Buying a car is always a risk, even if you choose a new car from an authorized dealer. And when it comes to a used car, every review Drom.ru could be the deciding factor. But how can you tell which review is written by the real owner, and which is a custom advertisement or, conversely, a competitive piece of junk? In this article we will figure out where to Drom look for truthful reviews about cars, what details to pay attention to, and how to create an objective review yourself that will help other car enthusiasts.

Platform Drom is the largest automobile portal on the RuNet, where hundreds of reviews are published daily. Here you can find opinions on any brands: from budget Lada Granta and Renault Duster up to bonus Mercedes-Benz E-Class and BMW X5. However, not all reviews are created equal. Some users share their honest operating experience, others express their emotions after the first breakdown, and still others even write for money. Our task is to learn how to filter information and highlight truly valuable insights.

Where to look for car reviews on Drom: all the ways

On Drom.ru car reviews are scattered across several sections. If you're looking for information about a specific model, start with these places:

  • 📌 Model card — on the page of any machine (for example, Toyota RAV4 or Hyundai Solaris) there is a “Reviews” tab. Reviews about this particular modification are collected here, filtered by year of manufacture and engine.
  • 🔍 Search the forum — enter the model name + the word “review” into the search bar. Often, discussions on forums are more extensive than in standard reviews.
  • 📊 Ratings and comparisons — in the “Car Ratings” section you can see the average rating of the model based on reviews and compare it with competitors.
  • 💬 Comments on advertisements — sometimes, under sales advertisements, owners leave brief but succinct comments about the pros and cons of the car.

The most useful reviews are usually hidden not on the first pages, but deeper - where users describe their operating experience over several years. Pay attention to reviews with photographs, detailed descriptions of repairs and real cost figures. For example, the phrase "Over the course of 3 years of driving, I only replaced the brake pads and oil."sounds more convincing than vague"The car is reliable, I recommend it to everyone».

📊 How often do you read reviews before buying a car?
This is always a mandatory step
Sometimes, if I doubt the model
Nearby, only if you find a suspiciously cheap ad
Never rely on technical expertise

How to distinguish a real review from a custom or emotional one

On Drom There are three types of reviews: honest (from real owners), custom (written for money or bonuses) and emotional (when the user expresses irritation after the first breakdown). Here's how to recognize them:

Review type Signs Example
Honest
  • Detailed description of the pros and cons
  • Mention of specific breakdowns with repair prices
  • Photo or video of the car
  • Operating experience from 1 year
 «I bought a 2018 Kia Rio in 2020. For 100 thousand km, I replaced only the rear brake pads (5 thousand rubles) and the oil twice (3 thousand rubles each). Consumption on the highway is 5.8 l, in the city 8.5 l. The downside is the noisy suspension on bumps.»
Custom
  • Too enthusiastic epithets (“super”, “ideal”)
  • Lack of criticism
  • Published on the day of account registration
  • Too general phrases without details
 «Skoda Octavia is the best car in the world! No problems, drives like clockwork, I recommend it to everyone!»
Emotional
  • 1 star rating after first failure
  • Lots of exclamation marks and capitalized words
  • No information on mileage or operating conditions
  • Allegations against the brand or dealer
 «NEVER TAKE A Volkswagen Polo!!! I HAVE 50 THOUSAND. KM THE OXYGEN SENSOR IS BROKEN!!! EVERYONE IS BAD!!!»

Be especially wary of reviews with a rating of “5 stars” without a single minus or “1 star” without explanation. According to Drom statistics, about 15% of reviews with the maximum rating and 30% with the minimum are biased (custom or emotional). To get the real picture, analyze reviews with average ratings (3-4 stars) - balanced criticism is more likely to be found there.

⚠️ Attention: If the review mentions specific dealers or services with names (for example, “at the AutoPremium car showroom in Varshavka"), there is a high probability that this is a custom post. Honest owners rarely provide exact addresses unless they want to warn about fraud.

What to look for in reviews: checklist for buyers

Read reviews on Drom it is necessary systematically. Here are the key points to pay attention to:

Mention of actual mileage (not “little”, but specific numbers)

Cost details (fuel, oil, spare parts)

Description of climatic operating conditions (frost, heat, off-road conditions)

Information about warranty repairs (what broke, how they fixed it)

Comparison with the previous car (if any)

Photo or video of the car (especially the interior and problem areas)

Date of publication (is the data relevant for the current year) -->

Pay attention to recurring problems in different reviews. For example, if there are 10 reviews on Renault Kaptur owners complain about corrosion of the thresholds after 3 years of operation, this is a systemic problem with the model. But isolated cases (for example, “My air conditioner broke down at 20 thousand km") may be the result of a failed instance or improper maintenance.

Separately, read the reviews about fuel consumption. It is important to consider the author's riding style here. The phrase "city consumption 12 liters"can mean both traffic jams in Moscow and aggressive driving style. Look for mentions of on-board computer - if the user refers to his testimony, the data is more objective than “by eye”.

