The recently released new Lada Niva Travel received an exterior design that differs from other current AvtoVAZ models. The car was immediately nicknamed the Russian RAV 4 for its similar front end design. Judging by the numerous comments online, not everyone liked this new style. In fact, it turned out that the car began to enjoy genuine interest from potential buyers. They liked this look quite well. Plus, it looks like something new, compared to the already boring X-style.
Appearance
Restyling of the Lada Vesta is planned in the near future. Information has appeared that its off-road version of the Vesta Cross may receive its own front end design, made in the image of the restyled Niva.
Thus, AvtoVAZ can isolate the Cross version from other versions of Vesta, isolating it into a separate model and placing it half a step up in the model hierarchy. In parallel with this, the model can be rebranded.
AvtoVAZ currently produces 2 versions of the Niva:
- Classic Niva Legend.
- More modern Niva Travel.
The renamed Lada Vesta Cross in a modified style may receive the name Lada Niva City. As before, the car will be available in sedan and station wagon body styles.
Write in the comments which of the Lada Vesta Cross restyling projects you like best: with headlights from the new 3rd generation Logan or with a modified front end in the style of Niva Travel.
In the latter case, the car must receive a new front end. That is, fenders, hood, grille, bumper and headlights. The entire front end will be made in off-road style from unpainted black plastic. I think this solution is quite practical. In addition, Vesta looks more impressive and aggressive with it.
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The sides and rear of the car will remain unchanged. The only new feature should be the LED rear lights.
They will retain their shape, but will receive a new pattern.
When will the Lada Vesta VE electric car be released?
Vesta Cross or Chevy Niva? We choose a car for 800 thousand rubles.
Despite the fact that these cars seem to be completely different, they have a couple of common features. Firstly, close prices. And secondly, these are Russian developments on Russian platforms, most likely the last of their kind.
Design is not the main thing
Two years have passed since the start of sales of the Lada Vesta SW Cross station wagon, and seventeen years have passed since the debut of the Chevrolet Niva model. And not to say that the latter looks like a dinosaur. On the contrary, thanks to the initially calm “forever” design, you won’t give it that many years. But Vesta, of course, is more modern and respectable.
Internal content
It is clear that the Niva is not a driver’s car and does not have a “hugging” anatomically accurate seat shape, but it doesn’t need that. “I sit high, I look far away” - this is the advantage of the car. And in general it’s very convenient here. Since the seat is located high, the hips rest completely on it and do not get tired. The seat, by the way, is height adjustable, as is the steering wheel. The armrest is present, but it is not adjustable.
Rear seating? On the one hand, sitting “behind me,” I, with a height of 184 cm, touch the back of the front seat. On the other hand, considering that the length of the car (without the spare wheel) is less than four meters, the space is used very rationally. In addition, the sofa stands high, does not leave your legs without support, and there is enough space in width. The only additional amenities are cup holders, which can be accessed when the driver's armrest is turned over.
Behind the rear seats hides bashfully what the Chevrolet Niva is criticized for most of all - the trunk. The door to it, by the way, opens in the right direction, with access from the sidewalk, but you won’t be able to find a decent volume there. The height seems to be normal, but the depth of the compartment is too small. Out of curiosity, I tried to lie down there, but didn’t fit. And you won’t be able to spend the night with the seats folded down. And, of course, Niva owners shouldn’t even dream about additional compartments and other options.
Salon
Inside, the updated Lada Vesta Cross will receive the same changes that await the regular version after restyling. The car will have a new instrument panel with two wells and an on-board computer screen between them.
In the center of the expensive trim levels there will be a multimedia system tablet. The versions will more easily retain the traditional screen. However, the multimedia will still be new, supporting Apple Car Play, Android Auto and Yandex Auto.
The door cards will change and an electromechanical parking brake will appear. In expensive versions, the car will receive curtain airbags. There should also be keyless access to the interior and starting the engine with a button.
