Lifan Solano - reviews. Lifan Solano: is the car worthy of buyers' choice? Where is Lifan Solano produced?

Lifan Solano Available with a sedan body, it belongs to class C cars.

The appearance makes a solid impression. The design corresponds to modern fashion trends. In the appearance of the car there is a similarity with such models as BMW and Toyota Corolla.

The car is produced by the Chinese company Lifan Industry Group. Today, factories producing this car are located in China, Turkey, Egypt, Thailand and Vietnam. Since 2010, Lifan Solano began to be produced in Russia at the Cherkessk Derways plant.

Model history

Lifan Solano first appeared in 2009. The presentation of the car took place in China. In Russia, the new model began to be sold in March 2010. In the same year, the assembly of Solano for Russian market.

The model is planned to be updated in 2013.

Technological features

Compared to the previous Breez model, Lifan Solano has a more modern interior. Its design features beige tones with gray and red inserts in the front panel area. In addition, the interior has become leather, there is more space in it.

The new Lifan model has some useful features: the central locking automatically closes all doors when the car speed reaches 20 km/h. In the event of an accident, all door locks open automatically, this allows the driver and passengers to evacuate.

The cylinder block is made of aluminum alloy, which prevents the occurrence of malfunctions in the drive due to influence high temperatures. The car is equipped with 15-inch alloy wheels, power steering systems, air conditioning, and full power accessories. Few competitors offer such a set of equipment for relatively little money.

Interesting Facts

The Lifan Solano car received a beautiful name with a good meaning. Translated from Chinese, Lifan means to sail with full sails. The word Solano means nightshade. Nightshades include plants such as tobacco, pepper and tomato. Thus, the manufacturer’s choice of name hints at the sharpness or brightness of the car.

In Perm, traffic police officers drive Lifan Solano. During the operation of 20 vehicles, no serious malfunctions were noticed. Thus, the Perm police confirm the quality of this model.

In Moscow, Lifan Solano uses several large taxi companies. This indicates the high reliability of the car.

At the end of 2012, Lifan Solano was recognized as the best-selling Chinese car in Russia.

Advantages and disadvantages

The advantage of the model is the Tritec engine, which is manufactured in Brazil and installed in cars such as the Chrysler PT Cruiser and Mini One.

Front independent suspension" " type, rear - semi-independent with trailing arms provide good adhesion of tires to the road surface.

In addition, the undeniable advantages of Lifan Solano include efficiency. Average consumption fuel is only 7.4 l/100 km.

Disadvantages include poor noise insulation, vibrations on the clutch pedal, rear doors close loudly, and the pedal assembly is shifted to the right.

Solano's main competitors are Lada Priora and Chinese sedans produced by Geely and Chery. Advantages of Solano - proven reliability, high-quality interior materials, powerful engine for its size, excellent performance manual transmission transmission

Volume of sales

From the moment it went on sale, Lifan Solano began to occupy a leading position in the Chinese automobile market. In the first 3 months from the start of sales, more than 15 thousand cars were sold in China. In Russia, at the end of 2012, 15,108 cars of this model were sold, which amounted to 73% of the total number of Lifan sales. The updated Lifan Solano model is scheduled to be released in November of this year, so experts predict a further increase in sales.

Lifan Solano is a five-seater class C sedan, the production of which began in China in 2007. A total of 3 versions of the car were released: Lifan Solano (620), restyled Lifan Solano (630) and Lifan Solano II (650).

Second generation Chinese sedan introduced in Russia at the end of 2016. If we compare the new product with the previous debut family, Lifan Solano II has grown significantly in many respects, leaving behind a fairly reasonable price tag. All.

Car history

For buyers in Russia, the car went on sale only two years later, in 2010. The production of the car was organized at the Derways Circassian plant. The entire line of the Lifan company is very popular among Russian drivers, for many reasons, one of which is affordable price, modern technical equipment and presentable appearance.

In the fall of 2013, the car underwent restyling, which made it possible to attract even more buyers by increasing gearbox variations, improving the quality of the interior and expanding the list of equipment. The car was based on the Breez model, but it was slightly larger in size than the Breez.

Exterior

The nose of the car was developed in accordance with the latest trends in auto design. It has elements that reflect style and acceptable taste. They took the U-shaped line as a basis, which today has considerable success around the world.

