In 2002, a cross-country passenger car, called the Chevrolet Niva, rolled off the assembly line of the GM-AvtoVAZ joint venture.
Motorists hoped that this car, after taking part in the development of American designers, would be of high quality and would not cause any special problems to the owners.
But the Americans took more part in the development stage of the car, but the implementation of this project almost completely fell on AvtoVAZ.
The result was a car with a Chevrolet nameplate on the grille and steering wheel, but with VAZ quality.
Nevertheless, the demand for this car is constant, this is even evidenced by the fact that it is still being produced now, while for such a long period the Chevrolet Niva has been restyled only once.
The presence of the prefix "Chevrolet" in the name did not in any way affect the quality of the car, and it has a large number of weaknesses that the owners have to either eliminate themselves or put up with them.
In general, the Chevrolet Niva is a typical Russian car, it was released, but the owners of this SUV have to bring it to perfection.
Let's start with the "heart" of this car - the engine. It should be noted right away that the unit installed on this SUV does not pull at all, a car that is designed for off-road capability.
Power of 80 liters. With. at 1.7 liters, the volume is not enough for this car, it is more suitable for a passenger car.
You should not expect agility on the road from a Chevrolet Niva equipped with such an engine. Since this is still an SUV, you can not look at its speed indicators, and the indicator of 160 km / h declared in the documentation is quite enough for it.
Using the air conditioner while driving can further reduce the already “dim” performance. With a working air conditioner, the engine becomes completely like a “vegetable” in behavior.
The car strongly “resists” acceleration, so forget about overtaking and maneuvers that require sharp acceleration.
As for the technical performance of the power unit, it is not bad. Strong problems, in addition to routine maintenance, the installation does not deliver.
The only weak point in the motor is the crankshaft oil seals. On some cars, they do not even care for 30 thousand km.
Permanent four-wheel drive on this car is good, but only for driving on a country road. In urban conditions, this advantage becomes a disadvantage - Chevrolet Niva has a high fuel consumption in the city. The car consumes over 10 liters.
The use of an air conditioner can significantly increase fuel consumption.
Now for the systems of the power plant.
One of the most problematic in the Chevrolet Niva is the cooling system, or rather, its components.
The expansion tank of the system is “flimsy” and often cracks appear on it, through which coolant flows. Some owners change this tank almost every year.
The water pump can also cause problems. On some cars, the pump fails regularly, but such a nuisance does not happen on all Chevrolet Niva.
The power supply system does not cause any complaints from the owners, it is reliable with proper care for it. The only thing that can happen to her is the failure of the sensors (, TPS,).
But problems with sensors are inherent in many cars, so it’s wrong to consider them only Chevrolet Niva’s weak point.
The exhaust system is also reliable, but there are some points with it.
of this system is located close to the bottom, due to which the heat from the catalyst is constantly transferred to it. And if in winter it can even be considered a virtue - such an additional floor heating, but in summer additional heat in the cabin is useless.
Well, the catalyst itself is already a “headache” for the owner. A couple of gas stations with low-quality gasoline, and the device is being replaced due to burnout or severe blockage of its cells.
And since the catalyst is an expensive element, this problem is also unpleasant from the financial side. As a solution, cutting out the catalyst and using a resonator instead.
There is nothing to say about the lubrication system, it copes with its duties well and does not cause problems.
And electrical equipment is a problem. The weak point in this system is . It breaks down quite often, on many cars it is changed under warranty in the first year of operation.
Some owners, in order to avoid problems in the future, simply select and install a similar element from a foreign car instead of a regular generator.
Transmission
Let's move on to the transmission. Here, the designers did not even bother to eliminate the problems that arose even on ordinary Niva.
After a short period of operation, the gearbox and gearbox begin to “howl”. And at high speeds (for this car, above 100 km / h is already a high speed), the rumble in the cabin is strong.
On some instances, the detents of some gears quickly fail, which is why the speed at the checkpoint constantly “knocks out”.
Problem areas are cardan shafts. They are often out of balance, resulting in elevation.
On the first Chevrolet Niva, unequal angular velocity hinges were used (popularly, crosses). And these crosses are just the weakest points in this car.
The spline joints of the cardan shafts also did not "shine" with reliability, they quickly broke, leading to increased vibration.
On modern models, they are already used, and they got rid of splined joints. Thanks to this replacement, many problems with the drive were eliminated, but another appeared - the anthers of the hinges are torn.
