Lifan Solano car: owner reviews, specifications and features. Not as scary as it is painted: repair and maintenance Lifan Solano Motor problems

Make a final choice. If a person liked a certain car model, you need to find out as much as possible about it, weigh the pros and cons, and only then make a purchase. The chosen car should completely suit the owner both in appearance and in appearance.

The Lifan Solano is one of the newest vehicles in the Chinese industry. This model first appeared in 2008 and quickly attracted the interest of motorists. Ultimately, the popularity of this car spread beyond the domestic market of the country. According to statistics, Solano's sales for the first quarter of 2009 amounted to about 15,000 products.

In Russia, this model began to be produced in Cherkessk at the Derways plant. She first went on sale in March 2010.

It must be said that the Chinese car Lifan Solano in Russia acquired the name Lifan 620. Before that, Lifan Breeze was produced. The current model is very different in size from its predecessor: Solano has a spacious interior, in which the owner feels more comfortable.

The dimensions of the Lifan Solano are impressive. The length of this vehicle is 4550 mm, width - 1705 mm, height - 1495 mm. If you compare it with the Lifan Breeze, you will notice that the car has become 18 cm longer. All other dimensions have increased significantly. The car has also improved.

Lifan Solano is inexpensive. In the Russian Federation, this car can be purchased for 355 thousand rubles. In this case, you buy a basic configuration with a 2-year or 60,000 km warranty.

Today, Lifan Solano is a high-level car, which, according to European standards, belongs to the C segment.

What is Lifan Solano?

Appearance and technical parameters

It has a very impressive appearance. The model has a nice shape without any peculiarities. Chinese manufacturers have incorporated the best solutions from other brands into Solano's design. The result is a car very similar to the BMW-3.

Before giving preference to this particular car, it is necessary. When you first inspect the car from the outside, you get the impression that it is a European car, which is no different from other vehicles driving on the highway. It is impossible to guess right away that this car has Chinese roots.

The brand's design is based on the U-shape. The front part is a smooth line that gradually deepens towards the rear of the car. If you look at the car from the front, it looks quite aggressive, and to soften this, the manufacturer has applied LEDs that adorn the underside of the car. At the back are angular lights, each with three white stripes. The design of the car contains chrome-plated objects that give it a European look: a horizontal stripe on the trunk, side handles and a radiator grill located at the front.

If you look inside, you can see a very pleasant interior. The manufacturer has combined simplicity and comfort, and this has achieved an excellent result. Almost all the details, as well as the seats, are made of leather. The panel is not crammed with various unnecessary items and is very convenient to use. The car is equipped with power steering, all power accessories, air conditioning and so on. In the car, both the driver and the passenger feel quite comfortable.

In the manufacture of Lifan Solano, the manufacturer was also concerned about safety. The vehicle has passed EuroNCAP testing, according to which it meets all the necessary requirements. The car has two airbags: for the driver and the passenger sitting on the right side. When the car is moving, the automatic door closing function is triggered.

The car is equipped with such traditional systems as EBD and ABS. There are fog lights and power mirrors. The body has an anti-corrosion coating. The machine is equipped with an alarm and a central locking system. Inside the car is equipped with a modern CD and MP3 music player, as well as an on-board computer with a monitor. The package includes cast light-alloy 15-inch wheels.

As for the technical characteristics, the Brazilian Tritec motor is responsible for them, the power of which is 106 hp. with. The engine is the most common: a four-cylinder with 16 valves. The machine is equipped with a manual transmission.

The undercarriage is the most standard and is represented by suspensions. The front is McPherson, and the rear is a semi-independent beam. They are quite practical and reliable.

Test Drive

Solano rides well on dirt roads, and he is not afraid of bumps. Concerns about a broken shock absorber can be allayed. At the same time, the clearance is not very large: only 150 mm. Safe driving on dirt roads is ensured by the huge suspension travel along with the high energy consumption of the springs and shock absorbers. This model also behaves on gravel, so that when driving over bumps, the car always behaves predictably and reliably.

When driving on asphalt, Lifan Solano does not show anything interesting. To overtake even the weakest road users will have to make great efforts, because this model has a 106-horsepower engine. As for noise insulation, the manufacturers are clearly missing something. As the speed increases, an unpleasant buzzing noise from the engine side begins to be heard in the passenger compartment. When the 80 km / h mark is reached, a whistle begins to emanate from the wipers.

