15 February 2018 Lada.Online 107 620 14
In March 2022, the VIS-AVTO company (a subsidiary of AVTOVAZ) began mass production of a new version of the LADA 4×4 Bronto SUV (urban “Lynx”). The opportunity to buy this car appeared in July 2022. Let's find out what's new with this modification, as well as what this SUV is capable of.
Differences between Bronto and regular Lada 4x4
There is a slight difference in dimensions and technical characteristics (see characteristics of the regular Lada 4×4 and Bronto):
Other distinctive features:
- Extenders on modified arches
- Alloy wheels R15 and tires 235/75 R15 Bontyre Stalker M/T with active ground tread.
- The arches are carved and have anti-gravel protection.
- Rubber arch extensions (the same ones the Lynx had) or a plastic Style body kit (depending on the configuration).
- Self-locking screw-type differentials in the front and rear axles “Val-Racing” with a locking coefficient of 0.65 (whichever one you install yourself).
- The main pairs have a gear ratio of 4.1 instead of the standard 3.9.
- Box-reinforced rear axle (welded on the top of the beam). The springs rest against this box through the cups, due to which the rear part of the body is slightly raised.
- Increased ground clearance from 205 mm to 240 mm (how to make a Lada 4x4 lift).
- Reinforced springs in the front suspension (Perm-made) and shock absorbers with increased travel in the front (from Chevrolet Niva) and rear wheel suspensions.
- The body is reinforced with cross members (welded under the roof to install roof rails).
- Railings.
- Decorative stickers on the sides.
- Fog lights (how to install yourself).
- Plastic bumpers (internally reinforced with steel strips).
- Original radiator grille.
- Possibility of choosing the body color “Camouflage”.
- Improved sound insulation.
In the cabin there are no differences from the regular version, only the button for turning on the PTF and the floor sill trims have appeared.
It is possible to install additional equipment from the factory:
- enhanced protection of the gearbox and gearbox housing;
- removable winch (front/rear) with removable hitch ball;
- towing device, fog lights and additional fog lights on the crossbar of the roof rails or expeditionary trunk, etc.
Modifications
The manufacturer presents several modifications of the machines in question on the market. The most popular of them are the following models:
- "Lynx-1". The car is a station wagon with three doors, produced on the basis of the Lada-21214 with a length of 3.74 meters.
- The five-door station wagon "Niva Lynx-2" has an extended wheelbase (4.24 m). Width - 1.71 m.
- The Lynx-3 modification is identical in parameters to the 2nd model, but has an increased width at the rear (1.85 m).
Hydraulic power steering, as well as electric front door window lifts, are responsible for driving comfort. The power unit for all variations is the VAZ-21214 gasoline engine with electronic distributed injection. Its power is 83 horsepower with a volume of 1690 cm 3.
Official photos
Exterior:
Salon (interior):
Video review
List of competitors:
Suzuki Jimny, Renault Duster, Nissan Terrano, Lada 4×4 Urban, Chevrolet Niva, Lifan X60, Chery Tiggo, Lifan Maiwei.
Niva Bronto is a compact SUV of domestic production, the main feature of which is its high cross-country ability. At the same time, the manufacturer reports that comfort has not deteriorated, so the new version of the popular Russian Lada 4x4 will definitely find its buyer.
This car was created specifically for those who need to drive on real off-road conditions, where even the standard version of a Russian SUV may not be able to cope. In fact, the new Lada 4x4 “Bronto” is an improved version of the “Lynx” version, already known to many, the production of which started in 2009. Sales of the Lada 4×4 Bronto started in September 2022.
Test Drive
The magazine “Behind the Wheel” shares its impressions of driving the Lada 4×4 Bronto in rough conditions:
In the city
:
Improved sound insulation (as on Urbana) does not save you from the usual howl of the transfer case, drowning out the roar of the engine and the hum of the “spikes”. And in other respects, this is still the same short-wheelbase Lada 4×4, but with increased ground clearance and high-profile tires: the steering wheel has a very conventional “zero”, the stern periodically tends to skid, and acceleration to city speeds in terms of heroism is comparable to the first attempts of mankind to overcome force of gravity.
On the sand
:
But on the sand, the Lada 4?4 Bronto is in its native element! Where a standard car would have already begun to dig in, this one rushes like a small proud tank? - praise be to self-blocks! The box office has huge ground clearance and toothy tires, although there is no need for spikes here. Bronto takes steep sandy slopes without any problems, you just need to first stick the lowering gear in and lock the center differential. The engine is catastrophically “not enough”: it’s easy to stall. Differential locks are a great help when driving in a straight line, but in turns the front “block” does not help in any way to screw the car inward - the turning radius increases noticeably.