Chassis
Here, too, there were some weaknesses. Ball bearings do not last long, but given the condition of the roads, and the bearings themselves are just consumables, then there is nothing special about their failure, the same applies to oil seals, bushings, silent blocks.
The elements of the steering trapezoid are also a weak point of the chassis, so constant monitoring of its elements is required.
The weak point in the chassis of the Chevrolet Niva are the hubs. Their bearings quickly break down and require replacement.
Proof that the hubs are a weak point in this car are the reviews of the owners, in which they indicate that they encountered a problem when, when driving, the wheel “left” along with the hub due to a broken bearing.
Another weak point of the chassis is the front shock absorbers. Their resource on the Chevrolet Niva is not very large.
Many also note the need to install another anti-roll bar, since the rolls during maneuvers in the Chevrolet Niva are significant.
Car owners still complain about the lack. This shortcoming is really serious. Even restyling did not bring such necessary equipment to the equipment of the car.
Body and exterior elements
The body is still quite reliable, with the exception of the wheel arches. If you do not treat them with protective agents in a timely manner and do not protect them with plastic wheel arch liners, corrosion centers appear on the arches very quickly.
It is noted that not enough paint is used to paint the plastic elements of the body, so the paint layer quickly begins to come off the plastic elements.
Initially, it was indicated that this car got a nameplate on the grille from Chevrolet.
But our specialists fixed it, and they didn’t come up with anything better than putting the badge on double-sided tape.
As a result, washing and using high-pressure washing installations can easily beat off the nameplate. Therefore, owners often either wash the car themselves, or they warn at the car wash that water under high pressure is not supplied to the nameplate.
Many note that the head light on the Chevrolet Niva is very worthy, but even here there were some troubles.
Condensation forms on the inside of the headlight lenses after washing or driving in the rain.
As for the headlights, the use of weak housings for parking lights is also noted. As a result, the hulls melt quickly.
After purchasing a car, it is better to immediately replace the regular lamps with LED ones to avoid this problem.
Salon
There are also enough shortcomings and weaknesses in the cabin. First of all, there is a small volume of the luggage compartment. But this drawback is conditional, some of the volume is enough, in addition the trunk can be increased by folding the rear seats.
The second weak point in the cabin is soundproofing, but rather its complete absence. When driving inside the car, you can hear everything - the engine, the transmission, and the chassis.
The tightness of the cabin is not up to par. Drafts and smells make their way inside, and even on the new Chevrolet Niva with seals that have not yet shrunken.
The presence of an air conditioner is a positive quality, but it only “eats” the performance of the power plant, so drivers have to decide whether to drive comfortably, but barely, or without comfort, but a little faster.
Power windows are a convenient thing, but the drive plastic gears of the mechanism quickly wear out on the Chevrolet Niva. After a short period of operation of the car, you can lose this convenience.
As for the dashboard, everything is in order here except for the fuel level sensor. On many cars, its readings are incorrect.
Naturally, the interior plastic leaves much to be desired, since it is hard, and its fastening is weak. Therefore, even a new car is characterized by crickets, etc.
Additional troubles can be caused by Chevrolet Niva electronics, in particular, power relays.
These relays are responsible for the operation of the cooling system fans, fuel pump, electronic control unit and ignition.
The failure of any relay, except for the fan relay, can make the car immovable. Therefore, it is best to always have a spare set of these relays with you.
Enough of the bad things the owners say
Despite all these shortcomings, the Chevrolet Niva is characterized by the owners for the most part on the positive side. All these weak points for a real driver who is not afraid to dig into his car are not critical.
Of course, the same owners “scold” the Chevrolet Niva for a large number of flaws, but at the same time they try to eliminate them, as well as improve the car, sorting out and replacing the chassis, and eliminating all other shortcomings and weaknesses.
For all its weaknesses and shortcomings, the Chevrolet Niva is in demand, and for several reasons.
The first is this.
It is difficult to find a quite good SUV for such a price, even if it is of domestic production, albeit with an American name plate.
The second is permeability.
Chevrolet Niva rides off-road, and rides well. She will not overcome strong off-road, but the average one is easy.
This car is perfect for lovers of outdoor activities outside the city, and fishermen, owners of cottages.
It is worth noting that not every foreign crossover is able to overcome the off-road that the Chevrolet Niva will pass. And this despite the frankly weak power plant.
