In a year and a half, Lada 4 × 4 will turn forty years old. Last year, our first non-military all-terrain vehicle acquired the Urban modification. We find out how the old-timer of the market feels in the city role. And at the same time, we tell you what updates our Lada 4 × 4 has received recently and what improvements await it during the next modernization, which is scheduled to begin in December 2015.

They say big things are seen from a distance. In a year and a half, Niva ... oh, sorry, Lada 4 × 4 will turn forty years old! And now it is impossible not to admit that this is the most successful VAZ and one of the best domestic cars. The ancestor of all crossovers in the world. Our first non-army SUV. He went through a lot of modifications and improvements and is still in demand.

The current reason for the meeting is a new modification of Urban. An all-wheel drive with an urban accent? Why not?

UPGRADES AND DECORATIONS

We are familiar with Urban (ЗР, 2014, No. 7), and now let's take a closer look at him. The most noticeable innovation in the exterior is the new plastic bumpers. They look more organic and modern than the old metal ones. With them, Lada 4 × 4 became even shorter - 3640 mm, although from birth it had quite an urban size. For comparison: the length of the Suzuki Jimny is 3695 mm. True, the Japanese baby is longer thanks to the spare tire on the tailgate.

The rest of the differences from just Lada 4×4 are purely symbolic. For example, Urban is equipped with a removable towing device: under the plugs on the bumpers there is a thread into which an eye is screwed. The towing eyes of the old model are also alive - everything is in the same place, on the bottom. Unlike other modifications, only alloy wheels are installed on the "citizen". In addition, Urban is distinguished by a radiator grille and an ornament on the tailgate. The first thing you notice in the cabin is the steering wheel with a reduced diameter: only 380 mm against the standard 420 mm. On a car with power steering, this innovation has long been suggested. With a small steering wheel, it is easier for the driver to adjust the workplace to suit him. Power windows, air conditioning, heated seats, electrically adjustable and heated exterior mirrors are included in the basic Urban package.

New lining of the floor tunnel - with two cupholders and a round ashtray. The cigarette lighter and the toggle switch for turning on the air conditioner are also placed here. In addition, there are power window buttons and a mirror adjustment joystick between the seats. Buttons, keys and toggle switches are scattered randomly, but there was no better place for them.

Lada 4×4 with air conditioning is a dream! For the coolness in summer traffic jams, you can easily forgive the usual noise of the heater fan.

The seats delight the eye with new upholstery with yellow-beige stitching. On the ceiling - a new ceiling lighting interior, borrowed from Priora.

ABOUT ROAD

I remember that I didn’t like spinning around the city on an old Niva‑21213 – the steering wheel is too heavy, and the effort on the pedals is fair. Now it's a completely different matter! Weightless controls do not tire, turning a small steering wheel is a pleasure. And visibility is completely excellent - much better than many modern cars. And parking is convenient. Not an all-terrain vehicle, but a city rogue.

An engine with distributed injection is livelier than a carburetor (do you still remember this one?). Pulls smoothly, without jerks, but still want more. Leaves much to be desired and fuel economy. However, Lada 4 × 4 is so much cheaper than its competitors that it is embarrassing to criticize it for excessive gas consumption.

On a country road, Urban sensitively follows the turns of the steering wheel, and the rear axle does not “taxi”, as in the old days. Only with frisky overtaking, when the speed exceeds 100 km / h, noise and vibration increase.

What about off-road? Plastic bumpers are not metal. Those areas that are painted in body color are easily scratched. But the most vulnerable spots are blackened, for such minor damages they are not so noticeable, and it’s easier to touch up ..

Otherwise, Lada 4 × 4 with the Urban prefix is ​​​​still the same good old Niva, whose patency is still admired.

Plastic bumpers required a removable towing eye.

FROM THE BEST CELLARS

A car is not wine, it doesn't get better with age. And in the case of the Lada 4×4? In the year of its thirtieth anniversary, which was celebrated in 2007, up to 87% of VAZ exports accounted for this model. The annual output was about 35 thousand cars. Then a large-scale modernization was carried out with the expectation that the potential of the car would last until 2015. Was it enough?

In the first half of this year, 20,800 vehicles were sold, a thousand more than in the same period last year. Lada 4×4 is one of the ten best-selling models on the Russian market! And in terms of the number of components of domestic production (75%), this is the leader among Togliatti cars.

Urban is not the last variation of the old woman. A new upgrade is coming. This time, the calculation is for five years: the car should last in production until 2020. Then, if everything goes according to plan, a new generation will see the light. There are plans, there are contracts, there is a soulless designation Lada 4×4. And there is a name known to everyone, which now belongs to the joint venture GM-AVTOVAZ ...

Popular recognition allows you to break taboos and call a spade a spade. Long life to you, Niva!

Integrated bumpers and a minimum of chrome details refresh Urban.

The best, of course, is ahead?

