ЗАЗ Sens: prices and specifications

History

In 2000, the Zaporizhia Automobile Plant started production of the Daewoo Lanos with a Ukrainian engine and gearbox. This version, equipped with domestic units and a 1.3-liter engine, was named Daewoo L-1300.

Both Korean and Ukrainian engineers worked on creating the prototype. Their task was to make an affordable version of the Lanos while loading the capacities of Ukrainian enterprises. It was based on the 1997 Lanos, into which a 63-horsepower MEMZ-301 engine with a Solex carburetor and a 5-speed manual gearbox of Ukrainian production were installed.

Already in 2001, the L-1300 model received a more modern 70-horsepower injection engine MEMZ-307.

The name "Sens" was attached to the car in 2002 after the all-Ukrainian contest "Give the car a name." The digital index was replaced by "Sens," which means "Sense" in translation. Until 2008, the model was sold under the Daewoo brand.

In 2008, Daewoo Sens began to be produced under the ZAZ brand. The car received a new MEMZ-317 engine with a volume of 1.4 liters and a power of 77 hp, as well as a Korean gearbox.

In the summer of 2009, an agreement was signed with the Russian company "Kwingroup" to export the car to Russia under the ZAZ brand and the name Chance. For the Russian market, ZAZ Chance was offered with 1.3-liter (70 hp) and 1.5-liter (86 hp) engines.

In 2011, the analytical Center of Yuri Levada recognized ZAZ Chance as the most economical car in terms of maintenance costs.

In 2014, ZAZ Sens underwent external refinements. The equipment list added mirrors with heating and turn signal repeaters, as well as other options.

Exterior

Externally, ZAZ Sens is almost indistinguishable from the Lanos. Since 2014, both models are equipped with turn signal repeaters in the side mirrors, fog lights, and black moldings.

The wheels on the Sens are only 13-inch, while the Lanos can also have 14-inch wheels. The car is available in two body types: a 4-door sedan and a 5-door hatchback. The sedan has vertical rear lights, the hatchback has horizontal ones.

Interior

The Sens interior is also identical to the Lanos interior. Since 2014, both models are equipped with a new instrument panel with an electronic speedometer. The trim materials are the same. Three trim levels are provided: Standard+, Comfort, and Lux. Air conditioning is available only in the Lux version.

The trunk volume depends on the body type. For the sedan, it is 322 liters, and with the rear seats folded, 958 liters. For the hatchback, these figures are 250 and 886 liters, respectively.

Engine and transmission

In Ukraine, ZAZ Sens is offered with a 1.3-liter gasoline engine with a power of 70 hp. This is an 8-valve injection engine MEMZ-307 produced by the Melitopol Motor Plant, which is considered technologically outdated but reliable.

Since 2014, this engine meets Euro-4 standards. The gearbox is only manual, 5-speed.

There is a factory version with gas-balloon equipment (LPG). ZAZ Sens gas/gasoline is available exclusively in the top Lux trim. The manufacturer claims that the power of this version is at least 65 hp.

The official fuel consumption of the gasoline version in the city is about 8.9 liters, on the highway at 90 km/h - 5.5 liters. The version with LPG on propane-butane, according to the factory, consumes an average of 9.2 liters of gas. The maximum speed of the gasoline Sens is 162 km/h, the gas one - 148 km/h.

Safety

The Sens model, like the more expensive Lanos, is equipped with safety bars in the doors against side impact and reinforcing elements under the windshield. There are box-section under-hood beams designed to absorb impact energy in a frontal collision. Official crash tests of the Sens were not conducted, but in 2006, the Ukrainian Lanos showed good safety results in the "Autoreview" tests. Unlike the ZAZ Lanos, an airbag is not available for the Sens.

Features

The main feature of ZAZ Sens is its price, which, depending on the trim level, is 10-15 percent lower than that of the Lanos. The use of domestic components and units ensures inexpensive maintenance and availability of spare parts.

The Sens can be a suitable option both as a first car and for a family that needs a car without expensive maintenance. The version with LPG is the optimal choice for those who want to save on constantly rising gasoline prices.

Popularity in Ukraine

According to the results of the first quarter of 2014, ZAZ Sens entered the top three best-selling cars in Ukraine. The model consistently enjoys high demand and often outsells the more expensive Lanos.

This indicates that selling a Sens on the secondary market will also not be difficult due to consumer trust and popularity in the new car market.

Our verdict

With a limited budget for buying a new car, ZAZ Sens can be a good alternative to an old foreign car. Buying a new Sens will save you from the need for regular repairs of a used car. The car comes with a warranty of 3 years or 100 thousand km of mileage, and the frequency of maintenance is 15,000 km.