Third - high maintainability.
Most malfunctions, due to the simplicity of the design, are eliminated in garages using improvised means.
Many people even like that this SUV, like most domestic cars, can be repaired “in the field, on the knee” without using any special ones.
The fourth is the availability of spare parts.
You can find spare parts and consumables for Chevrolet Niva almost everywhere. At the same time, their cost is not as high as for foreign cars.
Summing up
Yes, Chevrolet Niva has many shortcomings and weaknesses, breaks down more often than foreign cars, comfort is minimal. But with proper care and carrying out all routine maintenance, this car will serve "faithfully" to the owner.
In general, this car copes with its direct duty - it overcomes off-road, albeit average, after all, the Chevrolet Niva is not a full-fledged SUV, so even such cross-country performance for this car is a significant achievement. And all cars have flaws, to a greater or lesser extent.
Chevrolet Niva is still a worthy representative of the domestic auto industry, even if it is a joint development with GM. If the car were bad, it would not be awarded twice the title of "Car of the Year" in the SUV class.
In addition, the second generation of this car is on the way, so let's see if the designers can fix all the weaknesses and bring the Chevrolet Niva to a decent level in terms of quality and performance.
Chevrolet Niva is a well-known Russian compact off-road vehicle, which is the successor of the famous Soviet off-road vehicle VAZ-2121 Niva. It is very popular among car enthusiasts, as evidenced by the assignment of this car by the Association of European Businesses of the Russian Federation to the best-selling off-road vehicles in Russia in 2004-2008, as well as the fact that the Chevrolet Niva was awarded the annual professional award of automotive journalists "Off-Road Vehicle of the Year 2009" in the nominations " SUV ”and“ Premiere of the Year ”, as well as the award“ For High Performance ”at the SIA 2012 auto show. But today more than 400 thousand Chevrolet Niva all-terrain vehicles are driving on the roads of the CIS countries and Russia, by the way, here.
History of the Chevrolet Niva brand.
For the first time, the concept of the new VAZ-2123 Niva SUV was shown at the Moscow International Motor Show in 1998. As conceived by the designers, this new car was supposed to become the heir to the famous Niva, which by that time had been produced for 22 years without major changes.
The new VAZ SUV, in fact, acquired only a more spacious five-door body, and its filling as a whole, the engine and transmission, remained without major changes. In 2001, at the pilot production of AvtoVAZ, they began to produce the VAZ-2123, but the matter never came to the introduction of this car into mass production. The reason for this unfortunate situation was the lack of sufficient funds for the serial production of a new car. As a result, the General Motors concern, which was very interested in this off-road vehicle, acquired the rights to the Niva brand (“Niva”), as well as a license for the VAZ-2123. Thanks to American engineers and designers, a significant number of changes were made to the VAZ-2123, which made it possible to consider the resulting car as an independent design.
Later, General Motors Co invested in the launch of a new assembly line, from which a new VAZ-2123 rolled off in September 2002, which, by that name, lost its VAZ marking and began to be referred to as the Chevrolet Niva. The manufacturer had high hopes for this model. These hopes were justified, and thanks to the Chevrolet Niva brand, the American company and the brand itself, in general, won the hearts of Russian motorists.
By the way, at the initial stage, with the full serial launch of the new Chevrolet Niva all-terrain vehicle, it was planned that its predecessor VAZ-2121 would be sent to a well-deserved retirement and removed from the assembly line. However, the old VAZ-2121 continued to exist and its production has not stopped to this day. The reason for this was the fact that the new all-terrain vehicle, due to its significant rise in price, jumped out of the price consumer niche of its predecessor and these two cars, in fact, were not competitors to each other. And yet, in 2006, the VAZ-2121 lost its famous name, and became known as "Lada 4 × 4", since the rights to the Niva trademark were finally transferred to General Motors.
The development and modernization of the Chevrolet Niva off-road vehicle has not stopped since its debut, technical improvements and changes were constantly made to its design, and on March 11, 2009, the release of a new restyled version of the Chevrolet Niva began, on the body of which the designers of the famous Italian studio Bertone worked.
Description, prices and history of model range.
As we already know, the life of the Chevy Niva lineup is divided into a pre-styling period and a post-styling period.
