The iconic Soviet and Russian off-road vehicle VAZ 2121 "Niva", known since 2006 as Lada 4 × 4, entered the assembly line on April 5, 1977 and is still being mass-produced. During this time, the car underwent several upgrades, but it could not get away from the initial concept of an inexpensive and purely utilitarian car. But maybe this is for the better, because it is for these qualities that the Russians fell in love with Niva and continues to be in demand now.
The three-door Lada 4 × 4 has a simple appearance, which is completely devoid of any design delights. The essence of the car manifests itself instantly - a kind of small SUV with "square" shapes, round headlights, compact rear lights, small and practical bumpers, as well as solid ground clearance, ready to storm off-road at once. Still, the Niva looks morally outdated. Therefore, neither the large mirrors borrowed from the Chevrolet Niva, nor the daytime running lights (unfortunately, not LED) located in the headlights and which light up when the ignition is turned on, are not able to modernize the car.
Well, now about the specific numbers. With a curb weight of 1210 kg, the length of the three-door Lada 4 × 4 is 3720 mm, while the height and width of the car is 1640 and 1680 mm, respectively. The front track of the Niva is 1430 mm, the rear track is 30 mm less. With a small wheelbase (2200 mm), solid ground clearance (220 mm) and short overhangs, it is well suited for off-road travel.
Inside the Russian SUV, everything is old-fashioned and artless, but the interior design is not so important for a purely utilitarian model. The car's interior is made of cheap and oak plastics, although the seats are upholstered in a rather pleasant fabric. The assembly is noticeably lame, as evidenced by the gaps between parts and rattles with crickets that take place while driving.
The interior of Lada 4 × 4 comes from the last century. The dashboard is borrowed from the Samara-2, it is notable for its good information content, and the readings are perfectly readable in almost any conditions. A term such as minimalism can be applied to the center panel. In addition to the deflectors and "sliders" of the ventilation and heating system and a few buttons, there is nothing on the dashboard. But even in this situation, it was not without ergonomic miscalculations - the ignition lock is located on the left side of the steering column, and on the right, in its usual place, the alarm activation button is based.
The front seats are not the benchmark for ergonomics, but they are comfortable enough. The steering wheel is not adjustable at all, so some people may have problems with placement. But with the placement of rear passengers in the three-door Lada 4 × 4 there are serious problems - firstly, it is not very convenient to climb into the second row through the front doors, secondly, the sofa is endowed with an unsuccessful profile and there is very little space in the legs, and thirdly , sitting in the back is not safe due to the missing head restraints.
"Niva" with three doors has a modest luggage compartment - its volume in the standard state is only 265 liters. The rear seat is transformed, due to which the "hold" is increased to 585 liters, while obtaining a flat cargo area and a wide enough opening for transporting bulky items.
Specifications. The Lada 4 × 4 is equipped with a gasoline 8-valve "atmospheric" with four in-line cylinders, the working volume of which is 1.7 liters. The engine meets the environmental requirements of Euro-4, and is designed to use AI-95 fuel. It generates 83 horsepower at 5000 rpm and 128 Nm of thrust limit at 4000 rpm. The motor is combined with a 5-speed "mechanics".
The Niva is available exclusively with an all-wheel drive transmission. The center differential directs the torque to the front and rear axles in a 50:50 ratio. For the sake of cross-country ability, the car is equipped with a reduction gear in the transfer case and a forced center differential lock.
It's no secret that the three-door Lada 4 × 4 is not intended for conquering speed records, as the numbers indicate. To accelerate from standstill to 100 km / h, the SUV needs 19 seconds, and its maximum speed is limited to 137 km / h. With a modest power, the appetite of "Niva" cannot be called moderate - in the combined cycle it eats 10.8 liters of gasoline, and in city mode the fuel consumption can reach 13 liters.
On the front wheels, an independent suspension with a multi-link scheme, coil springs and an anti-roll bar is used, and on the rear wheels, a dependent suspension with a rigid twisted beam, telescopic shock absorbers and coil springs is used. The design of the brake system is represented by disc mechanisms at the front and drum at the rear. To facilitate control, a hydraulic booster is installed on the Lada 4 × 4.
Options and prices. On the Russian market, the three-door "Niva" is sold in two trim levels - "Standard" and "Lux". A car in the basic version costs from 364,500 to 375,200 rubles, and the list of its equipment includes only a fabric interior, power steering, a folding rear seat, Isofix mounts, a standard immobilizer and steel wheels. "Niva 2121" in the top-end version is estimated at 385,500 rubles, while it additionally sports an air conditioner.