A similar line continues from the front of the car to the bottom of the bumper and breaks the nose into a large number of planes. Thanks to the sharp edges and corners of the headlights, the car gained elegance and nobility. Lifan Solano has a long hood and a short rear part, the design aspect of which highlights its stability and consists of a large number of parts.

Using the belt line on the side of the car, we managed to give it volume, as if we were looking at a sports car. However, they did not overdo it, so the car looks neat and at the same time stylish.

The loin of Lifan Solano has clear contours. Rear window received a high-tech antenna and heating line, with the help of which the car looks more expressive and pleasing to the eye. With the help of a sloping roof, the car received a streamlined outline, and the air resistance coefficient also decreased.

Interior

Getting into the interior of the Lifan Solano 620 sedan, the two-color interior trim immediately catches your eye, attracting your attention. The update did not make any fundamental changes to the interior of the car. Basically, much attention was paid to the quality of finishing materials. Now the interior has become much brighter and fresher, and the use of better quality plastic has made it more pleasant to the touch.

The manufacturer assures that it has modernized the seats installed in the front, and now they are much more comfortable. The instrument panel immediately stands out, because it is made of gray plastic and decorated with red inserts. The interior of the Lifan Solano pleases with good equipment and design, especially if you constantly remind yourself of the price vehicle.

The driver's seat of the Lifan Solano 620 has a four-spoke steering wheel with music control buttons. The “wheel” itself can only be adjusted in height. The dashboard received analog gauges and on-board computer. The console, installed in the central part, has an audio system that is very easy to control. Below it is located the climate system control unit, which is presented in the form of convenient “twists”.

Next you can see compartments for small items. All this smoothly leads the eye to the tunnel and the gearbox selector. There is a box on the tunnel, and next to it there is free space for an armrest. The driver and passenger seats have mechanical adjustments and are upholstered in leather in a top-end version.

The second row has 3 seats; passengers of average height can easily fit there. Moreover, there is enough free space both above your head and at your feet. The luggage compartment is rich in 650 liters of usable space. To increase free space, you just need to pull a special lever and the backrests of the rear row of seats can be folded. The updated version has a new design dashboard and a modified center console.

Technical characteristics of Solano 620

Solano 620 power unit

At this time, the Lifan Solano 620 sedan is supplied to our country with a pair of gasoline engines. The power units are designed similarly to each other, both 4-cylinder, in-line. They have a 16 valve DOHC system and a multi-point fuel supply system.

The first of them has a volume of 1.6 liters and develops 106 horsepower. It is capable of accelerating the Lifan to hundreds in 15.5 seconds, and the top speed will be 170 km/h. At the same time, its fuel consumption is 7.4 liters in mixed mode.

The other engine is installed in the top order and has a volume of 1.8 liters. It is capable of producing 125 hp. It reaches 100 km in 12.3 seconds. With it, the maximum speed also increases – 200 km/h. Average fuel consumption is 8.2 liters.

After restyling, a new 1.5-liter power unit appeared with a capacity of 74 horsepower.

Solano 620 transmission

Both powerplants work together with a 5-speed manual transmission. Optionally, you can install a new one CVT variator.

Chassis Solano 620

The Lifan Solano 620 chassis is designed on the platform of a durable monocoque body. At the front it has an independent suspension with McPherson struts, and at the rear it is based on a semi-independent beam with trailing arms. After restyling, the suspension was changed, which is now tuned to our roads. All wheels have modern disc braking devices(front mechanisms are ventilated).

The company's specialists added braking system mechanical handbrake and electronic assistants ABS, EBD. The steering mechanism received a rack and a hydraulic power steering wheel. Thanks to this restyling, the car was able to improve safety by adding some changes to the structure of the body frame.

On top of that, they almost completely rewrote the control program for 2-stage airbags, improved the operation of the safety steering column and strengthened the stiffening ribs in the design of all doors.

Safety Solano 620

ABS+EBD systems are responsible for driving safety. ABS helps prevent wheels from locking when sliding, which helps maintain control of the car and prevents skidding. The EBD service makes it possible to realize the maximum braking force on the rear axle, preventing the car from skidding.

Thanks to these systems, braking efficiency increases and proper traffic safety is ensured. Each wheel has disc brakes, which improves driving safety.

Passive safety has:

"Children's" door lock;
Three-point seat belts with height adjustments;
Alarm for unfastened seat belts;
Door open alarm.

