Which is better Chevy Niva or VAZ 2131

Many car enthusiasts enjoy fishing or hunting. The question immediately arises: how to get to the pond or hunting area? Fans of dacha holidays in winter also ask a similar question: how to get to the dacha? The engineering thought of modern automotive industry provides answers to these questions. It's simple. You need to become the owner of a car with all-wheel drive that will take you everywhere at any time of the year. And for this you don’t need to buy large frame tanks. There are less expensive options. Let's consider and compare 2 representatives of the class of off-road vehicles.

Global and domestic giants of the automotive industry. Their joint product

The Chevrolet Niva is produced in Togliatti in a joint venture between GM and the domestic giant. In fact, this machine is the result of development by Russian designers. The car received the emblem of the Chevrolet brand, part of the GM concern, after the creation of a joint venture with the Volzhsky Automobile Plant in 2001. Since September 23, 2002, Chevrolet has been mass-produced on the plant's production lines.

Essentially, this is a cross-country passenger car. It is driven by an engine with a displacement of 1700 cc. cm . and a power of 79 l . With. Cross-country ability is ensured by permanent all-wheel drive and a manual variable gearbox.

The model range has 6 trim levels. The lower limit of cost without taking into account possible discounts is 680,000 rubles. The upper limit is 810,000 rubles .

Closest relative from the USSR

Niva 2131 is a 5-door and extended modification of the very famous and worthy 3-door Niva 2121. It is produced at the Volzhsky Automobile Plant and has been mass produced since March 1993.

The car belongs to the class of vehicles with increased cross-country ability. The range of installed power units is represented by 1 engine. Its volume is 1.7 liters with a power of 83 horsepower . This unit works in tandem with a manual transmission.

Equipping this station wagon with permanent all-wheel drive allowed it to set records for cross-country ability. Not surprising, because the 2131 is intended, first of all, to move across terrain inaccessible to conventional vehicles.

Sellers offer a choice of 3 configurations at prices starting from 557,900 rubles. up to 613,900 rubles for a regular Niva 2131. The city version will be more expensive and will cost 620,900 rubles.

Niva: geometry lessons Comparison of the capabilities of the VAZ-2131, 2118 and 21213

We talked a lot about cars of the Lada-Niva family on the pages of Autoreview. Moreover, all three heroes of our story today have already been in the hands of Autoreview experts and received a separate publication. But today we decided to arrange a “confrontation” of these cars, believing that a comparison of the consumer qualities of popular Togliatti SUVs will certainly be of interest to many. What did the long-wheelbase BA3-2131 gain compared to the serial Niva? In what way is he losing to her? Is the car from ? Let's try to figure it out.

INTERIOR FEATURES

Since the layout of the front part of the cabin of all three cars is absolutely the same, let's look for differences behind the line of the B-pillars. Let's open the doors and try to sit in the back seat.

This is not easy to do on a production car: the narrow doorway, like a hatch, creates a lot of difficulties. No, the seats, of course, fold down to open the passage, but inconvenience is still guaranteed.

Sitting in the back of a short-wheelbase car, especially for a long time, you feel the urge to at least slightly stretch your legs. Alas, this cannot be done. In addition, if there are three people in the back seat, you won’t even be able to change the position: it’s very cramped!

This is what the back seat looks like in BA3-2131. Three people can easily fit here

Convenience of getting back into the VAZ-21218 Bronto car is ensured by a wide doorway

The luggage compartment of the VAZ-21213 is unlikely to be able to accommodate more than a couple of medium-sized suitcases, so this car should only be considered as a decent cargo carrier when paired with a trailer.

The interior of the Niva from Bronto is different in many ways. Firstly, the large width of the doorway eliminates the need to do gymnastics when landing. And secondly, an increase in the wheelbase by 300 mm made it possible to move the rear seat out of the narrow area at the level of the wheel arches and widen it just enough to successfully accommodate three adult passengers. This seemingly minor modernization significantly increased the comfort of those sitting in the rear.