Technical part
The new Lada Vesta Cross, converted into a Niva, will remain unchanged technically. However, the base VAZ 1.6-liter engine may disappear from its model line. It will be replaced with a 1.8 liter engine producing 122 hp. With. This began to be installed only on the Cross version. It is no longer available on regular Vesta.
This engine will continue to be paired with a 5-speed manual transmission. For an additional fee, a Nissan 1.6 liter engine with 114 horsepower is offered. It will only work with the Jatko JF015E CVT.
Mitsubishi Outlander for Russia also made an X-style
Price
The new restyled Vesta with a front end from Niva Travel may go into production in parallel with the regular updated model. The surcharge for a car under the name Lada Niva City will be more than now for the Cross version. The more premium positioning of the new product and the expensive engine will have an impact. The additional payment will be approximately 60 thousand rubles, but the actual addition will be 10 thousand, because 25 will go for a more powerful engine.
After restyling, the Lada Vesta itself should also rise in price by about 20-50 thousand rubles. The restyled car should go on sale at the end of this early next year.
At the moment, this is all the information about the new product. As soon as new data becomes available, I will immediately review and talk about them. Write in the comments how you like the Lada Niva City, whether you like it or not, and why, and whether you plan to buy it for yourself.
How to control tire pressure on a Lada Vesta via smartphone
avtoexperts.ru
Did you know that the new Lada Niva Travel is a redesign of the Niva-2, developed back in 1998? Personally, I didn’t know until I studied the history of the model. But this was not enough to fully understand the picture, so I decided to get to know the car better. I traveled around the city, on the highway, in fields and forests, and today I’ll tell you about it in detail.
Lada Niva Travel
Let's start with the fact that in 1998 AvtoVAZ presented to the public the VAZ 2123 Niva SUV, which was the second generation and successor to the VAZ 2121 (Lada 4X4) model. But the company did not have the money for mass production, so the Togliatti residents turned to the giant General Motors for support. He, in turn, provided support and in 2002 the model went into production, only under the name Chevrolet Niva.
VAZ Niva 2123
“Why not under the Lada brand?” - you ask. Because the GM-Avtovaz joint venture was created, control over which was under GM.
Chevrolet Niva
In 2022, AvtoVAZ bought the stake from GM, receiving all rights to Niva. We created a new enterprise “Lada West Tolyatti”. After which it would be strange to sell the car without any changes. Therefore, the company decided to refresh the appearance and change the name, or rather add the Travel prefix. This is how the “new” model appeared.
Lada Niva Travel. Photo - Airat Kadyrmaev
Only the lazy one did not mention the external similarity of Niva Travel with Toyota RAV4. Yes, there are some similarities, but under the leadership of Steve Mattin, the company's chief designer, the car received a new front end in the X-Face style. This style first appeared on the Lada Vesta, and now on all Lada models except the three-door Niva. By the way, Steve left the company in January 2022.
The headlights are lensless halogen from Bosch, and the rear LED lights are from Osvar.
Lada Niva Travel - rear view
A test copy in the Luxe configuration costs 890,900 rubles. The Luxe Off-road version for 905,900 rubles adds an unpainted plastic protective body kit, a snorkel and a black ceiling. Also installed from the factory are alloy wheels with 215/65R16 tires, and 15-inch wheels are available in simpler versions.
Luxe Off-road package. Photo — drom.ru
The car body is galvanized, but not completely. For example, doors, side pillars and wings were single-sided cold galvanized, and the main parts of the floor and arches were double-sided hot galvanized.
Galvanization of the Lada Niva Travel body. Photo - ZR.ru
For reference, the model’s body is monocoque, that is, the frame is integrated with the body and is not located separately.
There are no changes in the interior, compared to the Chevy Niva. The maximum configuration includes a multimedia system with a 7-inch touch screen, air conditioning, heated front seats, electric windows, electric drive and heated mirrors, as well as a rear view camera.
