The best SUV or a waste of money? Why Chevrolet Niva owners burn, but are in no hurry to get rid of it

The Russian automobile industry does not particularly please consumers with the quality of its products. However, when it comes to buying an inexpensive car that can overcome any obstacles and off-road conditions, the Lada is one of the first options that our car enthusiasts pay attention to. In this situation, they most often prefer two models - Niva and Niva Chevrolet. Everyone tries to compare their options to choose the best SUV option at an affordable price. Today we will also compare these two models so that you have as few questions as possible.

Why are they compared?

Each of the models is based on almost the same filling. At one time, Chevrolet was conceived as the second generation of Niva. But the plant did not have the money to develop some elements, so only the body was among the new items in the new model. The whole base was practically the same, with only a few minor modifications.

Niva 4x4 is a car that does not change!

Despite the fact that this car, from a technical point of view, is quite seriously behind most competitors, and also does not have the most stylish design, it still has its customers. Most domestic users have been scolding the car for quite some time because it has not changed in appearance for many years. However, it is worth looking at the leaders in this industry. Land Rover and Defender have remained virtually unchanged over the past few years, but are considered timeless classics. Maybe the Niva should also be considered just such a classic SUV?

Motors

Each of the cars has a 1.7-liter 4-cylinder engine under the hood that runs on gasoline. The pedigree of this engine dates back to “ancient times”, when the VAZ-2101 engine just appeared on the market. Each of the units has distributed injection and falls under EURO-5 environmental standards. The last major engine upgrades were carried out 11 years ago. Then a small “restoration” of the engines of each model took place. The changes concerned the valve levers and the timing belt tensioner.

At first glance, it seems that the engine is simply identical, because they have an interchangeable block, head, piston group, and crankshaft. But to be more precise, the VAZ-2123 engine, which is in the Chevrolet, is considered more modern and modernized.

The 23rd has a significantly different oil pan; the engine mounts are located in different places. The fact is that the front suspension gearbox on a Chevrolet is not mounted to the engine, like in a 4x4, but is separated from it. The generator is located on the top of the engine, the power steering pump goes to the bottom. All this became possible because Chevrolet’s spare tire is not located under the hood, but “moved” to the rear door. At the same time, the motor power differs slightly. According to the passport, “Shnivy” has 80 horsepower, and the “ancestor” has 3 “horses” more.

Best choice for off-road

In terms of cross-country ability, the cars are at the same level, while in many ways superior to their foreign competitors (which are much more expensive). It’s easier to drive a Chevrolet Niva, since the Lada 4x4 is complicated by the need to use three levers. In addition, to engage fifth gear, the driver has to tear himself away from the back of the seat.

If you compare two cars, the Lada 4x4 outperforms its competitor in several respects. And here are some:

• Weight. The Lada 4x4 is lighter than its competitor, and off-road the weight is of great importance, making the car easier to maneuver.
• Size. Thanks to its shorter body, the Lada is less likely to get stuck than the Chevrolet.
• Overhangs. The Lada has smaller ones, so you don’t have to slow down when overcoming obstacles on the road. The same cannot be said about Chevrolet - the slightest obstacle on the road can damage the plastic bumper.
• Clearance. The Lada 4x4 has a larger one, which provides better cross-country ability and the ability to move at high speed even on gravel roads. A Chevrolet can skid on gravel.

As a result, the Lada 4x4 has better technical characteristics for off-road use. But the Chevrolet has easier control and a more comfortable design.

Transmission

Structurally, they are very similar, since the drive is made using the same components and parts. But there are still small nuances that distinguish the transmissions of each model. The Shniva has 3 transfer case mounting supports, while the earlier model only had two. The driveshafts, both rear and front, are the same for the cars. But the intermediate shaft, which connects the gearbox and the gearbox, is slightly elongated in the Chevrolet Niva.

Well, the main difference between the transmissions is that the Chevrolet has 2 control levers, while the 4x4 has three. In Chevrolet, the range control lever and the differential lock lever are combined into one unit - a single-lever design. Niva's control scheme has not changed since the first VAZ-2121 appeared, i.e. since 1977.

What you need for replacement work: keys, components, consumables

To carry out work on replacing shock absorbers, you need to purchase original struts or high-quality analogues, prepare a set of keys, a jack and wheel chocks. This part comes with all the necessary components, including washers and gaskets. The main thing is not to lose small parts during unpacking and installation work.

Attention! To make it easy to unscrew the nuts, it is recommended to treat all threaded connections with penetrating lubricant before removing the racks.

Modernization

Each of the cars was modernized, a steering wheel, windows and doors appeared. But seriously, improvements were most often aimed at reducing noise in the cabin and reducing vibrations while driving. That is, we can say that manufacturers tried to increase the level of comfort. Although, frankly speaking, comfort and the Russian auto industry are most often antonyms. But this is all lyrics, let's get back to our cars. Since Chevrolet is a younger car, it was ahead of its progenitor in many nuances.

For example, the mounting points for the rear axle in Chevrolet were immediately optimized when compared with the original. If we talk about the regular Niva, then this optimization appeared on the Lada 4x4 relatively recently - only after it was tested on the Shniva and received laudatory reviews from consumers.

Also, CV joints in cardan shafts on the Niva have been installed since 2010, but they began to be installed on 4x4s only 3 years later. Until 2013, it used “old school” hinges.

In addition, other suspension elements were redesigned, a stronger clutch, a vibration damper and much more appeared, which can be listed for a very long time.

