This article is an assessment of the car Lada 4x4 (Lada Niva 4x4) from the point of view of car owners, the advantages and disadvantages of the model are considered. The general characteristics of the car are given, the topic of equipment is touched upon. We hope you will be interested.
The first mass SUV in the world
The Lada Niva model is a unique off-road passenger car, it became the first mass-produced off-road vehicle in the world that does not have a frame structure, with an independent front suspension on springs.
The VAZ car is known in other countries under other names (Bognor Diva, Lada Cossack / Bushman / Sport, etc.), since 2006 the model has been renamed Lada 4x4.
The VAZ-2121 compact SUV was launched into mass production in April 1977 back in the Soviet Union, and in 1978 it was recognized as the best car in its class and received a gold award.
Currently, the model is produced in three- and five-door versions, there is also a luxury modification.
In the automotive market, the Russian VAZ has existed for about forty years, and still has not lost its relevance, has worldwide recognition.
Lada Niva 4x4
The appearance of the VAZ SUV has not changed much over the years, only in 1994, when an updated version of the VAZ-21213 rolled off the assembly line, the rear of the body was modernized:
- another tailgate appeared;
- the rear lights have become completely different (previously, the rear optics were borrowed from the VAZ-2106 model);
- later, more modern side mirrors were installed on the car.
The three-door Lada 4x4 of 2016 is a compact SUV with permanent all-wheel drive, with a locking center differential and a reduction gear.
The interior, compared to the first release of the VAZ-2121 in 1994, has also undergone changes, and the cabin has been updated:
- seats;
- instrument panel together with a combination (dashboard - first from VAZ-2107, later - from 2114);
- steering wheel (also from the "seven").
Lada is not particularly comfortable, and there is not much space for passengers in the back.
The steering column switches are "penny", remained the same, it is inconvenient to turn on the turn signal on the go.
The shift lever is located close to the instrument panel, to shift gears, you have to reach forward.
The side mirrors are large, but with mechanical adjustment, the electric drive is not provided even in the “Lux” configuration.
The ceiling lining is the same, oilcloth, like on all VAZ classics, there are no mirrors on the sun visors.
The spare wheel has a rather original location, it is located under the hood, but it was there on the first 2121 models.
Aggregates
If in the early releases of Lada carburetor engines of 1.6 and 1.7 liters were installed, then the engine on the Niva 4x4 is now injection, with distributed fuel injection.
On a 3-door SUV, only one type of power unit is provided - this is an 81-horsepower 1.7-liter gasoline engine (eight valves).
The engine of the VAZ-21214 model allows the car to accelerate to 100 km / h in 17 seconds, to reach a maximum speed of 142 km / h.
The fuel consumption declared by the manufacturer per 100 km is:
- on the highway - 8.3 l;
- in mixed mode - 9.9 l;
- in urban operation - 12.1 liters.
The gasoline refilled in the tank is AI-95, the engine complies with Euro-4 environmental standards.
An all-wheel drive VAZ car is equipped with a five-speed manual transmission, and here, too, there is only one type of transmission, there are no other options.
All four wheels are constantly driving, the axles in this scheme are not disabled.
Using the transfer case lever, you can turn on the lower, neutral and higher gears, and with the help of another lever, you can lock the center differential.
Complete set
The new Lada 4x4 of 2016 is produced in only two trim levels - these are "Standard" and "Lux".
As before, the car does not differ in the wealth of equipment; in the basic version, there are practically no additional options.
Of all the bells and whistles, we can only note:
- security door bars;
- attachment for placing a child seat;
- immobilizer.
The rims on the car are steel, stamped, R16, a full-size spare wheel is placed under the hood.
Athermal film is installed on the glasses from the factory, the seat upholstery is fabric, in any modification a power steering is provided.
You can buy Lada 4x4 in car dealerships of the Russian Federation from 465.7 thousand rubles, and it should be noted that, given the poor configuration, the car in 2016 is not cheap.
Lada Niva in the Luxe version is additionally equipped with ABS, EBA and EBD systems; front seat heating is provided here.
For an additional fee, it is proposed to purchase the option package 017, where the buyer will receive a car with air conditioning, but there will be no seat heating in it.
Pros and cons of Lada 4 by 4
According to car owners, the main advantages of Lada 4x4 are:
- High permeability;
- Relatively good reliability;
- Relatively good sound insulation;
- Optimal price-quality ratio;
- Warm stove;
- Comfortable seats.
The compact SUV has exceptional cross-country ability, and this is the most important quality that is highly appreciated by car owners.
You can park in a car in winter in any snowdrift, you don’t have to be afraid that Lada will stall. Of course, you shouldn’t get into the swamp on the Niva, and you shouldn’t compete with UAZs, but the car is not afraid of dirt.
The engine of the VAZ is reliable and unpretentious, it starts well in cold weather, it does not eat much oil.
All spare parts and consumables are inexpensive, there are also no problems with repair and maintenance, many drivers repair cars with their own hands.