Initially, Chevrolet Niva had two basic versions L and GLS with a 4-cylinder in-line gasoline engine VAZ-2123 with a volume of 1690 cm3 and a multiport fuel injection system with a capacity of 80 hp. (58.5 kW), the maximum torque was 127.4 Nm. Such an engine made it possible to accelerate the Chevrolet Niva to a speed of 140 km / h. It also corresponded to the EURO4 toxicity class, and its consumption in the mixed type, according to the manufacturer's data, was 10.8 liters per 100 km.
The more expensive version of the GLS featured faux leather interior trim, 16-inch alloy wheels with an aluminum spare wheel bracket, audio preparation, heated front seats, tinted windows, as well as fog lights and other improvements.
Later, with the possibility of adding air conditioning, the LC and GLC trim levels appeared, which corresponded to previous versions equipped with this unit, which is very useful in hot weather.
In 2004, the company's management decided to complete all versions of electronically controlled exterior mirrors with heating and audio preparation.
Among the standard lineup of the time, such models as the Chevrolet Niva FAM-1 and Chevrolet Niva Trophy began to be produced as trial versions. The batches of these cars were initially very limited, but later their production was increased.
Chevrolet Niva FAM-1 was released at the beginning of 2006, and by the end of the same year, it was decided to increase the production of this version. This version of the car received the designation GLX (index 21236 according to the VAZ specification). The car received a new Opel Z18XE engine and a 5-speed Aisin mechanics, which, together with the transfer case, were assembled as a single unit. In addition to the new power unit and gearbox, this modification has acquired an ABS system from Bosch, new drive shafts, and a 10-inch vacuum brake booster. Air conditioning, dual airbags, a more comfortable height-adjustable driver's seat, and seat belt pretensioners were added among other features.
However, in 2008, this seemingly very good version did not find a decent demand among buyers and was discontinued. By that time, about a thousand cars had already been produced,
Chevrolet Niva Trophy - tuning modification, which was developed and intended for fans of severe off-road.
The features that distinguished this modification from the basic version were the following:
- To avoid possible water hammer when the car was wading, a device was installed (a device that allows air to be taken from the surface space);
- Added the ability to force shutdown of the engine cooling fans;
- A mechanical chain tensioner was installed instead of a hydraulic one;
- The gearbox received increased friction;
- The transmission acquired the main pair with a higher gear ratio of 4.3 instead of the 3.9 of the basic version, and its breathers were brought into the engine compartment;
- Now you can mount an electric winch.
New Niva Chevrolet.
The next, updated version of the Chevrolet Niva, on which the masters of the Italian design studio Bertone worked, was released on March 11, 2009. The updated car, while retaining its general geometric parameters and recognition, has become more consistent with the general style of the Chevrolet brand. Basically, the changes affected only the design elements of the exterior and interior. The main technical improvement was the new headlights with a uniform light distribution. Manufacturers were able to achieve such an improvement using low beam headlights. Rear optics, in turn, changed only its design. Here .
The exterior received an updated front bumper, and the rear bumper acquired special openings to improve interior ventilation. There were plastic decorative linings on the wings, doors and sills, which in the more expensive GLS and GLC, unlike the basic versions, are painted in body color.
Also, the GLS and GLC trim levels, in addition to the previously existing differences from the basic L and LC trim levels, received the following additions: roof rails from the German company Jac-Products were installed, gearshift levers and handouts were supplemented with aluminum inserts, audio preparation was supplemented with two front-facing speakers, heated front seats and front bumper with fog lamps.
The interior of the new version of the Chevrolet Niva also received some changes. Designers have almost completely redone the space between the front seats: there is a place for cup holders and crayons. The joystick control for mirrors and the control unit for heated front seats have been moved to the lower part of the center console. The ashtray has found its new style in the form of a separate element: a glass with a lid. The headlining has also undergone changes, and a new console with an eyeglass case has appeared in the GLS and GLC trim levels.
Now let's take a look at prices. The new Chevrolet Niva of the basic configuration without air conditioning today can be purchased from 444,000 rubles. The same version with air conditioning (LC) will cost you at least 29.000 more. As for the more expensive equipment, the Niva GLS can be purchased at a price of 514,000 rubles, and the Niva GLC - from 541,000. Overview of the updated Chevrolet Niva 2014.
Recent improvements and plans for the future.
As for plans for the future of the SUV, the creators and owners of this brand share them very reluctantly. However, from those meager answers to the questions of some journalists, it became known that in the future, in connection with the expected transition of the Chevrolet Niva to the EURO5 toxicity standard, the car is expected to receive further improvements and additions. What kind of car we will see in the end, one can only guess and wait for its official presentation. Perhaps we will learn some new details in the near future. Well, for now, you should be content with the existing version of the Chevy Niva.