The car was crash tested. The sedan was tested for frontal, side and rear collisions. During such tests, all airbags that were present deployed, the A, B, and C pillars were not damaged, there was no deformation of the cabin, and the dummy was not thrown out.

The pillars have been reinforced (A, B, C), which indicates the formation of a durable cabin. This will improve the additional safety of passengers in the event of a possible collision or the car falling on its side. Additional reverse sensors were also used. The aft part of the LIFAN Solano has parking sensors.

If an obstacle appears in the path of a vehicle that is driving in reverse, the machine will emit a clear sound of a certain frequency, and a red warning light will light up on the dashboard.

Security systems include the presence of:

Central castle;
Automatic door locking when driving.

TO passive safety include the presence of:

Driver airbags;
Airbags for the front passenger.

Active safety and suspension include the presence of:

Anti-lock braking system;
A system that can distribute braking forces.

Options and prices

Lifan Solano sedan in Russia is available in a couple of variants – DX and CX. So, the DX version with a 1.6 liter engine and manual transmission will cost about 430,000 rubles. It includes a chrome false radiator grille, steel wheels with a diameter of 15 inches, foglights, a height- and angle-adjustable steering column, four electric windows, a spare tire, heated side mirrors, front airbags, central locking, and a six-speaker audio system and air conditioning.

The CX package with 1.6 liters will cost 450,000 rubles, and for the installation of a CVT transmission an additional 60,000. It includes an improved audio system, alloy wheels, rear parking sensors, a steering wheel with multimedia controls and a leather interior. The 2014 Lifan Solano 620 sedan with a 1.8-liter power plant under the hood is estimated at 480,00 rubles, without a CVT transmission.

In Russia, the presentation of the New Solano sedan or, as it is called in the Middle Kingdom, Lifan 630, took place as part of MMAC-2014. They started selling the new product closer to the beginning of 2015. In reality, the new model can hardly be called a “new Solano family.” In fact, this is only a restyled version of a popular car that has long needed a more modern appearance.

In reality, the restyling of the Chinese car affected the appearance to a greater extent. The company's specialists slightly improved the interior, but did not touch the technical equipment. The car is still a notable competitor for the products of the Volzhsky Automobile Plant. At the same time, the Lifan company is seriously ahead of other automakers from the Middle Kingdom.

Exterior of Lifan 630

The new Chinese-made product has not the most obvious changes, by which we can say that we have a brand new car in front of us. However, these changes are the most striking. Thanks to the elaborate body parts, its solidity increases, and the entire appearance looks courageous. There is the presence of the already familiar, elongated hood.

With the help of additional ribs on the hood, the aerodynamics of the “Chinese” are improved, and the headlights, which have grown in shape, look a little like optics. With rounded headlights and elongated lamps, the illumination of the road surface is improved. A pleasant effect can be achieved using LED lights along the bottom edge. To emphasize the increased sophistication of the body and solidity, the designers installed a chrome radiator grille.

Interestingly, the name “Lifan” translates as “Going in full sail.”

The front bumper of the updated Lifan Solano 630 2015-2016 turned out to be unusual. Some people find Lexus touches in its styling. There is the same V-shaped license plate area and architectural accents on the sides. Very usefully, Chinese specialists installed DRL lamps in a zigzag style.

At night, you can quite easily confuse a Chinese car with a more prestigious car. Acceptable height ground clearance(150 millimeters) allows you to not worry so much about snags or damage to the plastic of the bumper. The side part did not receive new parts.

There is the presence of the already familiar smoothed lines and wings rounded at the edges. The simple design shows that the company is not ready to experiment. The Chinese have found an original shape for their car that can easily be sold. The design cannot be called obsolete, so it continues to be used on the updated version of the Lifan Solano 630.

As for the rear stern, it also does not shine with an abundance of innovations. The headlights are triangular in shape and protrude above the rear fenders and trunk lid. All other elements were unchanged. The structure of the aft part is justified by a functional luggage compartment.

Despite everything good feedback and the advantages of the appearance of the Chinese Lifan Solano 630 sedan, there is one point that confuses potential owners and car enthusiasts. The Chinese company copies quite a few elements from other auto companies. The 630 model also has this tendency, since the nose area is similar to the Lexus and Chrysler, and the rear and side areas are similar to the Opel.

