"Sable 4x4": review, description, characteristics

Motorists who live in different countries of the world, choose for themselves a variety of cars. This is very easy and simple to explain. In different countries, their state of roads, their own economic conditions and many other factors. Often these factors dictate motorists the laws of automod. If the average citizen of any European Union country chooses a compact car for themselves, Asians value economy, Americans respect the huge size of jeeps, then the resident of the Russian remote is aimed at the most passable car.

The theme of Russian roads gave birth to many anecdotes. And these comic stories do not lie. That is why motorists are forced to adapt to existing realities. It's good that now you can easily buy a decent car with increased mobility, and even at affordable prices. One of these cars is the all-wheel drive diesel GAZelle Sobol.

Realities of Russian roads

Those who like to travel outside their hometown know perfectly well how difficult it is sometimes to get to where the soul calls. Perhaps it will be a trip to your favorite lake, and perhaps a business trip, - not every car can cope with the roads of the Russian hinterland. You can not even talk about going to the forest and mud - roads in cities are even worse than forest. And if there is a need to urgently deliver the goods or to transport people to a settlement or another city? Here, when choosing a car, you need to be extremely careful.

It is very encouraging for many that the modern automotive domestic market is ready to offer potential buyers a huge selection of a variety of off-road models. However, you need to know that only Russian engineers will be able to understand Russian roads. Therefore, the best cars can be considered those that are equipped with a full drive. So, the most famous of these is the new Sobol, one of the latest developments of the Gorky Automobile Plant.

What kind of beast?

"Wild Beast" is a cargo-and-passenger car with increased characteristics of patency. The car should replace already become legendary "loaf". This car has long ago, from the first versions, earned a high score and rave reviews. All to blame - a simple design. If you need repairs, "Sable" does not require a lot of money for this. Also, the maintenance of this beast will not fly to the owner in serious amounts.

What is the difference between the new Sable?

The machine features a new transmission system, which, in addition to the full drive, boasts cardan shafts with CV joints, as well as a lockable rear axle differential. Equipped with a downshift, the SUV can overpower any gullies. In addition, the novelty set the inter-axle differential lock, two-stage transfer case, and the steering was equipped with a hydraulic booster. In addition, the Sobol car has a unique mirror heating system.

In appearance, you can not find any differences simply - they simply do not exist. The interior also remained completely untouched by the creative hand of the designer. Yes, and why it is necessary, because before us is a completely utilitarian car. He does not have to impress everyone around him with his appearance. The machine is functional - this is quite enough.

In the interior

Large doors of the car "GAZelle Sable" can be opened almost without difficulty.
However, here are the pens on the front pillars, which should be inside the cabin, for some reason no. The driver and passengers must enter the cabin hopping. About half of the seats in the cabin are equipped with very rigid fasteners for seat belts. Passenger version of the model is designed for a comfortable landing of seven people.

Light inside the cabin is much, as, indeed, and free space. Ahead there is a common plafond, behind there are two large plafonds. Another lamp is located in the niche of the steps of the sliding door on the side. For each lamp there is a separate switch.

In addition, the new "Sable" is quite comfortable - for this two cabin air conditioners can work. One of them is in front, the other is mounted on the roof behind. Together, this couple can turn the salon into a refrigerator in a couple of minutes. As for heating, there are two heaters. In addition to the main, there is also an additional one - it is under the passenger seat on the right side. Those who have already had time to use the heater on the Sobol 4x4 car, the tip is only positive - it heats perfectly.

Dashboard and driver's seat

The instrument panel features good ergonomics and itself is quite nice. Many appreciated the excellent overview through rear-view mirrors. Also, most had to taste a large number of different glove boxes, cup holders. The roof is mounted in the roof. The steering wheel is equipped with controls for radio tape recorder, electric windows, as well as a mirror heating system.

The driver's seat is very usual for those who at least once sat behind the wheel of any car "GAZ Sable" or the usual "GAZel". There is a steering wheel with the possibility of adjusting the angle of its tilt, the chair also has adjustments in a wide range.

Ergonomic misses

With all the advantages of the interior and the dashboard, you can see the shortcomings. So, there is not a site where the left leg usually rests. Armrest is missing - open windows are used instead. But with a serious summer heat, an open window can cause some trouble, but it can not close. The conditioner seems to be. But those who used it on the car "Sable 4x4", the reviews say that the sense of this option is not enough. At any speed and in any mode, the air is only slightly cool.

