Residents of large cities, spoiled by good roads and at least some utility work during snowfalls, probably wonder how Renault Duster and Chevrolet Niva can be so popular in Russia, if more expensive and “fancy” crossovers are more often found on the streets. But it is worth driving at least 40 kilometers from the capital and turning into any town or village, how can you lose count - Duster, Niva, Niva, Duster, again Duster. The reasons are clear - when courtyard passages remind of the bombing, and a “killed” primer leads to the summer cottage, which the tractor removes a couple of times during the winter, then you willy-nilly think about the high ground clearance and all-wheel drive. And, if you do not consider the old Lada 4 × 4 (as the classic Niva is now called) and UAZs, then only Chevrolet Niva and Renault Duster remain in the range of up to 600 thousand rubles. So what to choose: a time-tested SUV or a trip to a Renault dealership?
Judging by the statistics, this issue is decided by an overwhelming majority in favor of the Duster - almost 84,000 Dusters were sold last year against 53,344 copies of the Chevrolet Niva. But do not forget that the most affordable versions of the Renault Duster have front-wheel drive, and until recently it was impossible to buy an all-wheel drive modification with an automatic transmission. So the gap between models with four driving wheels is not so big yet - Chevrolet Niva is in stable demand. And if Duster has not yet “killed” Niva, then she still finds something to hook buyers with.
One of the main factors is, of course, the price. You can become the owner of the new Chevrolet Niva already for 459 thousand rubles, and the “initial” all-wheel drive modification of the Renault Duster will cost no less than 541 thousand rubles. In addition, Renault dealers are in high demand and increase the price due to additional equipment. Don't want to pay for extra equipment? Please stand in the queue for many months! There is another catch - the cost of delivery from the factory to the dealership. If residents of the European part of Russia usually overpay no more than 10-15 thousand rubles, then in Siberia the situation is already different - sometimes they ask for 30-40 thousand for delivery! But the difference in price is also due to the fact that the base Duster Autentique is equipped with ABS and a driver's airbag. A Chevrolet Niva with an anti-lock system and front-mounted airbags will cost 530 thousand.
But “our” Niva has neither ABS nor airbags - we got the LE version for 517 thousand for the test. The special package includes 16-inch alloy wheels with Continental ContiCrossContact AT “toothy” tires (although the test car was changed to winter studded Nokian Hakkapeliitta 7 tires), metal crankcase and bumper protection, a hitch, a winch mount and a snorkel - derived an air intake on the roof, increasing the depth of the ford to be overcome up to 50 centimeters. An unambiguous hint that Niva is exactly an SUV, and not a station wagon with increased ground clearance, which, at best, can not get stuck while parking on some snowdrift.
Such a Niva looks menacing, but a Spartan atmosphere reigns inside. Outdated design, cheap materials, although compared to the "classic" Niva, this is almost a Rolls-Royce! The handles of the heater block do not stick, and the air really blows where you direct it, the instrument panel is informative, and the three-spoke steering wheel is not only convenient, but also has tilt adjustment. There is even air conditioning. The main complaint - to the seats. And it's not even the missing lateral support. Worse, the seat padding is too soft, causing back pain on long rides. However, the "foreign" sensations disappear, one has only to turn the key with a flip-out sting and central locking buttons (!) In the ignition lock. Niva starts up without problems in 25-degree frost, but it is accompanied by such vibrations and noise, as if you are sitting in an ancient Ikarus-280!
The first start from a standstill in such weather can shock the uninitiated - the lubricant in the transmission thickens so much that when you release the gas while shifting to second gear, the Niva almost stops. But after a couple of minutes everything is back to normal. It is gratifying that, unlike the old Ikarus, warm air quickly begins to flow from the ventilation system deflectors. The stove in the Niva fries like the sun over the Kilimanjaro volcano! But the distribution of flows needs to be improved - the legs are still cold, but the body is already sweating. And if you turn off the fan, the windows will start to sweat if there are more than two people in the cabin.
- Chevrolet Niva does not shock with the interior assembly quality, but the gaps between the panels are too big, there is no way to lock the doors on the go, and the central lock works every other time. It’s good that only the contents of the trunk rumble on bumps. Or is there just not much to hear over the howl of the transmission?
- The instrument panel is simple and informative, and the display can display the readings of the outside air temperature sensor or ... a voltmeter.
- Don't be confused by the stub in place of the usual button for turning on the air conditioner - in fact, it is located ... in the upper part of the center console.