In the snow
:
At the very first traffic light it became obvious that our Bronto was the fastest car in the city! Self-blocks show themselves in the most favorable light: while “under-drives” and even all-wheel drives with dead center couplings are kneading snow porridge, the “brontosaurus” shoots from a standstill and gloatingly squeals with a transfer case already at the next intersection. At the same time, if you don’t fool around, Bronto even walks along slippery curves very confidently - without trying to fall out of the turn. The degree of differential locking is chosen successfully: it helps to “rattle out” and almost does not impair handling. Bronto allows you to calmly drive where a regular Lada 4-4 would have long ago sat on the suspension or, in the absence of inter-wheel self-blocks and on simpler tires, would have stalled.
Lada 4×4 Bronto can be called an off-road Urban. This is a car that is easier to perceive by city dwellers, but is a real SUV that is prepared for tough off-road tests.
By the way, we previously compared the Lada 4×4 Bronto and Gelendvagen off-road. Would you like such a LADA for yourself?
Keywords: lada 4×4 bronto
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Additional options
A number of additional equipment can be made upon individual order. It includes:
- Camouflage body paint.
- Installation of a hatch with a removable cover.
- Non-standard color enamel coating.
- Installation on the radiator trim with the “Bronto Niva 2017” emblem (reviews are given above).
- Equipped with arcs with additional light elements.
- Equipment with a removable front or rear winch with electric drive.
- Air conditioner installation.
- CV joint on front or rear driveshafts.
- Roof rack with deck.
- Bracket for the spare tire on the trunk.
- Installation of fog and additional headlights.
- Ceiling and tunnel cladding with improved materials.
- Front axle gearbox suspension in independent design.
Model history
Indeed, today this model continues to bear its famous appearance, although over five decades there have been repeated attempts to modernize it.
Many were quite successful, and some were extremely unusual, since the result was Niva waterfowl and even in the form of a “home on wheels” (“Auviga”).
In 2009, specialists from the Bronto company took on the restyling of the domestic SUV, releasing two modifications under the names Lynx (three-door body) and Rus-2 (five-door).
Sales were not going too well, so three years later the company went bankrupt and became part of a new structure - VISA Auto, where a few years later it was decided to resume production of the modernized Niva.
So in 2022, a specification was released, which they decided to call by a name referring to the previous developers - Niva Bronto 2019.
Interior
In terms of finishing, the new Lada Bronto 2022 model year outperforms previous generations of the all-terrain vehicle, but there are still no amenities to speak of. Among the finishing materials you can only find fabrics and plastics that are not of the highest quality. You can get at least minimal comfortable options only by ordering in top versions.
Control and management bodies
The center console has been carried over from previous years of production with virtually no changes. Here you can find only modest rectangular deflectors, archaic sliders for setting the heater and air conditioner, as well as outdated keys for activating additional options. At the very bottom of the dashboard you can find a connector for a radio or small personal items.
Below is a fairly large but low tunnel. It starts with a long gear lever and two small knobs for adjusting driving modes. Then there are several buttons and switches, two small cup holders and a hole for small items. The car never got any kind of armrest.
Seats and trunk
Despite the nominal “five-seater” capacity, only four people can fit here in relative comfort. The seats have retained their previous not very comfortable shape and a rather hard filler, which can cause discomfort on a long journey. There’s not even any talk about comfortable options, other than the not-so-convenient mechanical drives for adjusting the position of the front seats.
The luggage compartment cannot boast of spaciousness: only 259 liters in the stowed position and about 600 liters if the rear sofa is folded. Such indicators will not allow you to feel comfortable on long journeys, which was confirmed by the test drive.
Summary and price
If AvtoVAZ paid a little more attention to comfort and build quality, the car would really be in great demand not only in Russia, but also abroad.
The cost of the Niva Lynx starts from 644,400 rubles (about 10,600 dollars) - for Europe this is not a lot of money, and it’s no secret that the Germans, Austrians and French willingly buy the VAZ-21214 for fishing and hunting, as well as for extreme sports. trips through the mountains and forests. Unfortunately, AvtoVAZ does not always listen to common sense and the voice of reason...
Common features
Since the manufacturer proceeded from the decision not to subject the model to only external restyling, most of the design features of the car remained unchanged. A person ignorant in the world of the domestic automobile industry may not even be able to distinguish two cars standing next to each other, mistaking them for the same model. Many details of the interior of the cabin remain recognizable, although in the modified version it looks somewhat more presentable.
The alteration did not affect the engine either: the same engine of the same volume flaunts under the hood of the “Brontosaurus”. Equipping the Bronto with a new engine would, perhaps, be prohibitively expensive and time-consuming for the manufacturer, so the well-proven in-line “four” fell into place without any changes to the engine compartment.
Historical aspects of the creation of the Niva Lynx car by Bronto
The company, which released a new car, Niva Lynx, the price of which is indicated below, in Tolyatti and subsequent sale on the market, is a subsidiary of AvtoVAZ, and was founded in 1993. It specializes in the production of vehicles with increased security, so its first model was an armored car based on the Niva.