By the way, it is worth noting that the Chevrolet Niva all-terrain vehicle receives some improvements all the time. So, for example, only for the period from 2010 to 2012, the car received significant improvements in the suspension, which greatly reduced driving noise, and the safety and reliability of this unit was also increased. The car glass cleaning system has been improved. Improved seat belts. The car was equipped with a new jack. Let's hope that before the release of the new version of the Chevrolet Niva, the specialists will not stop at this and will not stop adding new improvements to the car. Reviews of the owners Niva Chevrolet.
Video.
Chevrolet Niva is a car in which excellent cross-country ability and an attractive price are combined with a large list of potential problems.
Chevrolet Niva was introduced back in 1998 as the VAZ-2123. But, since the domestic plant did not have the funds to put it on the conveyor, the license was sold to General Motors and four years later production began at the GM-AvtoVAZ joint venture with a high degree of localization. By 2017, more than half a million copies have already been sold.
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For the first six to seven years, the Chevrolet Niva body resists corrosion well, but then red dots gradually begin to appear at all joints and corners of the car. The gas tank cap, hood, fender and door edges suffer the most. Deep chips on the paint rust quickly enough, of course, we are not talking about any galvanization.
The paintwork is average in quality, chips and scratches do not appear as quickly as on other cars. Of course, this is additionally influenced by more than 20-centimeter clearance and a plastic body kit. However, quite often the paint can start to blister on its own, especially on the arches and on the hood. Often the lining between the tailgate and the rear bumper will peel off.
How to deal with rust on thresholds.
A heavy spare sooner or later causes the back door to sag and it starts to close poorly. Bumper mounts weaken over time and quite noticeable gaps form between them and the body. Often there is a backlash at the driver's door and door handles. Glasses with frequent lowering gradually become covered with scratches and eventually warp and seize.
The weak point of the lower part of the car are the spars. They rust and are often deformed from jacking. The engine protection can rub against the curved spar while driving, the creak is especially audible during turns. In older cars, the fuel pipes around the right wheel often rot.
The trunk is quite modest, only 320 liters, folding the seats allows you to increase its volume to 650 liters, but the depth of the resulting opening will be small for transporting long items. The upholstery is very practical and easy to clean, but with additional niches it’s just a disaster, there really is nowhere to put the driver’s belongings. Some configurations include a branded shovel hanging on the fifth door on the other side of the spare wheel.
Salon Niva Chevrolet is a hodgepodge of VAZ models of the late 90s, most of the parts are from model 2115. The plastic is hard, booming, but wear-resistant. Only the new steering wheel, which appeared in 2009, will climb. Drivers complain about the small number of containers for small things and the terrible rattling of the glove box lid.
Noise isolation is very poor. Both the engine and tires are clearly audible, and at high speed, the whistle of the wind from the side mirrors is added to them. At certain engine speeds, between about 2500 and 3000, the gearshift lever begins to vibrate. And in the range from 80 to 100 km / h, the transfer case howls insanely, usually the owners try to drive either faster or slower.
A clogged drain behind the expansion tank can cause water to enter the passenger compartment. The heater radiator also often leaks, and it does it right on the legs of the front passenger. Replacing it with a model equipped with air conditioning will require complete disassembly of the panel. The control cables for the dampers of the ventilation and heating systems are stretched and burst. The stove makes a lot of noise, but it heats very well.
Oversized drivers have loose seats. The front panel under the influence of direct sunlight can be deformed, especially the glove box lid (it just stops closing). Cold air can blow through the torn anthers of the gearbox and transfer case levers, and water can seep through the steering shaft seal and antenna mounts.
In 2009, the car was seriously upgraded. The Italian design studio Bertone led the update, so the restyling touched on the appearance of the car and interior decoration. The radiator grille has changed, new linded headlights have appeared, and the lanterns have acquired a different pattern, the bumpers have changed, and the rear received a comfortable rubber pad that facilitates the loading of bulky cargo.
In the cabin, there is now a different steering wheel with three spokes and a more comfortable gear knob, an open box and two cup holders between the seats, other seats and a better upholstery of the ceiling have appeared. Finally made a normal ceiling lighting and eyeglass case. Door seals are thicker, optional roof rails are available, as well as door handles and mirrors painted in body color. We revised the soundproofing and the pattern of the rims.
