A slash that gleams with chrome is a characteristic sign of Swedish cars . But the car shown in the picture in the article is more reminiscent of truckers from Hollywood films. And although a characteristic feature is present, to see this car on the roads of Europe is a rarity. This is Volvo VNL - a tractor manufactured by the American division of the Swedish concern.
Unlike European models, the American one has the usual bonnet layout. In this case, the front part is quite large. But such a volume is not only for the sake of an American look. The machines are equipped with a powerful motor, appropriate transmission, cooling, have excellent driving performance. At the same time, even in the American version, the principle that you often hear about the European version is not forgotten: Volvo is Volvo. In this review, we will try to compare the American tractor with its European counterpart.
Price
Hearing about the American model, a lot of users will think about the price of this "monster". And completely in vain. A car with a mileage of 2010 release will cost only $ 30,000. However, as with the purchase of any car, a lot of parameters are included in the price, so you should not paint the entire price line. The fact is that Volvo VNL tractors are priced at the level of European versions. It is worth noting that in Russia this car is not officially sold, but you can buy it from the hands of the second (n-th) owner.
Differences
One of the differences between the American version can be called internal space. In this tractor you can really get up and walk. The ceiling height is 2.5 meters, so even the tallest person here does not have to bend over. The cabin area in the car is 5 square meters. meters: two comfortable chairs and a sleeping compartment in the version for international transport. At the same time, these shelves are hard to call sun loungers. The width is 1.2 m, the length is ~ 2 m. Lamps are created in the cabin and bedroom compartment, creating a comfortable soft light. Also, the intercity tractor is equipped with an audio system with 8 speakers, which are also located in different parts of the cab.
The features include the possibility of transforming the bottom place. People who often travel in reserved seats, know that the lower side berth can be both a table for both passengers and a lounger for one of them. Volvo VNL uses the same principle. And given that the rear sides also have small windows - the sleeping compartment can be used not only for the rest of the driver and forwarder.
Interior and dashboard
However, it’s worth talking about the interior of the car separately. The first thing that catches your eye when you get behind the wheel is the layout of the dashboard. The machine is not intended for landing a third person, as is done in the western versions. The dashboard in front of the driver is located in a semicircle, and you can safely reach out to everything. In addition, there is only one place on the right in this car, and not a whole sofa, as is done in the cabs of cars of other manufacturers. And the protruding part of the torpedo will also not allow a person to sit in the middle, even if the owner decides to replace the right seat with a sofa.
All scales are in front of the eyes, additional devices are placed on the right side of the panel. The on-board computer Volvo VNL constantly provides information about both the motion parameters and many others. There is a holder hanging under the glass. It can be moved to another place - there is such an opportunity. Attention is drawn to two buttons in a column: red, yellow above it. Yellow performs two functions. By clicking on it, the driver activates the parking lot, pulling on himself - the automatic unlocking of the wheels. There is a lever nearby, which allows you to brake the trailer. The cabin has many shelves, cabinets, drawers for every little thing. There was even a place for a portable refrigerator and microwave. Separately, we can mention the TV, whose antenna is located on the roof of the cab.
It is also worth noting the presence of a 12-220 Volt converter. Outlets are on both sides of the cab, behind the doors and, of course, in the sleeping compartment. In addition to the converter, it has an overload protection unit. For the sake of justice, we note that the converter, located under the lower bunk, may not give Russian characteristics, since the voltage in the States is different, but this issue is solved. Also hints at the US speedometer: double digitization of the dial (except for km, there are still miles).
Appearance
In 1997, promoting their brand in America, the engineers of the Swedish concern Volvo decided on a bold experiment. The result of it was the appearance of the Volvo VNL tractor, the characteristic of which is long remembered by any trucker who at least once got into the cabin of this giant. A huge hood, leaning forward along with the fenders, a high cabin with many places to store the "left" goods, a sleeping compartment, resembling a small room in size. You can also notice powerful spotlights on the outer wall of the sleeping bag, a shoe rack on the lower step on each side and a carpet on the floor. The floor inside the cabin is covered with carpet.
However, all these amenities are offered for the older Volvo VNL-770, designed for long-distance intercity travel. Younger cars in the line do not have a sleeping room, but the rest of the filling is on par. Conquering the American markets, Volvo did not plan any technical innovations, all in the spirit of the company, the main emphasis was on 2 points: ergonomics and driver convenience. It is not surprising that a survey among truckers using this tractor gave him one of the highest ratings. Also, many drivers noted that if they were asked about recommendations - they would name one car, this is the "nosy" American Volvo.
Filling
What did the Swedes mean when they said that there were no new products in the Volvo VNL series? Technical characteristics of the machine include electric windows, electric mirrors, cruise control, air conditioning, as well as:
- 15 liter ISX450ST diesel engine with 450 hp (in some specifications they write 12 liters and 500 hp);
- 600 liter fuel tanks;
- fuel consumption of 35-40 liters per 100 km (approximately 15,000 km at one gas station);
- wheel formula 6x4;
- drum brakes on all three axles;
- air suspension;
- 13mkpp or machine to choose from.
Reviews
As already noted, many truckers recommend buying only the American version of Volvo VNL. Owner reviews note ease of control, a spacious sleeping compartment, the ability to turn both front seats facing the bedroom compartment. Profitability and power in one bottle. Many people mention that it is in this truck that the motto of American cars is fully embodied - a million miles without overhaul.
Among the shortcomings can be noted the tight clutch pedal on versions with a manual gearbox. Also disadvantages include the lack of engine preheating. The thinning liquid for fuel in this situation does not help much because of the huge tanks of the machine.
Conclusion
The American Volvo VNL, the photo of which was presented in the review, of course, looks like a kind of mechanical monster, but the driver’s convenience, economical fuel consumption and high power, as well as a set of various shelves, drawers, nets and lockers make it a real home on wheels, which is not so enough for our domestic truck drivers.
I would like to wish the Swedes that such experiments, as the American version of their tractor became, were sometimes carried out in Europe, where, as is known from geography, the main factory of the Volvo label is located.