The trunk of the VAZ-21218 looks more spacious and, when going on a long journey, you can grab another can of gasoline.

The only fly in the ointment is the large, bulky and heavy doors, which are inconvenient to close from the front seats.

The long-wheelbase five-door Niva BA3-2131 is unrivaled in terms of interior comfort. There is a huge three-seater sofa, “personal” doors for rear passengers, and a sufficient amount of space along the length. And if you fold the back seat, the car turns into a real cargo van.

COMPARISON WHEN MANEUVERING

The wheelbase, as you know, makes significant changes in the behavior of the car on the road. If we talk about maneuverability, the serial Niva turns out to be the most “fidgety”: in one go, it turns freely on almost any roadway and does not create problems for the driver when parking. Safety during such maneuvers is also ensured by good visibility to the rear through the interior mirror.

There is less confidence behind the wheel of a VAZ-21218 in cramped conditions, but, thank God, there is no need to radically change habits and adapt to the car.

You will feel serious differences only when driving a long wheelbase vehicle. “Thirty-one” compared to the “short ones” seems very clumsy, a bus with poor rear visibility and very low steering sensitivity. Indeed, in order for the car to track a certain radius, you have to turn the steering wheel at much larger angles, and after making several trips to the garage, you catch yourself thinking that you constantly have to “wrap yourself around” the steering wheel.

TRAFFIC IN THE CITY AND ON THE HIGHWAY

If we talk about ease of maneuvering in traffic, visibility and overall dimensions, then in city traffic conditions two cars turn out to be the most comfortable - BA3-21213 and VAZ-21218.

And the long “thirty-first” forces the driver to tensely control the trajectory in turns and requires more tension when changing lanes from one lane to another.

However, roads in the city are not only turns and intersections, but also potholes, wells, tram tracks and other troubles. So here it is. The short-wheelbase Niva reacts to such “surprises” very painfully; it bounces and often forces passengers to look for an additional point of support. The VAZ-21218 behaves more calmly, but still loses to a long car.

Starting position before turning: cars on the same line, wheels turned all the way

Synchronized maneuver...

Only a short-wheelbase vehicle was able to turn 180° in one go

Extract from car biographies

BA3-21213 is the latest modernization of the Niva VAZ-2121, the production of which was launched at VAZ in 1977. The car is equipped with a 1.7-liter gasoline carburetor engine and a five-speed gearbox.

About 6.5 thousand of these cars roll off the main assembly line every month, some of which go through a network of various tuning studios. Two more modifications of short-wheelbase (wheelbase is 2200 mm) Niva cars are mass-produced: VAZ-21215 (Peugeot diesel) and VAZ-21214 (gasoline engine with fuel injection system).

VAZ-21218 cars are produced at the production facilities of a VAZ subsidiary, the PSA Bronto company.

This organization produces about 60 vehicles per month, half of which are armored and intended for collection needs. The standard equipment of the Niva from Bronto includes an automatic fire extinguishing system in the engine compartment, imported tires and original rims. The VAZ-21218 has a wheelbase extended by 300 mm, an expanded doorway and a roof superstructure.

The five-door Niva BA3-2131 is a product of the Pilot Industrial Production of the General Development Department of VAZ. The car has a monocoque body, and the wheelbase is 2700 mm. BA3-2131 also exists in a “luxury” modification and can be equipped with an additional interior heater upon request.

The difference in ride smoothness is even more pronounced on a suburban highway. This is where priorities come in! VAZ21213 is hopelessly thrown into last place: the “shorty” monitors the road profile in the most detailed way, sways on the slightest unevenness in the road, and gallops on the waves.

Niva-Bronto is less “irritable” on bumps and joints and does not throw up passengers so much.

But the BA3-2I31 on the track is a real road cruiser! The huge wheelbase almost completely prevented the car from galloping. The long-wheelbase Niva goes over bumps very smoothly. A limousine, and that's all.