Chevy Niva is one of the few cars on the Russian market that does not have an airbag in the basic version. However, starting from the GL configuration, both the driver and the front passenger have it, they also have belt pretensioners. Of the active safety systems, there is only ABS.
The car was crash tested twice, both times in 2011. Representatives of the company GM-Avtovaz smashed the export version in the maximum configuration and he did well, by 12.5 points out of 16 possible. But AutoReview journalists tested the basic model for our market and the result turned out to be predictably terrible - only 1.6 points out of 16.
Failure in AutoReview tests
As for the electrics under the hood, the main problems are mainly related to the generator, more precisely, with the wiring around it. First, it burns, then the contacts, and finally the diode bridge. In 2014, the node was upgraded. Another weak point is the starter. It has a small resource, since it is located in close proximity to the exhaust manifold and operates in unfavorable temperature conditions. When parked for a long time, the battery is often discharged.
In the cabin, the fuel level gauge is usually the first to be surrendered, then the coolant temperature, then the wiper and turn relay. But all this most often happens closer to the hundred thousandth run. Often the heating of mirrors, seats and rear windows, as well as power windows fail. Moreover, they do it spontaneously, they can stop working on a new machine.
The native key fob for controlling the central lock is extremely short-lived. When the dimensions are turned on, the ignition sometimes works, despite the fact that the key is not even inserted into the lock. The headlights are quite good, especially after restyling, however, due to poor contacts, lamp holders sometimes burn and the plastic of the reflectors melts.
The suspension is energy-intensive, but on normal asphalt this leads to excessive body sway, which is most felt in corners. It is especially not comfortable for the rear passengers, it even throws them up on speed bumps. The car fully opens up on rough terrain, long suspension travels and permanent all-wheel drive allow you to pass where modern crossovers with complex electronic filling fail.
Up to about 50,000 km, usually nothing knocks, does not rattle, but then intervention is most often required. The ball bearings in front and silent blocks of jet rods in the back are the first to be surrendered. The rubber-metal joints of the upper right arm burn out due to the constant thermal effects of the exhaust system. By 100,000 km, many parts, including shock absorbers, may require replacement.
A separate conversation will be about wheel bearings. They require adjustment and tightening approximately every 30 thousand kilometers, then their resource will be about 80 thousand. Regular forays into nature with races through mud and water reduce the life of wheel bearings, as well as brake drums, by about half.
"Chevrolet Niva" - a car of domestic production, designed according to the type of the previously well-known VAZ-2123.
Briefly about the car "Chevrolet Niva"
According to the manufacturer, the Chevrolet Niva is a modern all-wheel drive SUV that has been in development for a long time, but was nevertheless presented to the Russian consumer. And very soon a new version of the car is also preparing to go out into the world.
But, unfortunately, the Togliatti plant cannot always find suitable suppliers of components, which negatively affects the development process and the speed of the release of a new model.
Nevertheless, manufacturers often manage to find a worthy alternative; today, the Niva equipment meets Euro-5 standards. On the territory of Russia, this car was twice awarded the title of "Off-Road Vehicle of the Year".
The history of the production of "Niva" and its main modifications
The production of Chevrolet Niva was first started back in the mid-1980s of the last century, but the very first version - the prototype of the modern Niva - VAZ-2123 - saw the world only in 1998. It was produced for a very short time - until 2002, the production was small-scale.
In 2002, the production license was bought by the General Motors concern, and a new SUV appeared based on the old one - the Chevrolet Niva.
The very first Niva Chevrolet was produced in two models: L and more advanced GLS.
Since 2006, the FAM-1 has appeared, which lasted only a couple of years and was discontinued.
In 2009, the Niva of a new model went out of production. Now it exists in trim levels L, LC, LE, GLS, GLC and LE+.
At the moment, the Chevrolet Niva-2 is expected to be released with an updated engine and new equipment.
Specifications for GLS and L engines
The first versions of cars were produced on domestically produced engines, fully adapted to this brand.
The gasoline engine of the Chevrolet Niva, like most cars, was located in front. It was designed in such a way that fuel was supplied through port injection using a submersible pump.