- Niva has excellent visibility! Thin pillars, a large glass area and large mirrors facilitate movement both in the city and off-road
But on the move, Niva turns out to be unexpectedly friendly. Efforts on the pedals will not frighten even the girls, and the gearshift lever, even though it is long-stroke, moves easily, and you get into the gears unmistakably. In addition, Niva quickly picks up urban 60-70 km / h, despite the ancient 80-horsepower 1.7-liter engine (the same as in the "regular" Niva). Further, the pace drops noticeably - up to a hundred Niva accelerates in painfully long 19 seconds. And what sounds accompany the whole process! The motor is strainingly buzzing, the gearbox and the "razdatka" are howling in every way - as if they were in a plane taking off. If you put up with the noise, then after a while you can reach the limit of 140 km / h, but, to be honest, you don’t want to do this at all.
On the highway, it is better to maintain cruising 90-100 km / h - it’s more comfortable, and fuel consumption does not seem monstrous, but in the city, with more or less intensive driving, Niva “eats” 13-14 l / 100 km. But what Niva really surprised was the behavior on the road. Yes, the high body responds to any gusts of side wind, but what a good power steering setting! Despite the winter tires with a "fat" profile 215/65 R16, Niva is very understandable on any surface - there is always a clear feedback on the steering wheel, and the reactions are quite "passenger". And from lock to lock, the "steering wheel" makes only 3 turns! In this regard, Niva is not inferior to Renault Duster at all.
But Renault Duster puts Niva on both blades in almost everything else. The salon is head and shoulders above! Yes, there is a lot borrowed from a couple of Logan / Sandero, but the ennobled center console looks noticeably more attractive. In addition, we got Duster in the most expensive version of Luxe Privilege - with a leather interior, front and side airbags, ESP and even ... a multimedia system with "navigation" and a touch screen. Despite the simple interface graphics, it works faster than in Range Rover! That's just the price of such a Duster - 782 thousand rubles, since the Luxe Privilege option can only be obtained with a two-liter engine with a capacity of 135 horsepower.
Of course, there is no point in comparing the dynamics of the Duster 2.0 with the capabilities of the Niva - it accelerates to hundreds almost twice as fast (10.4 seconds). Therefore, we will not focus on the engine, but only recall that a similarly equipped Duster 1.6 Privilege (but with fabric upholstery) will cost 725 thousand rubles, and the cheapest equipment with air conditioning will cost 624 thousand. Moreover, Duster 1.6 will also be faster than the Chevrolet Niva - the engine has an advantage in power (102 hp vs. 80) and torque (145 N).
m against 128).
The engine compartment of the Niva is better organized in terms of accessibility to various tanks with technical fluids and an air filter. To fill anti-freeze in Renault Duster, you need to contrive and reach out to an uncomfortable neck near the windshield. But the Duster's hood has a pneumatic stop!
It is logical that the Duster is much more comfortable in everyday life and more suitable for the definition of a “modern car” - it is much quieter inside, and wind noise at speeds above 120 km / h mainly breaks into the cabin. There are no unnecessary vibrations, howling transmission, and a longer wheelbase contributes to stability on the highway. In addition, an all-wheel drive transmission with an automatically connected rear axle allows you to save fuel, or you can completely remain only with front-wheel drive by switching the puck to 2WD mode. And indeed - even with a two-liter engine, the consumption is easy to put in 11 l / 100 km.
- The instrument panel of the Duster is decorated with a border reminiscent of the engine nacelles of the Boeing 737 airliner. Unpretentious displays migrated here from Logan. And even the most expensive version of the Duster does not have an ambient temperature sensor!
- The heater control unit is retracted into the "basement" of the center console, so it is not as convenient to use it as in the Niva.
- Worse in Duster and mirrors - a large dead zone, and the left wiper blade leaves a large uncleaned strip at the A-pillar
There are also disadvantages. You have to reach for the heater block to the very bottom of the center console, and the stove itself “drowns” not as hot as in the Niva. The flat seats lack lumbar support - hello back on long trips. And in slushy weather, side windows and especially wide sills quickly get dirty - few can boast of clean trousers when getting out of the Duster. You will have to get used to the indistinct clutch drive and gearbox - the gear ratios are chosen so that the first stage is analogous to the lowering row missing from Renault. But Duster starts off fine with the second, so this is more of a feature than a minus.
