A standard three-door Niva in the most expensive version will cost 760 thousand rubles. The cheapest Niva Bronto is 200 thousand more expensive if we talk about the Luxe version. And the Prestige package will cost more than a million!
Each of you can win a Lada Niva SUV. To do this, just vote in the Behind the Wheel Grand Prix and choose the best cars in each of the eleven classes. You can fill out the form here. Voting ends on February 28, 2022.
Off-road add-ons
A real SUV is not only a powerful engine, adjustable suspension and a reinforced body. These are also functional accessories that will help the car perform transport tasks and get out of difficult situations without outside help. “Niva 2121” is quite suitable for such additions. Off-road tuning in the form of additional accessories may include the installation of an expedition rack and a winch.
Both elements fit organically into the design of the machine, significantly expanding its functionality. The roof rack is selected for installation on the roof in accordance with the user's requirements regarding the type of fastening, maintenance and dimensions. If we talk about the winch, then it makes sense to use a modern electric version, which will save the car enthusiast from painstaking manual work.
conclusions
The most versatile car among those reviewed was the Chevrolet Niva. Its major drawback is “heart failure” - the engine is less than 100 hp: for a fairly heavy all-wheel drive vehicle this is extremely low. Lada 4×4, on top of everything else, is outdated and cannot compete with the car mentioned above. Well, the UAZ is needed by those who need it. exactly the UAZ! The largest, the most brutal, the most expensive to maintain and the most fragile - it is what it is. And for many it is irreplaceable.
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Niva VAZ 2131 “crocodile” – all-terrain station wagon
Having driven the Krok, I realized that this is a completely special car, to which spare parts from the Niva-three-door fit. I will slowly post my observations, maybe it will help someone choose an inexpensive and very practical car. You immediately come across a lot of skeptics. Orthodox short-lived drivers talk about “geometric cross-country ability.” Where the blood does not pass in non-madness, there is silence. UAZ drivers are burning, they say, there is only one SUV in the world and UAZ is its name. I want a UAZ and somehow it will appear in the stall. But I don’t see any point in changing the Kroc universal for him. There are lovers of foreign cars.
Like, I didn’t save up, why did I get out of the apartment? At the same time, slowing down in front of every bump or bump - suddenly the cutie will get scratched. Old jeepers are an option, but there are fewer and fewer of them left unused and spare parts with service are increasingly more expensive. There is a chance to win half a million capital. Well, belly hunters would be quite a healthy class to switch to local UAZs and Nivas on the hunting grounds... if not for Russian roads. Krok, with a long wheelbase and strong suspension, simply eats them up and provokes them to drive more. This car is a real discovery of Russia for yourself and your family!
Also interesting: Front suspension Niva VAZ 21213, 21214, 2131 lada 4×4
What we have. Niva stock 2007, purchased in 2009 from a pensioner for 220 thousand. He was afraid of it, only went to the dacha and kept it all winter in a garage next to the small city Oka. I took Krok at 23 thousand miles, now it’s under 60. It eats about 9-10 on the highway, maybe less, maybe more, depending on the gas and wind (the aerodynamics are not fast).
A little history
In general, comparing Niva versus UAZ is not entirely correct, because these cars were created for different purposes and belong to different classes. And if the UAZ is a full-fledged SUV with a frame, a spartan interior, strong and reliable components, then the Niva is closer in design and characteristics to modern crossovers. The fact is that the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant jeep was created by order of the military on the basis of another frame SUV - the GAZ-69. The goals for the vehicle were set accordingly: movement in a tank column, towing light artillery pieces, etc.
UAZ - an SUV with a military past
The Niva was created from scratch (based on the components and assemblies of the Zhiguli “classics”) and as a purely civilian car. It was already given completely different tasks: comfortable movement both in the city and on country roads and moderate off-road conditions. At the time of its creation (70s), the Niva became the first representative among crossovers, it was distinguished by excellent characteristics and quality, as evidenced by the high achievements of this car in motorsport. This Soviet SUV was exported to many countries around the world, including Western Europe, where it is still popular and respected.
Increased engine thrust
There is no point in turning the Niva into another variation of an SUV by reworking everything anew, but there will be a very noticeable effect if we improve the existing hardware and replace some frankly outdated systems of the VAZ 2121 Niva. Tuning the power plant, first of all, affects the gas distribution system - in this part, the cross-sections in the passages of the valve seats should be increased and the valves themselves should be replaced with lighter ones. Next, the cross-sections of the exhaust/intake channels and in the manifold increase. It is important that the interface between the valve head and the manifold is provided.
