Lada Urban 4x4: Practical test drive of the Niva SUV

The famous domestically produced car Lada Niva 4x4, over more than 50 years of its existence, managed to conquer not only Everest and the North Pole, but also worked for a long time in the harsh conditions of Antarctica. AvtoVAZ's current policy is aimed at attracting more urban buyers, which was the reason for the improvement of the legendary Russian SUV. VAZ Niva Urban is a modernized model that includes some changes in technical characteristics and appearance.

Manufacturer's color scheme

The official dealer offers a long list of body colors for the Lada Niva Urban 4x4 2021 2022 model. You can buy an SUV painted in one of 9 shades:

• white;
• black;
• dark green;
• violet;
• crimson;
• blue;
• dark grey;
• silver;
• golden brown.

The first three shades of Niva Urban are two-layer enamel. The next six options are metallic paint.

Black color

Two-layer enamel of a dark shade looks great from any angle and has good resistance to fading after exposure to ultraviolet rays. When choosing this color, the buyer does not have to pay extra - it is included in the base price of the car.

Changes in the exterior of Lada Niva Urban 2015

The body of the SUV has undergone the greatest changes. First of all, it is worth noting the stylish plastic bumpers, reinforced with a metal insert. Thanks to this, the length of the car has become 100mm shorter, which is generally a positive characteristic.

A new radiator grille and stylish 17-inch alloy wheels further emphasize the novelty and individuality of the SUV. Urban has become more attractive in appearance, thanks to the body painted in cappuccino-metallic color. All these innovations fully justify the prefix “Urban” chosen for the name, which means “urban” in English.

The door handles of the model are covered with black paint, without chrome plating. Improved side mirrors have a more convex shape and are equipped with an electric drive. A new rear windshield wiper completes the exterior modernization of the car.

Salon

The interior of the Lada Niva Urban 2022 is almost completely identical to the standard version. However, photos of the interior indicate that this is a rich version of the model, equipped with almost all the options available for an SUV.

1. The main differences were better noise and vibration insulation. The door cards and engine compartment have it.
2. The Niva's steering wheel is familiar from other models in the family - a large four-spoke steering wheel with small horn buttons.
3. The instrument panel has a standard layout with two analog dials for the tachometer and speedometer, and small additional scales in the side segments.
4. The updated seats of the Niva Urban received a combined upholstery made of non-marking fabric with bright orange stitching. The dense filling and good fixation allow even a driver with above average height to sit comfortably. Already the basic equipment received heated front seats. But lateral support and the range of adjustments leave much to be desired.
5. The back row of the Niva is an ordinary ascetic “bench” with a flat back and two seat belts. Among the innovations are ISOFIX child seat mounts.
6. The center console has air conditioning with old-fashioned slider controls. The system performance is not enough - the windows fog up when it rains.
7. Below are the seat heating buttons, as well as buttons for controlling secondary functions.
8. Among the innovations is a decorative overlay for the central tunnel with cup holders and three transmission levers. The first is a standard gearbox selector, the second turns on the de-multiplier, and the last is responsible for locking the differential.

Photos, prices, characteristics

When developing the technical part of the SUV, the main emphasis was on improving cross-country ability. Under the hood of the Niva there remains a standard 1.7-liter gasoline injection unit with 8 valves. Its maximum power was 83 horsepower with 129 Nm of torque.

The all-wheel drive system has a symmetrical center differential, dividing power in a ratio of 50:50 between the axles. The transfer case has a reduction gear and a screw-type self-block. This system shows excellent cross-country ability when driving off-road. The downside is the two-point mounting of the transfer case, which causes increased noise and vibration.

There is an independent suspension on steel arms at the front, and a Panhard rod design at the rear. The Lada Niva Urban 4x4 will be stopped by front disc brakes in combination with rear drums.

What's better about off-road driving?

If we consider cross-country ability, the cars are not inferior to each other in this indicator. At the same time, SUVs of domestic origin are in many ways superior to their foreign competitors, despite their lower cost.

