What's happened heated windshield? Heated windshield. Fully heated windshield. Heated windshield wiper blade area. Heated windshield, where to buy? Are heated windshield wipers useful? How to quickly defrost glass and go about your business? And what are the solutions to the problem of frosted windshield blades? We'll talk about this today.
It’s winter outside... The cars are all covered in snow, the windshield is completely frozen, but we need to drive faster. But you still have to wait (sometimes up to half an hour).
You already know what not to do with your car and windshield in winter. We are waiting for the windshield to thaw (defrost) and it will be safe to drive out onto the road.
By the way, a car cover can help you save time in the morning.
Another inconvenience that winter brings to motorists is the freezing (icing) of brushes when driving during snowfall. Icy brushes simply crawl across the glass and do not clean anything. You have to get out of the car onto the street, tap the brushes, and scrape off the ice from them. And do this again and again...
Heated windshield
There are two types of electric windshield heating:
- Heating of the entire area of the windshield.
- Heating the rest zone of the windshield wiper blades.
Heating the entire glass surface is not a cheap pleasure (due to the complexity of manufacturing), so not every car has such a winter-friendly option. The most expensive are glasses with a metallized composition applied to the inner surface that conducts electric current. Such glass has a long service life, is not afraid of chips, does not impair the driver’s visibility, and is connected with special connectors from the bottom and top.
Another cheaper technology for completely heating a windshield (even available on Grant) is that when making a windshield (let me remind you that windshields are made of triplex (multilayer)), thin filaments of a heater are placed between the layers over the entire surface of the glass. They are so thin that they are practically invisible (especially in cloudy weather). When connected, these threads heat up and heat the glass.
Rear seats
It is easiest to get into a Lada, although its low and graceful threshold will be dirty in the slush, as in foreign cars. And in Hyundai and especially in Kia, when landing, you should bend your head more: leaning against the low slope of the roof is as easy as shelling pears.
Rio is the tightest of all, Solaris is more spacious, and the champions in terms of space are Vesta and Polo. True, they do not have lampshades. But unlike the Koreans, Lada and Volkswagen do not skimp on the pocket on the back of the driver’s seat, the door rails and the third headrest.
Lada Vesta
Hyundai Solaris
Kia Rio
A year and a half ago, few in class B offered rear view cameras. And now everyone except Kia has them in top versions! Our four have parking sensors in the list of options, but only Volkswagen allows you to order not only rear sonars, but also front ones, and this is already available in the “middle” version of Comfortline.
Lada Vesta
Volkswagen Polo
Disadvantages of heating filaments
The disadvantages of such threads are that in bright sunny weather they become visible (you sit as if in a cage). At night, these threads “glare” from the headlights of oncoming cars. And of course, the durability of such glass is much lower than heated glass with a metallized composition. If a pebble hits or one thread burns out, then some area on the glass, and maybe the entire glass, will no longer be heated. This windshield cannot be repaired.
And the cheapest of the car’s winter options is heating not the entire glass, but only the area where the wiper blades stop. Everything here is simple and is made using the same technology as heated rear window. The heating element in the form of tracks (very similar to the heating tracks of the rear window of a car) is located in the area where the brushes stop.
Despite the differences in the manufacture of the heating zone and the cost of the windshield, the operating principle of electric heating is the same for all glasses. When you press the heating button, an electric current flows through a relay to a metallized surface or to thin wires located on or in the glass. These heating elements begin to heat up under the influence of electric current to a certain temperature. The windshield heats up and melts the ice. Everything is very simple. The glass got hot and turned off. The glass cooled down and the heating turned on again. It’s even surprising why all cars intended for use in cold climates are not required to have heated windows installed?
Interior and cost
It seems that the engineers of the new Vesta 2021 were impressed by the interior of the Rio. Most dashboard elements in cars are designed exactly the same.
Both vehicles boast:- high ergonomics of the interior;
- good interior equipment;
- high-quality measuring instruments;
- tightly fitted interior trim panels;
- well-thought-out center console.
The final result in the comparison of Kia Rio and Lada Vesta can be summed up based on their cost. Thus, the basic model of Lada Vesta will cost buyers 515,000 rubles. The minimum configuration of the Kia Rio X costs a little more – 600,000 rubles.
The top-end version of the Korean car will force you to shell out about 870,000 rubles. In turn, a domestic vehicle in the maximum configuration costs about 660,000 rubles.
Your vehicle does not have a heated window option.
What to do, because the winter is long and cold? You can buy glass for your car that already has heating elements. Finding such a windshield is not a problem. Such glass is available for sale for almost every car model. Type in the search engine the brand of your car and the words - buy a heated windshield. Look for a price that suits you and buy it.