It is also worth installing a camshaft in the head, which can operate at low and medium thrust. We must pay tribute to the “original” elements of the SUV - the pistons, rings and crankshaft are made of high quality, so they do not need to be replaced. However, due to the increase in power, it is worth reviewing the cooling system by installing a radiator with a larger area of action.
Power potential and dynamics
In the first generation, the Niva 2121 car was equipped with passenger car engines of the 2106 series with a power of 80 horsepower. Subsequently, the unit was improved due to ignition and power systems, which as a result affected fuel consumption. The engine also received a Solex carburetor, and its power increased to 82.8 hp. With.
In terms of dynamics, it is important to note that the three-door VAZ 2121 is not designed for speed records. This is evidenced by specific indicators - for example, it takes an SUV 19 seconds to reach “hundreds”, and the maximum does not exceed 137 km/h. Unfortunately, the fuel consumption data is also not impressive: in city mode the car consumes 13 liters, and in combined mode – 10.8 liters.
Comfort
Standard Niva is designed for 2 people. This creates a significant space for storing luggage. If you wish, you can, albeit with some effort, place 3 more passengers on the cramped rear sofa, but in this case you will have to forget about the trunk capacity for the duration of the trip. Another thing is the “long” Niva. This “Crocodile” comfortably accommodates 5 people in the cabin (separate doors are also provided for the rear ones), and there is also a huge volume of luggage compartment.
The technical specifications say that the Niva is an off-road passenger car. Considering that a rare driver accelerates this car to a speed of 120 km/h, it behaves confidently both off-road and in the city, which is why it has gained its popularity among fans of extreme travel.
Specifications
In its modern version, the VAZ 2121 is still distinguished by its small dimensions with a monocoque body. Thanks to the optimal ground clearance, the car provides good cross-country ability, and the elongated body made a convenient five-door configuration possible. However, a three-door version has also been preserved, which has smaller dimensions. Otherwise, the Niva 4x4 2121 remained unchanged, and its technical data can be presented as follows:
- Width – 168 cm.
- Height – 164 cm.
- Length – 372 cm.
- Ground clearance – 22 cm.
- Base – 220 cm.
- Curb weight – 1210 kg.
- Load capacity 400 kg.
- Wheel formula – 4x4.
- Body type – station wagon.
- Transmission – 5-speed manual.
- Fuel - grade AI-92.
Also interesting: Dimensions of wheels and rims for VAZ 2121 Niva All wheel parameters: PCD, offset and rim size, drilling
Economical
The efficiency of any car largely depends on driving style, and in relation to SUVs this factor plays a decisive role. Attempts to drive any of the cars under discussion in a “sports” style with sudden starts and braking will lead to terrible excess fuel consumption. After all, when accelerating, we will not only accelerate the mass of the car, but also intensively spin many shafts and gears, each of which has its own moment of inertia. Everyone remembers how difficult it was in childhood to start the “inertia” machine and start accelerating it across the floor. In absolute terms, a UAZ will consume 30–40 percent more fuel than a Lada 4x4 or Chevrolet Niva. Among the latter, the Shniva will provide slightly lower fuel consumption at high speeds - thanks to slightly better aerodynamics.
Suspension tuning
At this stage, you need to calculate in advance which wheels will be used in the future. Since the front suspension travel will become a mandatory element of improvement (can be increased by about 4.5 cm), the lift will be about 3.5 cm, and it will be possible to install R15 tires with discs with an offset of ET-20 or ET-40. The first option is preferable, since possible work with the body kit will be easier, and the chassis bearings will receive less load.
An updated suspension lift may require appropriate corrections to be made to the position of the tie rod ends of the Niva 2121 SUV. It is advisable to perform tuning in the suspension with high-quality adjustable shock absorbers. For example, you can choose a model with 9 positions with rigidity settings. Moreover, the domestic “all-terrain vehicle” is fully compatible with models whose rigidity is automatically adjusted via remote control.
Bottom line
Of course, car enthusiasts are capable of more sophisticated ways to modernize a Niva 4x4, but it’s unlikely to cover them all in one article. Good luck on the roads and know that for a real motorist there are simply no unsolvable tasks to improve his car!
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Exterior tuning
After such changes, the appearance cannot be left without modifications. Moreover, the exterior should be reconsidered not only based on the interests of attractiveness, but also for practical purposes. In terms of design, the update should include the installation of a body kit and a front protective structure - the so-called kenguryatnik.
