«KamAZ 5490»: reviews. KamAZ 5490: specifications, photos

KamAZ 5490 is a new truck tractor from the Kama Automobile Plant, which differs from its predecessors with a more comfortable cabin and the availability of a reliable German engine. The development of this truck was a turning point in the history of domestic automotive industry. Did our engineers succeed in making a really high-quality and reliable commercial vehicle that would compete successfully against the background of imported tractors? The answer to this question will be found in our today's review.

Design

It should be noted that the external appearance of the Russian tractor has changed several times over the past couple of years. In the photo above you can see how it was in 2013. And in this form it will be produced serially from 2015:

As you can see, the engineers eliminated many flaws in the design of the new KamAZ. And if before it looked like a "European" of the early 2000s, now it can be described as one of the most modern mainline tractors in Europe. Designers of "KamAZ" completely abandoned the morally obsolete period of their square headlights and rectangular body shapes. The current tractor, one might say, is an example of modernity.

What was finalized?

Externally, the car has undergone a lot of changes. Headlights now have a round shape, and turn signals are placed separately. From the point of view of practicality, engineers did the right thing, because when one part of the optics is deformed, it is not necessary to change the whole block headlamp entirely (as, for example, on modern "Europeans"). The front bumper is not painted, which means that there will be less dust and dirt on KamAZ. The footwell is at the lowest level, so that the driver no longer has to literally jump into the cockpit as before. There was also a streamlined skirt-spoiler, which previously was absent on all types of KamAZ vehicles. The radiator grille with a large emblem of the company looks great against the backdrop of the bumper and the cockpit. By the way, at the bottom of the footboard there were 4 fog lights, which are also placed in separate niches. The glazing area of model 5490 KamAZ (photo of the side part you can see a little lower) is large enough that allows the driver to monitor everything that is happening on the road.

On the side you can see a neat rounding of the glasses, which lasts up to the rear spoilers. But this is not all features of the new car "KamAZ 5490". The drivers' comments indicate the presence of new disks and tires. Finally, on the Russian tractor appeared "evrokatki" - now it will be much easier for freight companies to buy and change tires.

In general, the new KamAZ 5490 looks very modern. At least in terms of design, the developers managed to eliminate all the flaws. By the way, the "front end" of the tractor has similarities with the Italian "Iveko Stalis" of 2014 release. By the way, in 2003, KamAZ also strived to bring its trucks closer to the Iveco standard. A striking example of this is the model 5460 tractor, whose appearance was similar to the Iveco Turbostar of the early 90s.

Cabin

Inside, the new tractor has significantly changed. Now you can see a rounded europanel with a lot of functional control buttons. The steering wheel also has a pair of buttons. It should be noted that earlier most of the KamAZ trucks were equipped with rather simple cabins with a very ascetic design but very reliable construction. How good and durable this cabin will be, time will tell, but for now we will move to the driver's seat. Here it is pneumatic, with automatic adjustment and pumping of air. The presence of armrests is very important in the "KAMAZ" cockpit. Nearby there are two cup holders, the gearshift knob and the handbrake lever. The dashboard of the car 5490 KamAZ (the interior photo is shown below) has an anti-reflective coating. The whole cabin has an imported 4-point air suspension. Ergonomics of the layout of controls at altitude.

Already in the "base" the car is equipped with electric window regulators, an independent heater and an audio system. For an additional fee, the customers will be provided with air conditioning and mini-fridge. The navigation system will also be installed on the KamAZ 5490 truck tractor. Experts' comments say that due to this level of equipment, the Russian truck has approached the eurotrack by several steps and can successfully compete with them. Now the salon of the domestic saddler can not be distinguished from "Ivekovsky" or "Magnumovsky".

But is it possible that our engineers managed to make such a high-quality and comfortable cabin from scratch? Of course not - for the basis was taken the design of the German saddler "Mercedes Axor" (not to be confused with the "Actros"). By the way, the overturning mechanism of the cabin is electric. This greatly reduces the time to repair the car and retains the driver's strength.

Specifications

As the engine, a turbo-diesel 6-cylinder unit of German manufacture "Daimler OM-457LA" is used here. Earlier it was used on some models of "Accor", now it is also on the tractor "KamAZ 5490". The characteristics of the German motor are quite good. The working volume of this engine is 12 liters, the total capacity is 428 horsepower. According to the level of CO emission into the atmosphere, this unit fully complies with the ecological standard "Euro-5".

Motor life

As for the resource of the German engine, its nominal mileage to overhaul is about 500-800 thousand kilometers. But, judging by the responses of drivers who drove on the Axorah, this engine is a millionaire, that is, without repair, it can manage 1, and even 1.5 million kilometers. The main thing is to use only quality oil. And as for overloads, this engine easily "drags" 40 tons "down the hill" even without soot. The power reserve is extremely high.

Service

But, like any other "German", the "Daimler" engine is very demanding on the quality of the fuel. How it will work on our diesel, it is not known. Even new DAF XF 106 tractors our carriers try to exploit at least in the CIS because of the poor quality of the local fuel. But cleaning the injectors and repairing the injection pump is very expensive.

About transmission

As a checkpoint on the "KamAZ" decided to use the import box ZF16 with intarder. It will be installed on all basic modifications of the KamAZ 5490 tractors. The test showed that the new gearbox is capable of easily overclocking the car to 110 kilometers per hour. Also, some modifications of KamAZ will be equipped with an automatic box for 12 transmissions.

KamAZ 5490 Test Drive

The first presentation of this tractor took place at the All-Russian Commercial Vehicles Exhibition "Comtrans" in 2013. Despite the fact that almost half of the new "KamAZ" was borrowed from "Accor", the impression of the drivers remained ambiguous. What surprised most is the inoperability of half the buttons on the instrument panel. In response, the manufacturer said that they are not yet connected. Well, let's hope that by 2015 KamAZ will correct this defect. As for the test drive itself, the participants did not get a full sense of it. Judge for yourself: how can you test the behavior of the car on the track with the load and at least its dispersal on the 20-meter road section? Therefore, to fully open all the potentials of the new tractor did not succeed. What it really is, "KamAZ 5490", the test drive is certainly unlikely to show. His true "face" will open only in 2-3 years of operation. Only in real conditions it is possible to determine the real reliability of the truck and its suitability for long haulage. Although the fact that the design of the car was borrowed from the Mercedes, really inspires confidence in buyers.

KamAZ 5490: price

During the presentation, the car manufacturer announced the cost of the new tractor. 2 million 900 thousand rubles - that's what KamAZ 5490 will cost. The responses of experienced drivers say that for a successful start of sales the manufacturer needs to reduce the price by at least 20-30 percent. Otherwise, the sense of buying some "KamAZ", if for the same price you can buy a time-tested "Iveko Stras" or after paying 400-800 thousand rubles to buy Volvo FH 12, and the new and in the maximum configuration? The answer is unequivocal.

Although even if you place a trucker in front of a choice: buy a new MAZ (or the same KamAZ) or a 3-year-old Volvo, definitely, he will choose the latter option. Therefore, until the moment when the domestic manufacturer starts making the same high-quality cars as the Scandinavians, the reputation was and will remain doubtful. But as soon as the "KamAZ 5490" will prove itself as a reliable truck, not inferior in quality to "Europeans", the demand for it will increase at times.

So, we found out what KamAZ 5490 has reviews, specifications and price.