Russian buses are mainly represented on the market by city and suburban models. At the same time, the tourist bus segment was dominated by foreign brands for a long time, and since 2022 the market has been almost completely occupied by Chinese manufacturers.
Now the production of domestic tourist buses Sollers SA has begun in the Far East. Za Rulem journalists managed to test the flagship model SA9, 12 meters long.
Externally, the bus resembles Setra models, which is not surprising: SA9 is a renamed version of the Chinese Ankai bus. This company has been manufacturing buses, including for Setra, since 1983.
The entrance to the cabin is convenient thanks to the low step, and the passage is quite spacious. However, the space for the guide is limited: when the seat is folded down, the legs rest against the front panel.
A similar problem is observed in the back seats. Unlike the old Ikarus excursion buses, where the last row was spacious, in the Sollers SA9 there is not enough legroom even for a person 174 cm tall.
The cabin is designed for 51 seats, but the installation of a toilet and a kitchen reduces their number to 49.
The bus is equipped with a 9.3-liter six-cylinder diesel engine with a capacity of 370 hp and a six-speed manual Fast Gear transmission. The engine provides a smooth start, although the first gear seems too short.
This is perhaps the only drawback of the power unit. The engine runs quietly, without vibrations, even in the back rows.
Average fuel consumption is about 25 l / 100 km. With a 500-liter tank, the range reaches approximately 2,000 km.
Production in the Far East is focused on large-unit assembly of 1,500 buses per year. At the moment, several dozen vehicles of two models have been produced.
The cost of Sollers SA9 is 16 million rubles, but thanks to subsidies the price can be reduced by 3 million. The company plans to move production to Yelabuga, organizing the assembly and painting of bodies there, which will further reduce the cost and make the bus more competitive.