OFF-ROAD

We will not focus on the off-road capabilities of the serial Niva now, because we have devoted about a dozen publications to this issue, “chewing” everything in great detail. But what do cars with an extended wheelbase look like against this background? Before we go off the road, let's remember some geometry.

So, the wheelbase. All other things being equal, this parameter determines the so-called longitudinal cross-country radius of the car, that is, the ability of the car to overcome the steepest possible change in the longitudinal profile of the road (hillock, protrusion, etc.). The dependence here is simple: the smaller the base and, accordingly, the longitudinal radius of the cross-country ability, the steeper will be the hillock that can be driven over without the risk of getting caught on the bottom. According to this indicator, BA3-21213 is in first place, followed by Niva-Bronto, and VAZ-2131 is in the rearguard. Everything is logical.

We managed to cross this hillock with only two cars, and the long-wheelbase BA3-2131 had to be pulled back

A vehicle with a short wheelbase overcomes higher obstacles than a vehicle with a long wheelbase with the same ground clearance.

Our Nivas also differ in their curb weight and, since the engine power is the same, the lightest car, BA3-21213, will again have the best specific performance.

In practice, differences in the cross-country ability of the VAZ-21213 and 21218 vehicles are revealed only in the most extreme cases: on deep terrain, steep and slippery slopes with breaks in the road profile, and the Bronto car does not lag much behind the “short” production car. A long-wheelbase car feels less confident off-road, or rather even so: the driver’s confidence behind the wheel of the BA3-2131 ends where the real off-road begins - with deep potholes, ditches and bumps.

The approach and departure angles, as well as the ground clearance, are the same for all three cars. But the radius of longitudinal maneuverability in each case is determined by the size of the wheelbase

WHAT'S BETTER?

The serial Niva - VAZ-21213 - compared to its long-wheelbase counterparts, gives the impression of being the most combat-ready vehicle. This is a car for those who like to actively move in city traffic, frolic off-road, but are willing to sacrifice a considerable amount of comfort. BA3-21213 is not very practical and is not very good for long journeys, but it is quite suitable as a vehicle for a family of three. Let us remind you that it is not easy for this car to find a worthy off-road rival even among foreign cars, and with a market price of $8000-9000, the short-wheelbase Niva (it is not clear who christened Taiga) remains a very attractive car.

BA3-2I218 Bronto is more versatile. Being noticeably more comfortable and convenient than a production car, it is slightly inferior to it off-road. In addition, this machine is much better suited for transporting goods. Those who are looking for a universal vehicle for the city, traveling, hunting, fishing and are more demanding of comfort and convenience should pay attention to the BA3-2I218. Depending on the configuration, such a car costs from 51 to 74 million rubles.

And finally, the five-door BA3-2131. Possessing acceptable (but by no means outstanding!) off-road qualities, the “cruiser” will never let you get stuck on a muddy country road, but at the same time will provide an enviable level of comfort on a country highway. A five-door Niva costs about 60 million rubles.

P. Absolutov A. Divakov K. Sorokin, Fig. Yu. Morozova

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What common?

The general technical characteristics of these machines are:

Factories producing vehicles are located in the city of Togliatti, Samara region.
The working volume of the power units is identical and amounts to 1.7 liters.
The engines run on 95 gasoline.
Installed variable gearboxes are mechanical, with 5 gears.
Permanent all-wheel drive.
Both cars have high ground clearance.
They can be classified as a class of vehicles that can travel off-road.
The body design is designed to carry 5 people.
Air conditioning is not a basic option.

