I've been driving a petrol Patriot for six months now. Do I like it? The more I drive it, the more I catch myself thinking: yes and no! In the "no" column, the first three positions are consistently occupied by the engine — it drinks a lot, doesn't pull at low revs, and isn't flexible at high revs. In short, neither here nor there. That marketing scheme, because of which the ZMZ engine unsuitable for an SUV was put on promising UAZ models, now looks strange. Even despite the fact that the Patriot is still unrivaled in its segment, you need to fight for the buyer. When even Chinese copies of the ancient 2.4-liter Mitsubishi engine perform better, it's time to admit the mistake and look for other ways. And they exist! Even the UMZ-421.3 would be more suitable than the high-revving Zavolzhye unit. But enough about petrol — it's time for diesel!
AN EXTRA THOUSAND
A couple of years ago, the Ulyanovsk folks showed journalists a Patriot with the ZMZ-514 diesel, the same one that's in the Hunter. Although it's a bit weak for a heavy vehicle, and the car drove noticeably slower with it, the feel was more pleasant than with the petrol engine.
"Once we make common rail, then we'll put it on the 'Patrik' serially..." — that's how the Ulyanovsk folks answered all questions, in the tone of cat Matroskin. And an acquaintance from the ZMZ design department waved it off: they say, we won't have 'common rail', and we can't even get this one going, all efforts are thrown into preparing production of Iveco engines. I kept quiet then and decided not to spread that information. To avoid jinxing it. Better Iveco than nothing. And last spring, an employee of UAZ's marketing service unexpectedly called me and joyfully said: you wanted a diesel Patriot, so order it — the series has started! This series ran until autumn... Only in September did they start selling diesel SUVs in Moscow. Moreover, by order and almost by lists, like furniture in the Soviet Union. Another three months passed, and here I am sitting behind the wheel of a grumbling and shaking diesel Patriot, pondering: is this what I was waiting for, and is it worth that extra thousand dollars.
A couple of years ago, the Ulyanovsk folks showed journalists a Patriot with the ZMZ-514 diesel, the same one that's in the Hunter. Although it's a bit weak for a heavy vehicle, and the car drove noticeably slower with it, the feel was more pleasant than with the petrol engine.
"Once we make common rail, then we'll put it on the 'Patrik' serially..." — that's how the Ulyanovsk folks answered all questions, in the tone of cat Matroskin. And an acquaintance from the ZMZ design department waved it off: they say, we won't have 'common rail', and we can't even get this one going, all efforts are thrown into preparing production of Iveco engines. I kept quiet then and decided not to spread that information. To avoid jinxing it. Better Iveco than nothing. And last spring, an employee of UAZ's marketing service unexpectedly called me and joyfully said: you wanted a diesel Patriot, so order it — the series has started! This series ran until autumn... Only in September did they start selling diesel SUVs in Moscow. Moreover, by order and almost by lists, like furniture in the Soviet Union. Another three months passed, and here I am sitting behind the wheel of a grumbling and shaking diesel Patriot, pondering: is this what I was waiting for, and is it worth that extra thousand dollars.
THE FIRST 20 MINUTES
Warming up a diesel at idle is a useless activity, if you didn't know. In the test car, the washer fluid in the reservoir froze, and while we thawed it and looked for proper fluid, the car rattled for about twenty minutes, remaining as cold inside as outside. The most annoying thing is that on the Limited you can now order a luxurious light-gray leather upholstery, which from the built-in heating warms up at a rate of half a degree in five minutes. I wasn't planning to freeze, so I had to fidget and inspect the interior. The June 2008 facelift brought not only unequivocally useful things — a powerful power steering or an effective air conditioner — but also controversial ones. Here, for example, is that very light-gray perforated leather. The key word here is 'light'. In our conditions, this means you'll have to carry a bunch of foam cleaners or buy waterproof covers that will hide all that beauty. Not me, but many complain about the lack of manual hub locking. It turns out the Patriot is perceived as a cruiser — for long trips, expeditions to the Pamirs... In my opinion, the extra half-liter per hundred can be compensated by reducing the cruising speed from 140 to 110 km/h — it's even safer that way. But then you don't need to jump out into the mud, but right on the road, before a snowdrift, you can engage four-wheel drive and then just as calmly disengage it — I like that. The downside is that the system's balancing isn't perfect, and additional vibrations can get quite annoying. And also: since September, SUVs with a new false radiator grille have appeared on sale — in a diagonal diamond pattern, like the previous generation Mitsubishi Pajero Sport. This grille appeals only to factory designers, perhaps...
Warming up a diesel at idle is a useless activity, if you didn't know. In the test car, the washer fluid in the reservoir froze, and while we thawed it and looked for proper fluid, the car rattled for about twenty minutes, remaining as cold inside as outside. The most annoying thing is that on the Limited you can now order a luxurious light-gray leather upholstery, which from the built-in heating warms up at a rate of half a degree in five minutes. I wasn't planning to freeze, so I had to fidget and inspect the interior. The June 2008 facelift brought not only unequivocally useful things — a powerful power steering or an effective air conditioner — but also controversial ones. Here, for example, is that very light-gray perforated leather. The key word here is 'light'. In our conditions, this means you'll have to carry a bunch of foam cleaners or buy waterproof covers that will hide all that beauty. Not me, but many complain about the lack of manual hub locking. It turns out the Patriot is perceived as a cruiser — for long trips, expeditions to the Pamirs... In my opinion, the extra half-liter per hundred can be compensated by reducing the cruising speed from 140 to 110 km/h — it's even safer that way. But then you don't need to jump out into the mud, but right on the road, before a snowdrift, you can engage four-wheel drive and then just as calmly disengage it — I like that. The downside is that the system's balancing isn't perfect, and additional vibrations can get quite annoying. And also: since September, SUVs with a new false radiator grille have appeared on sale — in a diagonal diamond pattern, like the previous generation Mitsubishi Pajero Sport. This grille appeals only to factory designers, perhaps...