Sable in the city

I must say that this car in urban conditions is rather crowded. If to speak formally, then this is a car. Its dimensions are such that, without problems, it is possible to drive through the center of the capital of Russia. The length of the body is equal to the length of the business-class sedans - here you can try to park in the car rows. However, here is the width already - as in medium-tonnage trucks.

Many are pleased with the height of the landing. So, where the "Hammer" roof, the driver "Sable" will have a shoulder. The best overview of the road situation can only be unless - that the driver of a trucker. However, he has more dead zones. But the car "Sable" can be parked, even without using modern technologies. You can do without parktronic, because the rear bumper passes over any massive detail of the landscape. In addition, all obstacles can be clearly seen in the rear window.

Engine

Auto "Sable" is produced with two engines to choose from. It is a domestic gasoline engine UMZ-4216 and an American diesel engine from Cummins ISF. He has already shown himself perfectly well - it is started in any weather and at any, even the most extreme low temperatures. The diesel has a volume of 2.6 liters, a gasoline unit - 2.8 liters. By the way, the power of the American diesel is only 120 liters. from. However, as practice shows, this is more than enough for such a car.

The design of the unit is advanced. It was first tested on an ordinary "GAZel", and then they were staffed with this model. It is reliable, well repaired. The glow plug is only one, and it heats the air directly in the collector. When the plant specialists who saw this engine for the first time, they were very pleased with the arrangement of the oil and water pump.

The fuel filter with the possibility of heating, as well as the pumping pump - everything is installed in easy availability. An independent heater for the coolant is also installed.

He quite confidently pulls on small turns, but he practically does not have speed. The engine accelerates the car to 100 km / h in half a minute. "Sable" does not like sudden movements. He sees life in a philosophical way. But the unit works perfectly on our fuel.

The maximum possible speed at which the Sobol-diesel car can accelerate is 120 km / h. At the same time the stroke of the car is rather soft, and the movement at high speeds is quite stable at any speed and even off-road.

Transmission

Specially for this unit, a 5-speed manual transmission was developed, as well as a transfer case.

The transmission system has slightly different gear ratios. Carter PPC designers preferred to reinforce the ribs stiffness. Gears and shafts in the box are made of strong steels. Oil seals, as well as bearings - are not domestic, but imported. Under the replacement went the synchronizer - now it is also imported. Clutch is also not domestic production, but it is supplied by its high-quality manufacturer.

Over the transfer case, too, have worked well. All the production of these mechanisms is located in our country. The gears undergo polishing, which significantly increased the strength. This also helped to remove the howl typical for this model.

After a little thought on what type of full-size drive to choose, the engineers decided to apply a permanent full drive or use a classic circuit. This scheme is remarkable in that it has long been used very successfully on the famous all-wheel-drive models of well-known brands. One of them - "Defender" from Land Rover.

This scheme, by the way, is used in Lithuania on the assembly of "GAZel" equipped with Polish diesel engines and Czech dispatch boxes.

Being in the cabin of an SUV, you just want to stop looking at the abundance of levers that stick out from under the floor. In addition to the traditional gear selector for the traditional gearbox, there were two more. One is required to lock the differential. The other is used to change the transfer case mode.

On other other modern SUVs, all these functions take on one lever, but on the car "Sable" for some reason traditionally offered to use two levers. Well, okay, especially since there are certain advantages in this. So, you can turn on the downshift, without doing so locking the central differential.

To prevent the driver from getting confused in the switches, a diagram is pasted on the dashboard, which intelligibly explains how to use this system.

Despite this, this transmission works very well. The car rides confidently where others are tight. Let him pass difficult areas not always from the first time, but he pushes for himself and can even leave the deep ravine.

"Sable" - technical characteristics

This model received the GAZ index 2117. The length of the body is 4880 mm, the width is 2066 mm, and the height is 2300 mm. The length of the wheelbase is 2760 mm. The clearance compared to previous models is increased and is now 205 mm, which is quite good for an SUV. The curb weight of the car is 2250 kg, and the gross weight is 2785 kg.

The transmission, as already mentioned, is mechanical, five-speed.
As for the drive, then for the new version it is full constant, but the past modifications had a complete drive, but connected as necessary.