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Use the filter by year of production on Drom - reviews of Skoda Rapid 2015 and Skoda Rapid 2020 may differ radically due to restyling or platform change.

How to write a useful review on Drom yourself: instructions

If you want to help other car enthusiasts, please leave a review using this structure. The more detailed, the more useful:

  1. Basic information:
    • Make, model, year of manufacture, mileage at the time of writing
    • Body type (sedan, hatchback, crossover) and equipment
    • Engine (volume, power, fuel type)
    • Gearbox (manual, automatic, robot)
  2. Operating conditions:
    • Climate (frost, heat, humidity)
    • Roads (city, highway, off-road)
    • Driving style (calm, aggressive)
  3. Pros and cons:
    • What I like (handling, comfort, efficiency)
    • What disappointed (breakdowns, noise, ergonomics)
    • Unexpected pros/cons (for example, “unexpectedly spacious trunk»)
  4. Expenses:
    • Average fuel consumption (city/highway/combined)
    • Maintenance cost (official service/unofficial)
    • Prices for spare parts and repairs (indicating mileage)
  • Final score:
    • Is it worth buying this car now?
    • Who is it suitable for (family, single person, city, off-road)?
    • What would you change about the car?

    Example of a qualitative review:

    Volkswagen Tiguan 2.0 TSI 2017, mileage 85 thousand km, Comfortline equipment, automatic transmission.


    I bought a new one in 2017, I drive in Moscow and the region (70% city, 30% highway). In winter temperatures up to -25°C, in summer up to +35°C. Driving style is calm.
    


    Pros:
    

    - Reliable engine (it has never failed in 85 thousand km, I change the oil every 10 thousand km, 5W-40)
    

    - Comfortable suspension (you don’t feel the holes, but it’s not a “car”)
    

    - Spacious interior (height 190 cm, enough space)
    

    - Good sound insulation (it’s quiet on the highway at 120 km/h)
    


    Cons:
    

    - Consumption in the city is 11-12 l (on the highway 7.5 l) - a bit too much for a 2.0 TSI
    

    - The rear trunk door sometimes sticks in cold weather (you have to lubricate the hinges)
    

    - Official maintenance is expensive (every 15 thousand km for 20-25 thousand rubles)
    


    Repairs:
    

    - 40 thousand km - replacement of brake discs and pads (25 thousand rubles)
    

    - 70 thousand km - replacement of spark plugs (8 thousand rubles)
    


    Conclusion: The car is reliable, but expensive to maintain. Suitable for family trips and long journeys. I do not recommend it to those looking for an economical option.
    ⚠️ Attention: If you're reviewing a used car, be sure to indicate whether you bought it new or second-hand. Breakdowns after 100 thousand km in a car purchased new and in a car with the same mileage, but with three previous owners, can indicate completely different problems.

    Top 5 models with the most controversial reviews on Drom

    Some cars are Drom.ru receive polar reviews - from enthusiastic to devastating. Most often this is due to the fact that the same model can behave differently depending on the year of manufacture, engine or operating conditions. Here are five such cars:

    • 🔥 Lada Vesta - praised for price and controllability, criticized for build quality and electronics. Reviews about robot AMT.
    • ⚡ Renault Duster — owners are divided into two camps: some drive for 200 thousand km without repairs, others complain about corrosion and suspension after 50 thousand km.
    • 🛠️ Kia Rio - most people like reliability, but those who got into a “lucky” copy with a defective one 1.4 MPI engine, leave devastating reviews.
    • 💰 Toyota RAV4 — praised for reliability, but criticized for expensive maintenance. Reviews about the hybrid version are especially controversial.
    • 🚗 Volkswagen Polo - some write that the car is “eternal”, others - that after 100 thousand km problems begin with electronics and suspension.

    To understand why reviews vary so much, read details. For example, at Renault Duster Corrosion problems are more common in cars that have been driven on salty winter roads without anti-corrosion treatment. And Kia Rio engine 1.4 MPI indeed has a manufacturing defect (problems with piston rings), but this only applies to certain batches.

    Why does Lada Vesta have such different reviews?

    The main reason is the strong dependence on the year of manufacture and configuration. Cars from 2015-2017 suffered from “childhood diseases” (problems with electronics, cabin filter leaks), which were almost eliminated by 2019. In addition, the AMT robot behaves differently depending on the firmware: before the 2018 update, it was less adaptive.

    How to check reviews of used cars: 3 life hacks

    If you are choosing a used car, reviews on Drom can become your main verification tool. Here's how to get the most out of them:

    1. Compare reviews by VIN code.

      On some ads on Drom specified VIN. Enter it into the search - perhaps previous owners left reviews about this particular car. This will help you find out if the seller is hiding major repairs.

