Test drive "Expeditionary" UAZ Patriot
Toothed tires, a rear differential with a lock and a winch - how the UAZ Patriot was turned into an expedition SUV and what came of it
Marketers of the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant have been trying hard for a long time to give the UAZ Patriot SUV the image of a “city dweller”. Remember a few years ago a commercial for the revamped Patriot was released, claiming that it was “Built for off-road,” but “updated for the city”? Indeed, the car began to be offered with power steering, stabilization system, parking sensors, and a little later it got a rear-view camera, LED optics and even multimedia on Android.
In addition, the desire to attract new customers has resulted in the emergence of many special versions of the "Patriot". One, for example, was released for the 70th anniversary of the UAZ, the other was “tied” to the popular tank shooter World of Tanks, and the most recent was dedicated to football. Special emblems on the body, decals along the sides and logos "sewn" into the headband of the infotainment system. All this "beauty" is necessary for an SUV just like a spoiler for a tuned "nine".
But the new "Expeditionary" version of UAZ Patriot, which we tested in the Caucasus, is a completely different case. All additional equipment here is strictly on the case. The Off-Road package includes steering rod protection, a high-capacity battery, and an electric winch. Plus, the car is equipped with BF Goodrich All-Terrain toothed tires, a rear differential lock, a towbar, sill protectors, and a roof rack. A fold-down ladder is designed to facilitate the loading of heavy camping equipment into the additional cargo hold. And all these attachments are installed directly at the factory, therefore they have the necessary certification. Well, and you can recognize the expeditionary Patriot from afar by its bright orange body color, which is offered exclusively for this version and is successfully combined with a black trunk.
I met Sochi with bad summer weather. The pouring rain, which, as it turned out, was already the fifth day in a row, introduced unforeseen adjustments to the previously planned route. We were to test the new special version of the SUV at the Grachevsky pass, where we had to climb from the Lazarevsky side. However, the roads there were completely washed out, and mudflows came down in the mountains, so only large trucks like the Ural could overcome this path.
However, we still did not give up our plans to get to Grachevsky, deciding to climb on it from the other side through the village of Distant. But first, we were waiting for an almost 300-kilometer detour along the Black Sea coast to the place of our first stop.
It is still a pleasure to drive for several hours on asphalt in an expedition vehicle with off-road tires. The 2,7-liter gasoline engine that remains unchanged, developing 135 forces and 217 Nm of torque (at 3900 rpm), has to be spinned all the time, to which it responds with a hysterical rumble. Overtaking is difficult, and accelerating faster than 100 km / h is scary at all - the stabilization system, like other electronic "assistants", is not provided for the new special version.
Comfort options include only air conditioning, an additional interior heater and a multimedia system with a 7-inch touchscreen display. Plus, there is a navigator with pre-installed maps of Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and Kazakhstan. It is good that there is plenty of free space even in the Patriot stuffed with camping gear and the rear passengers do not have to kick with their front knees.
Finally, after seven hours of travel along the roads of the Krasnodar Territory and Adygea, the expedition reached the place of our first overnight stay. We set up camp on the mountain, popularly called "Lenin's Lob", which offers a stunning view of the mountain plateau in the clouds and the village of Mezmay lying far below.
It was decided to install an "UAZ" tent on the roof of the car, which, however, is not included in the basic set of the "Expeditionary" off-road vehicle. For the pleasure of spending the night at a height of two meters from the ground, without fear of someone crawling towards you, you will have to pay an additional $ 1.
The next day, our expedition set off towards the Grachevsky Pass. Again pouring rain and winding slippery road with long climbs and descents, passable with a buzz in second gear. But now the asphalt is replaced by a broken dirt road leading towards the village of Distant. Previously, he bore the harsh name Spalorez, which would be best suited not to a settlement, but, say, to a villain from the Marvel universe.
In fact, timber was once mined here and sleepers were produced, which were then floated down the river to Apsheronsk. They were produced for the narrow-gauge railway, which now connects the Distant with the outside world. Now a self-propelled railway carriage runs along it twice a day - Motris, christened by local residents "Matrix".
After the last stronghold of civilization on our way, a serious ascent begins - we transfer the electronic selector washer to all-wheel drive and downshift mode, force the river and rush further up. Creaks, tinkles and other extraneous periodic crackles in the Patriot are now perceived as naturally as the sound of the wind in a relict beech forest in the Caucasus mountains. The road is replete with potholes and puddles, the depth of which can only be guessed at. Every now and then it is necessary to go around the boulders crumbling from the slopes. No one doubts the 3-mm steel protection of the steering rods, but I still don't want to check its strength once again.
On the way, there are constantly ruts and mud pits, overcome "at a run" in turn. On the ascents, which are becoming steeper and steeper, we try to keep traction and not lose speed - otherwise we will have to slide down and start all over again. From time to time it is necessary to start up a winch, the traction force of 4000 kgf is enough to free the car from the viscous captivity.
And so we got to the Grachevsky Pass and are already at an altitude of over 1200 meters. Previously, an important transport artery passed along the pass, leading straight to the Black Sea, behind which in 1942 heavy battles between Soviet and Nazi troops took place here. The battles are still reminded of the remains of defensive structures, as well as obelisks with red stars and the names of defenders.
The bright color of the Patriot serves as a good guide to avoid getting lost in the dense fog. The Ulyanovsk plant also offers a special version of an off-road vehicle with a "green metallic" body, but a citrus hue still seems to be much more preferable for an expedition vehicle. It looks harmoniously together with the greenery of the alpine meadows and the snow that has not yet melted in places, which, as it seemed before, could not be reached by car.
The cost of the "Expeditionary" UAZ Patriot is $ 13. Perhaps this is the most affordable car in Russia, which has all the necessary equipment for traveling to hard-to-reach places. For them, in fact, he was created. Because in the city "Patriot" is still stuffy and cramped.
| A type | SUV |
| Dimensions (length / width / height), mm | 4785/1900/2005 |
| Wheelbase, mm | 2760 |
| Ground clearance, mm | 210 |
| Cargo space | 1130-2415 |
| Curb weight, kg | 2125 |
| Gross vehicle weight, kg | 2650 |
| engine's type | Four-cylinder, petrol |
| Working volume, cubic meters cm | 2693 |
| Max. power, h.p. (at rpm) | 134/4600 |
| Max. cool. moment, nm (at rpm) | 217/3900 |
| Drive type, transmission | Full, MKP5 |
| Max. speed km / h | 150 |
| Acceleration from 0 to 100 km / h, s | No data |
| Average fuel consumption, l / 100 km | 11,5 |
| Price from, $. | 13 462 |