Installing a guardrail should not cause any particular difficulties, and if necessary, you can also add a gate at the back for the spare wheel. Well, as decorative elements, it makes sense to choose an original protective film for body decoration. Again, in addition to its aesthetic function, such a coating will act as a good protection for the paintwork base off-road.
What is clearance, why and how to increase it?
In terms of price-quality ratio, the Niva is much more affordable and comfortable than most budget foreign SUVs. Add to this the relatively light weight of the machine, simplicity and even to some extent primitive design, excellent maintainability and a large selection of spare parts - and you get an ideal model for independent modernization. You can turn a Niva into an impeccable car for extreme weather and road conditions without spending fabulous money or a lot of time.
Many car owners consider increasing the ground clearance as one of the most affordable and effective ways to improve a car's cross-country ability. Ground clearance is the ground clearance or the distance from the road surface to the lowest point of the central part of the car. The larger this clearance, the larger the diameter of the wheels you can install on the car, but not everything is so simple. Each car has its own limit on how much ground clearance can be increased by increasing the wheel diameter. For the Niva, without additional modifications and design changes, the most optimal wheels are the size 235/75-R15.
If you try to increase the maximum permissible size, you will inevitably get a whole set of problems, and most importantly, wheels that are not the right size will begin to cling to all the body parts located under the frames. You will have to resolve issues with altering axle shafts, drives, find and install a suitable gearbox and switch box... Such “tuning” can cost more than the car itself.
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Reinforcement with protective elements
When driving off-road, the car must confidently cope with various obstacles, in which power additions will help it. To minimize damage from water elements, it is necessary to seal the air filter and move the intake outlet to the roof. Next, the ignition system is waterproofed.
The main functions of protecting the front part have already been taken over by the body kit and the guard, but protection on the sides is also required for the Niva 2121 car. Tuning provides for this purpose power thresholds, among other things, protruding and supporting elements for the jack. Of course, the SUV's protection extends to the engine.
Also interesting: Engine tuning: Niva 4x4 - increasing power using common methods "
Owner's review of cross-country ability
Hello dear, I want to share my opinion and leave my review about the VAZ 2121 Niva car. In my opinion, this is the most successful car with excellent cross-country ability and appearance, invented back in that century and produced to this day. What, what, but the quality of “cross-country ability” cannot be taken away from the Niva. Through mud, through mountains, through a ford, off-road, in winter and summer it rushes like a tank. This field is intended for villages, urban-type settlements, and small provincial towns with poor road surface, where it is not speed that is important, but cross-country ability. The car is wonderful for romantics, fishermen, hunters, and just normal people who love nature in hard-to-reach places.
My friend and I went fishing in his Niva and covered a lot of kilometers in the Ural Mountains. It never let me down on the road, although after fishing it required a good repair.
Driving the Niva on highways and good roads is not very comfortable. Although it accelerates and maintains a good speed of about 100 km. an hour, but the cabin gets a little noisy due to the working transfer case. But overall the car is great, the driving experience has more positive emotions than negative ones.
Pros: High ground clearance. four driving wheels. Strong, reliable bumpers. It's easy to find a spare part. Disadvantages: VAZ stopped serial production. “Crickets” in the control panel. Noisy in the cabin when driving at high speed.
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Pros and cons of a regular Niva compared to a Chevy Niva
Let us highlight the characteristic features relating to both the 21st Niva and subsequent models VAZ-21213 and VAZ-21214. We will not consider the Long Niva (VAZ-2131), pickup truck (VAZ-2329) and other modifications. So, let's start with the undeniable advantages of the regular Niva compared to the Shevik:
- Patency. Due to the short wheelbase, the 21st model has better geometric cross-country ability.
- Price. In the same condition, a regular Niva will be 1.5-2 times cheaper than a Shevik.
- Availability and low cost of spare parts. Especially for body parts.
- "Psychological passability." An ordinary Niva is not so scary to be scratched or slightly dented, unlike a Chevrolet.
- The best predisposition for off-road tuning.
Now let's list the disadvantages of the 21st Niva compared to the Chevrolet Niva:
- Low level of comfort. Noise, vibration, lack of power steering (on old Nivas), uncomfortable driving position.
- Outdated design. Although this is a controversial point, because the design of an ordinary Niva is recognizable all over the world, which cannot be said about the Shniva.
- Poor aerodynamics.
- Poor handling on the highway.
- Cramped interior. This includes an uncomfortable seating position in the back row and a small trunk.
Everything is clear with the advantages and disadvantages of the regular Niva compared to the Shevik. Let's move on to the Chevrolet Niva.