Yes, such glass will not be cheap, and it will also need to be installed (glued in), then the wires must be separated and connected correctly (so that there is no fire). And of course, you will need to get used to driving “in a cage” and not paying attention to the glare from the heating threads.
Specifications
To help car owners find out all the advantages and disadvantages of both models, we decided to conduct a small study in which we will try to take a closer look at all the nuances of each car.
Read below in our material.
Considering Hyundai’s excellent reputation (alas, the domestic manufacturer is not a favorite here), we can assume that the Russian new product will act as “an ordinary Russian car,” of which several have already been released in recent years.
Therefore, it is still premature to prophesy a laurel for Solaris. However, let’s not rush – let’s talk about everything in order.
The Russian plant proposes as many as three engines for different configurations of the Lada Vesta. The sedan is equipped with a 106 horsepower/1.6 liter engine. The engine is reliable, works without defects or complaints. It accelerates to hundreds in 12 seconds. on a manual transmission, and on a “robot” the figure is 12.8 seconds. Consumes 10 liters of fuel in the city, accelerates to 178 km/h.
| Specifications | Lada Vesta | Hyundai Solaris |
| Body | ||
| Dimensions (length x width x height) | 4410 x 1764 x 1497 | 4405 x 1729 x 1469 |
| Ground clearance | 178 mm | 160 mm |
| Fuel tank volume | 55 l | 50 l |
| Engine and transmission | ||
| Engine | 1.6 (106 hp) and 1.8 (122 hp) | 1.4 (100 hp) and 1.6 (123 hp) |
| Transmission | Manual transmission (5 gears) and AMT/robot (5 gears) | Manual transmission (6 gears) and automatic transmission (6 gears) |
From the comparison table you can see that the Lada Vesta is longer, wider and taller than its competitor. In addition, it has more ground clearance and gas tank capacity. The main drawback of the VAZ new product is the lack of an automatic transmission.
Partial glass heating
Or you can buy and install heating for the rest zone of the windshield wiper blades on the windshield of your car. Despite the fact that such heating can be considered partial, it brings a lot of convenience to drivers. Having a heated zone, you don’t have to stop on the road, get out of the car and knock ice off the brushes, risking breaking them in the cold. By warming up a frozen car in the morning, the glass will warm up faster.
In inclement, damp weather, heating will help get rid of glass fogging. Buying heating for the windshield wiper blade area is very simple these days. Type in the search engine the words “buy heating of the resting zone of brushes” and you will be offered a huge number of models for every taste and color. You can install the heating yourself. For most motorists there is nothing complicated about this. If you don’t understand electrics, then this is also not a problem; you can find professionals who will install this useful option for winter in just a couple of hours.
Trunk
To increase trunk volume, the car was even slightly lengthened. The trunk volume is not that small. In the top configuration, it is equipped with a convenient double bottom, under which you can easily hide the tool. Larger tools such as a jack can be stored in the lockable side niches.
The compartment geometry is flat, without protruding wheel arches. Hooks, lighting, and brackets for nets are carefully located around the perimeter. There's even an outlet. The ease of loading is also flawless: the threshold is low and the bumper protrudes slightly.
The problem of opening the trunk is conveniently implemented compared to previous models. The rubberized release button is located in the license plate niche and is on the folding key.
If you fold the backs of the rear seats, you get a more/less flat floor and quite a large volume, and if you roll the front seats as far forward as possible, then a short driver can even pass the night quite comfortably.
There are also heated brushes
This is the cheapest option.
You can make them yourself or buy them ready-made in a store. Are there any benefits from such heated brushes? Brushes with heating during snowfall clean better than brushes without heating; an ice crust does not form on them. And that's where all the usefulness ends. The heated brush will not melt the ice on the glass; you will have to wait until the car warms up and the heater starts heating. In traffic jams and slow traffic during snowfall, the heated brush works well. But when moving quickly along the highway, the brush cools down from the cold air and works just as poorly as a brush without heating. There is also a danger that the glass may crack under such a brush in severe frost (below -20 C). There are many such cases. Glass does not like local (spot) heating, and the brush has a small contact area. Heated brushes have more disadvantages than advantages, which may be why heated brushes are not widely used. And those who bought and tried a heated brush, after it wears out, no longer want one.
That's all for today. Let your windshield thaw quickly!
Optima – a balanced solution
Here is how the prices for the Lada X-Ray in this configuration were distributed, depending on the selected engine and transmission, as well as the availability of the Comfort package:
- RUB 589,000 for a 106-horsepower unit with a manual transmission;
- 628,000 rub. for a 110-horsepower unit with a manual transmission + Comfort package;
- 653,000 rub. for a 122-horsepower unit with a robotic gearbox + Comfort package.