From 2013 to June 2015, Lada 4 × 4 introduced several innovations. The main thing is the modified coloring technology. A cataphoretic primer is applied to the body. The secondary primer is polyester. This guarantees durability of the coating and better anti-corrosion protection.

We said goodbye to the cardan shafts in the transmission. The transfer box is connected to the gearboxes by drive shafts with constant velocity joints. Instead of a mechanical connection to the throttle, there is now an "electronic pedal".

What are other news? Hood release cable sheath, twin-jet washer jets, extended wiper blades, black door handles, spring clamps in the cooling system, windshield seal without chrome inserts, daytime running lights. The list of options has been expanded: air conditioning, power windows, heated seats, athermal windows appeared.

Further modernization is planned to be carried out in three stages. By December 2015, the anti-lock braking system and Isofix fasteners for child seats will be installed on all cars of the family, including the five-door VAZ‑2131. The backs of the rear seats will meet modern safety standards - we are talking about keeping the load in the trunk in the event of an accident. The upholstery of the tailgate will not be molded, but cast. A socket and a backlight will appear on the left side of the trunk. The rear seat belts will be changed, and their coils will be moved under the upholstery.

Cup holders and toggle switches are located between the front seats.

The molded radiator grill will give way to a cast one, and it will be fixed with self-tapping screws screwed into plastic nuts.

A Valeo module (master and slave cylinders, tubes) will appear in the clutch hydraulic drive. The modernization will affect the intermediate shaft: to reduce vibrations, it will be balanced at 2200 rpm, and the 2101 clutch will be replaced with the 2123 clutch. The windshield and rear windows will receive new seals.

By the spring of 2016, new hub units, springs and gas-filled shock absorbers will appear. In the front suspension, the break-in shoulder will become negative. The front gear to reduce vibrations will be mounted on the anti-roll bar, as on the Chevrolet Niva.

Change the inner panels of the doors and sidewalls. Along the way, the door wiring will be upgraded, and power windows will become standard equipment.

There will be door opening limiters - like on Kalina. New seals and edging side windows will finally get rid of chrome inserts.

Belt buckle can be fastened with a latch

The outer sidewalls of the body will begin to be manufactured on new dies.

By the end of 2016, there will be new dashboard, seats, floor tunnel lining, one-piece molded front lining and a ceiling with a dome light from the Vesta model.

The gear lever with the help of a rocker drive will be moved closer to the driver. The heater will give way to a new one that is better suited to work with the air conditioner. And finally, air ducts will be led to the feet of the rear passengers

Lada 4 × 4 Urban - is a modernized version of the legendary Lada 2121, which is still called NIVA in the common people. The main differences from the classic model are the presence of plastic bumpers, an upgraded suspension, air conditioning and full power accessories, which include electric mirrors and power windows. Although this car has been produced not so long ago, it is now possible to highlight several problem areas that future owners need to know about before buying this car.

Weaknesses of Niva Urban

• Transmission;
• Transfer case;
• Oil seals and cardan cross.

Now more….

Since the Lada 4×4 Urban is an urban variation of the classic NIVA, many problems for these cars are the same:

Front fenders.

This car does not have high corrosion resistance, and after a couple of years, quite serious corrosion may appear on the front fenders, near the headlights. In order to check the condition of the wings, you need to take a flashlight with you and properly inspect their inner surface. To be sure, you can touch the metal with your hand.
If fresh wheel arch liners were put on the car, then most likely they tried to close the pockets of rust in such a simple way.

Transmission.

One of the weakest points of this SUV. The gearbox is checked while the car is moving. If the speeds turn on with a creak and rattle or there are other unpleasant sounds, then this is probably the gearbox is excessively worn out due to untimely maintenance and this, in turn, will require expensive repairs.

Transfer case.

It is imperative to check how easily the differential lock is engaged. If during movement with the lock on, a strong vibration occurs or a rattle is heard, then the car needs urgent repair. But if a howl is heard while driving, then this is quite natural for these cars.

Seals and cross of the cardan shaft.

Do not forget that the Lada 4 × 4 Urban has an impressive off-road potential, so the seals and CV joints have not disappeared. Don't expect them to be perfectly clean. The main thing is that the seals are physically intact, without cracks and smudges. The cross of the cardan shaft must also be intact, without visible damage. All this can be checked by driving the car into the simplest garage pit.

It is also worth mentioning that you should avoid buying lifted cars or cars with power bumpers installed. Such design changes seriously reduce the resource of the car and leave no doubt that NIVA was used in severe off-road conditions.

The main disadvantages of LADA 4×4 Urban

1. Weak sound insulation;
2. Ergonomic miscalculations;
3. In some cars, downshifting is difficult;
4. Cheap interior plastic for a car of this price;
5. Poor-quality plastic elements of the car;
6. Small luggage space.

Conclusion.

