Зачем поехал на LADA Vesta SW Cross 2026 на Крайний Север? Стоит ли покупать Весту в 2026 году

Why travel to the Far North, especially in winter? And where exactly is the Far North? It conjures up different associations for everyone. A drifting polar station, herds of reindeer in the endless snowy tundra. The winter roads of Yakutia, the mountain ranges of Chukotka. Some might smile indulgently: "I just live here." In reality, the Far North is closer than it seems. So what is the Far North? It encompasses not only the regions of Russia located north of the Arctic Circle (that is, north of the 66°33′44″ parallel), but also the circumpolar territories. The Far North accounts for approximately one-third of Russia's total area – about 5.5 million square kilometers. And then there are territories legally considered equal to the Far North. Altogether, it's almost two-thirds of Russia's entire territory. However, only 6.7% of the country's total population lives on this land and permafrost. There are reasons for this. Harsh climate conditions, polar days and nights, unstable logistics, poor infrastructure, and inevitable periods of isolation in most areas—these are just some of the factors that inevitably affect northerners, no matter where in the Far North they live. The farther from a city or regional center, the more freedom and less noise, but also the more difficult life becomes. Meanwhile, Moscow can be less than 1,500 kilometers away… At such a distance in central Russia, the landscape sometimes doesn't even have time to significantly change. In the Arkhangelsk Region, the Far North includes industrial Severodvinsk, as well as the Pinezhsky, Leshukonsky, and Mezensky districts. The village of Kimzha is located in the center of the gigantic Mezensky district—larger than Belgium—bordering the Komi Republic and the Nenets Autonomous Okrug. Kimzha Village Kimzha has preserved not only the enchanting and mystical appearance of an ancient northern village, but also its essence, with its centuries-old way of life, crafts, and legends. Just a couple of decades ago, there wasn't even a roughly all-season road, as there is now. In the summer, the only way to reach this area was by a specially prepared SUV or a small aircraft. Hodigitria Church in Kimzha In Kimzha, the majestic wooden Hodigitria Church, built in 1700, has been restored, and the northernmost windmills—also wooden, of course—stand tall in the field. The World's Northernmost Windmills Kimzha is also unique in that, unlike many remote settlements, strangers are welcome here. For me, that's enough to make Kimzha a prime destination for a trip to the Far North. I set off on my journey in a regular Lada Vesta SW Cross from the factory test fleet. Although there were some very attractive Eastern cars to choose from, with two-liter turbo engines and all-wheel drive, large screens, and ambient lighting, the choice was deliberate – I wanted more ride comfort, handling, and traction control than I had experienced during my last year's trip in a Chinese car. With a torquey 1.8-liter naturally aspirated engine that consumes inexpensive 92-octane gasoline, a six-speed manual transmission, a power-efficient suspension, and good handling, as well as remote start and a full range of "warm" options, the Vesta was perfect for my purpose – a trip to the Far North and back with minimal hassle. Read more in my blog on DRIVE2: https://www.drive2.ru/b/7251870183420...