Interior Solano 630

There are not many changes inside the Chinese sedan either. The interior of the Lifan Solano 630 now has a slightly redesigned dashboard and climate control system control unit. The chairs are still as soft and quite comfortable, but still lack even minimal lateral support.

The level of plastic used still leaves much to be desired, but it would be stupid to demand anything different from a car with such a price tag. There is room to sit inside. Four adults can easily be accommodated, but taking a fifth on board will be a little more difficult. This is evidenced by the design of the rear sofa and the floor, rather high transmission tunnel.

The trunk still has 650 liters of usable space. If previously the Chinese company Lifan was often accused of poor quality assembly, this time it tried to pay special attention to the fit of elements.

As a result, gaps that could previously be easily noticed have disappeared. It’s impossible to say that everything has become good, but the growth in quality is noticeable. For example, difficulties with door locks, which caused serious problems for their owners, disappeared.

Technical characteristics of Solano 630

The list of engines for the Lifan 630 was carried over from the previous “620” model. The car still has two “old” four-cylinder engines operating on gasoline. They are equipped with an aluminum block, 16-valve timing mechanism, multipoint fuel injection and a Delphi electronic ignition system with coils located directly on the spark plugs.

The first power plant is a 1.6-liter, 106-horsepower version, working with a 5-speed manual or continuously variable transmission. Next comes the 1.8-liter, 125-horsepower version, operating with the same list of gearboxes.

As for the chassis, it remains the same. You can notice the presence of a front-wheel drive platform, an independent McPherson suspension in front and a semi-independent torsion beam in the rear. It is important that the suspension has been reconfigured, which has a positive effect on the smoothness of the ride.

In addition, the company’s engineers were able to replace a whole list of elements that did not pass the test on Russian roads. Although the braking system has not been changed, it has also been reconfigured in order to reduce the braking distance. And here steering gear It now has an electric booster, which replaces the outdated hydraulic booster.

Options and prices

The restyled version of the Lifan Solano 630 was sold in 3 versions: Comfort, Luxury and Luxury CVT. The initial option is priced from 439,900 rubles. Already the basic equipment is quite rich and has:

15-inch stamped “rollers”;
Halogen optics with electrical corrector;
Rear fog lights;
Chromed appearance parts;
Two front airbags;
Fabric interior;
Air conditioning;
Rear parking sensors;
Electric windows;
Central locking;
CD audio system with 6 speakers.

The next Luxury package costs from RUB 464,900. It was equipped with an immobilizer, alloy wheels, leather interior, remote door opening and a six-speaker audio system. The most expensive version will only receive a CVT gearbox. Its cost is 519,900 rubles.

Lifan Solano II generation

The second generation of the Chinese three-volume car (under the internal factory marking “650”) was presented at the end of the summer of 2016 in Moscow. If we compare the new product with the previous model, it has significantly improved in design terms. In addition, the sedan was equipped with modified technology. In China, the 2nd generation Lifan Solano was officially presented in the spring of 2015. How did the car turn out?

Exterior

From the outside, the new Lifan Solano 650 looks prettier than its predecessor. The design team tried to equip the exterior of the sedan with a more modern and stylish look, bringing it as close as possible to vehicles from Europe. The efforts of the development department were only beneficial. The nose area of the car does not have super original design solutions, but it can attract attention with a good arrangement of seemingly simple elements.

Pleased with the presence of headlights with beautiful lensed optics, a radiator grille with 3 horizontal slats, as well as a laconic bumper with two “foglights” spaced on the sides and a small air intake cutout in the center. The side of the new Lifan Solano has the outlines of a standard sedan with familiar proportions.

The appearance was improved by new 15-inch light alloy rollers. However, they can only be seen in higher trim levels. The side of the sedan has a duty rib running along the line of the door handles. In addition, there are elegant mirror housings, complemented by turn signal repeaters.

The ride height has increased and is now 165 millimeters. The car can be painted in one of six colors. It can be white, black, gray, silver, brown and cherry.

The appearance of the new Lifan Solano 2nd generation turned out to be fresh and modern. At night, the “Chinese” can even be confused with a more expensive European model.

The rear of the new Lifan Solano matches the front area. Are used simple shapes and clean lines. In this vein, the company’s specialists decided to design the marker lights, trunk lid and rear bumper. On the lower right side of the bumper there is a small pipe for the vehicle's exhaust system. In general, the external design turned out to be very interesting and attractive.