Renault Duster's gas tank cap can only be opened with a key, like Logan / Sandero. Additional protection in reality turns into an inconvenience - you have to go to the checkout of a gas station with a lid that stinks of gasoline. The tire size is the same as that of the Chevrolet Niva - 215/65 R16
But where both cars are unconditionally good is on bad roads! Pits, potholes, ruts, broken primers, springboards? Nonsense! And the worse the condition of the coating, the greater the advantage of the Niva - the energy intensity of the suspension is amazing. True, the short-wheelbase Niva loses to the Duster on the waves, and Renault's small bumps go a little softer and "nobler". And on a slippery surface, both Niva and Duster are by no means averse to slipping, raising clouds of snow dust.
It’s easier to do this on the Duster - I let off the gas before the turn, the “muzzle” caught on and then gas again! The high-torque motor, combined with the center clutch settings, makes it easy to break the Renault into a controlled skid on snow or ice. And even on non-studded Yokohama Ice Guard IG30 tires, dragging it in a slide is not at all difficult. True, in the end, the Duster will still demonstrate “front-wheel drive” habits and begin to shift outward of the turn - the possibilities of the transmission are not unlimited, it cannot transmit more than 50% of the torque back.
Niva is a little more difficult to manage. And even though her studded tires bite into the ice well and do not give up on the snow, she continually strives to “push through” the front end in a turn. You have to literally “break” it, provoke a skid with a counter-shift or a “whip”. But, one way or another, under gas, Niva will try with all its might to straighten the trajectory. There is a way out - to block the center differential. Then the desired "pepper" will appear in the habits of the Niva, the rear axle will be more willing to slide. But remember that the base of the car is short and it is not as easy to “catch” it as Renault Duster.
The 80-horsepower Niva engine is enough only on slippery surfaces, but it can also be safely applied for winter rally sprints - the suspension allows you to rush at full speed where rivals will be forced to slow down. And the lack of ABS, in addition, will help on snow, ice and soil
However, according to the instructions, you can only drive with the “center” locked up to 40 km / h - either the creators were guided by safety, or by the reliability of the transfer case. By the way, she herself is now controlled by one lever. And it works awesome! To turn on the lower row or block the center differential, you need to turn the handle until you turn blue. Moreover, most often it is completely impossible to do this while you are standing still. You have to ride back and forth at low speed and try to stick the lever into the desired position on the go. Such advice, by the way, is also given by the “manual”.
Niva's suspension travel is impressive! And only thanks to this she got out of the trap - cracked ice, ditch, clay. I had to tinker and even work with a regular shovel (there is even a mount for it on the tailgate), but in the end the Chevrolet Niva got out without the help of a tug
But Niva is better prepared for serious off-road, not only because of the presence of a lowering row and differential lock. It has better geometric cross-country ability due to the short base and large angles of entry and exit (although the latter is slightly limited by the towbar), and the suspension travel is much superior to that of the Duster. Plus a powerful belt made of unpainted plastic “in a circle”. Making our way to the shooting site, we hit the right wheels under the ice - Niva almost lay down on the bottom, but did not lose contact with the road and eventually managed to get out without outside help. Duster would either not have left from there, or would have been left without a rear bumper.
Although Renault is not a miss! One movement of the rotating handle - and the center clutch is locked. The short first gear copes with the downshift functions, especially since the Renault engine has an advantage in torque. But the “geometry” of the Duster is already a little lacking - where the Niva slips effortlessly, it can hook either with a silver lining under the front bumper, or, which is much more critical, with details of the exhaust system. And the decor can be spoiled - the wheel arches do not have an edging from an unpainted bumper, they can easily be scratched by branches of shrubs. Plus "smart" chrome lining on the mirrors and grille.
Renault Duster will cope with most everyday situations - whether it's a blurry road to a fishing spot or a picnic in the woods. In fact, you subconsciously expect even less from him, but the Duster will really yield to the Niva only in difficult conditions. The rear suspension travel for a crossover is not bad, and the main units are protected, although you need to carefully monitor the exhaust system.
On the other hand, the Duster is able to cope with diagonal hanging - this is especially valuable, given the smaller suspension travels than the Niva. Of course, provided that the car is equipped with a stabilization system, the minimum price of such a Renault Duster with a 1.6 engine will be 664 thousand rubles. By selectively biting the brakes, ESP simulates locking cross-axle differentials. And it works efficiently enough to keep the Duster crawling forward when the wheels are dangling in the air. It is more difficult to “hang out” a Niva, since it allows you to take many obstacles on the move, but if this happens, then there is nothing to cover it with - it will slip, standing still.