When driving on a straight road, the car behaves stably and confidently... A slight stiffness is felt only when overcoming holes and various irregularities. However, if you are not a fan of "driving", you will hardly notice it.

Solano comes with large mirrors and a huge cut-off area for easy rebuilding and parking.

The Chinese sedan Lifan Solano debuted on the Russian market in 2008, at home this model was called.

The car, created on the copied chassis of the 2000 model, was equipped with 1.6 (106 hp) and 1.8 (125 hp) gasoline engines, and a variator was offered for the "junior engine for an extra charge."

In 2010, “Lifans Solano” for the Russian market began to be assembled at the “Derways” plant in Cherkessk.

As a result of restyling in 2014, the sedan received a new design and a 1.5-liter engine with a capacity of 100 forces, which replaced the previous power units. Buyers could choose a "mechanic" or a variator.

2nd generation, 2016

The Lifan Solano sedan is offered on the Russian market with one of two gasoline engines.

Prices for "Lifan Solano" with a 1.5-liter 100 hp engine. with. start at 709,900 rubles. In the basic configuration Comfort - two airbags, ABS, leather seat upholstery, air conditioning, audio system and heated front seats. The Luxury version, supplemented with a multimedia system, navigation, a rear-view camera, electric mirrors, parking sensors and alloy wheels, costs 744,900 rubles.

The sedan equipped with a 1.8 engine (133 hp) is offered in the Comfort configuration for 759,900 rubles and Luxury for 789,900 rubles.

The version with a variator can be purchased in the Luxury version at a price of 839,900 rubles.

The second generation of the Lifan Solano model has been produced since 2016 at the Derways plant in Cherkessk. The sedan is a modernized version of the first generation sedan. The deliveries of the model in Russia were suspended in 2018.

Sedan "Lifan Solano" (Lifan 620) is produced at the first private car company in Russia "Derways" (Karachay-Cherkessia). Solid appearance, rich basic equipment, low cost are the main trump cards of the model. At the same time, the workmanship for a budget car is very, very decent.

Design

With what competitors do journalists not compare the appearance of the car "Lifan Solano"! The photo at the front looks like it was taken from a Volkswagen model, the outlines of the body - from The updated model with the index 630 looks like a Lexus. Comparisons are flattering, many motorists like the design. It is discreet, classic. Both the bumper and the body are painted in a single color, which adds solidity.

Inside, Solano looks more modest. The dashboard, both in design and in execution, is simple, without frills. The transparent plastic covering the devices reflects. Most of the controls are located conveniently. The steering control lever is located on the left. Tall drivers may lack the longitudinal travel of the steering column adjustment.

The build quality of the dashboard has strayed far from five-year-old models. There are almost no creaks, if small ones appear, then only in severe frosts. With warming, they disappear. The black panel is split in half by a wide brown stripe. The upper half of the panel is made of soft plastic, the lower half is made of hard plastic. The speedometer and tachometer are large and easy to read. Between them is a blue information display.

Filling and cost

The package bundle is the strong point of the budget model. 4 power windows, air conditioning, 2 basic airbags, leather interior, parking sensors, 15 ”alloy wheels, audio system, good optics, large trunk - at the price of Lada Priora. The base price of "Lifan Solano" (without discounts) of the initial configuration is 439,900 rubles. (2014 release).

• 1.6L Luxury - 464 900 rubles.
• 1.6L Luxury with a variator (CVT) - 519 900 rubles.
• 1.8L Luxury - 489 900 rub.

Engines and gearboxes

Under the hood of most of the sold "Lifan Solano" - a licensed engine from Toyota (specification A2) 1.6 liters (16 valves). Power - 106 hp with. The proven licensed design guarantees the durability of the power unit, no problems with repairs, consumables, components. The lack of super-technological developments in the design in Russian realities is a big plus. At a minimum, the car owner does not need to go to a service center to check the oil level. A slightly more powerful motor is also installed, with a volume of 1.8 liters.

The gearbox from some car owners will take some getting used to. But after tens of kilometers of run, the skill of working with the installed manual transmission is developed. But in the box there is an optimal ratio between the gears.

