Tract from Moscow to St. Petersburg have long been popularly called the Royal road. Portal “Avtosklad” mastered this historical direction of the crossover KIA Sportage in the format of a family trip. As a result, we have the opportunity to compare all the pros and cons of Federal highway M10 “Russia” and paid high-speed highway M11 “Neva”. However, we decided not only to compare the two roads, but to turn a trip into a fascinating journey, stopping along the way in the locations, many of which the sleeper unfairly bypassed with their attention.
as soon As Russian authorities removed the first constraint in the tourism sector on the occasion of the alleged fading of the pandemic, the true lovers of travel immediately experienced podkarantinnogo main manifestation of the syndrome — the insatiable appetite of active movement. And we were no exception, turning immediately Sportage compact crossover in the family ark and jerked “along the Piterskaya” to the North of Palmyra.
the Choice on automobile travel PAL format because in the new reality podkarantinnoy personal car — perhaps not the safest way to travel. To the sacred banks of the Neva rode two full days in M10, stopping along the way at interesting places. In Saint-Petersburg and its suburbs spent five unforgettable days of sunshine. But back in Moscow, flew on the toll highway M11 for six and a half hours. Thus, the modern coach for a week sheltered a family of two adult parents and two good lads of nine and twelve years.
overboard — all Russia
Those who crave a variety of impressions of a family trip by car, it is better not to rush. The road as part of the holiday, it would be better to live sensibly, meaning and inspiration. Especially if you are travelling from one capital to another on the Royal path, which is filled with not only surviving travel palaces of crowned heads, but also other quite different attractions for every taste, budget and age. Not by chance is called route M10 “Russia” — along it at a short distance you will find almost everything that tells in detail about the history and present of his native country.
of Course, this will take time. For example, in a fascinating Museum, an old manor house or the funny animal farm, enough to linger for an hour or two. But there are along the way and places where it is appropriate to drop anchor for a couple days. Probably a lot of travelers do not mind to enjoy the beauties of Valday and pass the warm summer months in a tent under the pines on the quiet shores of a picturesque lake. Others prefer to plunge into the history and breathe in the old Russian in Veliky Novgorod and its surroundings. The meritset and many other attractions adjacent to Leningrad in its entirety — is enough to open the map and choose the appropriate options.
one thing that can brighten up any journey, driving is a comfortable and reliable car that will give pleasure to the driver and passengers. All-wheel-drive Sportage with the familiar 2-liter “four” with 150 HP and six-speed “automatic” successfully coped with the role of family vehicles in the long-distance run.
Country road for the Korean crossover was a native element, where appeared the main benefits of the 150-strong “atmosfernika”: a balanced mix of dynamics and a moderate appetite. Holiday in the free flight mode is cheap — 9.5 l per hundred kilometers. The “Korean” confident ahead of the truck, giving reason to doubt the lack of traction under pedal. And if things escalate to the limit, including sports driving mode, the Sportage will ometyntsi is not a joke. Although family trip just not gambling the drive, and security.
Track “Neva”: pros and cons
the highway with a length of 669 kilometers is ideal for those who are not going to spend time on cultural and entertainment program and aims as quickly as possible to reach the destination. To fly on the M11 from one capital to another without breaking the rules, in just six hours. Just keep in mind that in the Tver region toll road is interrupted by a public land M10 length is 62 km.
with regard to tariffs, in July travel on the M11 rose. On weekdays, the traffic in the area from Moscow to the 58-th km will cost 670 rubles cash or by card, and 520 — s transponder. Rate Monday to Friday from 58th km to 684 km is 1270 and 781 respectively. Total travel across the toll road from the mother see to St. Petersburg will cost the driver of a passenger car in the 1940 rubles without a transponder and the transponder 1301. Night cheaper at the weekend, which is Friday, expensive.
For the money, the driver is guaranteed four lanes with a dividing barrier, perfect road surface, new layout, no traffic lights, the ability to drive at a speed of 110 and 130 km/h, and the minimum number of cameras, controlling the speed limit. In addition, emergency service free evacuate to a safe place in the event of unforeseen stops due to technical failure or empty fuel tank. By the way, gas stations and cafes on the M11 are not so common unlike the M10, so all this should be taken care of in advance.
Travelers who are on their way to the Northern capital are driven to expand your horizons and along the way to join itthe ultura, but still interested to save time, you can combine certain parts of a highway and a regular road M11 M10. In this case it is better to plan a route by selecting suitable sites.
note, However, that the autobahn “Neva” is too long spans between congresses. For example, the long stretch between the nearest points of payment, connecting Novgorod and the Leningrad region, with 102 km. the Mass of interest on this segment M11 will remain inaccessible to the traveler.
Track “Russia”: the pros and cons
of Course, the best option to learn the cultural and historical space between the two capitals to the maximum without undue haste is to take a course in the good old M10, which we did. Like any other Federal highway, almost all coming attractions on Leningradke marked with special signs with a brown background.
in addition, in the summer season, throughout it will always find the opportunity to off ramp to drive up on the Bank of the picturesque pond and swimming. This may be the Volga, Shosha, Vyshnevolotsky reservoir, Valdai or Ilmen.
Fortunately, our Sportage is equipped with inter-axle clutch with positive locking control mode speed on the descent and ground clearance of 182 mm, was fully ready for surprises moderate off-road. The car confidently over the uneven damp ground, showing the delicate work energy suspension.
But back on the asphalt: it is no secret that on the empty side of the high-speed autobahn, by definition, is no roadside life full of different surprises. On the M11 will not be able to choose a cafe with Uzbek, Caucasian, Italian and other ethnic cuisine (although the choice of associated café should be taken seriously). In addition, there do not sell boots, brooms, samovars, smoked fish, honey, mushrooms, berries and other pleasures of life.
Even if you just do not need it, it is possible to enjoy one kind of brisk trade and a huge variety of signage and signs. So that only the regular public highway will give a full sense of life in all its colors. Therefore, in comparison with the toll highway is a road without a soul, which the only advantage is time savings.
And certainly on the M10 the driver will have less chance of falling asleep behind the wheel of the monotonous contemplation of the empty, monotonous landscapes of the Board, which will accompany you on the toll road. Pictures of the old Leningrad are much more varied than in M11.
as for the disadvantages of the M10, then there are more chances to get in the camera lens that controls the rate at which hidden here at every step. In addition, the old Doro��have continue to repair in the Novgorod region, which in the area of the Meat Bora, we had to stand in a traffic jam for 15 minutes. Not counting the heavy traffic in the suburbs in the area turn to Iksha, then it was the only traffic jam on the way to St. Petersburg.
Today the old Leningradka mainly consists of three bands, but every year growing four-sections which are fully equipped in the suburbs, and in large parts of the Tver region, in the area of Novgorod and 50 km to St. Petersburg. In General, the traffic on the M10 can be considered a well-organized and quite comfortable.
besides complaining about the terrible quality of the road surface of the old Leningradka no longer necessary. Although the small holes and irregularities is still sometimes found, especially in the Tver region. But for KIA Sportage is quite scary: “Korean” hungrily swallows the flaws of the provincial asphalt, conscientiously taking care of the comfort of its passengers.
a Celebration of movement
anyway, nothing will prevent the driver to get pleasure from the management of the Korean crossover regardless of which way it will go — on a paid or free. With confidence we can say that by selecting a measured journey through M10, the owner of a Sportage only stretch yourself to a holiday of motion.
On any country road it is easy to evaluate excellent smoothness of the Korean crossover and optimal settings in the moderately heavy steering wheel. The car stably withstand the desired trajectory, freeing the driver from having to periodically pulled up. So that unnecessary movements in the management of KIA Sportage is not required — it reacts to driver inputs very predictable and courteous.
In terms of ergonomics comes reigns almost German order. In addition, the car is equipped with the service “Yandex.Auto” with the voice assistant, which greatly simplifies the task of driver in the navigation controls.
the Driver’s seat with adjustments can easily be turned into a real throne, and it is easy to cut under the steering with the most outstanding complexion — there’s enough space. Not deprived of the free space and the rear passengers, who also have the ability to adjust the angle of the backrest of the sofa. On the back row removed the duct outlet and a USB port, there is also an armrest with two Cup holders.
the KIA Sportage is not the most outstanding in the class size of the trunk — 491/1480 L. However, this volume is quite enough for us to fit all the things needed for a week trip. Besides, in car salon there is a sufficient number of pockets and small compartments for small items that always come in handy when delivering a far distance. The Korean crossover is well blended into the opened influ��esky season, becoming the main character in our fun and comfortable journey.