Eye-catching differences

By comparing these automotive industry products in more detail, you can understand their differences:

The Volzhsky Automobile Plant produces Niva 2131 independently. The Chevrolet Niva is produced in a joint venture with GM.
The engine power is not the same. The extended version of the Niva 2121 has a more powerful engine. 83 horsepower versus 80.
Chevrolet's maximum torque is lower than that of 2131.
The fuel tank capacity of the 2131 differs by more than 10 percent and is 65 liters .
420 liters of usable space in the trunk of the Niva 2131. The Chevrolet trunk has a volume of 320 liters.
The acceleration time to a speed of 100 kilometers per hour is also different. The Chevrolet does it in 19 seconds, which is 1 second faster than its counterpart.
2131 has a smaller mass and is 1350 kilograms. The competitor weighs 60 kilograms more.
Chevrolet's ground clearance is 200 millimeters . A classmate has 20 percent more - 240 millimeters .
Chevrolet's average fuel consumption per 100 kilometers is 10.2 liters . Consumption 2131 - 13.8 liters .
The tire size also differs . Tires with the index number 205 are installed on an automobile product of a joint production, and tires with an index number of 235 are installed on a purebred brainchild of a domestic manufacturer.
Joint production began in September 2002. Niva 2131 has been produced since March 1993, which is 9 years longer.
The jointly produced machine is distinguished by richer technical equipment. Already the basic version includes a driver's airbag, central locking and connectors for modern electronic devices.
More than 700,000 Chevrolet cars sold . For colleagues, the figure is several times lower. And this despite the fact that 2131 began production 9 years earlier.
The average cost of a Chevrolet vehicle is 750,000 . The average price for a home-grown 2131 is 590,000 rubles .

The geometric parameters of the car body are different:

Car make	Body length (mm)	Body height (mm)	Wheelbase (mm)
Niva 2131	4240	1665	2700
Chevrolet Niva	4056	1652	2450

Degree of versatility

It is unwise to buy an all-terrain vehicle to drive it exclusively around the city. At least sometimes, such cars should leave the asphalt to justify their purpose. In these happy moments for cars, they are required to be spacious, carrying capacity, comfortable on the highway, and finally, successfully overcome difficult areas.

In these disciplines, the extended Niva VAZ 2131 is not inferior to its more expensive relative. There is, of course, less comfort in it, but the capacity and carrying capacity are higher - 360 liters of usable volume in the trunk versus 260 (our own measurements using standard “cubes”) and 500 kg instead of 400 according to the instructions. Here, by the way, there is reason to be perplexed. The data on the gross weight of the jointly produced vehicle in its instructions and on the engine compartment plate differ by 40 kg! If you believe the latter, the Chevrolet Niva does not have the right to take on board more than 360 kg, which only makes you smile. After all, the Oka is capable of carrying people and cargo up to 340 kg! In general, we will assume that there was an accidental mistake in the sign.

Off-road, the cars are approximately equal, although the hydraulic booster makes driving the Chevrolet much more pleasant. On broken asphalt, the differences are again small: the “joint” car with the VAZ 2123 index “plays” less with the rear axle thanks to more vertically mounted shock absorbers. It also has a little more front suspension travel, which is also good. However, high-quality sound insulation creates the feeling that this car tolerates potholes worse. The sway of the suspension in silence is perceived by the driver without enthusiasm.

But the weekend or vacation quickly ends, and the “fields” return to the city, joining the jelly slowly crawling through the streets. Here the driver is little concerned about ground clearance and trunk volume. But he fully appreciates the ease of controls and visibility. And then a gulf opened up between our subjects. The heavy steering wheel of the elongated Niva cannot be compared with the more ergonomic and lighter controls of the Chevrolet, and the old lady’s tiny exterior mirrors only cause annoyance. How long will they continue to damage cars?

Comparing cars in urban environments, as you might guess, is a one-sided game. Perhaps the only tangible advantage of the VAZ 2131 is cheaper maintenance, however, there is a pitfall here: it is supposed to be carried out every 10 thousand km, and not 15 thousand, like the opponent.

Comparing everything that has been said, you come to an obvious conclusion. As a universal car for all occasions, the Chevrolet Niva is better, but more expensive. But if the car is bought only for special tasks - trips to nature on a day off or on vacation with the whole family - the old acquaintance VAZ 2131 may well compete with a jointly produced product.

The right to choose

The owners of these cars are unanimous in their opinions on the following: both cars have extraordinary cross-country ability. This is an indisputable fact and an axiom. The spare parts needed to repair these machines are available in almost any spare parts store.