For hunting or fishing, Niva is an excellent option, compared to UAZ, it consumes gasoline much more economically, and if it stalls in impassable mud, it is much easier to pull it out with a tug than an Ulyanovsk all-terrain vehicle.
In the first place among the shortcomings of the machine is poor build quality, chips appear on the paintwork, rust comes out, plastic is explosive.
Often the electronics are “buggy”, the sensors refuse to work, the standard headlights on the car do not really shine.
Vibration is also Niva's "signature disease", and it mainly appears due to a poorly centered transfer case and defective cardan shafts.
Niva 4x4 reviews
Alexey, 29 years old, Moscow.
I have a house in the village, and so on the primer it is impossible to drive up to it in a passenger car in the mud. For trips to the village, I bought a Lada 4x4 at a car dealership, took a car in 2013.
I am glad that I made the right choice, even in waist-deep snow the car drives, to be honest, I did not expect it.
For 60 tons, I only changed engine oil and pads, the fuel pump failed once.
Comfort, of course, is not enough, but driving performance is at its best, for the countryside - that's it.
Vladimir, 56 years old, Tomsk.
My impression of the Niva is not very good, and the most annoying thing is the stiff suspension. I used to go to the carburetor 21213, so it was much softer.
For some reason, shock absorbers from Chevy were stuck on the Lada 4x4, and now it jumps along the road, and in winter, until it warms up, it becomes generally oak.
The stove screams heart-rendingly, the car pulls not very well and is not suitable for the city, I only drive it to hunt.
Of the pluses - only a responsive power steering, and no reliability, which was the Niva in Soviet times, it remained so sloppy, even worse.
Grigory, 38 years old, Krasnoyarsk.
Our winter is frosty, snow usually piles up a lot. But my swallow drives off-road even on bald tires, starts at minus 35, and last year I didn’t even have it for winter.
Gasoline consumption does not exceed 12 liters, although I drive in harsh conditions.
Of the shortcomings, I noticed an oil smudge in the area of \u200b\u200bthe chain tensioner, and even the radiator fogs up a little. The rest - some positive emotions!
Sergey, 37 years old, Kursk.
This is my second Niva, before that it was 21213. A lot of electronics were added in the new Lada, but as long as it didn’t fail, it didn’t cause any trouble.
But you need to look under the car at least twice a month, something always unscrews, or even falls off.
Spare parts must be bought original, all "left" parts do not last long. I fill in the 95th gasoline, on the ninety-second it pulls worse, detonation appears.
We draw a conclusion
Based on all the comments of car owners, we can conclude that the Lada 4x4 is a fairly reliable and practical car, although not very comfortable, it also requires constant attention and care.
For rural areas and heavy off-road conditions, Lada Niva is a great option, but you need to calculate the capabilities of the car, and in order for the SUV to break down less often, purchase parts of the original production.
Chevrolet Niva is a fairly popular car for Russian off-road. This car will drive both on asphalt and on country roads. The car has its pros and cons.
Pros and cons of a car, and why women do not like it
- Unpretentiousness to the road, patency;
- Spacious lounge, the stove heats well in winter;
- All-wheel drive car at an affordable price;
- Fuel consumption 9-11 liters;
- More suitable for those who go fishing, hunting. You can drive to the village;
Now for the cons, and there are quite a few:
- Weak engine for such a machine;
- Constantly something breaks, and this is noted by almost all owners;
- Dolvono high fuel consumption in the city;
- Small trunk, which, by the way, is a minus for the hunter;
- Sucks dust into the cabin;
- Noisy and vibrating on the road, not suitable for transporting children;
- Buzzing at speed;
- Weak grip, weak brakes;
- It is impossible to sleep in the car, there is simply nowhere.
All these and other reviews are given by those people who regularly ride the Niva. Moreover, reviews are given by men who have previously used other equipment. Although the Chevrolet Niva website in Russia claims that there is no better car for Russian off-road, after the reviews this is doubtful.
Do we take it or not?
If there is nothing else to choose, or there is not enough money for another car, then of course you can take a car, but if you have a good foreign car, it is better to stop at the last one. That is why women hate this car, because it reminds them of a version of a noisy jeep, when it is no longer possible to hear anything in the cabin while the engine is running. The only plus, in their opinion, is a high landing, which allows the driver to see everything on the road, well, perhaps that's all. After a foreign car, the car does not seem comfortable, it is not stable when cornering, and many people tip over on it. There is no tightness of the cabin, the convenience of landing in chairs too. Therefore, to decide whether to buy a Niva or not, of course, you need to decide individually, but it’s better to take Renault for almost the same money. Although fishermen and hunters like to argue that it is Niva that suits them better. Sometimes these cars are taken as service cars, due to the fact that they are quite easy to repair, spare parts are always available.
What only the Russians will not come up with, if only not to build a road.
folk wisdom
I still do not agree to call the people's favorite Niva her new name Lada 4x4. Therefore, I will continue to write the word Niva, and mean VAZ all-wheel drive vehicles - up to the present.