The engine included four cast-iron cylinders located in line, with a diameter of 8.2 cm. Two valves were provided for each of them. The stroke of the pistons in the cylinders, as before, was 8 cm. The design developed by the engineers made it possible to create a fundamentally new and technologically advanced engine, the working volume of which was 1690 cm 3 with a relatively high compression ratio of 9.3.
At three thousand revolutions, a maximum torque of 127.5 Nm is achieved on a Chevrolet Niva car. Engine power is 80 horsepower at five thousand revolutions.
Engine Disadvantages
The first Chevrolet Niva engines were better than their predecessors VAZ-2123, but had the following disadvantages:
- high noise level;
- tendency to overheat, frequent smoke;
- large vibrations when starting the motor;
- consumes a lot of lubricants.
This Chevrolet Niva engine is installed on a large number of domestic-made cars, so it is necessary to properly care for it in order to delay repairs and increase its wear resistance.
When handling the engine, the following rules must be observed:
- coolant must be replaced every 60,000 km;
- the coolant also needs to be changed - if it has changed color, this indicates the appearance of additives that behave aggressively towards the mechanism;
- in the ventilation system of the crankcase of the motor, deposits may form that impede the gas outlet; for this, the ventilation must be periodically cleaned;
- it is necessary to monitor overheating, if smoke appears, open the hood for air access.
Technical characteristics of the FAM-1 engine
One of the most basic differences of the new car model was the sixteen-valve engine, borrowed from the Opel car, with a volume of 1.8 liters.
This motor, in comparison with the previous one, has become more economical, significantly reducing fuel consumption.
The new four-stroke Chevrolet Niva engine with forced ignition helps the car accelerate faster to the required speed, the rated power has been significantly increased - up to 125 horsepower. The maximum torque was 167 Nm at 3800 rpm.
Since the engine was not originally intended for the Chevrolet, the design of the oil pump intake and the oil pan were changed. The power supply system was also improved and a “cat collector” appeared to comply with toxicity standards according to Euro-4 standards.
The engine of the restyled Chevrolet Niva
Since the disappearance of the FAM-1 engine, many design changes have been made to the Chevrolet Niva car. The characteristics of the engine, its main indicators remained almost the same, but many parts were improved and became much better in operation and more wear-resistant.
So, modern engines have the following advantages:
- improved pistons due to the strengthening of the skirt;
- connecting rods have become lighter;
- tensioner drive became hydraulic;
- the double-row chain has been replaced with a new one - quieter and lighter;
- the fuel filter changed its location and was moved to the bottom of the body;
- the motor received a new control system - a special electronic unit, which made it easier to start;
- improved traction, allowing not so often to change the speed on the gearbox;
- the Chevrolet Niva engine has a dual lubrication system - under pressure and by spraying;
- the converter received an additional silencer;
- injectors and an ignition coil of our own production appeared, fully adapted to the car;
- the level of toxicity meets Euro-5 standards;
- jets limit the volume of exhausted gases, thus, at idle speed, the operation of the motor is not disturbed;
- on a Chevrolet Niva car, engine cooling has become better due to the increased blowing force.
Engine design features
The engine cylinders are united by a single cast-iron block, at the bottom of which the crankshaft is located, it is also cast-iron and at the same time sealed with updated oil seals.
Inserts made of steel and aluminum alloy are used as bearings.
The cylinders have inlet and outlet valves, the rods of which are nitrided and hardened by electric current.
Pistons with intricately shaped skirts are made of tin-plated aluminium.
The camshaft is driven by a single row chain, it also helps the oil pump drive shaft rotate. The oil pump flow has been increased compared to the earlier version due to changes in the design of the drive shaft.
The spring-loaded hydraulic tensioner supports the chain with a special oversized shoe. A chain guide is also provided.
The motor has a dual lubrication system: spray and pressure.
The cooling system is provided by a cooling jacket, combustion chambers, a centrifugal water pump and a thermostat.
As already mentioned, the ignition is controlled by a special electronic unit.
New engine for Chevrolet Niva cars
In 2016, the production of new engines was launched.
The motor is suitable for some Lada models, as well as for the Chevrolet Niva car. The 1.8 liter engine is made on the basis of the old VAZ-21127, with a volume of 1.6 liters.