As a practical domestic car with the quality of interior trim and ergonomics in Lada Urban, not everything is so good. But if the choice fell on this car, then in any case it is necessary, with the help of specialists and the necessary equipment, to diagnose all systems, components and assemblies for the absence of defects. If this is not possible, then at least it is necessary to pay attention visually and during a test run to the performance of all elements of the machine.

Overview of Lada Urban

P.S. Dear current and future owners of Niva Urban cars! Write in the comments about the weaknesses, diseases and shortcomings of your car, identified during operation. Thank in advance.

Weaknesses and main disadvantages of Lada 4 × 4 Urban was last modified: March 29th, 2019 by Administrator

When it comes to domestic SUVs, first of all, most do not remember about UAZ Hunter. Moreover, for some it is still a revelation that there is an ordinary Niva, as well as Niva Urban.

Not everyone knows and understands what is the difference between the two cars, and how much one car differs from the other. If you take a quick look at the exterior, you don’t immediately notice a significant difference.

But these two cars are really different. Moreover, in both cases we are talking about an all-wheel drive domestic SUV. The only difference is that one model is quite old, and has been known since 1977, while the second copy was already created in modern Russia and offers somewhat different possibilities. How much they can influence the choice is up to you. But first you need to explore all aspects of the two presented vehicles.

General information

It’s worth starting with general information that will reveal some details and differences between the two cars, and will also help you take the first step in choosing between Niva or Niva Urban.

In this case, the emphasis will be on the most popular three-door modification, but we will also talk a little about four-door versions. The thing is that modifications to 4 side doors have not received proper distribution, they are much less popular, and therefore AvtoVAZ significantly limited the number of copies produced, concentrating the main effort on three-doors.

The iconic Niva or VAZ 2121 appeared back in Soviet times. It was launched into assembly line production in 1977, far away for many. Since 2006, the marketing policy has been changed, as a result of which the car changed its name to Lada 4 × 4. The essence of this has not changed much, because both names are correct and relevant.

The model has been mass-produced for over 50 years. Over such a long period, the car has gone through many upgrades, but the initial concept has remained the same. This is the most inexpensive and utilitarian car that has become a real legend.

The car is based on an all-wheel drive transmission. With the help of a center differential, the torque is distributed between the front and rear wheels in proportions of 50 to 50. To increase cross-country ability, engineers equipped 2121 with a reduction gear in the transfer case and a forced locking of the center differential. There is an independent multi-link suspension in front, and a dependent beam in the back. The braking system is classic, and consists of rear drums and front discs. To make it easier for the driver to turn the steering wheel, a hydraulic booster was installed.

Lada 4 × 4 Urban debuted at the Moscow Motor Show in the summer of 2014. This is the urban version of the world, let's not be afraid of the word, SUV VAZ 2121. Urban is offered in 3 and 5-door modifications, like the classic Niva. The model is produced at a subsidiary of AvtoVAZ VIS Auto. Serial production started in October of the same year, when the presentation took place. Only since February 2016, Urban has been produced in a five-door body, that is, with 4 side doors.

Like the classic Niva, Urbana uses all-wheel drive with a center differential. To ensure decent off-road performance, a transfer case with a reduction gear was installed here, as well as a forced differential lock system.

Urban has a load-bearing body. The wheels are mounted using a spring independent suspension with wishbones and hydraulic shock absorbers. This is how the front part of the suspension is arranged. Rear spring-lever dependent design and hydraulic shock absorbers. The brake and steering system are similar to the classics represented by the VAZ 2121.

Exterior

If you need to look for differences between the Niva 2121 and Niva Urban cars anywhere, it is in the appearance of domestic crossovers.

The classic from VAZ has a simple and most recognizable appearance, in which you don’t even have to talk about any design frills. This is a monumental small off-road car with a square body and round head optics. Plus, Niva 2121 has extremely practical bumpers,. The situation with the simplicity and obsolescence of the car is not saved by the exterior mirrors that were taken from the Chevrolet Niva, as well as daytime running lights.

If we talk about dimensions, then 2121 can offer the following parameters:

• length 3720 mm;
• height 1640 mm;
• width 1680 mm;
• wheelbase 2200 mm.;
• ground clearance 220 mm.

The outward resemblance of Urban to the classic three-door Niva is obvious. Everyone can easily recognize this car in the model. At the same time, Steve Mattin, who worked on the Urban project, managed to make a small breakthrough. Even the usual square shapes have been made more modern. This was achieved thanks to the integrated front and rear bumpers, the original grille, large exterior mirrors, black door handles, alloy wheels and curved windshield wipers.

The desire of AvtoVAZ to make a city car out of Niva, calling it Urban, was reflected in the dimensions. As a result, the numbers are as follows:

• length 3640 mm;
• height 1640 mm;
• width 1680 mm;
• wheelbase 2200 mm.;
• ground clearance 220 mm.

This is objectively not enough to catch the difference between the two cars. Although it is safe to say that outwardly Urban looks more modern and relevant.