First, let's talk about the undeniable advantages of this car.
Jeep for cheap
Only in Soviet times it was about a third more expensive than a sedan from the same manufacturer. And then, in perestroika times, the price of a “Russian tank” was practically equal to the prices of front-wheel drive cars that had already appeared, and sometimes it was even lower. Now, Lada 4x4 in a non-fancy configuration is almost half the price of the “supercrossover” Vesta SW.
Continues to feed the Russian man
Yes, the French company Renault owns the vast majority of the shares of the Volga Automobile Plant. But, despite this, the plant is on our, Russian land, our workers receive a salary and make a native Russian car - the Niva. Maybe it's not all that bad? After all, Moskvich and Volga remained in history ...
Permeability - not increased, but high
The permeability of a permanent symmetrical all-wheel drive with a reduction gear and a lock in the Niva transfer case cannot be overestimated. She visited both poles of the planet (and reached the mark of 5500 m). But these are ceremonial records, and thousands of modest workers ensure the transportation of people and small loads in our off-road conditions. And the fact that in any mud trophy to this day, forty years after birth, along with “defs”, “UAZs” and “Geliks”, it always sinks in a swamp and immediately swims up - thanks to a smaller mass - our native Niva.
maintainability
The car has been produced for forty years. A lot of nodes were not upgraded at all. What do you think, how many spare parts have been produced for Niva during this time? In any small shop on the highway far from the city, you can buy at least a ball joint, at least a clutch disc. Again, unification with the classic Zhiguli family plays into the hands of the field growers. And there is also unification with trucks! For example, the author, once losing a headlight due to a flying stone, replaced it in 15 minutes with a headlight from KAMAZ purchased at a roadside shop.
Repair operations have long been studied by our motorists. Especially large and heavy components and assemblies are not found in the design. Compare the Niva's separate gearbox and transfer case to a giant heavy unit like the Great Wall Hower.
Versatility
Niva is a small and compact machine. It is suitable both for operation in a metropolis, and for driving on field roads, or even without them. On it you can drive up to the Bolshoi Theater and take the carcass of a wild boar. For those who find the usual three-door modification not spacious enough, a long-wheelbase five-door modification is available. And on the basis of the Niva, tuning studios did, ranging from armored ones to monsters on wheels with a diameter almost like the rear wheels of the Belarus tractor. I had to meet Niva all over Europe. And more often than any other domestic car.
One big minus - insufficient reliability
Everything breaks at Niva. The only strong part of the car is the body, but it is also prone to corrosion. And corrosion for a load-bearing body is much more dangerous than for a frame structure SUV body. We must not forget that the car was created on the basis of units of the rear-wheel drive passenger car VAZ family. In the case of an all-wheel drive vehicle, all units are loaded more, and the resource and reliability of operation are lower.
From the rear-wheel drive family, and budded, the dimension of the cylinder-piston group of which was increased almost to the limit. This desire to inflate the existing cylinder block to its maximum displacement led to a decrease in the efficiency of the cooling system, and this, in turn, had a negative impact on reliability. Replacing the design of the timing chain with a single-row one (the Zhiguli engines had a two-row one) also did not increase the reliability of the motor.
The gearbox was taken with minimal alterations from the rear-wheel drive family of cars from the Volga plant, but the load on the gearbox on an SUV is higher.
For many years, motorists have complained about the insufficient resource of cardan gears and axles. And the most curious problems met. So, during a trip to the Caucasus, the author personally lost the breather of the front gearbox on the Niva and returned to Moscow with a unit full of mountain water from the Ashe River.
The rear suspension, which is structurally similar to that of rear-wheel drive VAZ vehicles, has a limited resource of lever hinges. The front suspension has a significant margin of safety, but is not durable enough. The resource of wheel bearings is very limited.
Summarizing, we can say that the Soviet engineers created, which for forty years has not lost its relevance and is loved by the people. The situation is somewhat spoiled by the low quality of manufacturing of individual components and assemblies. Obviously, Niva needs a successor, but let him take all the best, and unfortunate blunders will remain in the past.
Lada 4x4 is a legendary domestic SUV. The model has been mass-produced since 1977 and is famous for its performance characteristics. Since 2004, Niva has been produced under the Lada 4x4 brand.
Let's note the pros and cons of this model in this article.
Advantages of Lada 4x4
1. Increased cross-country ability of the car, the presence of a two-stage transfer case and a center differential lock, excellent geometric parameters of cross-country ability;
2. Simplicity of design and endurance;
3. Low cost and practically no analogues on the market, which makes Niva popular in other countries as well;
4. Maintainability, many spare parts and accessories. Many owners still sort out their Nivas themselves in the garage;
Cons Lada 4x4
1. Outdated safety standards for passengers;
2. Low driving performance on asphalt, mediocre handling;
3. Low comfort for passengers, lack of modern options.
