Despite the fact that work on the 2123 project began in the first half of the eighties of the 20th century, at some point it became clear to the designers that it was more expedient to create a new model, and not try to improve the usual VAZ-2121.
Since all the forces of the factory workers at that time were thrown into putting the VAZ-2108 on the conveyor, they began to seriously engage in a promising cross-country passenger car a little later. The official starting point can be considered 1986, when the terms of reference for the model 2123 were finally formed and sent to the design departments of AVTOVAZ.
An important feature of the terms of reference for model 2123 was the body type - frame. Such a design with hinged plastic panels at that time in Togliatti had both supporters and opponents. In the world, there were already production cars made according to this scheme - for example, the Renault Espace minivan.
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However, soon the idea of "rolling up" the Niva was abandoned, because it required huge financial costs and a complete readjustment of production: in large-scale conditions, the production of a car with a frame body required the development of new technologies and materials. The power structure had to be made using high-alloy steels, and the front panels required expensive and difficult-to-manufacture plastic. And this meant that with all the seeming advantages of a frame-panel structure using "eternal" plastic, its serial implementation at that time was impractical.
crossover thoughts
In order to test the idea of using a chain drive in a transfer case in practice, VAZ purchased a transmission from the first generation Mitsubishi Pajero SUV.
As it turned out, in order to use such a design, the plant would have to acquire a license, as well as eliminate all the "technological" issues associated with a radical alteration of the transmission. New cardan shafts, pedal assembly, body parts (central tunnel and bottom), exhaust system and much more stopped the designers, forcing them to remain true to the "native" scheme, which by that time had already been tested and verified by both professionals and hundreds of thousands of privates. car owners.
There were also those at the plant who believed that the new Niva should be brought even closer to a passenger car, deliberately worsening its off-road qualities. At the same time, such a "crossover" model could be widely unified with the latest front-wheel drive - VAZ-2108. Yes, yes, some experts insisted that the motor for 2123 should be placed not along, but across the engine compartment!
In order to study the issue in practice, UGK VAZ purchased two "Japanese" - Nissan Prairie and Honda Civic Shuttle, which passed comprehensive tests.
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Opinions were divided: some designers believed that cross-country ability could be sacrificed in the new car in favor of other consumer qualities, while others believed that the Niva-2 should not be inferior to the VAZ-2121 in terms of off-road potential. It is not surprising that those designers, constructors and testers who were directly involved in the development of the first Niva adhered to the "jeep" concept. They just stood up for the "native" scheme and did not allow the compact Togliatti SUV to be turned into a crossover like the Toyota RAV4 or Hyundai Tucson. History does not suggest the subjunctive mood, but Niva, it seems, had the opportunity to enter the same river twice and again be ahead of the time with his concept - this time "parquet". It did not work out - due to the fact that the "twenty-first" in terms of off-road qualities proved to be very bright, they did not dare to abandon its main trump card at the plant.
Don't forget about beauty
Having finally decided that the new Niva would conceptually be an improved successor to the ideas of the previous SUV, the designers moved on to body design.
Initially, two layouts were made. V. Semushkin's version strongly resembled the modernized VAZ-2123, which was clearly "tied" to the old platform.
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| Early design of the new Niva (1980) | ||
While on the sketches of A. Belyakov, the promising Niva appeared completely different - a five-door, more streamlined and "chubby", with narrow headlights and an aerodynamic silhouette.
Much in the lines and solutions in one way or another echoed, on which at that time they were also working at VAZ.
More precisely, the concepts of Belyakov and Syomushkin (later) looked more like a station wagon with the index 2111 - plasticine models 2123 give a clear understanding of who the car of the tenth family owes its original appearance to.
A little later, Belyakov emigrated, and for obvious reasons, they abandoned his ideas on the appearance of 2123. But somehow a delegation from Japan came to the plant. Representatives of Honda got acquainted with the developments and ... in the late nineties, the world saw the compact crossover HR-V, surprisingly.