Significant changes have appeared in the design and characteristics of the new engine:
- the appearance of an additional oil channel between the cylinders;
- a mechanism for changing the gas distribution at the intake appeared - the mass of parts was reduced, which helps to let in more air and reduce friction between surfaces;
- the bearing housing has changed, which allows you to add a phase sensor;
- an accurate timing drive installation system has appeared, due to which the phase adjustment becomes more accurate;
- the piston height has increased, which allows to reduce the heating temperature of the engine;
- the upper crankshaft bearing has a different groove shape, which helps to save lubricant consumption;
- the water pump was replaced with a pump, with its help pumping liquids through the motor will be better;
- the performance of the oil pump has been almost doubled, the diameter of the oil pick-up tube has also been increased for this.
"Chevrolet Niva", the new engine of which will become more powerful and economical, will turn out to be faster and more reliable. The characteristics of the new motor are as follows.
Power - 122 horsepower at 6 thousand revolutions per minute.
Torque has increased to 170 Nm and it is reached at 3,700 rpm.
Pricing policy for motors
The price of a new FAM-1 engine and a 1.7-liter engine varies from forty-five to seventy-five thousand rubles.
It is possible to purchase an engine ("Chevrolet Niva") on the secondary market, the price of which is much lower, from ten to thirty-five thousand.
A new 1.8-liter engine costs about 55 thousand rubles. To date, car services, upon prior request, are reinstalling motors and replacing old ones with new ones.
In 1998, a conceptual model of the VAZ-2123 Niva SUV was presented at the Moscow Motor Show. As planned by the designers, the car was supposed to replace the outdated Niva model, which had been produced unchanged for more than 20 years. The new car was distinguished by a spacious five-door body. However, the engine and transmission as a whole remained the same. The release of the VAZ-2123 model, as a prototype, began in 2001. But AvtoVAZ did not have enough money to introduce the car into mass production. As a result, General Motors received a license for the car along with the rights to the Niva brand. The Americans made about 1,700 changes to the components and assemblies of the car, and in 2002 they began to produce a serial model of the Chevrolet Niva. It was expected that after the new Niva was launched into mass production, its predecessor, the VAZ-2121, would be removed from the assembly line. But this did not happen due to the high cost of the Chevrolet Niva model. In March 2009, GM-AvtoVAZ began production of a restyled version of the car. Specialists from the famous Italian studio Bertone were involved in the development of the updated model. The main part of the changes fell on the exterior and interior. As for the technical component, the Chevrolet Niva model received new headlights.
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Specifications Chevrolet Niva
station wagon
SUV
- width 1 786mm
- length 4 048mm
- height 1 652mm
- ground clearance 200mm
- places 5
| Engine | Name | Price | Fuel | Drive unit | Consumption | Up to a hundred |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.75MT (80 HP) | gls | ≈ 514,000 rubles | AI-95 | Full | 8,8 / 14,1 | 19 s |
| 1.75MT (80 HP) | glc | ≈ 541,000 rubles | AI-95 | Full | 8,8 / 14,1 | 19 s |
| 1.75MT (80 HP) | l | ≈ 444,000 rubles | AI-95 | Full | 8,8 / 14,1 | 19 s |
| 1.75MT (80 HP) | lc | ≈ 473,000 rubles | AI-95 | Full | 8,8 / 14,1 | 19 s |
Generations
Test drives Chevrolet Niva
Comparison test October 23, 2015 Not taking the road For the updated Renault Duster, it is difficult to find a direct competitor in its price range. We decided to compare the "Frenchman" with the Chevrolet Niva, as buyers often choose between these two cars.
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Test drive March 26, 2013 Reasonable minimum Change from a domestic car to a foreign car - what could be more natural for a Russian driver? What if it's the other way around? Sometimes it happens! For example, my neighbor, an avid hunter, drives a Land Cruiser, but he absolutely does not want to stick it in the mud, swamps and deep snow - he says, "the toad is choking." For forays into nature, he is seriously considering buying a UAZ or a Chevrolet Niva.
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Karelian mirages-2 
Comparison test
We continue the report on the big summer trip of the editors. We will tell you how three Chevrolet cars drove from Lake Ladoga to Lake Onega, what oddities we discovered in the city of Medvezhyegorsk, why the Karelian rapids are insidious, whether the White Sea-Baltic Canal is carefully guarded and much more.
Karelian mirages
Comparison test We often undeservedly neglect our country. And this despite the fact that our natural and man-made beauties can often give odds to foreign ones. A vivid example of this is the Russian North, in particular, Karelia. It was there that we equipped the expedition on three Chevrolet off-road vehicles - Niva, Captiva and Tahoe.