The engine is diesel, four-cylinder. The exact volume of the American "Cummins" is 2.78 liters. Powerful same indicators are equal to 120 liters. S at 3200 rpm. The torque produced by this engine is 297 Nm at 1700-2700 rpm. Acceleration to 100 km / h with this motor runs for 28 seconds. For a heavy car "Sable" the characteristics are quite good, but you can only open all their power if you move out of comfortable asphalt.

Front and rear suspension - dependent type. Front brakes are disc brakes, and the rear is traditionally a drum type.

How does this SUV ride?

Steering is not very transparent. If you move at a speed of more than 90 km / h, then you need to paddle from time to time. Sometimes the attention is drawn to the dependent suspension in the front. The brakes are quite tenacious, and the ABS keeps the heavy car well. When braking on ice at a speed of 60 km, the car does not go off course.

Due to the fact that the center of gravity is quite high, and also due to the peculiarities of the front suspension structure on the Sobol 4x4 car, the feedback of almost every owner indicates that the machine does not digest violent movements. You need to move more gently.

If you move out of the asphalt

The long routes are not a strong point, because the maximum speed is only 120 km / h. The owners unanimously assert that even at 110 km / h the traffic becomes uncomfortable, besides, the fuel consumption essentially grows. But it's on the asphalt.

But it is worthwhile to drive in off-road, as the talents of this SUV, and maybe even the all-terrain vehicle, are revealed in full power. So, continuous sprung bridges, a connected drive, a two-stage development box, very powerful cardan shafts, an electric lock of the rear differential - this wave is a serious set.

It should be noted that the car participated in the Silk Road Rally in 2013. Even on tires for asphalt, the all-wheel drive all-terrain vehicle moves very confidently along the rocks and sands, and in winter, along mud and snow, it also drives very well. It pulls this car very cool.

"Sable 4x4" review

It's not the Land Rover, of course. Many do not even want to call this model an SUV. Here, the layout of the car, the characteristics and settings of the suspension, as well as many other small things make you give up the idea of calling it an all-terrain vehicle. But if you look at the other side, then, looking at today's modern crossovers or off-road vehicles, as well as directly direct competitors, we can conclude: the domestic model should be a role model. In the mud, it does not sink, and on the asphalt surface moves quite seriously. And in general in the car "Sable" technical characteristics at a good level.

The secret here is simple. This is the application of a simple and successful all-wheel drive scheme. Here the engine is located longitudinally, the transmission here is separate, the transfer case too.

However, for our drivers, one good design is clearly not enough. We still need high quality, then resource and reliability. And with this, GAZ specialists managed successfully. Even if you buy a domestic "Sable" with mileage, then with competent service it will long please its owner.

Moving on this machine, sometimes it seems that nothing is impossible. Full freedom is felt. Here, probably, now the car simply will rise in this dirt, and he takes and goes.

So, this is a real beast of the desert. Yes. It makes a little noise, it's metal, on springs, does not differ in speed characteristics. But this car is economical, spacious, stands out with fantastic opportunities for patrolling. And if you consider that the "Sable 4x4" price from 300 to 700 thousand rubles, then it is beyond competition.

There is an analog of this model. It was also offered under the Sobol brand, but it had a low roof. The body has a pleasant appearance, but here's the side door caused a storm of indignation from the drivers. This car is "GAZ Sable Barguzin". It is positioned as a minivan. Although the comfort of their travel is not and far behind the Mercedes Vito.

The salon of the Russian "Barguzin" is a small room. The driver's seat is also convenient and quite ergonomic - this is the tradition for this series. The noise insulation is performed surprisingly well, the instrument panel does not cause a negative.

If to speak about technical characteristics, here mainly petrol engines. But some dealers offered cars with diesel from Cummins. "Barguzin" is a rear-wheel drive variant, but there are also all-wheel drive modifications.

Among the positive moments is the low price. For example, in the basic configuration, the model is available at a cost of 475 thousand, and if you buy a car with a run, then its price is about 200 thousand rubles.

So, we found out what kind of reviews and technical characteristics the domestic car "Sable". As you can see, this is an excellent car for hunting and fishing trips, or for those who just want to go off-road with complete certainty that their car will not have to be pulled out by the tractor afterwards.