Another version of the appearance of the VAZ-2123 belonged to the VAZ designer V. Stepanov, who later used his own developments for a new UAZ with an index of 3160, also produced in the VAZ STC.
The technical part of the future Niva-2 was being run in by that time.
Despite the fact that the car remained conceptually the same, the designers had to qualitatively improve its driving performance and increase the level of comfort, and without compromising its cross-country ability! They did an excellent job with the task.
Stronger, more comfortable, more spacious
The designers did not see the new Niva with the same engine. As a power unit, they proposed using the engine of the future "tens" (16-valve 2110), as well as a 1.8-liter diesel engine, which at that time was being developed for the "forty-first" Moskvich together with AZLK.
At VAZ, they tried to adapt a purchased diesel engine to the Niva - for example, the super-economical German ELKO unit, which the Germans themselves wanted .
Finally, there was also a "voice of reason", suggesting at first to install under the hood an ordinary "Zhiguli" engine, "unclenched" by a hundred or two cubes, which later received the index 21213. Irony of fate, but the new Niva was destined to be born and grow old with just such a unit - if not the most modern and high-torque, but really existing in production.
Working on the interior and ergonomics of the future Niva, the designers were faced with the fact that the compact five-door has practically no serial analogues that could be used as a "reference point"! So I had to measure anything - larger imported jeeps, Suzuki Samurai and Vitara, even my own "perspective" - a tenth model car model!
The designers faced a difficult task: the new car should become noticeably more comfortable than the usual old Niva, providing an acceptable fit for all five inhabitants of the cabin, and not just for the driver and front passenger, as was previously practiced, taking into account the intended purpose of the off-road vehicle. The builders and ergonomists did a great job on the layout, trying to get the most out of the project for the driver and four passengers. The landing mock-up eventually turned into a demonstration interior project, which clearly showed what the interior of the new car would be like.
Long road to release
By 1989, at the technical council of the STC VAZ, the concept of the 2123 model was considered and finally approved. Thus, the result of five years of searches and experiments was a five-door car with a longitudinally located engine and permanent all-wheel drive according to the usual scheme for the Niva - through a center differential with the possibility of blocking.
Alas, the collapse of the USSR in 1991 greatly influenced the history of the 2123 model, the work on which was temporarily tacitly recognized as secondary. As in the case of the G8, all efforts at the plant were concentrated on the launch of a new passenger car - this time the 2110 model.
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In addition, at that time, at VAZ, they were just launching a modernized Niva with an index of 21213 into a series, but due to problems with the rear lights, at first they managed to master only a "hybrid" with an index of 21219, where the "two hundred and thirteenth" 1.7-liter engine was installed in the old body with a short rear door and six rear optics.
For a number of reasons, work on project 2123 was transferred from the VAZ Research and Development Center to the OPP - pilot production, where four cases for aggregate carriers were welded out of eight ordinary Niva bodies. Alas, they did not wait for their components and assemblies, leaving for decommissioning after a couple of years of fruitless downtime.
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| Appearance variant from V. Kryazhev (1992) | |
Since the plant did not pull a serious modernization of the transmission in the new economic conditions, it was decided to stop at maximum unification with the transmission of serial VAZs - gearbox 21074 and "razdatka" 2121.
There were also problems with appearance: since the design of the previous layouts turned out to be too "passenger", it did not really fit in with the "jeeper" concept of the car. In addition, in the early nineties, the exterior of the prototypes already looked more like today than tomorrow. And this means that by the time it was put on the conveyor, the new Niva would be hopelessly outdated. At VAZ, they understood this and tried to find another "timeless design", as they managed to do on model 2121.
Nevertheless, by 1993, the same Syomushkin "found" the look of the Niva again - this time a five-door and modern one.
An interesting detail - the designer really did not want to place a spare wheel on the back door, which many of his colleagues insisted on. After all, the previous solution with a "reserve" in the engine compartment was, first of all, "beautiful engineering".
That is why they tried to attach the fifth wheel under the bottom of the trunk - about the same as it was done on the Renault Duster. However, for layout reasons, the "reserve" was still placed "in a jeepers" way - on the tailgate.
