Volvo VNL: specifications, owner reviews, photos

A slash mark, gleaming with chrome, is a characteristic sign of cars of Swedish manufacture. But the car, pictured in the picture in the article, more like truckers from Hollywood movies. And although a characteristic feature is present, to see this car on the roads of Europe is a rarity. This Volvo VNL is a prime mover of the American division of the Swedish concern.

Unlike European models, the American model has a conventional hood layout. In this case, the front part is large enough. But this volume is not just for the sake of American-style. Machines are equipped with a powerful motor, the appropriate transmission, cooling, have excellent driving performance. In this case, even in the American version, the principle that you often hear about the European option is not forgotten: "Volvo" is "Volvo". In this review, let's try to compare the American tractor with his European colleague.

Price

Hearing about the American models, very many users will think about the price of this "monster". And absolutely in vain. The car with the mileage of 2010 of release will cost only $ 30,000. However, as with the purchase of any car, the price is set a lot of parameters, so paint the entire price range is not worth it. The fact that the price of Volvo VNL tractors is at the level of European versions. It is worth noting that in Russia this machine is not officially sold, but you can buy from the second (n-th) owner.

Differences

One of the differences of the American version can be called internal space. In this truck you can really get up and walk. The ceiling height is 2.5 meters, so that even the tallest person here does not have to bend over. The area of the cabin in the car is 5 square meters. Meters: two comfortable chairs and a sleeping compartment in the version for international transport. It is difficult to call these shelves. The width is 1.2 m, length ~ 2 m. On the cabin and the bedroom compartment are scattered lamps, creating a comfortable soft light. Also, the long distance tractor is equipped with an audio system with 8 speakers, which are also located in different parts of the cabin.

The features include the possibility of transforming the bottom space. People who often travel in the second-hand cars know that the lower side sleeper can be both a table for both passengers and a bed for one of them. Volvo VNL uses the same principle. And given that the sides of the rear also have small windows - the sleeping compartment can be used not only for the rest of the driver and freight forwarder.

Interior and dashboard

However, the interior of the car should be discussed separately. The first thing that catches your eye when you sit behind the wheel is the layout of the dashboard. The machine is not designed to land a third person, as it is done in the western versions. The dashboard in front of the driver is located in a semicircle, and everything can be safely reached. In addition, there is only one place to the right in this car, and not a whole sofa, as it is done in cabs of other manufacturers. And the protruding part of the torpedo also will not allow a person to sit in the middle, even if the owner decides to replace the right place on the sofa.

All scales in front of the eyes, additional instruments are placed on the right side of the panel. On-board computer Volvo VNL constantly gives out information both about the parameters of movement, and about the set of others. Immediately hang the holder under the glass. It can be outweighed to another place - there is such an opportunity. Attention is drawn to two buttons in the column: red, above it yellow. Yellow performs two functions. Clicking on it, the driver activates the parking brake by pulling on himself - the automatic wheel unlocking. Here, next to the lever, which allows you to slow down the trailer. In the cockpit there are a lot of shelves, cabinets, drawers for every detail. There was even a place for a portable refrigerator and microwave. Separately, you can mention the TV, whose antenna is located on the roof of the cabin.

Also worth noting the presence of a converter 12-220 volts. Sockets are on both sides of the cabin, 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 fairness, we note that the converter under the lower bunk may not give Russian characteristics, since the tension in the States is different, but this is a solvable question. Also hints at the US speedometer: double digitization of the dial (except km, there are still miles).

Appearance

In 1997, promoting his brand in America, the engineers of the Swedish concern Volvo decided on a bold experiment. The result was the appearance of the Volvo VNL tractor, the characteristic of which is remembered for a long time by any trucker, at least once in the cabin of this giant. The huge hood, leaning forward along with the lining, a tall cabin with many places to store the "left" goods, a sleeping compartment resembling a small room in size. You can also see powerful searchlights on the outer wall of the sleeping bag, a shoe rack on the bottom 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 car Volvo VNL-770, designed for long-distance inter-country transfers. Junior line cars do not have a sleeping room, but the rest of the filling is on the level. Conquering the American markets, Volvo did not plan any technical novelties, everything in the spirit of the company, the main emphasis was on 2 points: ergonomics and driver convenience. Not surprisingly, a poll among truckers using this tractor gave him one of the highest ratings. Also, many drivers noted if they are asked about recommendations - they will name one car, this is a "nosed" American Volvo.

Filling

What did the Swedes mean, saying that there were no new products in the Volvo VNL series? Technical characteristics of the machine include electroglasses, electromirrors, cruise control, air conditioning, as well as:

• 15-liter diesel engine model ISX450ST and a power of 450 hp. (In some specifications they write 12 liters and 500 hp);
• Fuel tanks for 600 liters;
• Fuel consumption of 35-40 liters per 100 km (approximately 15,000 km at one gas station);
• Wheel arrangement 6x4;
• Drum brakes on all three axles;
• air suspension;
• 13мкпп or the automatic machine on a choice.

Reviews

As already noted, many truckers recommend buying only the American version of Volvo VNL. The owners' comments mark the ease of operation, the volume sleeping compartment, the possibility of turning both front seats facing the sleeping compartment. Economy and power in one bottle. Many people say that it is in this truck that the motto of American cars - a million miles without a major overhaul - is embodied for one hundred percent.

Of the disadvantages can be noted the tight clutch pedal on versions with a mechanical box. Also, the drawbacks include the absence of engine preheating. The diluting liquid for fuel in this situation is of little help because of the huge tanks of the machine.

Conclusion

The American Volvo VNL, whose photo was presented in the review, certainly looks like a mechanical monster, but the driver's convenience, fuel economy and high power, as well as a set of all kinds of shelves, drawers, mesh and lockers make it a real home on wheels, which is not so Suffices our domestic drivers-truckers.

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.