Hot stud with an oriental accent. “Fontanka” took a ride in the cheapest foreign car in Russia for 1.3 million

The Iran Khodro Dena sedan, which went on sale in St. Petersburg car showrooms, can easily outperform the domestic Lada Vesta in price. For 1.3 million rubles (though if purchased on credit), the car owner will receive a quite nimble sedan, and even the cheapest foreign car in Russia today.

Previously “Fontanka” tested the cheapest “Chinese” is Changan Alsvin. Now its price is positioned at dealers “from 1,640,000,” but this is due to unconditional discounts.

However, you will have to come to terms with a touch of oriental flair in the cabin and a couple of other annoying moments. “Fontanka” took a ride on the brainchild of the Iranian automobile industry. We’ll tell you what it is.

Attempt number three

If anyone didn’t know, the Iranian plant began producing cars before VAZ, and last year celebrated its 60th anniversary. The current appearance on the Russian market is by no means a debut: Russians became acquainted with the Iran Khodro Samand C-class car at the beginning of the 2000s. In 2014, the Iranians made an attempt to resume sales in Russia, but it did not work out.

Today, Iranian automakers produce cars under their own brand and licensed Peugeot. They didn’t bother with the Iran Khodro Dena – they built it on the basis of the Iran Khodro Samand, created on the platform of the ancient Peugeot 405 model back in 1987. What remains in it from the time of perestroika and what is new is not specified.

The Iranian concern is quite vigorously conquering the international market: the main target market — in Iraq, since 2018 on Iran Khodro Dena moved Senegalese police export cars to Guinea and Nigeria. In March 2023, Iranian cars sent to Venezuela.

In St. Petersburg, the Rolf company became the representative of the IKCO brand. True, there is no talk of a dealer agreement yet – the cars are supplied to Russia, as they explained at the showroom on Vitebsky Prospekt, through parallel imports, “to test the market.”

— We have just imported a trial batch. There were both Tara and Dena. We have already sold seven cars, but as of yesterday there were two cars left,” the seller shared.

Economical down to the millimeter

Fundamentally, from an engineering point of view, the Iranian car supplied to Russia should differ from the “French” one only in the emblem: instead of the profile of a lion, the hood, trunk lid and steering wheel are crowned with the head of a stallion – the symbol of the manufacturer. Moreover, it has nothing to do with the name: Khodro translated from Persian is simply “car”. However, the Iranians have already greatly updated the appearance of the “grandfather” Peugeou 405 (more than once) and are already introducing a lot of “their own”, that is, to be more precise, Chinese. Like everyone else, in short.

Unlike the Iran Khodro Samand, the Dena car turned out to be almost 15 centimeters longer (4,558 mm instead of 4,410). The extra length was used for the benefit of the impressive trunk volume – it reached 500 liters, almost like that of Datsun on-Do, Renault Logan, Chery Bonus, Kia Rio and Nissan Almera. It is no coincidence that the Dena has a spare tire instead of a spare wheel – it is not so wide and cleverly hides under the trunk mat without encroaching on the precious volume. Don’t expect to carry bulky cargo like tables and cabinets in the Iranian: the backs of the rear seats do not tip over. But you can ride your pet in the trunk. To prevent him from getting bored in splendid isolation, there is a hatch in the niche of the armrest: through it you can pat him on the withers or throw in a sausage. Or, if you don’t have a pet, quickly fish out the small things you need from the trunk.

Unfortunately, no extra centimeters were added to ensure a comfortable position for passengers – if the front ones roll back to the maximum, the backs of their seats will establish close contact with the knees of the rear ones.

Taste above all

In the decoration of chairs and doors, the Iranians decided to use loose velor – a fabric with a smooth surface and vertically protruding pile. Oriental luxury as it is, with shine, halftones and highlights. It’s no wonder that the design of the car, and indeed the entire structure, is the manufacturer’s own development. It would seem that this: in winter, landing on velor is not as cold as on “the skin of young dermantine.” Those who have at least once been to a New Year’s party in kindergarten will probably have an associative row with a bunny costume, whose knees and butt became shiny from prolonged use. But if you remember that velor is much cheaper than Alcantara, then the Iranians’ choice explains itself.

The doors and center console are finished off with an array of cognac-colored plastic wood. You cannot blame Iranian manufacturers for their lack of taste: the plastic panels contrast favorably against the graphite-gray general background.

