We've reached the "handle": the pros and cons of a Russian van with a "machine gun"
Light trucks with automatic transmissions were rare even before, and after the departure of foreign car brands from Russia, they disappeared from our market altogether. This gap was filled by the domestic company Sollers, introducing the SF5 van with a six-speed automatic transmission produced in Tatarstan. The correspondent of Izvestia understood the pros and cons of this car.
The heir of "Atlanta"
Sollers calls this van a new model. In fact, this is a deep modernization of the Sollers Atlant light truck, which has already been known to Russian buyers and carriers since the end of 2022. But if the Atlant was offered exclusively with a manual transmission, then the five is also available with a six-speed automatic.
Since such machines are used in the vast majority of cases as "last—mile transportation", the main area of their operation is cities and the nearest suburbs. The presence of an automatic transmission in these conditions is an undoubted benefit for the driver. It's still a pleasure to wield the lever of the "mechanics" and constantly squeeze out the clutch day after day in the city crowd.
The interior of the van is successfully enlivened by a "soft" contrast insert in the center of the panel.
It's much easier to drive a huge van with an automatic (we got the version with the longest base and the highest roof for the test — the total length of the car is almost six meters, and the height is almost 2.7 m). He turned on the "Drive" mode — and rolled calmly, controlling the impressive dimensions and not being distracted by shifting gears.
On an empty van, the tandem of a 2.7-liter 150-horsepower turbodiesel and a six-speed automatic allows you not only to stay in the flow, but also to compete with other cars. In any case, many drivers of average crossovers, judging by their surprised looks, were discouraged when, at the start of the traffic light, a massive truck was walking with them "neck and neck."
At the same time, an unusual gearshift algorithm catches the eye: the "automatic" switches to an increased step at higher speeds compared to conventional passenger models. At a speed at which a sedan or crossover has been traveling in fourth gear for a long time, the van is just switching from second to third. At the same time, the change of steps occurs completely imperceptibly, without twitches and jerks — the transition to a subsequent speed can only be judged by the changed number on the instrument panel display.
We carry goods
It's irrational to carry air in a van, so we stop at the construction market. Five channels, a bundle of profile metal pipes, several sheets of iron, a dozen concrete foundation blocks and other small building materials literally dissolved in the 12.4 cubic meter cargo hold.
Concerns were raised about the four-meter boards: taking into account the length of the trunk of the van, which is 3.65 m, it was feared that due to the extra 35 cm, they would have to go with the back door open to unload. Fortunately, they swing open 270 degrees, stand parallel to the sides and are securely fixed by powerful magnets located both on the flaps of the rear "gate" and the sides of the body. On some competing models, in this case, a hatch is provided in the wall separating the cabin from the cargo compartment, allowing a partially placed long load under the passenger seats. But on the Sollers, the back wall is blank.
The overall length of the van with the longest wheelbase is 5,990 mm. The height of the car in the version with the highest roof is 2675 mm.
However, the fears were in vain: the "long meters" could easily be placed diagonally, resting one edge of the boards on the upper left and the other on the lower right corner of the cargo compartment.
Having secured the luggage with the help of six rigging loops located in the floor of the cargo hold, we continue the test trip. Of course, with almost half a ton of cargo on board (the load capacity of the test van is 860 kg), the van has become less dynamic. But at the same time, not so much that you feel violated in the flow of traffic.
This is where the feature of the transmission, which switches gears at high speeds, affected. She constantly keeps the engine in the maximum thrust zone, providing the loaded van with decent dynamics. At the same time, Sollers SF5 does not complain about an increased "appetite": the average consumption of diesel fuel for almost 700 test kilometers, most of which the car passed loaded, was 10.5 liters per "hundred".
Hereditary ailments
In addition to the automatic transmission, the SF5 differs from its progenitor in a seriously redesigned front end with a new grille, bumpers and lighting technology. With them, the van began to look noticeably "refreshed".
The interior has also changed dramatically: if the interior of the Atlanta looked old-fashioned even three years ago, the SF5 is quite modern thanks to the new front panel. A massive "soft" contrast insert in the center of the panel adds a bit of gloss.
In the basic version, the Sollers SF5 with a manual transmission, short base and low roof will cost 3.27 million rubles. The surcharge for the machine is 150 thousand rubles for any version of the machine. The test van in the maximum configuration costs 3.48 million rubles.
However, certain decisions that migrated from Atlant still raise questions. For example, like its predecessor, the steering column on the new van is rigidly fixed in one position. And if the take-off adjustment on an LCV is not common, the steering wheel angle is adjusted on almost all such machines. However, due to the wide range of seat adjustments, including the angle of inclination of the front and back of the cushion, as well as the lumbar support, it is not difficult to get behind the wheel of the van.
There is also no usual shelf above the windshield in the car — invoices for cargo and other documents have to be placed on the passenger seat or directly on the front panel. However, Sollers promises that the "five" will receive such a shelf soon.
I was also upset by the lack of a footrest at the back: the loading height of the cargo compartment is 74 cm. Even with the handrails near the rear doors, it's a bit difficult to climb into the cargo hold.
The issue price
In the basic version, the Sollers SF5 with a manual transmission, short base and low roof will cost 3.27 million rubles. The surcharge for the "automatic" will be 150 thousand rubles for any version of the machine. The van in the maximum configuration, which was tested by Izvestia, costs 3.48 million rubles at the dealer. At the same time, the Yelabuga plant produces cargo and passenger versions with a double cabin, flatbed trucks, and a chassis (on which the motorhome shown recently was created). There is even a 15-seater minibus in the line.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