Interior

Inside, the Chinese four-door has a completely redesigned front panel with a completely new placement of controls. If you compare the interior of the “first” model with the second generation, you get the feeling that the interior of the Lifan Solano II is almost standard. The driver is presented with a slightly simple, but quite informative instrument panel with softly illuminated scales.

A new three-spoke steering wheel was placed in front of the “tidy” (more expensive trim levels already have a multifunction steering wheel). A more interesting and modern console structure is located in the center, allowing you to easily control multimedia functions or adjust the temperature inside the sedan.

Among the finishing materials, one can highlight the use of inexpensive, but quite good materials. There is hard plastic, glossy “decor”, and metal-look inserts. It’s also nice that the center console has a 7-inch touch screen, which eloquently demonstrates the use of modern technology. Even the basic version of Lifan Solano 2 has artificial leather on the seats.

The seats installed in front did not have the most comfortable profile and poorly developed lateral support. However, the overall impression is smoothed out by wide ranges of settings. As for the seating position, it is quite comfortable, but tall passengers will lack headroom.

Luggage compartment volume has always been one of the strengths of this sedan, and the “630” model inherited this pleasant bonus. The buyer can count on 650 liters of usable space. If necessary, this figure can be increased by removing the rear seats.

The underground niche has a full-size spare stamped wheel. The new generation sedan has an attractive, laconic and moderately austere interior that can compete with its rivals.

Specifications

Power unit

For the Russian market the second Lifan generation The Chinese company offers Solano with two 4-cylinder naturally aspirated engines running on gasoline. They have a cast iron cylinder block, variable valve timing, multi-point fuel injection and 16-valve DOHC valve timing. The base version is a 1.5-liter, 100-horsepower power plant (129 Nm).

Next comes a more productive version, designed for 1.8 liters. It develops 133 horsepower and 168 Nm. The Chinese sedan does not accelerate over 180 kilometers per hour. For every 100 kilometers traveled, a car consumes from 6.5 to 7 liters of gasoline in the combined cycle.

Transmission

All two engines work in tandem with a 5-speed manual transmission, and older versions can optionally receive a continuously variable CVT. All torque is transmitted exclusively to the front wheels.

Chassis

The new 2nd generation Lifan Solano sedan is based on an improved base from the previous family, which features an independent McPherson-type suspension in the front and a semi-independent structure with a torsion beam on the rear wheels. Stabilizers lateral stability stand on both axes.

The car has disc brakes (ventilated front), which operate together with electronic ABS systems and EBD, as well as other electronics. Driving the new Lifan Solano 2 2017 sedan is easy with the help of an electric power steering mounted on the shaft.

Safety

Although the model is modern, there is no need to require an abundance of security systems from it. Already in the basic configuration there are a couple of airbags and basic assistance systems. The most “stuffing” will be in maximum performance. The top sedan Lifan Solano 2 2018 has:

Front and rear airbags;
Electronic systems ABS and EBD;
Seat belt indicator;
Automatic door locking when starting to move;
Indicator of open doors;
Blind spot monitoring;
Parktronic;
Navigation system;
Child lock on the rear doors;
ISOFIX child seat fasteners;
Immobilizer;
Standard alarm;
Keyless entry.

Very often, Chinese vehicles in their standard version are not replete with an abundance of nice “things” and security systems. However, judging by the words of company representatives, the 2nd generation Lifan Solano is one of those cars that have a good “base”. Starting with the standard configuration there is already:

Air conditioner;
Full package of electric windows;
central locking and other systems designed to increase the level of comfort.

Options and prices

You can officially buy the new Chinese sedan Lifan Solano II 2018 at various dealership centers of the company. A potential buyer can choose one configuration from 3 possible: Basic, Comfort and Luxury. Standard equipment is estimated at 499,900 rubles. She boasts:

Two airbags;
Audio system with four speakers;
Four electric windows;
Standard alarm;
Central locking with remote control;
Air conditioning;
Electronic ABS system;
Seat upholstery made of leather substitute;
Metal wheeled rollers.

For the top-end Luxury package they are already asking for at least 599,900 rubles. Rear parking sensors are added to the existing list, rear camera, mirrors with heating and electric drive functions, a multifunction steering wheel, a standard navigation system and 15-inch alloy wheels.

Any driver strives to distinguish his vehicle from the general flow of cars. Whatever one may say, only the driver himself can make his car original. It all depends on the amount of money and imagination. What kind of work can you do yourself?