Suspension "Lifan Solano"

The test drive showed that the side rolls in a bunch of turns are small, the model is clearly not suitable for drift, drive, race track. But it is perfect for family trips, office use. The owners note the very good quality of the springs, but the struts are considered a weak point.

Suspension Lifan Solano: front "MacPherson", on the rear axle - a beam. On the move, the car resiliently works out the unevenness of the road. The suspension is energy-intensive, practically does not break through, except in a very large pit. However, at these settings, the car handles a little worse during sharp maneuvering at decent speeds. Marketers position the model as a replacement for solid brands, the target audience is middle-aged and aged owners. Since it is not respectable for respectable citizens to drive a car like a boy, these suspension settings fully justify themselves.

Brakes

On "Lifan Solano", in contrast to the price competitors, ventilated disc brakes are installed in front, and disc brakes in the back. This combination hints at the installation of more powerful motors in the future. However, the standard 1.6-liter engine accelerates the car briskly, without stress. Pleasant to many, the howling of the turbine during acceleration is not heard, as well as there is no specific pickup - the philosophy of the car is different.

Reviews

• Some owners note that the corporate emblem, decorative elements, and the number grille may be poorly fixed. Water gets under them, seeping through the holes under the hood, sometimes they fall off during washing. This is not a design problem, but someone cheated during the assembly. Easily corrected on its own.
• It is desirable to apply a thicker paintwork. When buying, it does not hurt to inspect the selected sample for scratches, unpainted areas (especially at the joints), check the optics.
• Plastic thresholds are surprisingly securely mounted. Neither dirt, nor moisture, nor dust leaks under them. If you cut the sealing inserts that go under the thresholds, the doors will close more easily. However, dust will enter the cracks.
• According to reviews, in thirty-degree frosts, Lifan Solano starts up without problems. The thickness of the body metal is within reason: thinner than branded foreign cars, slightly thicker than many domestic models.

Exploitation

Drivers who are accustomed to “listening” to the engine's operation during a trip will be satisfied with the insufficient sound insulation of the cabin. Lovers of silence will have to endure or carry out the appropriate tuning.

In "Solano", as in the best foreign cars, when the reverse gear is turned on in the checkpoint, the reverse gear is automatically triggered and the car radio is turned off. Two parking sensors are sensitive, they really help when parking.

A regular seat heating is provided for the driver. For a small surcharge, you can carry it out for a passenger. Established summer tires of good quality. The roadbed holds tenaciously.

Considering the low operating and maintenance costs, the purchase of the model is more than justified. Especially for commercial organizations, families with a moderate income, in a word, those who just need to get to their destination. Moreover, the filling is quite modern, there are many nice options. Considering the inclusion of Lifan Solano produced in the Russian Federation in the newly launched purchase, it will be profitable. This is a practical, easy to maintain, inexpensive to operate, with a proven engine and a complete set of cars rich for such a price.

Output

Among the Chinese cars, "Lifan" looks dignified. Classic design, good acceleration, good brakes, a reliable licensed motor, enviable practicality distinguish it among inexpensive models from the Middle Kingdom. The new Lifan Solano, although slightly more expensive, looks even better thanks to the charisma of the updated optics and improved technical characteristics.

Many people call China the forge of the world, because it is in this country that almost half of the world's production is concentrated. This trend has not been spared by the automotive industry. Many models developed in Japan, Germany and the USA are assembled in China. At the same time, Chinese car companies are rapidly developing their own brands, which are gaining more and more popularity around the world. For example, in Russia over the past year, sales of Chinese cars grew by 35%. The most popular model among them was the new Lifan Solano - a budget class C sedan.In this article we will tell you about all the advantages and disadvantages of this car.

Design of the new LIFAN SOLANO

The body of the car is a bit like the previous generation Toyota Korolla, optics - some BMW models. Overall, the 2014 Lifan Solano design leaves a good impression. Chromed handles, alloy wheels, a graceful radiator grill - all this adds style and nobility to the look of the car. Frustrating only the plastic on the front bumper, which is likely to crack and deform in the winter.

Driving experience

The gearbox is crisp enough with short strokes. The steering wheel is adjustable only in tilt angle, height adjustment is not provided. When driving, the clutch pedal vibrates perceptibly, it takes time to get used to this feature.