However, the market is full of offers for the sale of real "iron" cross-axle differentials with blocking for the Niva. And this fact symbolizes the true purpose of the car - Niva, having replaced the Togliatti rook with the Chevrolet emblem, has remained an SUV for handy men who are not bothered by transmission noise, a dead engine, fuel consumption and the poor quality of some components. Don't worry, we'll get it done! For them, the main advantage is that spare parts for the Niva are available in any auto shop, and its design is not far from the progenitor studied along and across.
The most affordable all-wheel drive cars in the Russian Federation are Chevrolet Niva and Renault Duster. They belong to the category of cross-country vehicles and are approximately in the same price category. The most expensive equipment of a Russian car costs the same as the poorest basic version of a French car.
Before you start comparing cars, you need to understand that there are some obvious differences between them that it is desirable to take into account. The power of the Niva is 80 horsepower, at an engine speed of 5000, and the power of the weakest Duster is 114 hp. s at 4000 rpm.
The Duster is a front-wheel drive machine that automatically engages rear-wheel drive using a clutch when needed. The clutch can be blocked, turning the car into almost a real four-wheel drive.
Niva is just an honest four-wheel drive car with one feature that Renault does not have. The lever can rigidly block the center differential. This greatly increases the permeability.
Interior
Here Renault is out of competition. Spacious interior, comfortable seats, media center, air conditioning. Many are annoyed by cheap upholstery, but this is not for everyone. The steering wheel is unusually thin, but has vertical adjustment. The trunk is just huge - 408 liters, and with the rear seats folded down 1750 liters. You can easily equip a bedroom for two people. Load capacity 510 kg.
Chevrolet is equipped with air conditioning, but in our places the stove is more important, and, unlike Duster, it just burns. Despite the fact that the interior looks simpler, all control and display devices are in the usual right places. But, as usual, something is a little unfinished, somewhere a little stuck. The buttons are uncomfortable, the dashboard is easy to read, but ascetic and uninformative. It's a bit crowded in the back row in the Niva. The trunk is small 320 liters, with the rear seats folded down 650 liters. Load capacity 450 kg. There are no airbags or ABS.
Chassis and steering
The steering in both cars is approximately the same. But in the Niva, a power steering is installed, and in the Duster, an electric power steering. This means that in Renault the engine is not loaded with pressure support in the hydraulic booster, does not lose power and consumes fuel more economically.
Front suspension Chevrolet, traditional for SUVs, independent on parallel arms. It provides a smooth ride and holds bumps well off-road. The rear suspension is dependent, reminiscent of the Zhiguli type. It consists of four longitudinal and one transverse beam. Such a suspension holds the clearance well.
The Duster has independent MacPherson type front suspension, which is not quite suitable for an SUV. This is the suspension of a city car. The rear suspension of the all-wheel drive Renault is also independent, again working well in urban conditions and poorly on rough terrain.
Transmission
The Niva has a transfer case that provides two five-speed gears - an element of a true SUV. If necessary, it is possible to lock the center differential. This design turns the car into a small tank.
Duster is equipped with the first low, which helps to drag the car through mud, sand or snow forward, but not backward.
Test Drive
Tests have shown that Niva is clearly inferior to Duster on city roads. It is understandable, Renault has acceleration to 100 km / h in 10.7 seconds, and Chevrolet has 19 seconds. Niva just does not have time to start at the traffic lights, as Duster is already out of sight. The dynamics of the Frenchman is much better.
But on bad roads, cars behave mutually well. The deeper the pits, the Russian SUV is noticeably different for the better. But the Duster is perfect for speed bumps. He passes them almost without noticing and without slowing down.
On steep and curved descents and ascents, the Niva works better than the Renault Duster, not only because of the all-wheel drive with a differential lock and a lowering row, but also because of the short base and large exit and entry angles. It is more nimble than the lengthy Duster. But turning on the lock or down row is a tedious procedure. You need to turn the handle, pull it, knock on it, and when it turns on is unknown, there is no logic - just poke. I wonder how this point is described in the instructions. It is necessary to reverse or forward and tap on the handle until it turns on. Where back, where forward, if the car is stuck.
Duster absolutely normally overcomes obstacles with two wheels hung out diagonally. Niva cannot overcome such an exercise. Renault overcomes such obstacles with the help of an electronic simulation of wheel lock. Chevrolet, of course, does not have such electronics.
On side slides, the Duster performs better. The Niva is good at moving sideways, but the torque is not enough to pull out a sliding car. Duster easily copes with the task. And, thanks to an electronically controlled clutch, it behaves much more dynamically off-road than a car with a hard all-wheel drive.