In parallel with the usual five-door, the modelers worked on modifications of the Niva-2 - a pickup truck, a van and even a convertible!
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Moreover, the work on enthusiasm was successful not only in terms of the final result, but also in terms of time - it turned out to complete the whole range in just one and a half to two years.
By that time, the first running samples of 2123 had also ripened. They showed that the car should turn out to be more stable, roomy and comfortable, but ... in terms of cross-country ability, the new model was clearly inferior to the old woman-2121.
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In parallel with fine-tuning the technical part at the VAZ, they also worked on the appearance of the Niva. In particular, the management of the plant did not like the "dneproges on the front end", as the plant workers aptly dubbed the solution of the radiator grille with many vertical holes.
Today, every resident of Russia is familiar with the Chevrolet Niva, which over the period of its existence has managed to become a real people's car. Niva Chevrolet combines a number of positive qualities: excellent cross-country ability, high reliability, spacious interior, comfortable driving, etc. However, the main advantage of this car is its low price, since even an almost new Niva can be purchased at a price of 400-500 thousand rubles, and the price of earlier models can be only 300 thousand rubles. Below we present detailed test drive Chevrolet Niva 2009 model year (restyling), in which all elements of the car will be considered: from the appearance to the technical part.
General data and impressions from Niva
Production of the Chevrolet Niva began back in 2002. Until 2009, the car did not receive updates and was sold in a very modest configuration, and even despite this, it was very popular with drivers. In March 2009, a restyled version of the Niva was released, which received a number of updates, became more powerful, more comfortable and more functional. A restyled version was taken for a test drive, which to this day remains one of the most popular cars in Russia.
After a test drive, the new Chevrolet Niva left a positive impression. The updated Niva received a new body from the Bertone studio, an updated interior and a plastic body kit. The crosspieces of the cardan shafts were replaced by CV joints. The front suspension swivel joints have also been updated. Later versions of the Niva received ABS, airbags, new optics, roof rails, 16″ alloy wheels and other important updates.
Our Chevrolet Niva pleased with a smooth ride, good maneuverability and high cross-country ability. Perhaps, the driving performance of the Niva fully justifies the cost of the car. If the pre-styling version had problems with shaking at high speed, then the new Chevrolet Niva easily swallows minor bumps and does not cause discomfort. Additional comfort is achieved through excellent handling and a spacious interior. By the way, the interior of the car is not distinguished by high-quality materials, but the build quality is at the highest level.
As for the functionality of the car, we got the version with ABS, airbags, CV joints and other elements that were integrated into the Niva only after 2011. Versions of cars produced before 2009 did not have even a small part of these advantages.
Based on the low price of the car, we can safely say that the new Niva is one of the best solutions in terms of price and quality ratio. Of course, in many ways it is inferior to the same Duster, but the price of the Niva is much lower. For 400-600 thousand rubles, buyers get a passable SUV that has a number of useful features and is very easy to maintain.
Appearance of the Russian SUV
Every resident of Russia is well acquainted with the appearance of the Chevrolet Niva. Of course, it is difficult to call the Chevrolet Niva a stylish car, but it is clearly not chosen because of the design. Fields released after 2009 look very good.
The car wrap was created by Bertone. At the front, the car received an updated grille, on which a large Chevrolet nameplate is installed. The car also received round foglights and upgraded turn signals. The mirrors are body-colored, and plastic lining is installed on the sides of the car. Top-end cars are fitted with 16-inch alloy wheels. The rear of the car received new stylishly shaped lights, and the rear bumper received a special loading area.
As for the colors, the car is offered in the main colors "Graphite", "Quartz", "Liquid Silver", "Iceberg" and "Auster". Red, green and other bright colors are very rare.
Salon - Convenience and Space
The interior of the Chevrolet Niva is spacious, comfortable and provides an excellent overview of all areas, so manufacturers can put a positive mark on it. In versions of the car released after 2009, all complaints and wishes of customers were taken into account. The cabin has a lot of additional compartments and convenient cup holders. In the new versions, the mirror is attached directly to the windshield, which has reduced the level of unpleasant sounds.