Niva 2131 is a simpler car in appearance, interior decoration and technically unpretentious. Driving this car for a long time in the city and on the highway is somewhat tiring. It does not hold the road so tenaciously and its course constantly has to be adjusted. But on a country road at any time of the year, this car has no equal in its class.

Does the owner drive most of the kilometers on country roads? Then the Niva 2131 would be more suitable for him. In turn, the Chevrolet Niva is more geared towards traveling on asphalt roads at any time of the year. But it won’t let you down even off-road, when the owner needs to leave the main road, say, to a fishing spot or to a dacha.

Niva is a very popular family of cars, which includes many different car models. Niva VAZ and Niva Chevrolet are in particular demand in our country. Both vehicles are very reliable and durable. But many owners are interested in Niva or Chevrolet Niva - which is better, and is it worth overpaying for the second option? Now we will try to find out.

Machine parts

To the undeniable advantages of the Chevrolet - a nice body with good aerodynamics, an updated suspension, an imported hydraulic booster, modern sound insulation - let's add a few non-obvious, but significant ones. This includes an effective ventilation and heating system with a cabin filter, better electrical wiring, and better corrosion resistance of the body.

The obvious disadvantage of the new Niva is the higher cost of the car and its subsequent maintenance. There are, of course, disadvantages that are not so obvious. These include a large shortage of some spare parts. Fortunately, this does not include consumables - pads, rubber bands, etc.

There is no point in giving a list of best-selling spare parts here. Firstly, by the time the magazine is published it will be outdated. Secondly, it’s almost a year since the manufacturer promises to take radical measures to solve the problem - they assure you that there won’t be long to wait.

There are features that are worth paying attention to when asking the price for a VAZ 2131. First of all, decide on the engine - injection or carburetor. The choice in favor of the latter today is motivated not only (and not so much) by a lower price. Against the backdrop of just over eight thousand, which the car will cost after anticorrosive treatment, installation of an alarm system and a radio, the difference of $200 is hardly significant. But the absence of a neutralizer and the ability to service the car in any provincial workshop may be important for the buyer.

In turn, an engine with distributed fuel injection pulls better “at the bottom”, allowing you to crawl uphill with a lower gear almost at idle speed. And such an engine has less appetite.

A little background

Before determining which is better: Niva or Chevrolet Niva, you should understand that both of these vehicles have the same technical base.

Initially, the VAZ 2123 was conceived as a Niva-2 model, but since the designers did not develop a decent engine and gearbox, the body was simply updated. In 2001, the car was released under the name Chevrolet Niva, and the famous American concern was responsible for production.

At the same time, the old VAZ 2121 was also modernized. Now the car is produced under the name Lada 4x4, but among car enthusiasts it remains the same Niva (VAZ 2131).

For several years now, cars have been improved separately from each other, since they belong to different manufacturers. On the other hand, concerns constantly monitor each other’s achievements, and sometimes even cooperate.

But this does not mean that the models are completely identical, and it is impossible to determine which is better: Niva or Chevrolet Niva. No, they have several differences, which we will pay attention to.

What kind of Lada Niva? All differences from Niva-Chevrolet

Now the new Nivas are equipped with a completely new and fundamentally different dashboard combination.

The new panel will have two standard windows for the tachometer and speedometer, and between them there will be an on-board computer dial.

The body design remains from Shniva for now, but in the near future, after modernizing the production lines, it will completely change. According to AvtoVAZ representatives, a complete restyling is planned for 2023 (see photo above).

The preliminary production plan for cars under the new brand for July 2022 is 1,462 cars.

PS Basically, that's all the differences for now. In principle, whoever buys a Niva is a hunter or a fisherman. We don't care what kind of panel it is. If only the oil pressure showed.