Interior and luggage compartment

Now it’s worth looking inside to understand what is the difference between the Niva 2121 and Niva Urban SUVs, and whether there is one at all.

Inside the classic Niva, everything is outrageously simple. But since this is a utility vehicle that is both a workhorse and a tool for getting through bad roads, buyers pay little attention to the interior.

The cabin is dominated by cheap materials, extremely hard plastic. To the surprise of many, the chairs are wrapped in a fabric that is pleasant to the touch. The assembly is far from ideal, as there are gaps and crickets everywhere. This is definitely an interior that does not apply to cars of the 21st century.

As a dashboard, a kit from Samara of the 2nd generation is used. The information content is good. The center console offers a minimum of buttons and controls. But even with such space, the engineers managed to make a serious mistake. For some reason, they decided that the ignition switch should be placed to the left, and not to the right of the steering column. And in the usual place of the castle put the emergency button. Brilliant, to say the least.

The front seats in terms of ergonomics are not impressive, but the level of comfort is not bad. There is no steering wheel adjustment. The rear sofa itself is uncomfortable, there is no legroom, plus getting to it is problematic. There are also no rear headrests.

There is no significant difference in terms of interior decoration between Niva and Niva Urban. As before, the design is outdated, the dashboard is from the second Samara. But the steering wheel was made smaller in diameter, and the rim added in thickness. The center console is made in the style of minimalism. On the tunnel, near the gearbox, they put a transfer lever, a downshift, as well as a panel with which the power windows are controlled, mirrors are adjusted.

Urban put the front seats from the same Samara 2nd generation. There is no need to talk about any lateral support here. But the profile has become better, and the filler has been made more dense.

The rear sofa and Urban remained cramped and uncomfortable. No one thought to put head restraints, which negatively reflects. Finishing materials are cheap, hard plastic. Even here they did not change the position of the ignition switch. But there were power window control buttons.

Summing up, we can say that AvtoVAZ did not contribute anything significant and useful in terms of interior to Urban. The car, as it was poorly assembled and uncomfortable, remained so. And this is the main mistake of the manufacturer. Calling the car Urban, and positioning it as a city car, it was worth adding much more comfort to the interior, installing good chairs, and thinking over the back sofa. There are minor changes on the background of 2121, but they do not make Urban better at all. Everything is very sad.

Separately, it is worth dwelling on the issues of the luggage compartment. In the three-door Niva 2121, the luggage compartment in the stowed state has a volume of 265 liters. If you fold the back row, the volume will increase to 585 liters.

As you might have guessed, there are no changes to the Urban version. These are the same 265 and 585 liters.

And if you look into the five-door modifications, then you won’t be able to see the difference either. Urban, like Niva 2131, has 420 liters in its normal state, or 780 liters with the seats folded down.

Motors, gearboxes and their capabilities

When it comes to comparing two cars, technical specifications become one of the key criteria. In particular, potential buyers are interested in what engines and gearboxes can be obtained, and what their tandem will be capable of. In the case of Niva 2121 and Niva Urban, I want to know what is better in this component. Let's try to find the difference.

The classic Niva or Lada 4x4 is offered with only one non-alternative 1.7-liter engine. It's an 8-valve inline-four. The motor complies with Euro 4 environmental standards and runs on AI-95 gasoline. The engine produces a modest 83 horsepower, and the torque here is 128 Nm. Selecting a gearbox also does not work. Available only standard 5-speed mechanics.

There is no talk of any high-speed driving here, and the potential buyer understands this very well. But those who are not yet familiar with the capabilities of the Niva in detail may be very disappointed. To accelerate from standstill to 100 kilometers per hour, you need an eternity. Namely 19 seconds. At the same time, the maximum speed does not exceed 137 kilometers per hour. With poor dynamics and low power, the Niva is also quite voracious. For 100 kilometers in the city, you need about 13 liters of gasoline, and on the highway, consumption drops to about 11 liters for every hundred.

The same engine is installed on the Niva Urban. Whether it has been modified or not is not clear. But the characteristics declared by the manufacturer turned out to be somewhat better.

In particular, the maximum speed was raised to 142 kilometers per hour. And acceleration from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour now takes 17 seconds. In the city, the engine, together with the same non-alternative manual gearbox, requires up to 12.3 liters of gasoline per 100 kilometers. In the extra-urban cycle, the consumption is approximately 8.5 liters.

Although the car owners themselves say that there is no such noticeable difference in dynamics and efficiency. Therefore, again, no significant differences between the cars could be found.

Passability, handling and safety

It is impossible to say that these are safe cars. The cars didn't even get head restraints for the rear passengers. Needless to say about all sorts of things, a wide range of airbags and electronic assistants. None of this is in cars.

Crash tests are also not impressive. Getting into an accident on such a car is scary, even at a relatively low speed. Despite a strong body, the driver and passengers usually receive serious injuries.