Of course, the price of the XRAY, even in the “poor” configuration, rests on the ceiling of the class of budget cars, especially those of domestic production. But this cost turned out to be lower than previously expected (600,000 rubles for the cheapest).
"Optima" includes the following "bells and whistles":
- 2 front airbags;
- ABS (prevents wheel locking);
- TCS (traction control system);
- ESC (Exchange Stability Control – reduces the risk of skidding);
- hill start assistant (a system that prevents the car from rolling away when starting to move uphill with a slope of more than 4%);
- EBD (brake force distribution);
- "ERA-GLONASS";
- electrohydraulic power steering;
- steering column height adjuster;
- power front windows;
- on-board computer;
- audio system without CD player with Bluetooth and USB connector;
- control the audio system using buttons on the steering wheel;
- central locking;
- folding rear seat backrest;
- 16" alloy wheels;
- metallic body coating;
- “Isofix” is a system for attaching child car seats.
When choosing the Comfort package, the X-Ray will add important climate options: air conditioning, heated front seats and a cooled glove box.
Kia Soul
Kia Soul is the cheapest heated seat for all seats on the Russian market.
The updated UAZ Patriot is 23,100 rubles more expensive. But even if you manage to go to the dealer in time to pick up a pre-restyling SUV, you will have to overpay, even if only 90 rubles. Kia Soul is the cheapest heated seat for all seats on the Russian market. The updated UAZ Patriot is 23,100 rubles more expensive. But even if you manage to go to the dealer in time to pick up a pre-restyling SUV, you will have to overpay, even if only 90 rubles.
A Russian car can also be advanced in terms of “warm” options. The latest update brought a heated steering wheel to the UAZ Patriot in addition to the previously available heated windshield and rear windows, mirrors, front and rear seats. There are only no warm windshield washer nozzles. With a full set of factory heating, the Patriot costs 1,008,000 rubles.
CASCO
- a young unmarried girl aged 18 with zero driving experience; - a 32-year-old man with a family and children who has had a license for 14 years; - a 65-year-old man with 47 years of driving experience.
| Automobile | Car price, rub. | CASCO policy price, rub. (% of car price) | ||
| For a girl | for a middle aged man | for an elderly man | ||
| Lada Vesta | 750000 | 110778 (14,8%) | 51747 (6,9%) | 40450 (5,4%) |
| Hyundai Solaris | 750000 | 140305 (18,7%) | 68531 (9,1%) | 54423 (7,3%) |
| Kia Rio | 750000 | 134627 (18,0%) | 63728 (8,5%) | 50247 (6,7%) |
| Volkswagen Polo | 750000 | 139371 (18,6%) | 63649 (8,5%) | 46148 (6,2%) |
* Tariffs for Moscow according to the companies Ingosstrakh, RESO-Garantiya, Renaissance Insurance, MAX and Rosgosstrakh.
Test drive Lada XRAY | Honest test drive
08.03.2016
Lada Xray is a very interesting car in all respects. Steve Mattin himself, the legendary designer of the largest European automakers, worked on the design. Worked as a designer for Mercedes-Benz for 18 years. He spent 5 years in management positions designing Volvo cars. He has taught at a Swedish university and independently consulted on brand development and design projects.
Since 2011, Mattin has been working as the chief designer of the AvtoVAZ concern, in particular, of Lada cars. This had the best effect on the cars of this manufacturer. Lada Xray is endowed with an innovative characteristic X-shaped “muzzle”, X-shaped embossed side shapes and completely new head optics with full use of LEDs. The car has acquired a very attractive appearance.
Lada Xray rightly claims to be a crossover, since, in comparison with sedans, it has a fairly high ground clearance, good departure/ascent angles and a very energy-intensive suspension. The suspension is perfectly designed for Russian road conditions. It is planned to release all-wheel drive versions.
The car has a fairly large trunk, equipped with a convenient electric button. Work was done on the sofa for rear passengers - it became more comfortable. The design of the front seats was borrowed from more expensive “Western Europeans” and developed for this model, which also had a positive effect on comfort.
The Xray is now available with fairly powerful gasoline engines that don't rattle, giving away the appearance of a domestic automaker. The basic package already includes a good power steering, 2 airbags, an audio system with 4 speakers, ESP. The maximum configuration includes a robotic gearbox, a rain sensor and climate control instead of air conditioning.
Lada Xray is an excellent domestic car with a specific interesting design, excellent capabilities and a good price-quality ratio!
Test drive Lada Xray from Alexander Soshnikov. Video review of Lada X-Ray, owner reviews.
“Honest Test Drive” tested the Lada X-Ray car. Look what happened.