BUT: until July 10, 2022, Niva Chevrolet cars, according to
the agreement between GM and AvtoVAZ , will still be sold in Chevrolet showrooms.
Next, everything goes to AvtoVAZ branded showrooms under the Lada Niva brand. And from 2023 we won’t recognize the updated car at all. At least that's what AvtoVAZ promises. Source

Main characteristics

Both vehicles are equipped with gasoline power units. In Chevrolet the volume is 1.7 liters, in the case of Lada 4x4, the engine is 1.8 liters. Power units comply with Euro-5 environmental standards.

The last major update to the engines occurred back in 2008, since then there have been no significant changes. In fact, everything is the same here, including an interchangeable block, head, connecting rod and piston group, crankshaft, etc.

True, to be extremely precise, the engine from the Chevrolet SUV is a development of the VAZ-21214 engine from the Lada 4x4.

Based on the main technical parameters, it is impossible to determine whether the Lada Niva or the Chevrolet Niva is better, since the characteristics are almost completely identical.

For Chevrolet they look like this:

power – 79 horses;
torque indicator - 127 Nm;
required fuel - AI-95 gasoline;
maximum speed – 150 km/h;
acceleration to 100 km/h – 17 seconds;
transmission – five-speed manual;
drive – permanent all-wheel drive;
fuel consumption – 9.6 l/100 km in the combined cycle;
fuel tank volume – 58 l.

In the case of the VAZ Niva, the parameters are slightly different:

power – 82 horsepower;
torque – 139 Nm;
required fuel - AI-95 gasoline;
maximum speed – 135 km/h;
acceleration to 100 km/h – 22 sec;
transmission – five-speed manual;
drive – permanent all-wheel drive;
fuel consumption – 12.3 l/100 km in the combined cycle;
fuel tank volume – 65 l.

Despite the fact that both cars come with permanent all-wheel drive and a five-speed manual gearbox, there are still some differences.

On a Chevrolet car, the gearbox is not attached to the engine, as in the case of the VAZ competitor, it is separated from the engine. In addition, the generator is located on top of the unit (in a regular Niva it is at the back). Elements such as intake pipes, receiver, and throttle pipe also differ.

Chevrolet has one more transfer case mounting support than in the case of a Lada 4x4. The intermediate shaft is also slightly different.

Price

Lada 4×4 2131 Niva 2006

Finally, we come to the most pressing issue - cost and maintenance costs. And if the VAZ 2131 and VAZ 2121 are approximately in the same price category, then the Chevy will cost the buyer 1.5 times more. Not everything is so simple with service.

The result is cars with the same technical components, but with some features of their installation or configuration. Unfortunately, these features come at a price. Thus, maintenance of a Chevrolet Niva, in terms of a certain mileage, will also cost more. It is traditionally believed that the availability of spare parts for Shevik is lower, but at present this information is no longer relevant. As a result, it can be noted that among all Niva models there is no clearly defined flagship, and each model finds its buyer.

Last year, 31,367 buyers chose the products of the GM-AVTOVAZ joint venture, and 35,312 preferred the VAZ all-terrain vehicle. Obviously, a small gap in sales statistics was provided to him, first of all, by a lower price. Why is it lower? Is Chevrolet so much better than Lada, how much more expensive? For comparison, let’s take cars in the maximum configuration: Chevrolet Niva LE+ for 698 thousand rubles. and Lada 4x4 Urban for 516 thousand.

Chevrolet > Niva

LADA > 4×4

In both cases, the interior is not the latest in fashion. The instrument clusters are the same, but the entire panel is much nicer than the Chevrolet Niva. The steering wheel with a cross in the center is nicer and more comfortable than the one with the boat. And if you consider that there is an airbag in its hub, and the front passenger has a second one, Chevrolet takes the lead in safety. Both cars are equipped with air conditioning. In Niva, the buttons and toggle switches in charge of his work are integrated organically. In the Lada 4x4, it was difficult for the climate controls to find a place on the archaic panel. We turn on the “con” in the cigarette lighter area and adjust the intensity to the right of the steering column. And finally, the Chevrolet Niva has factory-installed “music,” while the Lada 4x4 has only audio preparation.