The handling of Niva 2121 and Niva Urban is almost identical. The usual version of the Russian SUV is more rigid and does not respond well to the active work of the steering wheel. Nevertheless, Niva Urban is conditionally more urban. But this is implemented to a greater extent due to a different steering wheel setting. The suspension is not pleasantly soft when driving over bumps. But Niva Urban, like Niva 4x4, is designed for off-road.

It is in such conditions that cars show their best side. It is pointless to make a comparison in this component. Although the 2121 certainly feels a bit more confident with simple front and rear bumpers. The modified appearance of Urban did not greatly affect the cross-country ability, but hitting such a bumper would be more offensive than in the case of a classic compact SUV.

Maintenance and operating costs

You can already perfectly see that in front of you are technically identical cars. They have the same almost everything, except for small nuances.

This does not give a reason to make Niva Urban more expensive to maintain and operate than a simple SUV version. You can only compare configurations. Urban has a more solid filling from the start. It is the failure of those components that are not available in a conventional Niva that can conditionally make Urban a little more expensive in terms of maintenance and operation costs.

Niva 2121 is as simple as possible in filling and equipping. So it's probably fair to say that it's a bit cheaper. To a greater extent, this concerns the correction of external defects, the replacement of bumpers or optics. These parts will be more expensive just on Urbana. Plus, the car is not as common as the classic VAZ 2121.

Complete set

On the Russian market, Lada 4x4 is offered in only 2 equipment options. This is the Standard and a more advanced version of the Suite.

If you take the initial version, you will get:

• fabric salon;
• power steering;
• folding back sofa;
• steel discs;
• immobilizer;
• isofix;
• fabric salon.

If you spend a little more, but take the Lux version, then you can additionally count on the installation of air conditioning in the car. The minimum price tag for the VAZ 2121 is currently 488 thousand rubles. Top equipment can be purchased for about 545 thousand rubles.

Urban's package looks a little more convincing. But she is the only one. As equipment, everything is available here as in the case of the standard Niva. Plus you can get:

• ABS, EBD;
• additional vibration isolation;
• heated seats in front;
• electric drive of external mirrors;
• heated exterior mirrors;
• air conditioner;
• power windows;
• alloy wheels 16 inches;
• athermal glasses;
• metallic paint, etc.

The minimum cost of Urban is from 550 thousand rubles. Maximizing the level of equipment, you will have to pay almost 600 thousand rubles.

Summing up

It is extremely difficult to draw conclusions in the case of the usual Niva and Niva Urban. Given all the information received, you can clearly see that there is practically no difference between the two domestic SUVs.

The main problem is that AvtoVAZ released a new car, called it Urban, began to position it as a more urban SUV, but in fact did practically nothing in this direction. Yes, there are changes in appearance. But inside it remained the same old, sometimes kind, Niva. Absolutely no technical changes. An exact copy of the current version of the VAZ 2121.

Only a more attractive and modern appearance, as well as an extended list of available equipment, speaks in favor of Urban. But the price has increased accordingly. It's just hard to say what the consumer should overpay for.

If you decide that you need a car of the Niva level, that is, you are going to drive, do all sorts of things that require driving on bad roads, take a regular Niva with a 3 or 5-door body. And in the maximum configuration. It will still be cheaper than the initial version of Urban.

Whether it makes sense to take exclusively Urban's version is an ambiguous question, and one that needs a more detailed and thorough analysis. Overpaying for some options that actually do not affect anything, not taking into account minor improvements in comfort, in the case of a car like the VAZ Niva, not everyone will want to. What you should not spare money for is air conditioning. Moreover, in the case of such machines, it is always possible to independently install the interior cooling system. It will cost less than buying an air conditioner from the manufacturer. Plus, you can deliver a better and more efficient system.

In any case, the buyer himself must make the final decision. You can praise AvtoVAZ for trying to make something more modern and relevant out of the old Soviet Niva. But this attempt frankly failed. Too few changes have been made to talk about any significant differences and look for a difference between Urban and Niva 2121.

21.12.2016

Good day! Initially, in this review it was planned to talk about all the shortcomings and frank jambs that are inherent in the modern Lada Niva. But, on reflection, I realized that this makes no sense, well, really, as if you all do not know about the quality of cars that are produced at AvtoVAZ factories. The paint quality is terrible, for example, the hood can only be opened on a clean car, otherwise you risk damaging the paintwork. Headlights can crack from the fact that water gets on them, the generator, for example, is located so low that in order to kill it, it is enough to drive into a slight impassability. And, about such a concept as ergonomics, AvtoVAZ learned only a couple of years ago, but, unfortunately, this did not affect Niva. They decided to compensate for all the miscalculations at Niva Urban, but, here, too, they managed to make the cup holder so that it could only be used after turning on the lower gear range. Unfortunately, this list can be continued for a very long time, since there is no element in Vaz Niva that does not have its own drawback.

