Socialization Lesson: Test Of The Updated UAZ Patriot

Perhaps no other domestic car was updated as often and diligently as this one. Even if we forget about the predecessor relatives - the 3160 and Simbir models - in thirteen years of life, the Patriot has already gone through six modernizations. This is the seventh, and one of the most serious of all time. We drove half of the Kola Peninsula in an updated SUV and are ready to answer the main questions

Where is it updated? I don't see anything, where to look?

If the Patriot you meet is suddenly not dirty to the very roof for some reason, then one of the clues is a dark blue body color, as in these photos. Of course, the car is sold in other shades as well - but even then the update can be recognized by the new 18-inch wheels wrapped in Continental CrossContact LX rubber.

Well, if someone decided to confuse you as much as possible by buying a black SUV and immediately changing the wheels for it, the last chance remains: look under the front bumper. If a low hanging steering damper looks at you from there, yes, the Patriot is updated!

Come on, is the UAZ finally generous with the damper?

Imagine - he no longer needs to be naughty yourself! And this is just the beginning. For example, here is a completely new front axle - the same as on the UAZ Profi truck, only … That's right, also with a damper. The main differences from the old one are a stiffer steering linkage of a different geometry, an increased castor in the name of better stability on a straight line, as well as open steering knuckles, thanks to which the turning circle has decreased at once by one and a half meters. In addition, both pivots, and not only the lower one, perceive the vertical load here, which should have a great effect on the survivability of the entire structure.

And since the residents of Ulyanovsk started an organ transplant from the Profi, there was no reason for them to stop halfway. Therefore, the Patriot also has a new engine named ZMZ Pro over the new bridge. In fact, this is a modernization of the familiar 2.7-liter "four hundred and ninth" engine: a reinforced block head, heat-resistant valves designed for the installation of LPG, the compression ratio increased from 9.1: 1 to 9.8: 1, changed valve timing and a new exhaust manifold. Oh yes, the timing chain is now double-row again: at the plant they heard the murmur of the public and returned it back.

On paper, the increase is small: a dozen "horses" (now there are 150), and a little more thrust - it was 217 Nm, it became 235. But the point is that the peak torque moved from 3900 rpm to 2650 - this is not yet territory of diesels, but already somewhere nearby.

Also say that he now eats almost like a diesel engine …

Well, no, miracles do not happen: the atrocious consumption under 13-14 liters on the highway and 20+ on the off-road has not gone anywhere, but otherwise the new engine turned out to be good. Traction from the bottom is full, and even in steep rocky climbs, the Patriot easily climbs in first gear: for three days of rather tough northern off-road, the idea of turning on the lowering has remained hypothetical. Customers will also thank the new Luk clutch for less idle vibration and 20 percent less pedal force - although I personally didn't feel that much.

But it’s impossible not to notice the new linkage of the transmission lever! The gear shifting process no longer resembles drunken rowing: the moves have decreased by about 935 times and are now within quite adequate, civilian limits. The selectivity is still so-so, but this box can still be dealt with. Plus, the lever is now in two parts with a shock absorber in the middle - and therefore almost stopped pounding in epileptic seizures. Glory to the dampers!

Yes, it is in the plural: that same damper that is embedded in the steering wheel also works great. Even in very serious pits, the steering wheel does not try to grind your wrists into flour, so after a few hours of driving on primers, you still don't want to give up everything and beg for mercy. Patriot, is that you? And why don't you even almost goat?

UAZ? Not a goat? Are you sure you're not confusing the car?

I give a tooth. And I even know the reason: the designers have noticeably softened the rear suspension. The springs here are now two-leaf instead of three-leaf, their stiffness has decreased by 6 percent, and in addition, the rear stabilizer has become three millimeters thinner. This really improved the smoothness of the ride, but led to a side effect - the UAZ became too … Drift!

With any somewhat active maneuver (and for the Patriot, almost any maneuver is considered such), the SUV simply rolls at first, and then suddenly rolls even deeper - and noticeably turns the rear axle. Okay, this is interesting, somewhat recklessly, and in which case ESP will always back you up … But why?

It seems to me that this defect in Ulyanovsk was deliberately made so that the articles about their brainchild would not look completely enthusiastic and paid for. Because, in addition to all of the above, the Patriot also began to be adequately controlled! If earlier it had to be continuously corrected on a straight line - or, overbearing instincts, not corrected, because it rides scary, but more or less smoothly - now everything is stable, understandable and predictable. And without the terrifying backlash of the steering wheel!

You won't believe it, but And that is not all! The door seals have been improved, the sound insulation of the engine shield has been improved, fleecy wheel arches are installed in the wheel arches - and a huge part of the whistles, sobs and rattles have left the cabin. It has become so quieter that the booming sound from the exhaust side now presses on the ears: and before it was really impossible to make out.

Finally, the ventilation in the rear of the cabin has been redesigned, and the windows are now fogged up much less, and there are strong handles on the A-pillars and B-pillars for everyone present. Ufff. Now everything seems to be.

Listen to you - Patriot has become almost an ideal car for every day

No, no, don't think too much. This is still an uncomfortable, uncouth, condo frame SUV that has nothing to do in the city - in fact, like any other frame SUV. Riding it is not a pleasure, but a job, and it is worth doing it only if you often and seriously drive off the asphalt.

In other words, UAZ is still intended not for those who need a car, but for those who need UAZ. But the life of these people will now be much easier and more pleasant.