External tuning

There are many options for tuning Lifan Solano, and some work can be done with your own hands. This may include replacing the radiator grille, installing new headlights or fog lights, and installing exclusive equipment and accessories. By purchasing a more recent radiator grille, you can make your sedan more aggressive and solid.

Due to technical features the suspension of a Chinese car can only be lowered. This procedure must be performed correctly to prevent possible body damage. Some Lifan Solano owners decide to install new, beautiful and suitable wheels, which significantly transform the appearance of the sedan.

Other owners use the installation of body kit elements. You can purchase it together with thresholds, bumpers and spoilers. However, installation of the body kit must be carried out by those who know how to do it in order to avoid various difficulties and malfunctions. All other installations can be done independently, having previously read the training videos. There are fans of modernizing the air intake. These works include installation of filters zero resistance instead of the basic filter element.

In addition, you can move the air intake outside to an area of excessive pressure, for example, under the radiator grille. Such manipulations are carried out only to improve the appearance of the vehicle, because there can be no talk of any increase in power at this moment. The maximum that can be achieved is a slight reduction in fuel “appetite”. Experts do not recommend removing the adsorber, as this will also not increase the power for your power unit.

Chip tuning and disabling the catalyst

There are tuning centers offering modernization services power plant atmospheric type. Employees of the company can use the program to increase the power and torque of the engine and configure the electronic pedal throttle valve, as well as turn off the catalyst and reflash the control unit to Euro-2.

To flash gasoline engines of the Chinese Lifan Solano sedan, specialists use the OBDII diagnostic connector located in the pedal unit area. With the help of chip tuning, you can increase the throttle response of the engine throughout the entire operating range of the engine. This mainly applies to the “lower range”; the response time of the accelerator pedal decreases, increases mechanical power and torque increases in the range of 8-10 percent.

You can also programmatically disconnect the catalyst. To do this you need to disable oxygen sensor, which is installed behind the catalyst. If there are problems with the catalyst, there will be no need to install Lifan Solano mechanical decoys.

Comparison with competitors

The Chinese automobile company has six direct competitors. And only one car comes from China. The list of main competitors of Lifan Solano 2: Nissan Almera And .

The most affordable option is a French sedan. It comes with a 1.6-liter 82-, 102- and 113-horsepower engine, synchronized with a 5-speed manual, 5-speed robotic or 4-speed automatic transmission gear shift. But the Chinese model has a number of its advantages, so everyone must choose for themselves.

5 minutes to read. Views 580 Published February 26, 2016

Service and Lifan repair Solanos are a low-cost affair.

There are quite a lot of examples of the Chinese automobile industry driving around Russia. The sedan can be called one of the best-selling Chinese cars in our country. Like most Chinese car models, it has a stereotype attached to it. tin can, which quickly rots and constantly breaks down. We will find out whether this is really the case in this article, which will talk about the repair and maintenance of the Lifan Solano sedan.

History of the Chinese brand Lifan

The Chinese automobile manufacturer Lifan grew out of a small company engaged in the repair of various equipment, mainly motorcycles. It was founded in 1992. 10 years later transformed Lifan company released the first bus of its own production. Since 2005, the Chinese company Lifan has been producing passenger cars.

When developing its own automobile models, Lifan used a proven business scheme - obtaining licenses from more famous automobile manufacturers for the production of cars. As a result, new Chinese car models appeared, which were based on the platforms of old models of world famous car brands. One of the first passenger 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 platform of the Daihatsu Charade car. Also, the Lifan Solano sedan model we are considering is essentially a redesigned Toyota Corolla model of the E120 generation.

Very quickly, the Chinese company Lifan entered the Russian automobile market and mastered the local production of cars at the facilities of the Derways plant in Cherkessk. The first new Lifan cars rolled off the assembly line of the Derways plant in 2007. At first it was large-scale assembly of cars. However, two years later in 2009, production of the Lifan car began. full cycle production.

Main characteristics of the Lifan Solano sedan

The copy of the Lifan Solano sedan we selected was manufactured in 2010. Mileage of this car is 75,000 kilometers. This copy has the Luxury package. 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 Lifan Solano model uses a Chinese engine manufactured under a Japanese license. Gas engine LF481Q3. The Chinese took a license from the Japanese Toyota engine 4A-FE. Let us remember that this power unit has been produced by the Japanese since 1988. The Chinese installed it on it electronic module ignition by removing the distributor. Despite the outdated design, low efficiency and power, this engine is reliable. It is familiar to most motorists in Russia.