I will not list all the shortcomings of the car, and not because I am a big fan of the Niva or I am paid for PR of this model, but because the quality of the car corresponds to its price. To our great disappointment, there is no other new car on the domestic market with a price tag of up to 8000 USD, and even to be able to crawl through the swamp, like a solid SUV. Many may say that for this money you can take a good used SUV or crossover, and I completely agree with you, but we are talking about a new car. And if we talk about a used Niva, then you can take it in good condition for 2000-3000 USD, and it will practically not be inferior to the new Niva. Everything will also rattle the interior and howl the engine, the dynamic performance will not change much either - the same 17-19 seconds of acceleration from 0 to 100 km / h, depending on the type of rubber installed. And off-road, the used Niva will not be much inferior to the new one.

Therefore, today we will talk about who this machine is intended for and what it is capable of. Looking ahead, I want to say that she is capable of a lot, and today she can give odds to any modern crossover.

What is the new Lada Niva 4×4 capable of?

However, this is not surprising, despite the fact that the Niva does not have a frame body structure, the manufacturer managed to equip the car with a solid rear axle, an independent front suspension with permanent all-wheel drive, reduction gears and the ability to lock the center differential with 50/50 torque distribution. Vaz Niva is equipped with an ancient, by today's standards, naturally aspirated 1.7-liter engine, which produces only (83 hp) at 128 Nm of torque. And, even with him, the Niva is able to overcome very difficult sections of the road and a deep ford, and on a broken primer the car feels like a "fish in water". In cases where the Niva does not have enough engine power, and frankly, it does not go very tight (for example, on a long climb), you can always take acceleration, but more, and drive on. Fortunately, suspension and geometry allows.

The angle of entry is fantastic, for a production car, 40 degrees, the exit angle is 32, the ramp is 24, and this despite the fact that the ground clearance does not exceed 220 mm. It is worth noting that the lowest point (210 mm) is located under the rear axle gearbox, and the crankcase protection does not inspire confidence either. If we talk about comfort, then we have to admit that it shakes well in Niva, but in order to break through the suspension, you need to try very hard. According to these indicators, only Suzuki Jimny and the three-door "" can compete with Niva. But it is worth noting that both cars are full-fledged frame all-terrain vehicles, and their market price is comparable to the Niv herd.

As for the Niva's ability to overcome water obstacles, a couple of points should be noted here. Firstly, the air intake is at the level of the right headlight and comes forward, it is worth noting that the manufacturer took into account the fact that the car will “float” and protected the air intake with plastic, but not so well that you could not think about it. If you fool around and make a big wave, then it will not be difficult to fill the engine, therefore, many owners solve this problem by installing a snorkel. This solution allows you to forget not only about a possible water hammer, but also problems associated with electronics, since the electronic control units of the car are hidden in the cabin. Therefore, we can safely say that Niva is well prepared for water procedures. The only thing that should not be forgotten is that the cabin filter and the stove fan are located under the windshield, therefore, diving very deep is not worth it.

Salon

By the way, if the interior is flooded, then this is not such a big problem, the fact is that the manufacturer provided for this option and selected the appropriate interior trim materials, and also made a fairly large number of drains, so, if desired, the interior can even be washed with Karcher.

To take or not to take?

If you talk about which Niva is better to buy, then the answer will be unambiguous - the usual Niva or Niva Elbrus, but if you plan to constantly knead the dirt, then in no case take the Niva Urban. Because Niva Urban is like an AMG Gelendvagen, that is, an SUV that really can, but which you should not drive off the asphalt. Niva Urban has the same problems as Gelik, namely road tires, large overhangs and fragile bumpers. Firstly, all this greatly worsens the geometric cross-country ability, and secondly, as for an SUV, this is done stupidly.

So, for example, if you hook a bump with the inside of the bumper, then it, like a bucket, will cling to the obstacle and will be “torn” or “torn off”. Also, on the Urban version, instead of integrated eyes, as on conventional modern cars, it is necessary to screw in the hook. On the one hand, it is convenient: thanks to the high location, you do not have to crawl under the car and get dirty once again, catching the cable. But, at the same time, only two attachment points remain for the cable instead of four, which is not always convenient. However, if you are seriously going to knead the dirt on the Niva, then you need to strengthen the fastenings in any case, otherwise you risk “tearing” your pet in the truest sense of the word.

Outcome.

The general conclusion on the Niva can be drawn as follows: despite all the improvements and rebranding, this car is obsolete, but, unfortunately, it simply has no alternatives. And, if you need a car for a village or other places where many have heard about the presence of normal roads only from TV, then you simply cannot find a better option. For hunters, fishermen and other outdoor enthusiasts, the five-door Niva is more suitable. But the three-door will be ideal for off-road rides. If the budget allows, you can turn your attention to, it is 1500 USD more expensive, but it is just as comfortable, however, due to the greater weight, the lack of engine power is even more felt there.