Outcome
No matter how unpatriotic it may be, the Chevrolet Niva, in comparison, loses to a light crossover in almost all respects. Which is actually no wonder for a car that has not been modernized for 14 years. And we haven't talked about fuel consumption yet.
At the moment, the most popular crossovers in the low price segment are Chevrolet Niva and Renault Duster. Despite the fact that they are created by different concerns, they have a lot in common. In addition, they are approximately in the same price segment. But it is difficult to say unequivocally which is better than the Chevrolet Niva or Renault Duster, because, despite the many common characteristics, each car has certain advantages and disadvantages that must be considered when choosing a car.
The power unit is one of the factors by which these two cars cannot be compared. The Niva is equipped with a VAZ engine, which develops a maximum power of 80 hp. at operating rates of 5000 / minute. The Duster motor is more powerful, it reaches 114 hp. at 4000 rpm. Accordingly, these two cars will have different tax rates, which is also important for further operation.
Transmission.
Both cars are considered all-wheel drive. But the principle of operation is very different. Niva has a full-fledged all-wheel drive. A razdatka is installed on the car, which, if necessary, locks the center differential.
Duster has a stripped-down all-wheel drive system. In fact, this car is front-wheel drive. The rear axle is connected by turning on the center clutch. This makes the car more passable, but still inferior in quality to the design of the Chevrolet Niva.
Interior
Salon Niva leaves much to be desired. Hard plastic, obsolete ergonomics do not make the most favorable impression. But these are disadvantages that you can get used to, especially since the layout and sensors are quite simple and intuitive. There are many questions about the operation of the heater, the power of which is often insufficient. Therefore, many car owners make a large number of improvements. It is also periodically necessary to broach certain components, because the plastic begins to move away and “crickets” appear during movement. Salon Niva is small. The volume of the luggage compartment is 320 liters. If you remove the rear row of seats, it increases to 650 liters. The safety indicators of the car have low parameters, since passenger airbags are not installed on the Niva in most trim levels, and ABS is not provided.
According to this parameter, the French car is in the lead. Comfortable and modern ergonomics, a large and functional saloon are perfectly complemented by a high-quality climate control system. Some motorists have complaints about the thin steering wheel, interior trim material. The trunk is also more functional. It has a capacity of 408 liters in running condition and the folded rear seats increase it to 1750 litres.
Steering and running systems.
The steering system of the two vehicles has an additional amplification system. But in Duster it is organized by electrical components, and in Niva it is hydraulics. This allowed the Renault Duster to reduce the load on the engine, due to which it has an increased efficiency. It also affected fuel consumption, Renault is more economical.
Chevrolet Niva has, which is mounted on parallel tags. This allows you to fully use the car not only in the city, but also off-road. The four tie rods provide good stability and help create high ground clearance.
Renault Duster has an independent rear suspension - only in the all-wheel drive version. The front is made by analogy with MacPherson, which is not very suitable for an SUV. This suspension is more optimized for urban riding to overcome small drifts and small potholes.
Transmission
The Chevrolet transfer case is a five-speed, with a two-row arrangement of gears. The differential lock is made using a lever. This allows you to increase the throughput due to the uniform distribution of torque.
The Duster box is equipped with six gears, one of which is responsible for transmitting increased torque. This allows you to overcome most types of obstacles. The only difference is that it allows you to move in low gear only forward.
Driving performance
In tests in the city, Duster shows much better dynamics. 10.7 seconds to 100 kilometers per hour versus 19 for Chevrolet. Also, the Duster's suspension more gently works out road irregularities, such as speed bumps.
Off-road Niva shows the best results. Thanks to a differential lock and a shorter base, it overcomes slopes with a large approach angle. The only negative may be the need to frequently switch the transfer lever, depending on road conditions.
So, before you are two main competitors in the Russian market - Renault Duster and Chevrolet Niva. The fact that these are really the main competitors can be judged by the sales results. For example, in 2014, Duster took the lead among inexpensive crossovers and SUVs, and at the beginning of the year, Niva sold better, apparently due to lower cost and the economic crisis. Let us remind you right away that Niva is cheaper than Duster, however, the difference is quite small and amounts to several tens of thousands of rubles.
Let's start with the chassis. There is an opinion that Sheviniva is built around a frame. This is not so, because both cars have a load-bearing body. However, the Niva has a manually lockable center differential and downshift, while the Duster does not have a downshift and the rear wheels are driven. This, however, does not affect the cross-country ability as much as it is commonly thought - both cars are close in "off-road" characteristics, although the Niva will most likely turn out to be a little more passable. But this is no reason to call it a full-fledged SUV. If you like to knead the dirt, you should pay attention to real frame SUVs.