Stallion for 150 “horses”

The “muzzle” of the “stallion,” which went into production in 2015, has remained similar to that of the mid-2010s: laconic, restrained.

Under the hood, Dena has a 1.5-liter turbocharged power unit with a capacity of 150 horsepower. According to the seller, a 60-liter gas tank should be “fed” with AI-92 gasoline, which, in comparison with AI-95, will save almost 7 rubles on each liter filled. Fuel consumption can be called moderate – 6.4 liters per 100 km on the highway, 8.1 liters in the combined cycle, 11.1 in the city cycle. Only the Skoda Rapid liftback (5.5 liters in the combined cycle) and the Kia Picanto hatchback (5.4 liters in the combined cycle) have less.

Economy is rarely combined with dynamics, but this is not the case with Dena: the “Iranian” reacts sensitively to the gas pedal and rushes off the bat so that it actually presses the rider into the seat.

The engine is combined with a six-speed automatic transmission from Aisin.

“It’s a Japanese manufacturer, but assembled in China,” they explain in the salon.

Dena accelerates to hundreds in 10.5 seconds.

We can do without helpers

The Dena is pleased with the abundance of all sorts of electrical gadgets: getting cruise control, electrically adjustable seats and a heated rear window for such a price is a nice bonus for a car that comes from hot Iran. The next series of “goodies” is an electric sunroof, equipped with a sunshade, electric windows, a rear view camera and climate control, albeit single-zone. But there are no electrically heated mirrors and seats.

— If you want, we will make you a heated seat. At our expense, they say in the salon.

But the steering wheel, covered in eco-leather with stitching in the color of cognac inserts, is adjustable only for the angle of inclination. So to achieve the optimal position of your hands on the steering wheel (your wrist reaches the top point on the steering wheel) you will have to move the chair forward. You shouldn’t get carried away with “collision” – in no time your knees meet the dashboard. But there are multimedia control buttons on the steering wheel – another nice bonus.

What is missing is a lane keeping sensor and other newfangled things, such as a digital dashboard, that the “Chinese” use. Waiting for them at such a low price is tantamount to whim. But there is an ABC and directional stability system.

The car is equipped with a seven-inch multimedia touch screen of Chinese origin, which can connect to a phone via Bluetooth and AUX. It’s easy to understand the controls – the interface is Russified.

Four airbags are responsible for safety – two front and two side.

Now a little in technical language: wheels 205-50/16 R, ground clearance – 160 mm. The front suspension is independent, spring, MacPherson type, the rear suspension is semi-independent, torsion beam.

What’s up with the spare parts?

The issue of availability of spare parts for the Dena is a pressing one: since the car is being transported as a parallel import, it is clear that the carload of consumables and other things will not be dragged along with it. However, the hygienic minimum for zero and first or second maintenance may be available immediately.

— We order spare parts. Like all standard spare parts, some may be available immediately, or you may have to wait a week for them. We order them from Iran,” explains the seller.

The salon offers a two-year warranty for the car; another year is added when purchasing a car on credit.

The most interesting thing is the price

For cash payment Iran Khodro Dena in St. Petersburg, on Vitebsky Prospekt, is paid for 1.69 million rubles. When buying on credit, the price is reduced to 1.32 million. If you still have a car lying around that can be traded in, you can raise the price to 1.21 million.

Zero maintenance after three thousand kilometers will cost 4–5 thousand rubles. Subsequent ones, they say in the salon, will cost 12 thousand.

In the Rolf showroom in Khimki you can find an Iran Khodro Dena with a larger engine – 1.7 liters, with the same 150 “horses” under the hood. The price for them in cash starts from 1.8–1.9 million rubles; with a trade foreigner and a loan, you can lower the price level by 0.5 million and take an “Iranian” for 1.4 million.

True, the showroom in Khimki warned that cars are selling like hot cakes:

— They are actively taken in taxis; now there are 12 cars left in stock.

If price is a decisive factor, Iran Khodro Tara is also available in Khimki. The same automatic, the same front-wheel drive, only the engine is weaker (113 “horses”) and has a smaller volume (1.6 liters). The price for Tara in Khimki starts from 1.59 million rubles for cash and from 1.2 million with credit and trade-in.

Natalya Vyazovkina, Fontanka.ru