The Magnificent ten: Izvestia selected the best cars of 2025
In 2025, Izvestia tested more than 40 new products on the Russian automotive market. These were sedans, crossovers, pickups, SUVs. Gasoline and diesel, hybrid and electric, including those that are still under development. About the most interesting and iconic new products, which we managed to drive, in this article.
Lada Iskra: the newest Lada
AvtoVAZ rarely shows completely new models. Therefore, the launch of Lada Iskra is a landmark phenomenon. And a car with a starting price tag of just over 1 million is an amazing event for today's market. Iskra liked the exterior design, the Cross station wagon looks especially elegant.
Lada Iskra
The habits of Iskra are somewhat rude, which makes me think of Logan. The Lada's dense suspension may be inferior in terms of energy consumption, but those who set it up were well aware that the car would have to drive on rough roads.
The dense suspension can be considered a plus for the car, and criticized for the non—functional cup holders and the gluttony of the "mechanics" version.
Lada Niva Sport: rejuvenation
The classic Niva is far from a new model, but it's the first time the Sport console has appeared. With it, the SUV received a more powerful 122-horsepower engine and a new rear suspension.
The changes in the suspension had a positive effect on the "asphalt" habits of the car. The Niva has become much more stable on the road, without jumping into a rut or jumping off the trajectory if there is an unevenness in the turn. There is less steel and rolls in bends.
Lada Niva Sport
The behavior of the car on a broken primer deserved special praise: the energy intensity of the suspension allows you to race over potholes without fear of a "breakdown".
The steering wheel has received a take-off adjustment, all-wheel drive control is assigned to one lever. At the same time, the steering wheel was shifted relative to the dashboard and its rim overlaps the speedometer readings.
Rox 01: Off-road kitchen
The Rox 01 SUV is the brainchild of a manufacturer of robot vacuum cleaners, but at the same time it will give a head start to many cars produced by "serious" companies.
It impresses with acceleration dynamics and, despite a three-meter wheelbase and a weight of under 3 tons, it is perceived as a nimble passenger car. The suspension with electronically controlled shock absorbers is comfortable.
Rox 01
You can literally live in the Rox 01: there is a kitchen with a heat cooker built into the luggage door, chairs fold out into a kind of bed, and a TV on the ceiling. It stands like a studio apartment in Moscow and, quite possibly, it will turn out to be even more spacious.
In addition to the impressive price tag, the power reserve of 1300 km also seemed too high.
BAW 212: An Honest SUV
A real "old-school" frame SUV with uncut axles. The BAW 212 is the heir to the evergreen Beijing Jeep BJ212. It looks like all the legendary SUVs at once.
This is no longer a military all-terrain vehicle, but a car for off-road "rides". Moreover, it is equipped with a turbo engine and an automatic transmission and performs well in the asphalt discipline.
BAW 212
The articulation of the bridges is such that you have to try very hard to get the car off-road by lifting one of the wheels off the ground. The margin of safety allows you to take obstacles on the move.
The charisma of the BAW 212 outweighs some incongruities like a small trunk and narrow rear doors.
UAZ Patriot: Russian diesel
Izvestia was the first to get acquainted with the new diesel UAZ Patriot. The engine output (2.0 liters and 136 hp) has been adjusted in Yelabuga. The engine provides good traction at almost idle speed.
It doesn't make much sense to spin it above 2500-2700 rpm: after this milestone, thrust practically does not increase. But the transition to the next gear is accompanied by a noticeable "pick-up".
UAZ Patriot
At the same time, on the prototype, the characteristic whistle of the turbine clearly penetrated into the cabin.
The new six-speed transmission was pleasantly surprised by the precise and precise efforts on the lever, as well as its small movements. Compared to the petrol version, the car seemed more dynamic.
Voyah Passion EVR: a business hybrid
The Voyah Passion EVR hybrid sedan in an unusual "Gzhel" livery was shown in the summer at Innoprom in Yekaterinburg, and its assembly is already underway in Lipetsk.
The Passion EVR is a consistent hybrid, meaning it can claim a state subsidy that makes its price attractive for a car of such size and power.
With a length of just over 5 m, it can be classified as a business segment car, but the width and legroom of the rear passengers are just like in the executive class.
Voyah Passion EVR
A special camera tracks the road surface and changes the settings of the shock absorbers. The system is called Magic Carpet — "Magic carpet" — and copes well with road bumps. The advantages of the car include acceleration dynamics and handling on winding tracks.
To fully match the premium, the car lacks, for example, door closers and seat upholstery with natural leather.
Atom: almost serial production
The Izvestia correspondent was one of the first to get behind the wheel of the pre-production version of the domestic Atom electric car. There are a lot of unusual things in this car: swing doors without a central pillar and with a tricky locking mechanism, a display integrated into the steering wheel, and finally, rear-wheel drive.
Even despite outright provocations like the sudden addition of "gas" or its release in a corner, the pre-production "Atom" behaved very stable on the race track.
Atom
During the refinement process, the engineers removed the excessive "synthetics" of the steering wheel, which was noted during last year's races.
At the same time, the brakes seemed overly sensitive: even a slight touch on the pedal caused the car to slow down intensively.
KGM Rexton: a return under a new brand
The KGM brand, formerly SsangYong, was one of the first to return to Russia. With three crossovers and one flagship Rexton SUV at once.
KGM Rexton
The Rexton, surprisingly for a large-frame SUV, is not bad in highway conditions, holds the straight line well, and does not bother with noise. Moreover, the windows of the car are single, but it is still quiet. He drives quite confidently and on a broken road, and the steering wheel is isolated from vibrations. The presence of a downshift inspires some confidence, but the SUV is devoid of inter-wheel locks.
The most ordinary car for conservatives and those who are tired of Chinese high-tech. At the same time, the price tag for "Korean quality" is quite impressive.
Exlantix ET: premium in a new way
Izvestia correspondents drove Exlantix cars in different conditions: In China, they got acquainted with pre-production cars, arranged high-speed races on the ice of Lake Baikal and along the Moscow Raceway, swung on swings on a special obstacle course.
Exlantix ET
The Exlantix ET crossover is remembered for the silence in the cabin, the noticeable difference between the driving modes — in comfort the car rides gently, in sports the electronically controlled shock absorbers are noticeably clamped, reducing the rolls.
I liked the idea of making a removable push-button control unit for those who don't like touch screens.
Evolve I-Joy: an indulgent luxury
At the end of the year, the Russian brand Evolve introduced a new generation of the i-Joy electric crossover, the production of which will soon be organized in the Lipetsk region with welding and painting. It is the most affordable electric car of the brand and one of the most affordable cars on the market.
Evolute i-Joy
At the same time, it looks much more expensive than it is being asked for. There are a lot of soft pads in the interior, and the equipment is not budget-friendly. The impressive distance between the axles for this class made it possible to make the rear row spacious. The luggage door is unusual, double-leaf.
There were also some oddities inherent in Chinese automakers. For example, the test car had no steering wheel adjustment for departure. The glass of the tailgate has been stripped of its "wiper" for the sake of modern design trends.
But you can communicate with the world through an external speaker. For example, "bark" at a car that hasn't missed.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