As for comfort, Duster is clearly ahead here. The same sound insulation in the Niva is much worse, and after 80 km per hour bridges begin to howl. Of course, Duster is not ideal in terms of noise isolation, but still much quieter.
You can not even talk about the fact that the products of the French automobile industry hold the road better. This is especially noticeable at high speeds. Yes, and on a country road, it is much more convenient to control the traction and steering of the Duster. Unfortunately, only one 1.7-liter engine with 80 hp is offered for Niva today. This, you understand, is a bit. Duster is much more powerful, and therefore it has better dynamics. However, you should not think that Niva does not “go” at all. Do not forget that this is a compact and relatively light car, so the dynamics will be enough for the city, but it can be difficult to overtake on the highway.
In terms of space for passengers and luggage, the Duster is far ahead - after all, it is much longer. You can feel it when sitting in the back row - if in the Niva your legs rest against the back of the front seat, then in Renault you can sit comfortably. Of course, the trunk of the Niva is also smaller.
The quality of the interior trim is certainly better with the Duster. And it's not that Niva is produced in Russia (Duster is also produced in the Russian Federation) - Duster is a new model, and Niva was developed back in the 90s of the 20th century. You understand, in this regard, the comparison is not entirely correct.
That is, Niva loses in all respects? Why. This is a great all-wheel drive car that is worth the money. It wins primarily in the cost of spare parts and their availability in stores - you can buy spare parts everywhere. Moreover, many owners repair their Niva themselves, and this is extremely beneficial for the family budget. And yet, the Duster is more suitable for city roads, and it will not let you down on a country road. And to finally make your choice, sign up for a test drive at the dealer and compare the cars in person.
Nowadays, few people perceive Renault Duster and Chevrolet Niva as direct competitors, and with the transition to the secondary market, the gap between them only grows.
Launched by autojournalists, the epithet "Shnivy's killer" stuck to the Duster quickly and lasted for a long time. But only those who have operated both of these machines understand that they are so different that they cannot be compared at all. Therefore, we will try not to compare them literally, but only dwell on those points that should be carefully considered when choosing these cars.
THE YEARS TAKE THEIR
So, both cars have a load-bearing body. The strength elements are spars, sills and the overall structure: racks, roof, even glass. Therefore, the power elements of the body in the first place and you need to pay attention. Even if it is not possible to use the lift, try turning the wheels to the extreme position and inspect the front parts of the side members. In Niva, they are clearly visible, if not covered with plastic wheel arch liners. But even if covered, you can see cracks and folds, damage to the shock absorber bracket. The same can be said about Duster. After a general external inspection, the first thing you should pay attention to is the attachment points of the suspension struts. Damage there is immediately visible, cracks in the paintwork, traces of repairs or even touch-ups in these places convince you to refuse to purchase the proposed copy. Nothing prevents you from looking under the sills to make sure that there are no jams, cracks and damages, traces of welding or editing on the stand in the places where the Chevy transfer case and the Renault cross member are attached. The bodies of our characters are quite strong, and fatigue damage only occurs if the operation was too hard.
No choice. Chevrolet Niva does not offer alternatives to the FAM1 engine.
If you find one on the market, call the editor immediately!
There is a choice. Renault Duster offers as many as three engines.
The most popular - two-liter gasoline
Owner's opinion:
Igor, Chevrolet Niva GLS 2006
They took the car at a discount, at the price of the previous year, but new. We chose the maximum configuration, so that both with roof rails and with air conditioning. For a couple of years of ownership, it technically never let me down, although we immediately “scored” the guarantee - we serviced it ourselves or at services that specialized in “fields”. The only thing that annoyed me was the vibration. Changed five sets of universal joints, including SHRUS. Did not help! And the fuzziness of the inclusion of the first gear is tired. Yes, and the trunk with the growth of the family has become small. Changed to Patriot. Duster? Is this after Patrick? Funny…
Owner's opinion:
Yuri, Renault Duster 2.0 AWD 2011
The car was bought new in 2011. I will say right away that there were no serious damage. It was serviced only officially and drove a little more than 80,000 km on it. Once I replaced the pads, once the rear shock absorbers and, oddly enough, the upholstery of the ceiling. Some dark spots appeared, they said, they say, condensate, and they changed it under warranty. I also want to note the weak coloration - chips appeared at the rear arches, one even “bloomed”. In general, I am satisfied with the car and capacity, and patency. I just recently changed it to a restyled Duster and am happy again.