In theory, off-road Lada outperforms its competitor for the following reasons :

1. Geometric dimensions . The Lada's body is shorter, so when passing difficult sections the likelihood of getting stuck is significantly reduced.
2. The 2121 has much smaller overhangs . Therefore, you don’t have to be afraid to cross areas with serious differences, but in a Chevrolet you have to slow down; the plastic bumper can crack even with a slight impact.
3. The lighter weight of the Lada makes it more adventurous , even a few kilograms matter off-road, and this SUV is lighter.
4. The passable Lada has greater ground clearance . At the time of the test, the car overcame serious ditches, as well as holes. On gravel roads you can drive at high speed, as the car has high stability even in poor terrain.

The Chevrolet is much easier to drive off-road . This is due to the fact that using three levers on a Lada is quite difficult. When driving both SUVs, the main thing is to choose the right gear, since stopping in the middle of a puddle, the engine power may not be enough.

In terms of technical characteristics and body geometry, the Lada slightly wins off-road . It is almost impossible to break its bumper, since metal is used in its manufacture.

New body, configurations and prices

There are several modifications for the Lada Niva Urban 4x4 model. The most common was Luxe, which received an expanded list of options. The list of equipment includes:

• ISOFIX seat mountings;
• daytime running lights;
• ABS+EBD+BAS safety systems;
• updated dashboard;
• two 12-volt outlets for the interior and trunk;
• additional vibration and noise insulation;
• tinting;
• power steering;
• heated seats;
• air conditioner;
• power side mirrors;
• door sills;
• Grizzly alloy wheels shod with 185/75R16 Pirelli tires.

How much does the new Niva Urban 2021 cost?

The starting price of the three-door SUV will be 536 thousand rubles. By additionally ordering options or metallic paint, this cost will increase to 580 thousand rubles. For the right to have a 5-door specification you will have to pay 606 thousand rubles. Advanced modifications are estimated at 630 thousand.

Lada 4×4 Urban - new generation or modernized version?

In the spring, an improved Lada 4x4 SUV appeared, the history of which goes back more than 30 years. The first Niva was released back in 1977. According to the manufacturers, this car will be modernized in several stages over the course of 2-3 years.

The legendary car, which conquered the North Pole three times and survived 12 years of work in Antarctica, has received a new urban version of the Lada Urban.

The new product will be officially presented in August at the Moscow Motor Show. This is not a completely new model of the Russian AvtoVAZ, but a special version of the classic Lada 4x4.

Manufacturers, wanting to revive the archaic Niva, created a brutal urban version.

Before the modernization, the Tolyatinsk plant conducted surveys regarding the improvement of the car. That is why the first transformations, at the request of car owners, were aimed at design, body painting, equipping the car with an electric drive, heating and other options. Was the new Lada 4x4 Urban so successful?

Exterior

photo carobka.ru

The new Lada 4x4 also received a body in a new color - cappuccino metallic.

In addition, it has acquired modified plastic bumpers that now look more modern, a new radiator grille, side mirrors and door handles with black lining, as well as a curved rear wiper. The new product is decorated with 17-inch alloy wheels. That's basically all of the noticeable changes.

But the Lada Urban was not a radical change, the car simply acquired a more modern and fresh look. The dimensions remained the same as those of the good old Niva: 3,740 millimeters in length, 1,680 millimeters in width and 1,640 millimeters in height.

The wheelbase size is 2,200 millimeters. The ground clearance of the old version is 220 millimeters, but in the new product it is planned to reduce its value by about 20 millimeters, as a result the ground clearance will remain about 20 centimeters.

As they say, the new Lada will “sag” to the city level.

Manufacturers will offer the following colors to buyers of the Lada 4x4 Urban: Jasper, Baltic, White - from non-metallic shades; Cosmos, Black, Coriander (or Cappuccino), Odysseus, Perseus, Port - in metallic colors.

Interior

The salon also did not go unnoticed, although little has changed in it. There is no need to choose upholstery options, because there is only one. The new version of the Lada boasts a different interior lighting unit, a new floor tunnel lining, rubber mats in the cabin and luggage compartment.

Thanks to the new high-quality upholstery and colored stitching, the chairs began to seem more elegant and noble. Mirrors and heating can now be controlled using a block located on the floor tunnel. Much work has been done on sound insulation. The cabin has become much quieter, you can talk without even raising your voice.

The most useful innovation of the Lada 4x4 was the appearance of air conditioning.

However, when using it, some nuances are revealed: the air conditioner turns on only when the ventilation is on, the air flows are distributed unevenly, and the temperature adjustment, as before, is intuitive.