It is unlikely that in the distant 70s of the last century, two famous Soviet design engineers - Vladimir Sergeevich Solovyov and Pyotr Mikhailovich Prusov - could imagine that their own brainchild VAZ-2121 "Niva" would someday have a name that does not contain any one Russian word. But then it was quite possible to count on the fact that this car would live for forty years and remain on the assembly line. Well, what does this legendary model represent today: the Niva as an unnecessary relic of the past or a modernized classic Lada 4x4 Urban, capable of fighting today's under-crossovers?

Of course, no plastic bumpers, door linings and new three-dimensional emblems will hide the body of our native Niva from 1977, or rather, 1993. It was in the early 90s that a five-door version stretched by 500 mm was launched on the AvtoVAZ pilot production line.

Actually, the Latin word Urban is nothing more than the name of a configuration (also available for a three-door), to which almost all possible options have been added and slightly decorated with decor. But there were rumors that the version of "Urban", that is, "urban", will lose off-road attributes, remaining in the form of a crossover - just with permanent all-wheel drive. It's gone!

In all dimensions (4140x1680x1640 mm), Lada 4x4 loses to the same Renault Duster, but it turns out to be longer than its related “neighbor” on the Chevrolet Niva conveyor. According to the modern classification system, all three cars can be attributed to SUVs of the subcompact class “B” without any +. By the way, the military UAZ "Hunter" is only 4100 mm long, however, it is more than two meters in width and height. UAZ "Patriot" with its almost five meters against the background of all of the above is a whopper

Before you get into the salon, you will have to feel nostalgic: the keys - that of the mailbox - remained with the Niva from Soviet times, in which, as you understand, there were no central locks. And therefore, having opened the driver's door, passengers will have to be let into the cabin in turn by pulling up the lock "mushrooms" long forgotten. And, of course, there should be a can of silicone at hand: in the very first frosts, the driver's larva froze, and after warming up, it stopped closing tightly. In general, an alarm system with a central locking function for all doors can be immediately added to the cost - also because sometimes you simply forget to close all four doors.

With the exception of the steering wheel, instrument panel and seats - inside 1977, or rather - again 1993. Together with the advent of the five-door version, the first (!) restyling was made in 16 years. The classic "six" salon received an upgrade, which is now in the photo. The interior, of course, causes a condescending smile, but how to evaluate it by modern standards is a difficult question.

Let's start with the fact that in Lada 4x4 Urban 5D you will break your tongue! - that is, damn it, in the "Niva", spacious. Despite the frankly modest dimensions, nothing and no one interferes inside, since the interior decoration is, in fact, just a rectangular body covered with plastic from the inside.

It is covered, by and large, conveniently, since everything you need is in plain sight. However, the loud word "ergonomics" is still far away: the low beam switch button is on the stove, the stove fan is next to the rear wiper button, which is next to the non-working rear window heating button. Power window buttons — next to the handbrake. And this is not counting the good old thin Soviet levers to the left of the steering wheel, with which you regularly turn on the far instead of the turn signal.

The main innovation of the Niva, along with ABS, hydraulic booster and heated seats, is, of course, air conditioning! But there is no radio - add to the cost along with the speakers.

You get used to tight seats with a marked profile, as well as to landing. The steering wheel, which is quite pleasant in thickness and grip, alas, is not adjustable, the chair itself is in two directions, and that is specific: the sled is sloping back, and the seat, on the contrary, is down. At the same time, you will have to tune in not only on the steering wheel and pedals, but also on the gearshift lever, which you have to reach for. In general, people of average height will be able to find a compromise, and even then not all. But in the back, in general, there is complete order: there is enough space even for three, since the floor is almost even.

In Niva, there is still room for pleasant additional benefits. There are pockets in the doors, front cup holders, an ashtray glass, a kind of platform for the phone next to the handout levers, a shelf under the glove box, pockets in the backs of the front seats, mesh holders for belt buckles and even Isofix mounts. Progress!

The trunk does not fail either: 420 liters of usable volume is more than in the Duster. Moreover, the rear sofa develops - however, alas, only in its entirety. A legacy from the past - a separate washer reservoir for the rear window, from the present - a 12-volt outlet

Under the hood is a native VAZ engine 1.7, covered from birth with a “spare tire”, “pumped” to EURO-5 standards and 83 horsepower. Together with him - all the same "seven" 5-speed mechanics, downshift and the ability to lock the center differential of the permanent all-wheel drive system - the main pride of the car.

How does it all move in 2016? We must start with the fact that a lot of various technical improvements were made in the Niva, starting with calibrating the hardness of the pedal stroke or adjusting the operation of the motor and ending with the installation of the same power steering. So if you take the Niva of the early 90s and today's Urban, even without modern options, the step in driving comfort will be a huge one. However, as we found out during a long test, by what can be improved, you can write more than one candidate.