The most interesting thing is that during this time the way of painting the car has changed. Over the years, our brave automakers have switched from anaphoresis to cataphoresis. Anticorrosive treatment has also been improved. The interior and exterior of the car have improved slightly: the radiator grille has shone with new colors, the mirrors have become larger than before, and the door upholstery has changed. But air conditioning on the Lada 4x4 appeared only in the middle of this decade - in 2014. Chevrolet began installing it 8 years earlier. Moreover, the central lock, which is used on the Shniva, is not present on the Lada to this day.

It is also worth mentioning that in addition to the refreshed appearance, the number and strength of vibrations has decreased. However, both one and the other model still need to continue to be modernized.

Pros and cons of the regular Niva compared to the 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:

1. Patency . Due to the short wheelbase, the 21st model has better geometric cross-country ability.
2. Price . In the same condition, a regular Niva will be 1.5-2 times cheaper than a Shevik.
3. Availability and low cost of spare parts. Especially for body parts.
4. "Psychological passability" . An ordinary Niva is not so scary to be scratched or slightly dented, unlike a Chevrolet.
5. The best predisposition for off-road tuning .

Now let's list the disadvantages of the 21st Niva compared to the Chevrolet Niva:

1. Low level of comfort . Noise, vibration, lack of power steering (on old Nivas), uncomfortable driving position.
2. 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.
3. Poor aerodynamics.
4. Poor handling on the highway.
5. Cramped interior. This includes an uncomfortable seating position in the back row and a small trunk.

Body and safety

Early 4x4 models had only 3 doors, but the Chevrolet was immediately conceived as a five-door. The second car remained in this form, if you do not take into account some experimental models that never became production. But the 4x4 had several body variations. For example, over the years the length changed, single and double cabins were produced...

If we talk about safety, then initially everything was very sad. In 2002, both models were tested, and using a method that completely copied EuroNCAP, the Shniva received only 1.6, and the Niva 0 points. It was sad; no one expected such a failure. But time passed, the cars improved, and new models were able to get 12.5 points each (thanks to airbags, ABS and belts).

Generation next

The rapidly developing global automotive industry is forcing domestic manufacturers to improve their cars. The changes concern not only the appearance, but also design solutions.

So, in the second generation Chevrolet Niva (the release of which was planned back in 2015), the variator will be coupled with a transfer case and a lowering gearbox. It will also have a new engine with improved performance. It will be economical, simple, reliable and unpretentious to the quality of fuel poured into the tank. In addition, it will be 45 horsepower more powerful than its predecessor, which will make it easier to climb uphill. A rigid, restyled body and a new (differently tuned) suspension will give the Chevy Niva better handling, and a more powerful engine will make it easier to overtake on the highway. The design of the electric generator will also undergo changes.

And since 2014, LADA 4×4 Urban has been produced. In this three-door Niva, the designers made a number of changes that made driving it more comfortable.

But at the same time, the old model does not remain unchanged. Thus, since 2011, the LADA 2121 has been equipped with an ABS system, which has increased its safety. And since 2016, a new type of bearing has been installed in the front hubs, which does not require periodic adjustment. The steering knuckle has also been improved, the front axle has an independent gearbox mount, and gas-filled shock absorbers.

Therefore, when answering the question of which is better - Chevrolet Niva or Niva 2121 - you need to proceed from the purpose of the car you are purchasing. If you plan to use it for fishing, hunting, in the forest, or off-road racing, then it is better to choose the Niva 2121. Moreover, the cost of its repair and modernization will not be much cheaper than the Chevy Niva.

If this is the only car in the family, then buy a Chevrolet Niva. In this case, it will satisfy existing needs much better.

Maintenance

In this aspect, “Shniva” is significantly ahead of its “ancestor”. As numerous tests have shown, Chevrolet's first problems appeared only after 15 thousand kilometers, but the owner of a regular Niva will look into the service after 9 thousand kilometers. If we talk about prices for parts, they are almost identical.

Buying an SUV for various operating conditions

The Chevrolet Niva is more suitable for those buyers who want a versatile car with good interior space. With the help of the modern characteristics of this car, you will receive higher ride comfort and will be able to operate your SUV on any road or in the absence of it. Also, the joint development of AvtoVAZ and Chevrolet offers other important advantages.

In particular, good handling will be a noticeable advantage of the car. On the highway, the car does not throw from side to side, the SUV does not catch the rut. These important features provide more advantages in functional terms than buying a regular Niva. However, the standard version of the Russian SUV also has several serious advantages:

• Fuel consumption is an order of magnitude lower due to the lighter weight of the vehicle;
• simpler and more understandable technology, no problems with transport at all;
• the presence of only the necessary functions that do not fail for many years;
• more than 100,000 rubles difference in price with the Chevrolet Niva;
• the ability to operate on any off-road without fear of damage;
• more practicality and less worries about the car.

When buying a Chevrolet Niva, many people have an instinct to preserve the car, because the car is nominally a foreign car. Therefore, you are unlikely to drive this car along a completely unknown road and will not expose the car to a certain blow in terms of operation on rough off-road conditions. For a standard Niva, such challenges are very interesting; they are unlikely to become a big problem in operating the car.

It must be admitted that the Lada 4*4 provides more advantages, and it is also more correctly configured. Chevrolet Niva needs a powerful engine, a pleasant suspension, as well as more expensive finishing materials. It’s interesting, but the new Shniva, which appeared at the Moscow Motor Show this year, can no longer be compared with the Niva. We invite you to watch the video presentation of the car from this auto show: