We understand how the prices of cars imported under the parallel import scheme have changed and what will happen to the guarantee
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Dealers are rapidly mastering the scheme of importing new cars to Russia through parallel and alternative imports. In most cases, cars come to us from the UAE from China. Initially, potential buyers were scared off by the lack of a guarantee for such cars and high prices (dealers tried to bring cars only in top trim levels). However, now the situation has seriously changed: sellers have rewritten price lists for some popular models, introduced discounts and are ready to bear the cost of repairs. Autonews.ru found out how the prices of cars that dealers import privately have changed and whether it is possible to save on their purchase.
Toyota Camry
Toyota Camry
(Photo: Andrey Lyubimov / RBC)
At the end of 2022, Autonews.ru managed to find Japanese Toyota Camry sedans in a large dealer center in Moscow, which the seller brought to our country privately. Then they asked for regarding 5,000,000 rubles for a car in the cabin. In March 2023, the same trading company offered us more affordable options for buying a model. According to an employee of the showroom, a batch of Japanese-assembled Toyota Camry should arrive in the near future. Those wishing to buy a Japanese sedan with a two-liter unit with a capacity of 150 hp. will have to pay 4,500,000 rubles. Such a car is equipped with LED optics, dual-zone climate control, a light sensor and an engine start / stop button.
???? Minus a million. The first test drive of the Chinese Toyota Camry
And these cars are covered by a warranty. True, according to the seller, only those drivers who will service their cars exclusively in branded service centers of the trading company will be able to count on it.
In another metropolitan car dealership, you can find a Chinese-assembled Camry. A sedan with a 2.5-liter unit (209 hp) will cost 4,500,000 rubles.
Volkswagen Bora
Volkswagen Bora
(Photo: Volkswagen)
Also, dealers have reduced prices for Volkswagen Bora sedans, which are produced in China. This car was one of the first domestic trading companies to start bringing to Russia back in October 2022. Then the prices for this model in the Elite configuration started from 2,490,000 rubles. Now in one of the capital’s car dealerships, this sedan in a similar version can be bought for 2,150,000 rubles. Such a car is equipped with LED optics, climate control, parking sensors, cruise control, a collision avoidance system and a lane control function. Volkswagen Bora sedans are available with a 1.5-liter petrol engine with 113 hp. The engine works in conjunction with an automatic transmission. With such a unit, the car accelerates to hundreds in 13.7 s.
Hyundai Bayon
Hyundai Bayon
(Photo: Hyundai)
Hyundai has never officially announced the start of sales of the Bayon compact crossover in Russia. However, since November last year, some domestic dealers began to independently import this car into our country. The car was brought exclusively in the Prime configuration, and the prices for the car ranged from 2,000,000 to 2,140,000 rubles.
Now such a car is much cheaper. So, the Bayon crossover in one of the dealerships in the Moscow region was estimated at 1,975,000 rubles. The car in the Prime modification is equipped with climate control, a rear-view camera, heated front seats and steering wheel, as well as keyless entry. The crossover received a one-liter gasoline engine with 100 hp. The unit works in conjunction with a seven-speed “robot” with two clutches.
The dealer also has a Bayon in the High-Tech package. Such a crossover is additionally equipped with ambient lighting, a premium Bose audio system, a digital instrument panel and a light sensor. Price – 2,449,000 rubles.
Range Rover
The fifth-generation flagship Range Rover was presented in Moscow in October last year. But the car never went on sale. However, since last year, the SUV has been supplied to Russia under a parallel import scheme. Initially, cars in the elite version of Autobiography with a 3-liter diesel unit with a capacity of 350 hp reached our country. Such a car cost at the start of sales 29,299,000 rubles. Now dealers have reduced the price of the car to 28,900,000 rubles, and also brought more affordable versions of the model to Russia. For example, in one of the car dealerships in Moscow, you can buy a crossover in the HSE configuration for 23,737,000 rubles.
Mitsubishi Xpander
Mitsubishi Xpander
(Photo: Mitsubishi)
The opposite situation has developed with cross-vans Mitsubishi Xpander. In early November, one of the dealerships began to import large enough batches of these cars to Russia. Prices for the model then ranged from 2,200,000 to 2,300,000 rubles. Now we were offered to buy this model in one of the dealer centers of the Moscow region for 2,900,000 rubles. True, when applying for a loan and renting a car on credit, this amount can be reduced to 2,500,000 rubles.
The seven-seat car with a clearance of 220 mm is equipped with a 1.5-liter naturally aspirated engine with a capacity of 105 hp. Drive — only the front. Useful options include a rearview camera, keyless entry and climate control.
Suzuki Swift
Suzuki Swift
(Photo: Suzuki)
One of the available options for purchase is the Suzuki Swift hatchback, which Russian dealers also bring under the parallel import scheme. However, over the past few months, this car has also added in price. At the beginning of the year, this car might be bought at a large dealer center in St. Petersburg for 1,570,000 rubles. Now in the same trading company, car prices have risen to 1,660,000 rubles.
The employee of the car dealership might not name the reasons for such a sharp rise in price. According to him, now the car has become available with a certain “additional set of options.” Among them: a keyless entry system, all-round cameras, parking sensors, climate control, a multimedia complex with a touch screen. Under the hood of the car, a 1.2-liter engine with a capacity of 91 hp is installed, which is paired with a variator. At the same time, when buying a car before the end of the month, the seller agreed to discuss a discount. The car dealership mightn’t offer a warranty.
Opel Grandland Х
In January, one of the capital’s dealerships brought a large batch of Opel Grandland X to Russia under the parallel import scheme. Then the minimum price for a car was 2,200,000 rubles. For three months, this car at dealers has risen in price by 50,000 rubles. At the same time, according to the manager of the trading company, they have very few such cars left in the showroom. The manager of the trading company found it difficult to answer the question regarding the guarantee for the car. According to him, this issue can be discussed during a personal visit to the showroom.
You can buy a crossover with a non-alternative 1.6-liter engine. The unit is paired with a six-speed “automatic”. Front drive. Acceleration to 100 km/h takes 9.5 seconds. The maximum speed is 201 km/h.
Mitsubishi Outlander
Thanks to parallel imports, the fourth-generation Mitsubishi Outlander has become available in Russia. The car is also imported by official dealers of the Japanese brand. For example, in a large metropolitan salon, a car can be bought for 4,100,000 rubles. excluding discounts. In December last year, in the same car dealership, the car cost 4,028,000 rubles. At the same time, the dealership noted that they had only one such car left.
The seller admitted that cars are coming to our country from the UAE. You can buy a crossover with a 2.5-liter gasoline “four” with a capacity of 181 hp, paired with a Jatco CVT and an advanced Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC) all-wheel drive system. Several driving modes are available to the driver: Eco, Normal, Tarmac, Gravel, Snow and Mud.
Mazda CX-4
Mazda CX-4
(Photo: Mazda)
In the same dealership, you can buy the 2022 Mazda CX-4 crossover from China. The production of the model is carried out at the joint venture FAW-Mazda. The first cars appeared in the capital’s car showroom in December 2022 at a price of 2,900,000 rubles. Since then, the cost of the car has not changed. At the same time, several discount programs began to spread to the car at once. You can save on buying a car when applying for a loan or when you trade-in a car. In this case, the price of the car may drop to 2,200,000 rubles.
The front-wheel drive crossover received a two-liter aspirated engine with 158 hp. and a six-band “automatic”. In the basic version, the machine is equipped with LED fog lights, an electronic parking brake, a blind spot monitoring system and a reverse assist system.