Corrosion affects both cars reluctantly and in different places. All Dusters have rusty suspension components. Why - no one can say for sure, but it looks monstrous. Chips and "bugs" appear on the front edge of the hood and in front of the rear wheel arch extensions. Crushed stone breaks through a layer of varnish and primer, easily reaching the metal, as can be seen from the swollen areas. Niva should take a closer look at the upper part of the rear door opening, there may be an area worn down to bare metal. In general, the condition of the Chevrolet fifth door quite definitely indicates how well the car has been looked after. If the lock opens without difficulty and the door slams shut easily, without distortions, and does not rattle on the go, it means that the owner was caring. Duster can be judged by the cleanliness of the engine compartment, more precisely, by the rubber band installed on the edge of the front shield. Without it, all the dirt is sucked in. If the car started up reluctantly and uncertainly keeps idle, it is worth looking into the wells of the engine candles, there may be water. When making the first inspection, be sure to turn the steering wheel and shake the suspension, at least the front. There should be no knocks or squeaks, which, in the case of the Duster, give out worn steering tips, rack and, possibly, stabilizer struts; but squeaks, similar to crackles, will require you to carefully examine the spars again for cracks in the Niva. Chevy's door locks and power windows are more likely to fail. In addition, there is a backlash in the driver's door. On the whole, our heroes are well assembled, and most often you can only find fault with what the previous owners tried to do themselves.
Little dog. If the picture is on the roof, the cardboard in hand, then in the trunk
will fit a medium sized husky. All together - nothing
All native. The instrument panel from 2115 will delight you with regularly burning bulbs
High. Salon Chevrolet Niva is rather high and wide,
and rear seats only for short-legged adults
UNEQUAL RIVALS
As for the engine range, in the case of the Duster, at least there is a choice. Base gasoline 1.6 liters 102 liters. with., "top" 2.0 liters and 135 liters. With. and a 1.5-liter diesel engine standing apart, which we sold in a single version - 90 liters. With. The most popular was the 2.0-liter engine. He is more alive and more reliable. Diesel is incredibly economical. On average, an all-wheel drive car with a manual gearbox consumes no more than 7 liters of fuel even in winter! The motor, by the way, is cold and is equipped with a reheating system, which does not always work correctly. Niva, as you understand, has one motor, there’s not even much to talk about here. Still, this 1.7-liter 80-horsepower "monster" is already forty years old at lunch, and if you dig deeper, then all sixty. During the last modernization, an electronic pedal was added to it and the exhaust was limited to Euro 3. Oddly enough, it did not get worse, because, according to many, there is simply nowhere worse. Only the five-door Lada 4×4 is slower than the Chevrolet Niva when accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h, and even then not by much. This motor does not have any specific problems, but there are advantages. For example, the generator was moved a few centimeters higher, and antifreeze no longer drips onto it from loose fittings, putting it out of action in one night, as happens on Lada 4x4. If we talk about inspecting the motor, then it should be started first, this fact in itself will say a lot.
It is worth sticking your nose into the expansion tank to check it for the presence of an oil film, a colloidal solution of corroded pipes, and most importantly, bubbles. You can even open the radiator cap and estimate the frequency of bubbles appearing there. A blown head gasket is one of the most common troubles on Niva of all kinds. Repairs are not very expensive, but in Moscow you will have to pay 25 thousand for the entire range of work and spare parts. In the provinces it is much cheaper. It would be nice to completely warm up the engine, noting whether the fans will work and at what temperature. Otherwise, you may not even get to the traffic police registration department. The squeak of belts, the rattle of the pump, the creak of the hydraulic booster, the crackle of the chain tensioner and the knock of the compensators of thermal valve clearances add up to a melody that is understandable even to a non-specialist, singing, they say, get out of here, look for another car.
Trunk. Duster is better suited for transportation
lengthy, and generally noticeably more voluminous
Narrowly. Salon Renault Duster can be described in two words
as "long" and "narrow", but there is more space in the back
Duster will have to be finessed. Take with you the OBD II scanner purchased from the Chinese Internet market and install the diagnostic program on your smartphone. After running on the main modes, errors can be read. Nobody says that the scanner should be left at home when going for Chevy Niva, but here it is clearly more needed. Because listening to Renault engines is not only useless, but, in fact, not very productive. Even noise in the timing area on a 2.0-liter engine is declared by the manufacturer as a feature of the engine and is not considered a malfunction. But if you inspect the car in the cold, then you are very lucky. It’s like this: it starts right away - you have to take it, from the second time - you can continue the inspection, from the third - to bargain, then - a taxi and go home, otherwise you will freeze with the owner. A cold start will tell you more about the condition of the engine of the Romanian-French crossover than any diagnostic other than instrumental. Of course, there are also specific problems. For example, in a diesel engine, nozzles fly during the second unsuccessful refueling. That is, they fly after the first, but it becomes clear only after the second. Connecting rod bearings can wear out ahead of time, which will hardly give itself away, and an inexperienced mechanic will not notice. The base 1.6-liter engine can upset the failure of the ignition coil (30 euros). First, it gives misfiring, which is visible during computer diagnostics. But, in general, Renault engines are much more reliable. It is a fact.