Interior
I didn’t immediately find the air conditioning button because it doesn’t have the A/C inscription.
It is uncomfortable to sit in the driver's seat for a long time. Perhaps this is a feature, or my individual reaction, but I gradually began to feel tired in the lumbar region.
Having opened the glove compartment, I discovered that it was held on by strings. When paying 900,000 rubles, I would like to have a more durable design.
Glove box
The side mirrors have good visibility.
Side mirrors
The trunk does not shine with capacity. The luggage compartment volume is 320 liters, and with the rear seat backs folded down it increases to 650 liters. Therefore, travelers usually install an additional roof rack.
Trunk of Niva Travel
The front suspension is independent on double wishbones, and the rear is dependent on a continuous axle. Disc brakes at the front and drum brakes at the rear.
View of the Lada Niva Travel suspension
Permanent all-wheel drive is designed this way. The two axles are connected to each other by two cardan shafts, one intermediate shaft and a transfer case with a center differential. By default, 25 percent of torque is transmitted to each of the four wheels. But, when slipping, the greatest torque begins to flow to the wheel that has the least grip. Therefore, by locking the center differential, the torque is distributed equally between the front and rear axles.
The number 1 indicates a transfer case with a center differential. Rear and front bridges.
There is also a reduction range, when turned on, the transmission maintains high speeds. This is necessary to overcome off-road conditions.
You can only drive at low speeds with a locked differential. Otherwise, the transmission receives a very high and unwanted load, which can quickly damage it.
There are no cross-wheel differential locks. You can install them yourself. In this case, the self-locking differential will supply torque to the wheel that has the best grip, and not vice versa.
Self-locking cross-axle differential
In general, everything is like the Lada 4X4. The only difference is that in the Niva Travel cabin there is one lever for controlling the transfer case, while the classic Niva has two: one for locking the differential, the other for the lowering and increasing range.
Checking the cross-country ability, we drove into snowdrifts of varying depths. The car handled successfully. There was a moment when I thought I was stuck, but I got out of the way.
Of course, in terms of cross-country ability, tires also decide. The car is equipped with winter studded tires, and not all-season tires, which many Niva owners install in order to save money.
Geometric cross-country ability is excellent. Ground clearance at the lowest point is 220 mm. The approach angle is 37 degrees, the departure angle is 36.
Under the hood of the car is the same 1.7-liter engine with index 21213, with a power of 80 horsepower and a torque of 127 Hm at 4000 rpm. Cast iron cylinder block, timing chain, distributed fuel injection.
Under the hood
It is paired with a 5-speed manual transmission.
Words such as dynamics and “Niva Travel” are poorly compatible. Acceleration from zero to hundreds is given in 19 seconds, and this is the passport data. Actually longer.
It is clear that the car was not created for dynamic driving, but still in 2022 I would like a more dynamic engine.
Representatives of AvtoVAZ say in this regard that if you install an engine from Vesta or Granta, the cost of the car will become such that they will not buy it. That's why we go with what we had.
conclusions
After the Skoda Octavia, moving around the city in a Niva Travel is not very comfortable, but tolerable. Or you need to get used to it. I liked the energy-intensive suspension, which allows you to drive over uneven surfaces without noticing them. Thanks to the high ground clearance and all-wheel drive, you can afford more than with another car. Drive onto high curbs, drive through deep snow, get out into nature without fear of getting stuck and damaging the bumpers - all this is about Niva Travel.
The price tag of 900,000 rubles is a little confusing. But you can’t find a new SUV on the market for this money now. If only the Uaz Hunter, but it is less comfortable and not for the city.
Unless you pay attention to the used car market. For this amount you can buy a used Renault Duster with all-wheel drive, which has excellent off-road properties, albeit worse than the Niva, but it is more comfortable for an urban environment. If you only need a new SUV, then Niva Travel is beyond competition.
Sincerely, Airat Kadyrmaev.