Transmission schemes for cars are similar, but not identical. In Chevrolet, one lever controls the gearbox, the other controls the transfer case (reduction gear, center lock). In Lada, the same functions are controlled by three levers. Thanks to the body structure, transmission, better sound insulation and other transfer case supports, the Chevy Niva transmits much less vibration and noise into the cabin. The gears are switched on clearly in both cases, but you have to reach for fifth in the Lada, lifting your back from the seat. The Niva's electric windows and mirrors control unit is located on the center console. In Lada, it is between the seats on the new-style tunnel lining - a decision caused by a lack of space, but has a right to life. The tunnel lining itself is much better and more practical than the old one

Please note - the Chevrolet audio center does not have a removable panel, but is equipped with a masking cover

In terms of engines, there is complete parity. Both have a 1.7-liter 8-valve unit with a power of 83 hp. and maximum torque of 129 N.m. Both engines comply with Euro 5 emission standards and, of course, are equipped with an electronically controlled throttle valve. Approximate parity in fuel consumption is about 10 liters per 100 km in the combined cycle. And this despite the fact that the curb weight of the Niva is greater than that of the Lada 4x4 - 1410 versus 1285 kg. In both cars, all small things, washer fluid reservoirs and expansion tanks are securely fastened. Both are equipped with ZF hydraulic power steering.

Dimensions

If we talk about Chevrolet, then the main dimensions parameters look like this:

length – 390 cm;
width – 170 cm;
height – 164 cm;
wheelbase – 245 cm;
ground clearance – 20 cm;
trunk volume – 320 l;

Niva differs from AVTOVAZ in slightly larger sizes:

length – 424 cm;
width – 168 cm;
height – 164 cm;
wheelbase – 279 cm;
ground clearance - 22.8 cm;
trunk volume – 265 l.

If you determine which is better: Lada Niva or Chevrolet Niva in terms of size, then it is worth noting that the VAZ version is larger and more impressive.

At the same time, it is distinguished by increased ground clearance, which increases the vehicle's cross-country ability. At the same time, the Chevrolet car has significantly increased trunk volume, and this is a big plus for country trips.

Eventually

As a result, everything comes down again to tasks. If the goal is to get there and there is only one driver and passenger in the cabin, then the short Niva wins, it is light, small, nimble due to its weight, maneuverable, and can jump on any curb in the city. It’s like a small car in size, it’s easy to park, and even if the family has very small children, then the three-door version is just right, because the baby won’t fall out or accidentally open the door. On the five-door version there is no automatic locking, and a child can easily open the door. This is such a lyrical digression.

Short or long Niva - which is better? If comfort comes first, if the volume of the fuel tank, a large trunk and the convenience of rear passengers are important, but cross-country ability is a slight disadvantage, then you should give preference to a five-door car.

It would be best to take both cars for a test drive, drive each, sit inside the cabin both as a passenger and as a driver, and only then make a choice.

Driving on the highway and in the city

If you plan to drive on smooth asphalt, then the Lada Niva demonstrates a smoother ride. Thanks to the increased length, the number of jumps and bounces is reduced, so that passengers and the driver will be as comfortable as possible.

But in the city, large dimensions will become a significant disadvantage. The length of 4.24 m makes it difficult to perform various maneuvers.

Chevrolet has one more advantage in this regard - power steering, which is included even in the launch model.

In addition, the Chevrolet Niva has improved dynamics and a higher top speed. But, in any case, the cars cannot be called frisky, and you won’t be able to take part in races with them.

Interior

Everything here is extremely simple. There are no differences in the interior decoration of the VAZ 2121 and VAZ 2131 cars. It's a bunch of plastic that is considered low quality by modern standards.

Assembly features give rise to mobility of parts, which leads to excessive noise, squeaks and other sounds in the cabin. The decoration of the Shevik, although today it does not stand up to any criticism, is still a little more diverse.

It has better quality plastic, door trim, and controls. For a minute, you can even forget that we are talking about the development of the late 80s.