Most importantly, unlike most modern cars, the Niva is alive. Absolutely all the mechanisms that can make at least some sounds - they all make. The engine hums recklessly, the gearbox howls (sorry, all the time in the same key, otherwise one could play on the steps of the melody), one of the rollers whistles like a nightingale in dampness, the brakes creak. Even standing at a traffic light, the Niva gurgles quietly in the depths of the engine and shudders from time to time - you just want to ask: “Is everything okay, dear?”. Everything is fine! Because this is a Russian woman ... that is, a car. For three weeks and almost 10,000 km of total mileage - not a single question, not a single light bulb lit up, not a single serious breakdown.

Assembly flaws: the headlight adjuster washer, the seat latch and the wheel for adjusting its inclination fell off almost immediately, the loose emblem on the steering wheel is picked off in one motion. Little things, the speed does not affect.

"Niva" does not go - according to the sounds and sensations, rushing forward. And, I must say, it does it quite well. Firstly, despite the declared almost 20 seconds (!) to 100 km/h, the dynamics up to 50-60 km/h, i.e. urban, is quite competitive: the car doesn’t lag behind the flow, just have time to poke the gears. The latter are switched on clearly, but sweepingly: for the fifth, you have to break away from the back of the chair and at the same time beat your neighbor on the knee. But sometimes it is possible to turn off the lever from the grooves only with a light blow of the palm, as well as stick the back one - the most uninformative step.

The long-wheelbase Niva has sane brakes and excellent directional stability. No yaws and deviations from the course on any road and, most importantly, speed - even at the limit of 140 km / h, you can safely drive an SUV with one hand. This, among other things, is the merit of the universal all-season off-road tires K-156-1 of the Kirov plant, which, surprisingly, despite their narrowness, cope even with a wet road.

But with extreme loads in corners, not very: too soft. In a tight turn, 185/75/R16 tires break almost to the rim with the threat of damage and disassembly. At the same time, the car itself is not weakly heeling, although this is not felt behind the wheel: the Niva has no tendency to skid, and the drift is corrected by slowing down. There is nothing to say about the suspension - we forgot how to slow down in front of speed bumps during the test. In terms of energy intensity, shock absorbers are not inferior to Duster ones, and even surpass them in smoothness. True, how much bullying the racks can withstand is a question.

The exit from the asphalt for the Niva and its driver is a holiday: both can frolic at full strength with almost no restrictions. Actually, off-road qualities with compact dimensions and an attractive price are what the Niva is loved and bought for.

Ground clearance, suspension travel, approach/departure and axle crossing angles, central block, lowering and tires - a complete arsenal for almost any task that, however, you need to be able to use. For example, Niva struggles with diagonal posting only by blocking. Any dirt or uphill travel in tightness is only in a lower gear: due to the low-power motor, you have to burn the clutch. Well, and most importantly, there are great chances to put the long-wheelbase version on the “belly”.

What is the upshot?

We say it like it is: if the car came out with a similar number of improvements and options even in the early 90s, it would be a compact analogue of some Mitsubishi Pajero of that time - no less! However, in modern conditions of the metropolis, it is not easy to live with Lada 4x4 Urban. If the general driving parameters of the car even today do not cause any special problems, then the operational and driving trifles, which a whole carriage has accumulated, have tired me in three weeks.

"Niva", as before, every minute keeps the driver in good shape. Firstly, it is, of course, the non-stop hum and whistle of everything around, to which you don’t even get used to over time, but you just put up with it. Secondly, the motor heats up in traffic jams, which is why the temperature sensor is constantly under control. It poisons one of the wheels, so you have to pump it up every two days. The stove has only two modes - either you fry or freeze, and we could not adapt to the management of the microclimate system in order to get something in between. The heated rear window no longer works. Due to the very small angle of rotation of the wheels, the Niva does not fit into a U-turn even on a three-lane road, not to mention maneuvers within crowded yards. Plus all the features of ergonomics forty years ago.

If I were the real owner of this car, I would probably have been cursed at the nearest VAZ service, given that there was not a single breakdown in 10 thousand kilometers with the car. We would simply eliminate and improve everything that is simply not completed and overlooked in the new Niva, even if this has to be done at our own expense.

Buying a Niva for the city, even with weekly trips to the dacha, is pointless - only if the dacha is located in impassable swamps.

Hence the conclusion. For a resident of a modern metropolis, the Niva is a kind of toy. It is clearly not the only car in the family that acts exclusively as a tuning project for serious off-road adventures - hunting, fishing, or even participating in trophy raids. Considering how many prepared Nivs I saw at various off-road competitions, the demand in this segment is good: there is simply nothing cheaper from serious SUVs.

Well, the second application, in fact, is massive: the Niva is the most affordable, simple and, considering all the finishing touches, a relatively comfortable SUV for the village, which will not be a frank "iron" either on the highway or in the city. Even the absence of a branded service nearby is unlikely to become a problem, since our men will repair their native Niva from penny spare parts themselves. Given that today Lada 4x4 with a forty-year background is in the top 20 best-selling cars in Russia, it is really too early to put the legend to rest.