The car also received a new 3-spoke steering wheel made in Portugal. The dashboard has changed noticeably, which has become better and more modern. In versions after 2011, airbags and pretensioner seat belts appeared, and the seats became much more comfortable. Now it is possible to fix the trunk lid in 3 positions. The car is controlled remotely using a modern flip key equipped with a remote control.
Salon Chevrolet Niva turned out to be spacious, comfortable and ergonomic. Despite the use of inexpensive plastic, there are no extraneous noises and other problems in the cabin. This is achieved due to the high build quality. In addition, the cabin has good sound insulation, which increases its comfort. And the interior of the new Niva looks quite good, despite the absence of expensive elements.
Control and comfort
Manufacturers with each new version made the Niva more comfortable and maneuverable. Outwardly, the car seems difficult to manage, but in reality it is not. Niva perfectly obeys the steering wheel and does not cause any problems when driving in different areas.
Before serial production, the new version of the Chevrolet Niva was tested in various harsh conditions: from the hot deserts of Asia to cold Siberia. In all cases, the car showed itself from the excellent side. He is not afraid of low and high temperatures and other extreme conditions.
An important advantage of the new Niva is a high-quality suspension, which is able to overcome various obstacles without shaking and unnecessary inconvenience. The power steering works well, providing quick steering response. The brakes aren't bad either, working well on both straights and slopes. Excellent car handling is provided at speeds up to 110 km / h. At higher speeds, you need to be more careful.
Unfortunately, there are some problems in the Chevrolet Niva in terms of handling and comfort. The car's engines are not very powerful, which makes driving over rough terrain more difficult. It’s quite difficult to move uphill on the Niva. Under such circumstances, the engine starts to roar and slowly accelerate the car. Another problem is the gearbox, which is quite difficult to operate until it is fully warmed up. However, over time you can get used to it.
If we consider the control and comfort of the new Chevrolet Niva as a whole, then here we can put a positive assessment. For this part, the car, although not perfect, does not have significant flaws. Within a few weeks, you need to get used to the features of the car, and there will be no problems in driving.
Testing Niva off-road
Tests and off-road tests also managed to reveal the strengths of the Chevrolet Niva. Despite the low-power engine, the Niva easily passes through difficult areas: whether it is difficult to pass mud or large slopes.
An important advantage of the Chevrolet Niva is that it is able to easily keep high speed even on difficult terrain. When other cars slow down a lot when passing difficult sections, the car easily moves under 70-80 km / h without noticing obstacles in its path. By the way, while driving off-road, Niva coped with difficult sections without using a central differential lock.
New Chevrolet Niva will be a great solution for lovers of outdoor activities. Regardless of the complexity of the roads and climatic conditions, the car shows its best side.
Good dynamics and comfort of the car are achieved due to the following technical characteristics:
- length - 4048 mm, width - 1786 mm, height - 1652 mm, ground clearance - 200 mm;
- gross vehicle weight - 1860 kg;
- engine power - 80 hp;
- maximum speed - 140 km / h;
- acceleration to hundreds - 19 seconds;
- Gearbox - 5MKPP;
- fuel consumption per 100 km - 14.1 liters in the city, 8.8 on the highway;
- trunk volume - 320 l (650 l with the seats folded).
These make the car convenient for almost any purpose. Today price of a new Chevrolet Niva is 500-700 thousand rubles. Niva fully justifies its price and provides its owners with everything they need: a spacious interior, excellent handling, high cross-country ability, etc. The only characteristics that need further improvement are acceleration to hundreds and fuel consumption. However, the current indicators are not critical.
Prices and equipment
At the moment, you can purchase a Chevrolet Niva car in 6 trim levels:
- L - minimum equipment with a minimum set of functions and amenities (price - from 500 thousand rubles).
- LC - air conditioning and cooling of the glove box have been added to cars of this configuration (price - from 540 thousand rubles).