Safety indicators

When choosing a Niva VAZ or Niva Chevrolet, special attention should be paid to safety indicators. The crash test was carried out by the Autoreview publication, and the methodology repeated the European EuroNCAP tests.

As a result, the VAZ version received 0 points. The brainchild of the Chevrolet brand has not advanced much either – the safety index here was 1.6.

However, after some modifications, including the installation of belt pretensioners, an anti-lock braking system and two airbags, the figure increased to 12.5 points.

Now Lada 4x4 also has ABS. True, airbags come only in an improved configuration, and there are no belt pretensioners at all.

Buying a machine for various operating conditions

If you want to purchase a high-quality unit that can be used both for off-road and urban conditions, then the Chevrolet Niva is the ideal choice. There are more attractive safety systems and more comfortable seats. And just from a visual point of view, the car looks much more attractive. It is also worth highlighting that the new Niva does not toss from side to side on the highway; it feels much more stable on the highway.

Despite this, the standard Niva has several clear advantages.

Of course, the cars are very good in many respects. However, you should choose one of the models not according to its technical characteristics (since they are almost the same), but according to what you need the car for. If you need an option for city trips, then choose the Chevrolet Niva; for off-road use, the Niva 4x4 is simply ideal.

Source

Production

If you are hesitating between a VAZ Niva or a Chevrolet Niva, then you need to understand that both vehicles are produced in our country, in Tolyatti.

True, the first option is made at the facilities of AVTOVAZ, while Chevrolet is manufactured at the GM-AVTOVAZ plant. But the components (engines, chassis, bodies, etc.) are supplied from the same AVTOVAZ. The quality is about the same.

Chevy and 2131?

Guys, tell me who has experience in operating a Chevy and 5d Niva (2131). Shevik (mine) is happy with almost everything except the trunk and age. It's starting to rot, I'm thinking about changing it, but I can't decide what to do. I want a Patriot, but as friends said about gas consumption, I started crying (almost 2 times more than Chevy) although she still has the same appetite. And my daily mileage is at least 70 km, at best, if only to work and home without stopping anywhere. After Niva, I don’t really want to switch to a puzoter again. The short Niva is quite small, but the 2131 looks more serious in appearance (with alloy wheels), but what is it like in everyday driving? By and large, I’ve never even sat in it, so I’m comparing purely theoretically. The chassis is basically the same, the same engine, gearbox razlatka axle, Toltko suspension, wheelbase is longer. I would like the opinion of those who have traveled on this and that...

What to choose

The advantages of the Chevrolet Niva car include:

low fuel consumption;
comfortable interior;
attractive appearance;
increased agility;
good functionality is already included in the standard assembly.

True, the cost of both the vehicle itself and its maintenance will be slightly higher than in the case of a competitor. And on the highway you can feel the lack of engine power.

Advantages of Lada 4x4:

smooth ride while driving on the highway;
more powerful motor;
affordable price (other things being equal, the cost will be almost 100 thousand lower).

But the appearance here is clearly outdated. And off-road performance is below average. It is also worth highlighting the high level of fuel consumption and poor visibility of the external mirrors.

There is no answer to the question of which is better: Chevrolet Niva or Lada Niva. For those who value increased comfort and good off-road performance, and are also willing to pay for it, it is worth purchasing a Chevrolet Niva.

If the budget is very limited, then you need to take a closer look at the Niva 2131 model. In any case, you will get a very reliable domestic car.

Below is a video comparing Niva or Chevrolet Niva:

Which field to choose, short or long?

Ded67 wrote:

Does the long Niva have any pain points that are unique to it? quote] Only worse maneuverability. No matter how long the wheelbase is, but the steering is like a short one. Well, heating the interior in winter is worse than with a short one - the stove is the same, but the volume of the interior is different. Although I don't really suffer in my crocodile.

Sorry, I duplicated it below, it’s just for your benefit. ZZY And the generator survived and is still working successfully!

Which field to choose, short or long?