Not too impressive in Lifan Solano's engine performance. This car will not be able to drive in the “slippers on the floor” manner, which is a favorite for many drivers. But you can forget about jerking when changing gears, the speed is gained very smoothly.

The handling of the car can be estimated at four. It holds the road quite well and is good at cornering, but the uninformative “wadded steering wheel” leaves an extremely unpleasant impression.

The suspension is very soft, shallow holes and bumps on the road do not cause any inconvenience to the driver and passengers. Soundproofing is not Lifan Solano's strong point. The noise of the engine is heard in the cabin quite strongly.

Trunk

The trunk volume is 650 liters, which is a very good figure for such a compact car. Opening it, you can find a full-size spare tire, which is also a definite plus.

Salon

The car has a rather stylish interior, atypical for the Chinese car industry, with a claim to be premium. This impression is formed thanks to wooden inserts on the doors, an elongated on-board computer monitor, reminiscent of a display in BMW saloons, and a torpedo made of high-quality plastic and not overloaded with a large number of buttons.

Build quality continues to be the Achilles heel of the Lifan models. Many Solano owners complain about poorly closing doors, backlash and creaks in the cabin.

The ergonomics of the chairs are not the best, besides, they can only be adjusted in height. There is enough space for passengers in the rear seats, in the middle there is a reclining armrest, so only two passengers can comfortably sit on them.

Advantages:

• stylish design;
• soft suspension:
• pleasant interior;
• low price;
• excellent equipment in an extended configuration;
• roomy trunk.

Disadvantages:

• weak engine;
• disgusting soundproofing;
• plastic bumpers;
• poor build quality;
• uninformative steering wheel;
• uncomfortable chairs;
• high consumption for a 1.6 liter engine (7.8 liters per hundred in the combined cycle).

Lifan Solano is not the perfect car. Although in some parameters (interior, equipment, suspension softness) it significantly surpasses many of its competitors of more prestigious Japanese and Korean brands (Chevrolet Cobalt, Daewoo Gentra, etc.), flaws in assembly and ergonomics spoil the initially favorable impression of this model. But all the shortcomings are justified by the cost of 4,300,000 rubles, so we can say with confidence that the price in Lifan Solano is absolutely consistent with the quality.

Specifications LIFAN SOLANO 2014

The car is equipped with a MacPherson suspension, a manual five-speed gearbox (also available with a CVT version) and a four-cylinder petrol engine with a distributed injection system. Its volume is 1.6 liters, power - 106 hp, maximum torque - 137 Nm. Acceleration to hundreds occurs in 14 seconds, the declared fuel consumption in the combined cycle is 7.8 liters per hundred kilometers.

In the more expensive version of the Lifan Solano, technical characteristics differ only in the 1.8-liter engine with 125 hp. and a maximum torque of 160 Nm. Fuel consumption is 8.2 liters per hundred.

Complete set and price of LIFAN SOLANO

The basic equipment of the car is truly Spartan. It includes an ABS system, air conditioning, hydraulic booster, power windows, audio system, light sensor, electric drive and heated mirrors.
In the extended configuration, the buyer also receives a leather interior, an on-board computer, a parking aid system, heated seats and a multifunctional steering wheel. Quite decent equipment for 510,000 rubles. It is better to buy everything with the maximum configuration, because the difference in price compared to the basic version is only 80,000 rubles.

Reading 5 min. Views 580 Published 26 February 2016

Quite a lot of copies of the Chinese automobile industry travel across the territory of Russia. The sedan can be called one of the best-selling Chinese cars in our country. Behind him, like his own for most models of Chinese cars, the stereotype of a tin can was entrenched, which quickly rots and constantly breaks. Whether this is really so, we will find out in this article, which will tell you about the repair and maintenance of the Lifan Solano sedan.

The history of the Chinese brand Lifan

Chinese car manufacturer Lifan has grown from a small company that repairs a variety of equipment, mainly motorcycles. It was founded in 1992. After 10 years, the transformed Lifan company launched the first bus of its own production. Since 2005, the Chinese company Lifan has been producing passenger cars.