- GL - there are electric and heated mirrors, a spare wheel cover, central locking, ABS, belt pretensioners, airbags and a number of other amenities (price - from 576 thousand rubles).
- LE - 16″ light-alloy wheels, All-Terrain function, snorkel for overcoming water obstacles, antenna cap, additional protection for the engine, gearbox and other components, towing device, etc. are added to the basic set of options. (price - from 579 thousand rubles). The LE package is the ideal solution for outdoor enthusiasts, as it is aimed at use outside the city.
- GLC - added a chrome trim on the radiator tail, headlights with a dark bezel, a rear ceiling lamp for interior lighting, heated seats and a windshield, a rear view camera (price - from 620 thousand rubles).
- LE + is the most expensive car equipment. It has the maximum number of options and amenities, as well as an interior decorated in black. The price of this configuration is the highest - from 632 thousand rubles.
As you can see, the prices between the Chevrolet Niva trim levels do not differ so much, but the differences between them are significant. If you want to save money, you can choose the L and LC trim levels. If you plan to use the car for country trips for outdoor activities, the LE version is ideal. If you value maximum comfort, choose the GLC or LE + versions. The car of each configuration is good in its own way and fully justifies its cost.
Used car selection
Of course, used Chevrolet Niva cars are very popular today, but you should approach the choice of a used car with all responsibility. The fact is that these cars are often used in difficult conditions: trips to the countryside, outdoor activities and other indecencies. As a rule, budget SUVs are in worse condition than standard city cars of the same age, so you need to choose the Niva Chevrolet bu as carefully as possible.
06.12.2016
- a small car that, at first glance, seems like an SUV, but, in fact, it is a real SUV. Due to its small size, short base, permanent all-wheel drive with a symmetrical differential, the presence of locks and a low gear, this car is able to get out of almost any swamp. Over the fourteen years of its existence, the car has not undergone practically any changes, the only thing the manufacturer decided on was adding a plastic body kit. But, is everything so stable with reliability and what to expect from a used Chevrolet Niva, now let's try to find out.
A bit of history:
The history of the Chevrolet Niva dates back to 1998, at the same time, at the annual auto show in Moscow, the concept of the VAZ 2123 Niva car was first presented to the public. The novelty was supposed to replace the outdated model VAZ 2121 Niva, which had been produced without any changes for more than 20 years. But, at that time, the AvtoVAZ concern did not have the funds to launch the mass production of new items. As a result, the management of AvtoVAZ decided to sell the license for the production of the Vaz 2123 and the right to the Niva brand to the General Motors concern. Before the start of sales, the designers of the concern made a huge number of changes to the appearance of the Niva, which is familiar to us, which made it possible to consider it an independent model.
The novelty debuted on the world market in 2002. It was assumed that the previous version would be discontinued, but this did not happen (changed the name to "LADA 4 × 4"), since the novelty turned out to be almost twice as expensive as its predecessor. On the market, Chevrolet Niva competes in price with foreign SUVs, but, alas, not in quality. In 2009, an updated version of the SUV was presented, the changes affected only the exterior and interior, but the technical part remained unchanged.
Advantages and disadvantages of Niva Chevrolet with mileage.
The body of the Chevrolet Niva begins to rust already in the fifth year of operation, corrosion centers appear at almost all joints and corners of the car. The paintwork is very weak, especially on the plastic elements of the body. Many owners do not recommend washing the car with high pressure washers, as it often knocks out pieces of paint. If you constantly drive with a spare wheel on the back door, then, over time, its hinges are pulled back and the door starts to close poorly. To avoid this trouble, many owners carry a spare tire in the trunk.
Engines
Two engines are available on the car - 1.8 (125 hp) manufactured by Opel, they are equipped only with export cars and 1.7 liters (80 hp) manufactured by AvtoVAZ, this engine is intended for the CIS market. Cars with a 1.8 engine are a real exotic for our market, therefore, there is no point in talking about its reliability. Motor 1.7 has a good resource and has a number of significant drawbacks. The timing drive is equipped with a metal chain. The main disadvantage of this unit is the unreliable design of the standard timing tensioner, which often leads to a chain jump. A rattling sound from under the hood when starting a cold engine and a diesel rumble at idle will serve as a signal to replace the tensioner. If a running engine often randomly stalls, most likely a flush or replacement of the throttle sensor and fuel injectors is required (flushing is recommended at least once every 70-90 thousand km).