But, be that as it may, the very fact of having an air conditioner is already a big plus for the Lada Urban.

The luggage compartment volume of the three-door version is 585 liters.

Safety

As for security, to be honest, I would like something more. The car has an anti-lock braking system ABS and an emergency braking system BAS.

During test drives, Lada received only good reviews. The Lada 4×4 Urban overcame off-road conditions with such ease that many famous SUVs could only envy it. There is hardly another car with such off-road capabilities, especially at this price.

Modifications

In the technical part, no changes are expected either. The Lada is offered with a well-known 1.7-liter 4-cylinder gasoline engine with a power of 83 hp.

Of course, this is not the dream of racers, the dynamics are not enough, but the engine has enough traction to overcome obstacles. Peak torque is 129 Nm at 4,000 rpm.

The motor is capable of accelerating the car to a maximum of 142 km/h. Unfortunately, there will be no diesel units.

Options and prices

The new Lada 4x4 Urban is more richly equipped. The package includes electric windows, a car radio, a steering wheel with an updated design, heated and electrically adjustable mirrors, air conditioning - everything that Niva fans have dreamed of for so long.

Heated front seats are optionally available. All these innovations, of course, will add value to the new Lada. According to preliminary estimates, it will rise in price by at least 50,000 rubles.

Now a fully packaged Lada 4x4 costs about 380,000 rubles, if we add to this amount the cost of air conditioning, electrical accessories and other bells and whistles, we get 420,000 rubles, or even more.

Do you want to order a new Niva to suit your taste? While it is impossible to order a Lada with your own custom configuration, you have to be content with what the manufacturer offers.

The start of sales is scheduled for October this year.

Ride quality

As already mentioned, the new Lada can conquer any off-road terrain. But be prepared for the fact that when going through holes and potholes, you will shake so much that you will jump on the seats and hit your head on the ceiling. But going down a mountain or going up a mountain is just for him. Few people can cope with such a task, but for the new Lada it is a simple routine.

The chassis remains unchanged, the car is still all-wheel drive as before, so it will be possible to overcome curbs without problems.

Paired with the engine is a five-speed manual transmission, which allows the Lada to accelerate to hundreds in 17 seconds. The transmission of the new urban version of the Niva is deprived of a lowering gear, because almost 90% of the surveyed car owners did not use it in the previous model. Fuel consumption in the combined cycle reaches 9.7 liters per hundred kilometers.

Bottom line

For quite a long time, the Lada 4x4 has been the embodiment of masculinity, brutality and asceticism. The configuration of the famous Lada 4x4 was the Lada Urban - an improved version for the city. Yes, yes, exactly the equipment or equipment option, and not a new generation or modification. The new Lada is aimed at part of the audience who dreams of using an all-wheel drive SUV in an urban environment.

Of course, the car, to put it mildly, has a specific appearance, and probably without outstanding characteristics (with the exception of off-road capabilities), so there won’t be too many fans. But it will be able to compete with not very expensive Chinese crossovers and can even give some of them a head start.

The Lada 4x4 has a considerable age behind it for a car; after modernization, there are practically no equals to it in cross-country ability. But I think that this alone is not enough for popularity. To win the hearts of car owners, it still has to undergo many transformations.

Although the car has received a more modern look, freshened up, prettier and at the same time retaining the classic qualities of an SUV, manufacturers should work on the interior and technical characteristics. In the meantime, the new Lada looks damp.

Source: https://allroader.ru/lada-4×4-urban-20107/

Owner reviews 2022 2021: all the cons

Vladislav, 39 years old:

“Even as a boy I liked this car. Then I rode with my uncle in his official Niva. Then I took the same one for myself. Of course, compared to modern cars, there is very little comfort here - there is no climate control or other little things. But off-road it simply has no equal. It is worth considering its price of 600 thousand. For the money it’s a very good car.”

Victor, 42 years old:

“I bought myself a Lada Niva Urban 4x4 two years ago. I needed a car for my dacha and construction site. And also for hunting or fishing. For this amount you can't think of anything better. Of course, there are Chinese crossovers with a large list of options, but they break down and are more expensive. And the Niva is unpretentious with cheap spare parts and a lot of advantages.”

Pros:

• good maneuverability;
• cheap spare parts;
• great price;
• unpretentious motor.

Minuses:

• low level of comfort;
• poor equipment;
• weak dynamics.