    2. Look for “review diaries”.

      Some users go to Drom something like a logbook, where they describe all repairs and expenses during operation. Such posts are usually tagged “#mycar” or “#logbook”.

    3. Check reviews for a specific dealer or service.

      If the car is sold through a dealer, look for reviews about it. For example, the phrase "I bought a BMW X3 from them, a month later I discovered hidden damage to the body"should be alarming.

    Pay special attention to reviews of hidden problems, which are not visible during inspection:

    • 🔋 Battery: if reviews often mention that it “sits down overnight,” this may indicate problems with generator or on-board electronics.
    • 🔥 Engine: phrases like "oil consumption is 1 liter per 5 thousand km" or "smokes when cold» - signs of wear of the piston group.
    • ⚙️ Gearbox: mentions "jolts when shifting" or "automatic transmission delays"may talk about imminent repairs.
    💡

    If in reviews of a particular car more than 30% of authors mention the same breakdown (for example, “the rear crankshaft oil seal is leaking”), the likelihood that it will affect your copy is at least 50%.

    Common mistakes when reading reviews on Drom

    Even experienced car enthusiasts sometimes make mistakes when analyzing reviews. Here's what not to do:

    • 🚫 Focus only on the average rating. U Lada Granta maybe 4.2 stars, but that doesn't mean it's more reliable Toyota Corolla from 4.5. Always read the text!
    • 🚫 Ignore negative reviews. Even if they are 5% of the total, they can indicate systemic problems (for example, body corrosion in Ford Focus 3).
    • 🚫 Compare cars of different classes. Reviews about Hyundai Solaris won't help you choose between him and Skoda Kodiaq - these are completely different categories.
    • 🚫 Trust reviews without mileage. The phrase "great car"without indicating how many people drove it is useless.
    • 🚫 Overlook climate conditions. Review of Nissan Qashqai from the owner from Sochi will not tell you how the car behaves at -30°C.

    Another common mistake is do not take into account the year of manufacture. For example, reviews about Kia Sportage 2015 and Kia Sportage 2020 may differ radically due to restyling or engine changes. Always filter reviews by date!

    ⚠️ Attention: If the review contains the phrase “car like nova" or "drives like new"without indicating mileage, this should be a red flag. Such wording is often used by sellers or custom writers to create the illusion of perfect condition.

    FAQ: Answers to frequently asked questions about reviews on Drom

    Can you trust reviews on Drom if there is a lot of negativity there?

    Yes, but with reservations. Negative reviews are often written in a moment of irritation (for example, after an expensive repair), but they can indicate real problems. Pay attention to recurring complaints - if 20 people complain about the same breakdown, this is a systemic problem. However, isolated negative posts may be the result of an unsuccessful copy or improper operation.

    For objectivity, use the rule “3 to 1": for every negative review there must be at least three positive ones for the model to be considered reliable.

    How can you tell if a review of Drom was written by a seller or dealer?

    There are several signs:

    • The account was registered on the same day the review was published.
    • The text contains specific names of dealership centers or services (for example, “at the AutoLux car showroom on Leninsky Prospekt»).
    • The review is written in an overly enthusiastic tone without a single negative.
    • The author responds to comments with boilerplate phrases or invites them to “come and see.”

    Also check the account history: if a user has only left reviews for one brand or model, this is suspicious.

    Is it worth buying a car if there are few reviews about it on Drom?

    A small number of reviews is not always a bad sign. Possible reasons:

    • Model new (released less than a year ago).
    • Model rare (for example, SsangYong Rexton or Haval F7).
    • Model positioned as reliable, and the owners have nothing to discuss (e.g. Toyota Camry).

    In such cases, look for reviews on foreign sites (for example, Drive2.ru, Auto.ru or foreign forums). Also check crash test results (Euro NCAP, ARCAP) and reliability reports (J.D. Power, ADAC).

    How can I find reviews of a specific dealer or service on Drom?

    Use a forum search with the company name in quotes. For example:

    "Autospecial center on Dmitrovka"

    Also check:

    • Section "Dealers» on Drom - there are ratings and reviews about salons.
    • Groups on social networks (VKontakte, Facebook), where specific dealers are discussed.
    • Website Review or Yandex.Maps — there are also reviews about services there.

    Be careful with reviews rated “1” or “5” - they are more often emotional or ordered.

    Is it possible to find reviews about cars with LPG on Drom?

    Yes, but you need to look for them purposefully. Here's how:

    1. Enter the model name + “GBO” into the search. For example: Hyundai Creta LPG.
    2. Look for reviews in the sections "Gas equipment» on the Drom forum.
    3. Pay attention to details:
      • What generation of HBO is installed (HBO 4, HBO 6).
      • How the consumption has changed (usually indicated in liters propane/methane per 100 km).
      • Were there any problems with the engine after installation?

    • It is also useful to read topics about HBO on Drive2.ru — specific car models and installation nuances are often discussed there.