Also, the ignition module is not famous for its reliability, a signal about the need to replace it will be a deterioration in dynamic performance and engine tripping. About once every 100,000 km, hydraulic lifters need to be replaced, if they are not replaced in time, this will lead to premature failure of the ramp and burnout of the valves, which, as a result, will significantly reduce compression in the cylinders. In order to extend the life of hydraulic lifters, specialists from branded service stations recommend monitoring the oil level and keeping it above average. In a car with a mileage of more than 150,000 km, oil consumption increases - up to 300 grams per 1000 km. Often, the cause of increased oil consumption is hardened valve stem seals, on average, once every 100,000 km, the oil pump, idle speed controller, mass air flow sensor, cylinder head gasket and starter need to be replaced.
The cooling system is disappointing with the frequent occurrence of radiator leaks, and the quality of the expansion tank does not stand up to criticism (cracks), as a result, it has to be changed every 15-20 thousand kilometers. Periodically, it is necessary to pay attention to the condition of the connecting clamps of the lower pipe leading to the radiator in order to avoid leakage of coolant. Also, the exhaust manifold mounting bracket is not famous for its reliability; extraneous sounds resembling rattling will serve as a signal of the need for replacement. The noisy operation of the fuel pump is a fairly common phenomenon, this feature is not treated in any way. Once every 4-5 years, check the condition of the fuel pipes that are under the bottom, as over time a large amount of dirt and reagents accumulate on them, which contribute to corrosion, which will result in gasoline leakage. 
Transmission
Chevrolet Niva is equipped with only a five-speed manual transmission. As operating experience has shown, the mechanics are quite reliable, but it has enough minor flaws. Of the main ones, one can distinguish: vibration of the gear knob at high engine speeds (2500 and above), on warranty cars, the dealer changed the lever assembly under warranty, but this did not solve the problem for long. Some owners have managed to eliminate arm vibration by replacing the fork and bearing. If, on the car, it began to knock out fifth and reverse gears, most likely, adjustment of the backstage of the gear selection mechanism is required. Loosening the backstage clamp often leads to a shift of the lever forward, as a result, the fifth and reverse gears stop turning on. The clutch has a decent resource (80-100 thousand km), but the release bearing may need to be replaced already at 40,000 km, and it is also necessary to monitor the condition of the anther of the working cylinder. Another Achilles' heel is considered to be a razdatka, leakage of transfer case seals is a fairly common occurrence. It is also worth mentioning that every third car, even a serviceable transfer case, makes a terrible howl when driving.
Driving performance Chevrolet Niva with mileage
The Chevrolet Niva suspension has a fairly simple design and does not cause any particular problems. Due to the design features, wheel bearings must be adjusted and tightened at least once every 25,000 km, and if this requirement is not neglected, the bearings will last up to 80,000 km. Also, do not forget to check the anthers of the CV joints for cracks at each maintenance and to inject the crosspieces once every half a year. Most often, rear suspension rods need to be replaced - every 40-50 thousand km. The disadvantages of the front suspension include silent blocks of the upper arms and ball bearings, their resource is 50-70 thousand km. Once every 70-90 thousand km, it is necessary to replace the thrust bearings, shock absorbers and their springs. Every five years of operation it is necessary to change the brake hoses for new ones. The service life of the front brake pads is up to 50,000 km, the rear ones - up to 60-80 thousand km.