CROSSOVER VS OFF-ROAD
The main difference between the Duster and the Niva is the latter's full-time all-wheel drive and underdrive transfer case. Well, a continuous rear axle, but more on that later. We won’t talk about Renault’s automatic transmission either, it appeared quite recently.
Duster had three transmission options and two types of drive. Of the drives, the full one is more interesting. The main thing you should know is that Renault does not overheat the rear wheel coupling. Rather, everything can be overheated, but the four-wheel drive is turned off not from heating. The clutch does not have a temperature sensor. A timer is responsible for disabling power transmission to the rear wheels, which limits the time of active slipping, which in turn depends on its intensity. In a word, if someone tells you that they burned the clutch on the Duster, call 03. But in such a way that he does not see. In other cases, the all-wheel drive system is very reliable and durable. Just be sure to look for a car with traction control. Without it, you will not be able to prove that your Duster is not inferior to the “Shnivy” of a neighbor.
Chevrolet has the main subjective drawback - fatal vibrations. After restyling, it got better, but there was a problem of “knocking out” the all-wheel drive lever under load. And another trouble is the fuzziness and difficulty of switching. You can adjust the mechanism several times, but all the same, either the first one will turn on indistinctly, or the back one. The characteristic noises, although they became lower, did not disappear at all. In general, if you are tired of the “Niva” noise and shaking, the Duster has an excellent six-speed TL8 mechanics. Simple and reliable, it is equipped with a short first gear that works almost like a Niva downshift. Moreover, the gear ratio of 4.48:1 is the same for gasoline and diesel, which makes the diesel version extremely attractive on light and medium off-road. A problematic place may be a power take-off unit to the rear wheels, which is not connected by an oil sump to the main box, and sometimes experiences oil starvation. In addition, the node is prone to overheating. If the previous owner did not change the oil in it to a better one, you need to do it yourself.
Speaking about the inspection of the cabin, we must admit that in terms of outdated solutions and ergonomic miscalculations, our heroes go head to head. Nothing more than a 0.33 l can is included in the cup holders, and who drinks like that with us? If you are tall, the seat is not convenient to adjust, the steering wheel is adjustable only for tilt, and the Duster's signal button is, in the French manner, at the end of the left stalk lever. Both cars do not have a single wipe mode.
The back is tighter in the Niva, and it has a smaller trunk. And in terms of interior capacity, and in terms of trunk, and in terms of cross-country ability in general, I would compare the Duster with the five-door Lada 4x4, although it is too outdated. Moreover, the “VAZ crocodile”, perhaps, will be even more spacious. The Chevy has noticeably less legroom, and the Duster has a lot of shoulder room. Electrical failures - the recent scourge of Niva - are no longer so terrible, but you should not be surprised at the dashboard lighting bulbs that burn out strictly once a month. Equipment Renault will be richer, but not too much. The main thing is that both have air conditioning and a cabin filter, which you will appreciate on the very first trip along a country road in the summer heat. Well, or in a traffic jam.
Duster and Niva are cars of different areas.
The first is good in the world of carriageways, and the second is on the outskirts of it
Summing up, let's say that the cars are very different. No matter how "cultivated" the Chevrolet Niva, its superiority is visible only against the background of its older sister. In fact, this is a rough SUV, relatively small and inexpensive. With affordable service and spare parts; understandable and allowing not too qualified service. But cramped, underpowered, noisy and not ideally controlled. Crossover from Renault is much more modern. In the sense that automotive designers put into this word. This is an ordinary passenger five-door station wagon with off-road capability. Very well increased, but still with a noticeable limitation in endurance. But it is more economical, much more dynamic, safer, better managed and, perhaps, sells faster. At least in the secondary market, Shniva can be found very inexpensively - they always ask for more for Duster. But Niva, if funds allow, can be left in the family as a second car. Or change it to the usual "Niva", even more dear and familiar.
