Lada Niva

Details: Category: Lada; Last Updated on Saturday, 29 January 2011 10:58; Written by Site Admin; Hits: 3354

The Lada Niva is a 4x4 off road vehicle built by Russian automaker AvtoVAZ. The car is very popular in its home country. It is also popular in Canada, where it still has a cult following long after Lada's 1998 withdrawal from the market.

It was one of the first mass production off-road vehicles to feature a unibody architecture, independent front suspension and coil suspension, and is a predecessor to current crossover SUVs which nearly all follow this format. Before it was introduced to the UK, it was referred to by some in the motoring press as the 'Russian Range Rover'.

History

The Niva 3 door (VAZ 2121) was Lada's first non-FIAT based model. Much of its mechanicals are carried over from the Fiat based Lada models, though the body, four-wheel drive system, and front suspension were designed by Lada. Production began in 1977 and continues today (2011) with only minor changes to the engine, rear hatch design, and interior trim levels.

prototype Lada Niva E2121 ' Crocodile'
Lada Niva E2121 Crocodile prototype.

In basic form, the Niva has a carburetted 1.6-litre overhead cam four cylinder petrol engine producing 54 kW (72 hp), a four or five speed manual gearbox, and full-time four wheel drive. The four-wheel drive system employs three differentials (centre, front and rear). There are no locking hubs. The transfer case has a high/low range selector and a central differential lock lever. Low range can be selected with the centre differential locked or unlocked. The original Niva has a maximum speed of around 130 km/h (80 mph), and can cruise at 90 km/h (56 mph). Its towing capacity is rated for up to 860 kg (1900 lb).

Coil springs are located at each of the four wheels, with independent suspension at the front, and a five link live axle at the rear, with ratios between 3.90 and 4.30 depending on the model and market. Ground clearance is good at 235 mm (9.25 in) and water 510 mm (20 in) deep can be negotiated.

The brakes (disc front, drum rear) are servo-assisted dual-circuit. The turning circle, at 36.25' is adequate. Cargo space is 0.48 m³ (17 ft³), or 1.33 m³ (47 ft³) with the rear seats folded down. A spare tyre is located in the engine bay under the bonnet, and as with all Ladas, a 21 piece toolkit is also supplied for roadside repairs. The latter feature is considered a useful and practical feature by off-road fans.

During the 1980s local Lada importers in various markets made their own upgrades to help compete with more modern SUVs. In the UK the Cossack model featured large body decals, roof rails, running boards, 15" alloy wheels, and on some versions a sunroof, steel bull-bars, spotlights, a rear-mounted spare tyre and semi-bucket seats. Other markets' importers made similar upgrades and many were also called Cossack.

In 1995, Lada UK introduced a face-lifted version of the Niva Cossack and renamed the basic model as the Hussar. Whereas the Hussar had the original 1977 trim, the new UK Cossack featured a new grille design and other body kit items, and gained soft nudge-bars at the front in deference to public opinion against bullbars. Both models received the same new 1.7-litre engine and a new deeper tailgate which extended the rear opening to the level of the bumper - a vast improvement over the original model's high lip.

The Niva was adopted by several British police forces and attracted something of a cult following within the 4x4 enthusiast fraternity in the UK and elsewhere. Niva sales would have benefitted from a diesel engine option, but it was never offered in the UK. After the withdrawal of Lada from the UK & Ireland in 1997, several dealers continued to acquire Nivas by special import for sale in the UK. These required some local modification of the new General Motors supplied engines, in order to meet emission control regulations current in the UK. A few Lada enthusiasts make the trip to Tallinn where they can buy new, right hand drive Ladas (made for the West African market) for as little as US$2,500. Official Niva imports to the UK ceased in 1997 due to the importers having difficulty in sourcing the GM fuel injection unit required to satisfy ever-tightening UK emissions regulations.

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Lada Niva Promotional picture

Lada Niva 5 door (VAZ 2131)

Lada Niva 5 door 2131

VAZ 2122 'Reka'

In 1974, when VAZ 2121 development was almost finished, the engineers began working on an amphibious off-roader, VAZ 2122 'Reka' ('River') based on VAZ 2121 'Niva' underpinnings. Six evolutions of prototypes were built, and much development work was done. The car was tested in an experimental military unit, on the proving grounds of the Russian Ministry of Defence. VAZ 2122 received very positive feedback, by 1987 VAZ had finished all of the development work, and the car was ready for production.

However, at the end of the 1980s, the Ministry of Defence did not have the financial resources necessary for large-scale purchases of the VAZ 2122. As a result, it was never put into production.

vaz2122reka