5-door "Niva": owner reviews, description, specifications, dimensions

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:41

"Niva" is the most famous all-wheel drive SUV in Russia. This car first appeared in the 70s. Then the three-door "Niva" was born. After a while, in the 93rd year, the Volga Automobile Plant released an elongated modification. This is an all-wheel drive 5-door Niva. Owner reviews, photos, specifications - later in our article.

Design

It would seem that a lot of time has passed since the debut of the three-door. However, in the 93rd year, the designers decided not to change the appearance of the car. Thus, a new model 2131 was born in the guise of the same old Niva 2121. The reader can see how the elongated modification looks in the photo below.

5-door "Niva" - a car that has the same design as the three-door. At the front there is a classic black grille and round headlights. Above - a rectangular block with dimensions and turn signals. The hood, like on the classic Zhiguli, opens away from the driver. ByBy default, the machine is equipped with iron 16-inch wheels. Of the differences in design - only a pair of doors with "Zhiguli" handles. The rest of the machine is identical to model 2121.

Urban

Not so long ago, a new model of the 5-door Niva was born. It's an SUV "Urban". The car has changed in design, but not significantly. So, "Niva Urban" received a different design of the radiator grille, as well as plastic bumpers. Now in a complete set there are cast wheels. Mirrors have changed. But the optics and other parts of the body remained the same.

Flaws

Why do owners scold the car? According to the reviews of the owners, the 5-door Niva has poor metal protection against corrosion. This is especially true of older models that were produced in the 90s. The body turned in a short time into a real sieve. The owners had to regularly perform anti-corrosion treatment and repaint the elements. This is partly the reason for the harsh exploitation. After all, Niva is not bought for paved roads.

Dimensions, clearance

What are the dimensions of the 5-door Niva? The length of the old and new "Niva" is different. So, in the first case, this parameter is 4.22 meters, in the second - 4.14. The reason for this was the new bumper. Otherwise, the dimensions of the body do not differ, since its architecture has not changed at all. So, the width of the car is 1.69 meters, the height is 1.64. The curb weight of the extended Niva is 1.35 tons. At the same time, the car can take on board up to 500 kilograms of cargo (luggage pluspassengers).

As for ground clearance, it measures 20.5 centimeters on standard 16-inch wheels. According to the reviews of the owners, the 5-door Niva, although longer than the three-door, behaves very confidently in the mud and in the swamp. In terms of cross-country ability, this car deserves the highest praise.

5-door "Niva": salon

Let's move inside the Niva car. As you know, this SUV was created on the basis of the classic Zhiguli, so it is not surprising that many details were borrowed from there. As for the interior, here you can see the panel and steering wheel from the VAZ-2107. In terms of sound insulation, Niva, of course, is far from being a leader. Many owners independently silence the body by disassembling the interior to the screw.

With the advent of the new Urban model, the situation has changed for the better, but not significantly. The instrument panel is now set from the "tens", the steering wheel has received a more convenient shape. The panel has changed slightly, but retained the overall angular features.

Of the pluses, it is worth noting perhaps a better level of equipment. "Niva" 5-door has power windows, as well as electrically adjustable mirrors. But as noted by the reviews of the owners, the 5-door Niva, even in the maximum configuration, is not equipped with music. This frustrates many buyers. Also worth noting is the very noisy operation of the stove. There is no air conditioning here.

What distinguishes the long wheelbase "Niva" from the short one is the back row. The seating architecture is the same here, howeverthe distance to the apron of the seats is an order of magnitude greater. Rear passengers will not feel cramped, unlike the three-door Niva. In this regard, the five-door deserves praise.

Trunk

With the increase in wheelbase, there is more space not only in the cabin, but also in the trunk. The latter can hold up to 420 liters of luggage. In addition, it is possible to fold the back of the rear sofa. This allows you to expand the trunk up to 780 liters. The spare wheel is located under the hood, which allowed to expand the usable space.

5-door "Niva": specifications

Under the hood of the car is a 1.7-liter engine. Initially, it was carbureted. The maximum engine power is 82 horsepower. The same motor was also installed on the Soviet short-wheelbase Niva. According to the reviews of the owners, the 5-door Niva with this engine did not have the best dynamics. Acceleration to hundreds took more than 20 seconds. Fuel consumption is about 14 liters per 100 kilometers. The engine resource is from 100 to 200 thousand kilometers.

In the 2000s, the car began to be equipped with an injection power unit. In fact, this is the same engine, but with distributed injection. The maximum power of the unit is 83 horsepower. Of the positive changes - more economical fuel consumption. The car began to spend 1-2 liters of gasoline less. In terms of dynamics, the car has improved slightly, but the owners do not feel noticeable changes. To disperse this car to a hundred,it took about 19 seconds. And the maximum speed is 137 kilometers per hour. However, cruising is a speed of 80 kilometers per hour. According to the reviews of the owners, it is not very comfortable to move on the Niva at higher speeds.

As for the transmission, she was alone. This is a five-speed mechanics. Additionally, the car was equipped with a transfer case with a reduction gear. Of the shortcomings, reviews note the big noise of the box. However, this problem is observed in almost all VAZ cars.

Some, in order to save money on fuel, install LPG equipment on the car. According to reviews, the car feels great on gas. Since the motor is of an old design, the second generation HBO is enough. Gas consumption is about the same (may increase by one and a half liters), and the engine output is the same.

Chassis

The suspension architecture here is the same as that of the three-door Niva. The main difference between the Niva and other Soviet and Russian SUVs was the lack of a frame. The car has a load-bearing body made of high-strength steel grades.

In the front there is an independent suspension with coil springs, wishbones and hydraulic shock absorbers. Behind - a dependent lever design. The steering was not initially equipped with a hydraulic booster, but with the release of Urban, the situation changed for the better. Brakes - disc front and drum rear. The brakes on the Niva are of average quality. For the city of them as a wholeenough, the owners say.

How does this car behave on the go? According to reviews, the car has a fairly comfortable suspension. The car works out the pits well, because, unlike other SUVs of the USSR, there are no springs even at the back. In addition, the long base adds comfort. But there are also disadvantages. Since the car has a high center of gravity and soft suspension, it rolls a lot when cornering. Also, the owners note a strong play of the steering wheel. All VAZs of the classic family have this feature. There is no point in trying to improve the steering. It's expensive and hard. The suspension is being modified only for the purpose of the lift, to install wheels of a larger diameter.

Summing up

So, we have considered what the all-wheel drive five-door Niva is. Of the positive aspects of the car, it is worth emphasizing:

• Simplicity of design (accordingly, it can be repaired in most cases without the help of mechanics).
• Permeability. Already in the basic configuration there is a lock and a downshift.
• Spacious interior (when compared to the short wheelbase version).
• Soft suspension.

But the disadvantages of this car are also present. Among them it is necessary to highlight:

• Weak motors.
• High fuel consumption.
• Body prone to corrosion.
• Bad noise isolation.
• Poor directional stability.

Who is this car suitable for? "Niva" is a good choice for those who need a simple and cheapall-wheel drive SUV for off-road driving. It is for such purposes that in most cases it is acquired. It makes no sense to buy a car and use it purely in the city. In summer it is hot in it, it is clumsy, it eats a lot of fuel. For the city, it is better to choose something from the front-wheel drive VAZ family (for example, the "top ten", which will be cheap to operate and more maneuverable in the city).