Outcome:
Chevrolet Niva is a fairly reliable, unpretentious and inexpensive SUV. The car will be a great option for outdoor enthusiasts (fishing, hunting), who are not afraid and like to do repairs on their own. The listed problem areas are just statistics of the most common malfunctions, according to the owners of this car and specialized service stations. When buying this car, you must understand that anything can break here, therefore, Niva is not a friend for pedantic motorists. When buying this car, a lot depends on luck, as a rule, the lucky ones sing odes about its reliability, but those who are unlucky have to constantly fix annoying minor malfunctions.
Advantages:
- Good off-road performance.
- Low cost of maintenance and repair.
- Balanced suspension.
Flaws:
- Weak paint finish.
- The quality of finishing materials.
- Outdated design.
Chevrolet Niva is essentially a global restyling of the Niva 2121 model, which has proven itself in the Russian market. Basically, the changes affected the appearance of the car, the arrangement of the instruments on the panel has changed, and it has generally become more comfortable. But at the same time, there were some problems with the transmission and engine, which caused breakdowns on previous models. As a rule, this has led to the fact that most owners are unhappy with their car. Only those who have purchased a new car that did not have time to "show" themselves leave positive feedback.
Many problems begin even at the moment when the car gets to the pre-sale preparation at the dealership. But thanks to our mentality, checks are approached through the fingers, so when you get a seemingly new car, you always encounter such problems as creaking door locks, loose bolts, and so on. Usually this manifests itself already in the first thousand run. And already in the first year of ownership, it is necessary to additionally lubricate the hinges of the car and tighten all the bolts if necessary.
But also in the Chevrolet Niva, the weak points are not only bolts and locks. The main components of the car are also prone to malfunction.
The power unit is tuned for high torque, so it shows low dynamics during acceleration. In engines of this type, the occurrence of a gland leak is most likely. At the same time, for a replacement under warranty, it is not enough to provide a car in which there will be a small leak. This is usually not covered under warranty. The operation of the air conditioner is usually not satisfactory. But due to the design features, when it is turned on, the engine loses a significant amount of power. This is especially pronounced when driving on the highway. Symptoms are decreased dynamics and increased. The engine itself is reliable, thanks to the simplicity of design and the use of proven materials. Requires inspection and overhaul no earlier than 250 thousand kilometers. Every 100 thousand kilometers a careful inspection is required.
The most common problem is with the expansion tank. Under the influence of pressure and high temperatures, the plastic is destroyed and leaks appear. On some cars, the pump quickly fails. This happens with frequent use at high speeds.
The weakest elements in this system will be ball, steering linkage, rods and oil seals. Hubs need to be checked periodically. Usually, problems in the wheel bearing manifest themselves in the first 30 thousand kilometers. Due to off-road use, cv joints often fail. This is due to dust and dirt getting on the anthers, as a result of which they tear faster.
Here the main source of problems are the crosses located on the cardan. Cardans themselves are also not reliable. Splined ones cause strong vibration during movement.
electrical equipment
The most common failure of the window lifter mechanism. This can happen even in the first six months. Many problems have been transferred to the Chevrolet Niva from the Niva 2121 model. This is a starter and a generator. It must be remembered that these components can be changed under warranty, so it is important to pass all MOT at the dealer on time. Over time, problems with the fuel sensor may appear. Due to exposure to high temperatures, the wiring leading to the radiator fan is destroyed, due to which a short circuit occurs and the fuses blow.
Separately, it is worth mentioning, because here the problem lies not in the wiring, but in an ill-conceived design. Due to the high temperature of the lamps and the small body, the plastic of the headlights often melts. To prevent this, it is better to install LED light sources in the dimensions.
Body
Here the problem is no different from other cars - basically it is corrosion. But due to the unsuccessful design of the arches, moisture can accumulate strongly, which greatly accelerates corrosion. If you do not follow the car, then you can get large foci that will make the car unusable in 3-4 years. Paint on plastic parts peels off quite often. If left untreated, scratches will rust within a week.
Here the main drawback, which manifests itself immediately upon leaving the dealer's salon, is the lack of sound insulation. This is especially felt when driving more than 100 km / h, when the transfer case and the engine have a large load.