The engine in the Lifan Solano is Chinese, but fully corresponds to the Japanese engine from Toyota.

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 Lifan Solano sedan is used as a platform Toyota model Corolla of the E120 generation, the chassis was transferred to the Chinese model from the Japanese. The McPherson suspension is installed at the front, and the rear suspension has a beam.

Lifan Solano body maintenance and repair

Like most Chinese car models, the Lifan Solano sedan has rather thin sheets of metal in its body panels. In addition, the paintwork is also of rather poor quality, which manifests itself in the form of rust everywhere throughout the body and very early. The chips on the hood of the body are already starting to rust after a couple of months. Corrosion first appears on the body sills and door edges. In fact, where more moisture accumulates, metal corrosion begins. This makes it clear that the Lifan Solano was not subjected to sufficient anti-corrosion treatment at the factory.

In the interior of our copy 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, owners of this car model, instead of a dead audio system, install mounts for the tablet and run wires to connect audio to the car speakers.

It is worth noting that the dashboard of this model is made of soft plastic, which involuntarily pleases car enthusiasts who are accustomed to hard and smelly plastic in Chinese cars.

Seat heating in the car often burns out. In addition, the wiring may fail with the rear audio parking sensors.

Lifan Solano engine problems

Because Chinese engine for the Lifan Solano car, it was made under license based on a Japanese power unit from 1988; there are no complaints about the technical part of the power unit. However, the electronics of this motor are very lame, and failures often occur. On some copies of Lifan Solano, electrical wiring breaks due to the suspension hitting potholes on the roads.

Consumables for such a motor are inexpensive. Oil filter will cost about 300 rubles. Air filter completely suitable from a similar Toyota engine. The air filter will cost the same 300 rubles. The timing belt should be replaced every 60 thousand kilometers. Many owners of Lifan Solano cars are in no hurry to replace the timing belt, as they are not afraid of the valves bending if the belt breaks. The pistons of this engine have grooves for the valves. A timing belt and tension pulley will cost about 2,000 rubles. Work at a service station to replace the timing belt will cost an average of 5,000 rubles.

Lifan Solano chassis maintenance

The rear suspension of the Lifan Solano looks pretty bad.

In the front McPherson suspension and rear semi-independent suspension with a beam, there is little that can break. The smallest resource among Supplies suspension 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 a 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 be spent on work to replace them.

Recently, more and more Chinese cars have begun to appear in our country. There is always a demand for such cars. This is not surprising, because these cars are much cheaper than European or Korean ones. In today's article we will look at Lifan Solano. Some call it the Chinese "Corolla". But is Lifan as reliable as Toyota, and is it worth purchasing?

Description

So, “Lifan Solano” is a four-door, five-seater sedan, mass-produced since 2007. The production of these machines is established in several countries:

China.
Iran.
Tunisia.
Russia (assembly at the Derways plant in Cherkessk).

Appearance

The car does not have a flashy appearance. It's simple budget sedan. At the front there are regular halogen headlights ( high beam lensed) and chrome radiator grille. The car has a large windshield that flows smoothly onto the roof. Turn signals are integrated into the mirrors. Iron wheels are offered standard for the car, but casting is available in more expensive trim levels. An additional brake light and fog lights are already available as standard.

What do owner reviews say about the Lifan Solano body? Among the shortcomings it is worth noting poor quality LCP. After two years of use, the paint becomes covered with numerous chips. The chrome on the grille is peeling. However, this is not the worst thing, according to reviews from owners. Lifan Solano II rusts, and quickly. Owners have to regularly treat the metal to prevent the car from rotting. From the Lifan Solano factory it is poorly protected from corrosion.

"Lifan Solano": dimensions, ground clearance

According to the European classification, the car corresponds to the C-class. The total length of the body is 4.55 meters, width - 1.7, height - 1.5 meters. The ground clearance is 15 centimeters. As reviews note, the Lifan Solano is not too low, but due to the long wheelbase (2.6 meters), it will be difficult to overcome uneven surfaces.

Salon

Inside it is a typical Chinese car with wooden inserts and chrome elements. The steering wheel is four-spoke, adjustable. There is a built-in CD radio in the center console. Nearby are compact air deflectors. A little lower is the air conditioning unit. Interior color may vary. There are both black and beige interiors. But the latter looks much more pleasant, reviews say.