At the same time, various SUVs from this manufacturer have found application in the Ministry of Emergency Situations, cash collection and the army. Having saturated the market with its specialized vehicles, the company decided to release in 2009 the improved new Bronto Niva Lynx, which ordinary car enthusiasts could buy at a very reasonable price. After the 1st version of the jeep, a 2nd variation appeared, followed by a 3rd modification of the car, and then the 4th version of the domestic SUV was released. Moreover, they all differ in design, and their technical potential is mostly similar.
Salon
The interior of the car is still far from even up to the average level. The materials used here are the simplest, such as plastic and cheap fabric. The build quality is also not impressive. On the way, you will constantly be accompanied by the creaking of the dashboard and other interior elements. The noise of the wheels will also be heard, since there is practically no sound insulation. As before, the new Lada 4x4 Bronto 2022 model year will not be equipped with even the simplest multimedia system. All that users can be content with is a regular audio system.
It is unlikely that you will find anywhere else a simpler design of the center console than here. All that can be found here are a few small rectangular deflectors, adjustments for the heating system and a few switches that control off-road options and lighting. Everything ends with a compartment in which the audio system can be located.
The tunnel is almost completely filled with various elements necessary for off-road driving. Only the cigarette lighter hole, a small pocket for things and even a pair of modest cup holders are responsible for comfort here. The rest of the space is filled with the gear shift knob, parking brake, as well as the downshift and transfer handles.
The finishing of the driver's seat is also unlikely to impress anyone, although everything here is not so bad. The steering wheel, although it is finished with plastic or fabric, still feels pleasant in the hands due to its comfortable shape and small dimensions. There may be buttons on the spokes to sound a sound signal. The instrument panel is a panel on which there are several analog sensors that display various information on the state of the machine.
In total, four people can sit more or less comfortably in the cabin, although if desired, there is room for three in the back. The seats are finished only with simple fabric and filled with rather hard materials that will impress few people. Among the additional equipment, there can only be adjustment of the first row using mechanical drives in two directions, as well as head restraints. The second row can only be folded to increase luggage space from 265 to 585 liters.
Peculiarities
An important difference between the Niva Bronto and the regular model is its high cross-country ability thanks to the introduction of the following innovative developments:
- High level of suspension.
- Redesigned ground clearance.
- Improved tires.
- A pair with a low gear combination.
In order to increase the suspension, the shock absorber travel in front was increased by 2.5 cm, and the rear brakes by 5 cm. There are now special spacers under the front ball joints, and the springs were raised by 4 cm. This approach increased the car's ground clearance and reduced dynamics loads, so it will cope perfectly with potholes and any unevenness on the roads.
The wheelbase of the SUV has changed. The arches were equipped with specialized elastic expanders, and for higher maneuverability, wheels with tires that have special grips and are available in three sizes can be used.
Exterior
The next update of the model can hardly be called a restyling, since there are no significant changes in appearance. In the photo you can see the same square, small car, capable of coping with various types of off-road conditions due to its small wheelbase and high overhangs. There are also quite a few decorations here: there are only modest relief transitions along the vertical, a large amount of unpainted plastic that plays both a decorative and protective role, as well as bright, large-sized rims.
About a third of the body area of the Lada Niva Bronto 2022 is allocated to the front end. It is set quite high, but does not differ in length and width. In this regard, even the lack of tilt is not a problem for short drivers to see. As before, there are practically no decorative elements here. The modest hood lid boasts only a middle part that is slightly recessed into the body, at the end of which one can observe rather archaic air duct “gills”. The main part of the muzzle begins with rectangular block lights, consisting of a section of turn signals and fog lights. Below is a large black plastic radiator grille with a large chrome-plated Lada brand badge and recessed round headlights, the filling of which in any configuration will only be halogen.
The front end is completed with a muscular body kit made entirely of unpainted plastic. In the middle of the bumper there is an area for a registration plate, a modest relief, and along the edges you can find small round cutouts for miniature foglights.
The sides of the new body look as simple as in the first years of the Niva’s production. True, roof rails appeared, made of black metal, which are almost invisible. Below are the traditional square windows built into the door cavities, as well as slightly larger rear-view mirrors trimmed in black plastic. Below is the simplest chopped relief, turn signals on the front fenders, as well as powerful protective linings made of black plastic located above the sills and wheel arches.
The rear of the car is also quite boring. The main part of the area is allocated to the luggage compartment door, slightly inclined at the top. At the top there is a large rectangular window, immediately below which is the inscription LADA, made in large chrome letters. Next comes stamping for the license plate, as well as nameplates with various information about the car. Massive dimensions are traditionally placed near the central part of the racks. Then comes the body kit, which is made entirely of black plastic, which also plays a protective role. There was room for foglights, modest relief and a cutout for the exhaust pipe.
