In early 2024, Avtozavod St. Petersburg, now under the Lada umbrella, introduced the XCITE X‑Cross 7 – a refreshingly modern, Russian-made mid‑size crossover. Built on the underpinnings of the Chery Tiggo 7 Pro, this model marked both a nod to established engineering and a bold statement of a new domestic automotive identity.
A Homegrown Debut
The XCITE X‑Cross 7 was revealed in March 2024 and hit the market on May 27, 2024, offered in two trims: Enjoy and Techno. Sales kicked off in key cities like Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan, Voronezh, Samara, Togliatti, and Nizhny Novgorod, with over 550 units sold by June, and about 10,000 assembled by then.
Manufactured at the former Nissan plant in St. Petersburg, the rollout represented a significant pivot in domestic automotive production—leveraging foreign design, but painted with a national badge.
Design & Dimensions
Externally, the X‑Cross 7 feels crisp and contemporary. Its key styling cues include a horizontally closed body glazing, a bold grille with an “X” motif, slim LED headlights, and sleek taillights all wrapped around an elevated stance accentuated by 18-inch alloy wheels.
It measures 4,500 mm long, 1,842 mm wide, 1,702 mm tall, and offers a 190 mm ground clearance—impressive figures for urban and semi-rural roads alike. The cargo space of 475 liters, expandable to 1,500 liters with rear seats folded, makes it ideal for families or weekend adventurers.
Powertrain & Performance
Cloaked beneath its hood sits a 1.5‑liter turbocharged petrol engine, producing 147 hp and 210 Nm of torque paired with a CVT transmission. The X‑Cross 7 sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in 9.8 seconds, topping out at 186 km/h. Official fuel consumption is around 8 L/100 km, with some claims noting as low as 6.6 L/100 km under ideal test conditions.
Inside, the cabin demonstrates thoughtful design and comfort-focused features:
- Dual screens: a 7″ digital instrument cluster and a 10.25″ multimedia display.
- A center console touchpad for climate control, alongside leather and eco-leather trim and plush finishes.
- Practical amenities: a center armrest with cooling box, multiple USB ports across both rows, wireless charging, and heated surfaces—front and rear seats, steering wheel, windscreen, washer nozzles, and mirrors—are part of a generous “winter package” standard even on base models.
- Smart access features include keyless entry, remote start, power tailgate, and LED lighting all around.
- The Techno trim adds even more: panoramic sunroof, 18″ wheels, surround-view camera, wireless charging, and more airbags—but missing some key driver assists like blind-spot monitoring even as paid options.
- Reviewers from Российская газета noted solid fit-and-finish, tasteful ergonomics, though they flagged quirks like a touch-only climate control system, overly sensitive pedal engagement, and a steering feel that demands micro-corrections at speed.
Pros and Cons – At a Glance
Strengths:
- Strong value for money, especially with loaded winter package and comfort-focused features.
- Spacious, flexible cargo area and comfortable cabin.
- Contemporary and refined design for its segment.
- Reliable, efficient turbo engine matched with smooth CVT.
Drawbacks:
- Limited driver assistance features (e.g., no blind-spot alert).
- Handling isn’t sporty—micro-steering corrections needed at higher speeds.
- Climate control interface could be more intuitive.
- Ride can jolt over rough, uneven surfaces, though the suspension remains composed overall.
Market Context & Legacy
The XCITE X‑Cross 7 served as the debut vehicle for Russia’s new XCITE brand in 2024, sold through the Lada/Nissan dealerships, and positioned to eventually complement the upcoming X‑Cross 8 – a larger, AWD-capable successor introduced in late 2024. However, production for both models ceased in March 2025, as Chery ended supply of vehicle kits, thereby halting the X‑Cross 7’s lifecycle.
Final Take
The XCITE X‑Cross 7 offered a compelling blend of comfort, practicality, and style at a competitive price point (~2.5 million rubles), especially appealing during cold-weather months with its comprehensive heating setup. It wasn’t a head-turning performer—nor did it attempt to be—but for a practical, modern, domestically assembled crossover, it checked most boxes convincingly.
Though short-lived, its arrival and the prompt rise in sales signaled a notable effort by Russian automakers to fill a niche with affordable, locally-branded SUVs—compact yet feature-rich, with familiar roots, and just enough character to stand out.