But despite all this, thanks to the low price and a large number of spare parts in car dealerships, this car is still popular among car enthusiasts. The simplicity of the design, which allows you to independently eliminate all the shortcomings and off-road qualities, allow you to storm even the most remote parts of the country, while not being afraid to disable the car. But still, you should not overestimate its capabilities and monitor the most vulnerable nodes in time.
The Chevrolet automobile company has been a leader in the global market for many years. The brand has experienced many ups and downs, which once again underlines the positive aspects of the automaker's company.
At the moment, Chevrolet cars can boast of great popularity in all regions of the world. So, for example, North American enterprises assemble exclusively premium cars, as well as sports cars and branded SUVs. This is not surprising, because in this region the giant General Motors has great influence, which cannot afford to oversee the production of budget versions.
Photo: Chevrolet Niva 2017
But if we talk about budget Chevrolet models, they are produced at South Korean factories, and they are quite low cost.
If we talk about the domestic market, then the most popular model, of course, is the Chevrolet Niva. Therefore, it is not surprising that many motorists are interested in the question "where are Chevrolet Niva cars assembled for Russia?". In this article, we will just discuss this issue, and also find out how high-quality the Niva SUVs are, which are made at Russian facilities.
The main assembly of the Chevrolet Niva for the Russian market and the CIS market takes place at the Togliatti branch of General Motors. At this enterprise, a full cycle of car assembly takes place, including the manufacture of all parts and components, as well as welding and painting.
After the release of each batch of cars, quality control specialists randomly select several copies and send them for testing and testing. In the event that employees find flaws, they return the car for revision.
Quality Chevrolet Niva Russian Assembly
Chevrolet Niva is a worthy representative of traditional Russian cars. Therefore, it is not surprising that the model has become a real people's car, and it is difficult to imagine domestic hunting or fishing without the Niva SUV.
The Russian version of the car is assembled on the basis of the modular platform of the VAZ-2123 model, but General Motors engineers have significantly increased the functionality and cross-country ability of the novelty.
It is worth noting that for 4 years, since 2004, the Niva SUV has been ranked first in the sales level rating.
Photo: brand new Niva only from the GM-AVTOVAZ assembly line The domestic car is sold in three trim levels. In addition to the basic, tuned and restyled versions are also available.
Be that as it may, the quality of cars still depends on the place of assembly, and there are a lot of questions about the Russian model. First of all, the owners are not satisfied with the low level of security. Therefore, driving at a very high speed causes at least distrust, because in the earlier Niva trim levels, there are not even airbags.
Relatively recently, taking into account all the complaints of motorists, the developers have released updated versions of the Niva, which are already equipped with all the necessary security systems.
The paintwork and now does not cause admiration, as the coloring is unstable to scratches and does not protect the body from corrosive processes.
Features Chevrolet Niva Russian assembly
As noted above, the Chevrolet Niva is considered the best-selling and sought-after SUV in the Russian automotive market. Since the debut of the model in 2002 and to this day, more than 175,000 vehicles have rolled off the assembly lines of the plant, which can be called a very good indicator of productivity.
The most modern version of the Chevrolet Niva is already equipped in the basic configuration with:
- multi-level heated seats;
- side tinting;
- light alloy wheels;
- modern air conditioner.
Given all the past shortcomings, now manufacturers are focusing on the level of SUV safety.
As a power unit, a 1.7-liter engine is used, which is capable of producing 80 horsepower.
Recently, information has appeared that the German engineers of the Opel concern are assembling a new power unit with a capacity of 123 hp for the Niva. Also, there is hope that in the future there will also be a diesel engine, which Russian motorists lack so much.
But so far, the range of power units is rather meager and boasts the same old engine.
Video: Chevrolet Niva assembly process
Conclusion
One of the most prominent representatives of Chevrolet in the Russian market is the Niva SUV. This car is produced at the domestic branch of General Motors in the city of Togliatti. It is worth noting that there are a lot of complaints about the Russian assembly, but the developers are trying to constantly upgrade the popular crossover.
Among the main advantages of a domestic-made SUV are its excellent cross-country ability and attractive appearance.