When developing its own car models, Lifan used a proven business scheme - obtaining a license from more famous car manufacturers to produce cars. As a result, new Chinese car models appeared, which were based on the platforms of old models of famous world car brands. One of the first cars of the Lifan company was the subcompact Lifan Smily, which looked very much like a Mini Cooper. At the same time, Lifan Smily was based on the Daihatsu Charade car platform. Also, the model of the Lifan Solano sedan we are considering is, in essence, a redesigned model of the Toyota Corolla of the E120 generation.

Very quickly, the Chinese company Lifan entered the Russian automotive market and mastered the local production of cars at the facilities of the Derways plant in Cherkessk. The first new cars of the Lifan brand left the assembly line of the Derways plant in 2007. At first it was a SKD car assembly. However, two years later in 2009, the production of the Lifan car has already begun on a full production cycle.

Key features of the Lifan Solano sedan

The selected instance of the Lifan Solano sedan was manufactured in 2010. The mileage of this car is 75,000 kilometers. This copy has a complete set Lux. This means that its equipment includes a leather interior, or rather leatherette seat upholstery, alloy wheels, parking sensors, which, unfortunately, no longer work, heated seats, as well as audio control buttons on the steering wheel.

The LF481Q3 Chinese gasoline engine manufactured under a Japanese license is used as a motor on the Lifan Solano model. The Chinese took a license from the Japanese Toyota 4A-FE engine. Recall that this power unit has been produced by the Japanese since 1988. The Chinese installed an electronic ignition module on it, removing the distributor. Despite the outdated design, low efficiency and power, this engine is reliable. He is familiar to most of the minders in Russia.

Paired with this engine in the Lifan Solano sedan is a five-speed manual transmission, which has the same index as the Chinese engine.

Since the Toyota Corolla model of the E120 generation is used as the platform of the Lifan Solano sedan, the chassis migrated to the Chinese model from the Japanese woman. The Mcpherson suspension is installed in the front, the beam is located in the rear suspension.

Lifan Solano body service and repair

Like most Chinese car models, the Lifan Solano sedan has rather thin sheets of metal in the body panels. In addition, the paintwork is also of a rather poor quality, which shows up in the form of rust all over the body and very early. Chips on the hood of the body are already starting to rust after a couple of months. First of all, corrosion occurs on the body sills and door edges. Strictly speaking, where moisture accumulates more, metal corrosion begins. This makes it clear that the Lifan Solano factory has not received sufficient anti-corrosion treatment.

In the cabin of our instance of the Lifan Solano sedan, which will be 6 years old this year, the standard audio system has already died. Moreover, this situation is standard for the Lifan Solano model. Often, the owners of this car model, instead of a deceased audio system, install mounts for the tablet and lead the wires to connect the audio to the car speakers.

It is worth noting that the dashboard of this model is made of soft plastic, which unwittingly pleases motorists who are used to hard and smelly plastic in Chinese cars.

Heated seats often burn out inside the car. In addition, the wiring can also fail with the rear sound parking sensors.

Lifan Solano engine problems

Since the Chinese engine for the Lifan Solano car is made under license based on the Japanese power unit of 1988, there are no complaints about the technical part of the power unit. However, the electronics of this motor is severely lame, and it often fails. On some copies of the Lifan Solano, there is a break in the electrical wiring as a result of the suspension hitting the pits on the roads.

Consumables for such a motor are inexpensive. The oil filter will cost about 300 rubles. The air filter is fully compatible with a similar Toyota engine. The air filter will cost the same 300 rubles. Replacing the timing belt should be done every 60 thousand kilometers. Many owners of Lifan Solano cars are in no hurry to replace the timing belt, since they are not afraid of bending the valves in the event of a belt break. On the pistons of this engine, grooves are made for valves. The timing belt and tensioner roller will cost about 2,000 rubles. Work at the service station to replace the timing belt will cost an average of 5,000 rubles.

Lifan Solano undercarriage maintenance

In the Mcpherson front suspension and semi-independent rear suspension with a beam, there is little that can break. The smallest resource among the suspension consumables is at the stabilizer struts. They will have to be changed every 30 thousand kilometers. The cost of one such rack is estimated at 800 rubles. By the way, it fits from the Toyota Corolla. Tie rod ends will last no more than 50,000 kilometers. This part will cost about 1000 rubles and another 600 rubles will go to work on their replacement.