I love cars that pull away without pressing the gas pedal. You smoothly release the clutch and brake — and you go. This is convenient off-road and generally on rough terrain. The petrol Patriot can't do that — it stalls. Especially on 32-inch wheels. And even on standard ones, it starts from idle reluctantly. The diesel is a different matter: on a flat surface, it can even start from second gear. Without enthusiasm, but it can. It accelerates powerfully, noisily, quickly, and briefly. Although the turbo diesel is 16-valve and its working torque range is decent, it still lacks a bit of elasticity due to low torque. But this doesn't prevent brisk movement around the city — you just have time to shift gears. Until the oil in the transfer case warms up, it's quiet in transitional modes, like in a 'Gelende'. As soon as the mechanisms warm up, familiar clicking sounds appear when shifting gears, when releasing the gas, when braking. And then — the familiar hum. Yes, some things don't change with any facelift...
As for the engine, both in the city and on the highway, there's nothing to reproach it for, except for increased noise and a high vibration background. This can be cured — better sound insulation, more modern engine mounts. A common story for any car factory — refining the model during production! It's pleasant to look at the fuel gauge. There are still two tanks, but the left one has now become the main one. The volume hasn't formally increased, but if you want, you can pour forty liters into each — right up to the cap. There's no smell of diesel in the cabin at all, and the fuel level needle only moves away from the 'full' mark after about forty kilometers of intense driving. It moves away and freezes at three-quarters. On the petrol version, no matter how you look at the gauge, the needle is already a millimeter closer to zero. But here it's like glued... However, another scourge has appeared. My petrol Patriot over six months a couple of times lit up the Check Engine light after refueling. And here it lit up and with varying success illuminated my path until the next refueling.
WITHOUT A KICK
How pleasant it is to drive a car off-road carefully and thoughtfully. It's as if the 'UAZ' had a reduction gear added to the transfer case, and also tracks attached. Where is that wheel spin, those cavalry charges, throwing at an obstacle with the clutch fully out? Calmly drove up. You don't need to get out of the car to engage the hubs, I remind you. Looked around — fortunately, you sit high and the view is excellent. Moved the lever, then the second one — and smoothly, without noise and dust, overcame everything. In low range, the traction from idle is enough almost everywhere. The engine, of course, doesn't have antistall systems that automatically add gas when there's a risk of stalling if the load exceeds the calculated one, but the diesel's natural ability to push and pull at the same time allows you to do without 'smart' electronics. In situations where you can't do without a 'kick', the diesel has only the advantage that the moment when you need to release the clutch to lurch forward comes much earlier than with the ZMZ-409, and this greatly saves the clutch.
LET'S GO FURTHER!
So, the appearance of a diesel engine on the UAZ Patriot brought only positive emotions. There's no one to compete with in this field, except maybe the Hover, but that's not serious. You just need to be prepared that the higher initial price is not all the costs. A good anti-theft system and decent 'kasko' insurance are mandatory, a pre-heater and a good filter-separator, preferably with heating, are highly desirable. Refinements, both desired and necessary, can amount to any sum you can imagine, but you can count on a reasonable minimum of a thousand dollars. And so your coveted beauty costs already about six hundred and fifty thousand... And I also want to ask the factory to finally work on the transfer case. We know you have a ready project for a differential transfer case. Implement it! And you need to install proper kingpins. Ask — we'll tell you which ones... And sort out the tanks! Let there be two, but let's make them of adequate volume. So that each holds about 55 liters. And the clutch with the mechanism... What's there, in short, let's go further — you're doing well.
How pleasant it is to drive a car off-road carefully and thoughtfully. It's as if the 'UAZ' had a reduction gear added to the transfer case, and also tracks attached. Where is that wheel spin, those cavalry charges, throwing at an obstacle with the clutch fully out? Calmly drove up. You don't need to get out of the car to engage the hubs, I remind you. Looked around — fortunately, you sit high and the view is excellent. Moved the lever, then the second one — and smoothly, without noise and dust, overcame everything. In low range, the traction from idle is enough almost everywhere. The engine, of course, doesn't have antistall systems that automatically add gas when there's a risk of stalling if the load exceeds the calculated one, but the diesel's natural ability to push and pull at the same time allows you to do without 'smart' electronics. In situations where you can't do without a 'kick', the diesel has only the advantage that the moment when you need to release the clutch to lurch forward comes much earlier than with the ZMZ-409, and this greatly saves the clutch.
LET'S GO FURTHER!
So, the appearance of a diesel engine on the UAZ Patriot brought only positive emotions. There's no one to compete with in this field, except maybe the Hover, but that's not serious. You just need to be prepared that the higher initial price is not all the costs. A good anti-theft system and decent 'kasko' insurance are mandatory, a pre-heater and a good filter-separator, preferably with heating, are highly desirable. Refinements, both desired and necessary, can amount to any sum you can imagine, but you can count on a reasonable minimum of a thousand dollars. And so your coveted beauty costs already about six hundred and fifty thousand... And I also want to ask the factory to finally work on the transfer case. We know you have a ready project for a differential transfer case. Implement it! And you need to install proper kingpins. Ask — we'll tell you which ones... And sort out the tanks! Let there be two, but let's make them of adequate volume. So that each holds about 55 liters. And the clutch with the mechanism... What's there, in short, let's go further — you're doing well.