Lifan Solano is also equipped with heated seats. But even here there were some incidents. Thus, many owners complained about system failure. The heating did not work after the third turn on. For some, the situation was different - the system literally burned through the seat upholstery. Good official dealer recognized this as a warranty case and replaced the chairs completely.

Specifications

The car has two power units. Thus, the base engine is a 1.6-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder with a 16-valve cylinder head and an aluminum cylinder block. Maximum engine power - 106 Horse power. Torque - 137 Nm, available at 3.5 thousand rpm. This unit is paired with a five-speed manual transmission or a continuously variable transmission. Acceleration to hundreds according to the passport data is 15.5 seconds. Maximum speed- 170 kilometers per hour. Fuel consumption in mixed mode is 7.5 liters.

The top of the line is a 1.8-liter engine with 125 horsepower. It too has a 16-valve head and an aluminum block. Engine torque is 160 Nm at 4.2 thousand rpm. This unit is equipped with a non-alternative five-speed manual transmission. Acceleration to hundreds takes exactly 14 seconds. Maximum speed is 200 kilometers per hour. Fuel consumption is 8.2 liters per hundred in combined mode.

Motor problems

According to reviews from owners, Lifan Solano 2 has a serious “illness” - vibrations from the engine. They are quite strong and appear as if idle speed, and when moving. The reason for this phenomenon is not clear - the dealer explains this by the peculiarity of the installation of attachments. In order to somehow reduce vibrations, owners install corrugations on the exhaust pipe and loosen the muffler mount. There is an opinion that the mount is very rigid and vibration is easily transferred to the car body.

Transmission

There were a lot of complaints about the box, namely the clutch. As reviews note, clutch slippage is often noticeable on the Lifan Solano. The reason for this was the thin petals of the basket, which is why they were significantly deformed during short runs. But as reviews say, this problem is rarely observed on Lifan Solano 2 - the manufacturer began installing a reinforced basket with stronger petals.

Owners also complain about the unreliable drive design. The clutch rod did not fully enter the slave cylinder due to a stiff and thick spring. Because of this, the clutch was not completely disengaged. The owners themselves had to change the hard spring to a softer one (by the way, they often installed it from a Corolla, without modifications). Some people converted the clutch rod to a shorter one.

At the service center, the mechanics noticed that problems with the clutch on the Lifan often occurred due to a poorly adjusted pedal. Her freewheel and the position had to be set again, using a locking pin.

After a run of twenty thousand kilometers, the input shaft bearing began to hum. This noise was clearly audible when driving in second and third gear.

Chassis

The car is built on a front-wheel drive trolley with monocoque body. At the front there is an independent suspension with MacPherson struts. At the rear there is a semi-independent beam with trailing arms. Disc brakes on both axles. Steering- rack with hydraulic booster.

What do reviews say about the Lifan Solano II suspension? Owners complain of an unknown squeak, which appears after a mileage of more than 20 thousand kilometers. It is especially intensified in winter time. Also, owners often encounter knocking noises from the suspension. Shock absorbers leak after 30 thousand kilometers. By this time the racks are knocking transverse stabilizer.

Causes no less problems ABS system, which the car is equipped with as standard. The reason for system failure is poor quality brake fluid and in unclicked chips. The original pads are very hard, which leads to rapid wear of the discs themselves. In winter, the power steering pump hums. The problem also lies in poor quality liquid. Steering rods are knocking at a mileage of 20 thousand kilometers.

Price

On secondary market You can purchase Lifan Solano at an average price of 175 to 300 thousand rubles. If we talk about new models, they are available at a price of 600 thousand rubles. At the same time, in basic equipment includes:

Stamped 15-inch wheels with decorative caps.
Fog lights.
Adjusting the steering block.
Full size spare.
Electric windows for all doors.
Central locking.
Air conditioner.
Heated side mirrors.

At the same time, the “base” has only a fabric interior and no radio (audio preparation is provided). The deluxe version has:

Let's sum it up

So, we found out which Lifan reviews Solano. As you can see, the car is not without various “diseases”. Don’t think that for a small price (almost three times lower than the Corolla) you can buy truly high-quality and reliable car. When purchasing Lifan Solano, you need to be prepared for unforeseen breakdowns and other situations.