys, and it can be assumed that this is more convenient.
Yandex services, including navigator, are buried deep in the depths of the VGV multimedia system, and the Google store allows you to install other Android applications. Xcite officially supports smartphone integration via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but in fact, both are constantly falling off.
Everyone has superpowers
Like a superhero movie, each crossover has its own "superpower." The X-Cross 8 is front-wheel drive in the base, but at the top it offers an all-wheel drive transmission. The engine will be the same — a 1.6-liter turbo engine (150 hp and 275 Nm) paired with a 7-speed robotic transmission. In any case, the VGV crossover will be front-wheel drive, but if the U70 Pro version is equipped with a 1.5—liter (143 hp) engine with "mechanics" or a 6-speed automatic, then the VGV U75 Plus is equipped with a two-liter unit (199 hp and 380 Nm) paired with an 8-speed classic automatic transmission.
The claimed acceleration of the X-Cross 8 from zero to "hundred" is 10.5 s. The average consumption is 8.6 liters per 100 km.
The claimed acceleration of the two—liter car is 8.2 seconds to "hundreds", and the maximum speed is stated at 210 km/h. The car reacts to the gas with a hitch, even in sports mode, but then accelerates aggressively, with the sound of an airliner taking off. But this is when the front wheels have something to catch on. If the road is slippery, the tires constantly slip, which is sharply "pulled back" by the stabilization system. Arrivals from traffic lights result in increased consumption — 12-13 liters per 100 km.
With a two-liter engine, the U75 Plus accelerates to 100 km/h in 8.2 seconds. as promised, it reaches 210 km/h. The declared consumption is 8.89 liters per 100 km.
And I don't want to drive fast either. The feedback between the steering wheel and the wheels is very approximate. The suspension characteristics are mutually exclusive: on the one hand, the car passes speed bumps hard — you don't slow down, you get a kick. On the other hand, after such a shake, the body still sways for a long time, as if the springs and shock absorbers suddenly turned into a "jelly." From the general behavior of the car on the road, it is noticeable that it grew up in a "cargo" family. A powerful engine, a large body, but at the same time the chassis lives its own life.
The X-Cross 8 starts off on a slippery track more confidently thanks to all-wheel drive. It is heavier than the VGV, which is why it accelerates less quickly, but subjectively it fully corresponds to the stated 10.5 seconds to "hundreds". Xcite, according to the onboard computer, consumes an average of one or two liters less. Given the low compression ratio of the engines by modern standards, both cars can be fueled with 92 gasoline.
Service life and prices
Overall, the Xcite gives the impression of a car that has spent considerable and therefore significant effort on tuning and fine-tuning. It drives in a collected and unambiguous manner, one might say, in the best traditions of European cars. In my opinion, the suspension is a bit stiff for a family crossover, and the tires are quite clearly audible in the cabin. At the same time, there is not enough excitement for the "driver" car X-Cross 8.
Already in the basic configuration, the X-Cross 8 is offered with LED headlights and 18-inch wheels.
The official VGV website emphasizes that the bodies have increased corrosion resistance — this is another claimed "superpower". At the same time, the manufacturer gives a modest warranty period for end—to-end corrosion of body elements — 3 years or 60 thousand km. The warranty for the X-Cross body is 8 - 6 years. The service life of the "Ixite" is set at 8 years or 120 thousand. km of mileage, and VGV — in 5 years.
LED headlights and 18-inch wheels are also available in the basic equipment of the U75 Plus.
Both new products enter a declining market, and their segment is full of interesting offers from competitors. Even the Xcite X-Cross 8 has a hard time here, let alone the VGV crossovers. The only hope is for prices. This is true in the case of the U70 Pro, which costs 2.3–2.75 million rubles, if you take the recommended retail price. The U75 Plus is more expensive — from 2.95 to 3.15 million rubles. For comparison, the Xcite X-Cross 8 costs 3-3.4 million rubles. Naturally, dealers will offer various special conditions there and there, and, in theory, every customer should be welcome. The difference in price between cars is not as big as the gap in equipment and consumer properties, and VGV, alas, is hopelessly lagging behind the Ixite. In addition, Xcite is unlikely to have problems with spare parts due to the prevalence of components and assemblies.
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