Which "Niva" is better, long or short: dimensions, dimensions, specifications, comparison and the right choice

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42

The car "Niva" for many people is considered the best "rogue". Off-road vehicle, at an affordable price, "SUV", easy to repair. Now on the market you can find a long "Niva" or a short one, which is better, we'll figure it out. To do this, a review of each model will be carried out.

To decide unequivocally which "Niva" is better, you need to study all the advantages and disadvantages of each car.

History of Creation

The initiative to develop a car capable of overcoming off-road belongs to VAZ designer V. S. Solovyov. First of all, it was supposed to be a transport for operation in any conditions by residents of villages and villages. Since at that time there were no analogues of this type, the emphasis was on this.

In April 1972, the first test car was presented to the world. The car got its name not because of the fields, as many people think. The basis of the name was the first letters of the names of the children of the designers Prusov and Solovyov. Natalia, Irina, Vadim and Andrey: the combination of letters resulted in "Niva".

The design came from the VAZ-2106. "Niva" is similar to the "six" both externally and inside the car.

From 1972 to the start of mass production, many Niva prototypes were produced, they were tested, many tests were carried out, long runs were organized to identify shortcomings. In order to evaluate and compare the car with analogues that existed in the world, such cars as UAZ-469, Land Rover and Range Rover were involved in the run. In 1975, an official decree was signed on the release of an SUV.

Begin production

"VAZ-2121" rolled off the assembly line for the first time on April 5, 1977. In the first year, the plant produced 25,000 vehicles. The following year, the number was doubled and reached 50,000 cars a year. Subsequently, the number was increased to 70 thousand units. In the 1980s, the plan for the plant was to increase production to 100,000 units, but the oil crisis got in the way. The sales success was huge, "Niva" was even sold in Japan.

After the crisis, the demand for "Niva" decreased significantly, due to the overpricing, also one of the reasons was the small trunk of the car and only two side doors, which was not always convenient and practical. Another disadvantage of the "Niva" was the high consumption of gasoline. And from the side of the automobile plant, a 15% reduction in the price of a car was made. This was in 1985, and after the price fell, the demand for this mode of transport againwent up.

In March 2013 AvtoVAZ produced two million Niva cars.

The inside of the salon looked like this:

The back row looked like this:

Specifications

The parameters and specifications below refer to the first production version, released on the assembly line in 1977. There were a lot of modifications, and each time something changed with the Soviet SUV.

• The "Niva" SUV, off-road vehicle, has 3 doors.
• Carrying body.
• Body type - hatchback.
• Drive - complete, permanent.
• Gearbox - four-speed.
• Transfer case - two-stage.
• Locking center differential.
• Ground clearance - 220 mm.
• Enter angle - 32°, exit angle - 37°.
• Wheelbase - 2.2 meters.
• Fuel tank - 42 liters.
• Engine - petrol, 1580 cm³.
• Engine power - 80 horsepower.
• Length - 3740 mm.
• Width - 1680mm.
• Height - 1640 mm.
• Weight - 1150 kg.

Modifications

Probably, in the history of the automotive industry, there is no other car that has so many modifications. This is the Niva version - a pickup truck, a right-hand drive model, and a super-high cross-country option, a special version - a convertible. There is a diesel versionthe engine, which was exported and the engine was from Peugeot, even an amphibian based on the Niva was produced. There were a lot of improvements during the release of the Russian SUV.

The extended "Niva" is also one of the modifications of the short VAZ-2121. There were also many five-door versions, this was an ambulance, and many similar directions. "Niva" long or short - the comparison should put everything in its place.

VAZ-2131

It was with this name that the extended modified version came off the assembly line. The cab of the long "Niva" by 480 mm differs in a big way from the three-door version. The body is the same load-bearing and permanent all-wheel drive, like the VAZ-2121. The car already has not three doors, but five. Outwardly, it has not changed much, the same shape, the same recognition, just the body of the Niva has become longer and the wheelbase has become longer, a decent trunk has also appeared.

• Length - 4220 mm.
• Width - 1680mm.
• Height - 1640 mm.
• Ground clearance - 210 mm.
• Wheelbase - 2700mm (short version 2200mm).
• Entrance angle - 40°, departure angle - 32°.
• Weight - 1350 kg.
• Trunk volume - 420 l, if you fold the interior, then 780 l.
• Engine displacement - 1.69 l.
• Engine power - 83 horsepower.
• The volume of the fuel tank is 65 liters.
• Fuel type - gasoline AI-95.
• Speed - 140 km/h.
• Acceleration time to 100 km/h - 19 seconds.
• Fuel consumption - urban - 12.2 liters.
• Consumption on the highway - 8.3 liters.
• Combined cycle - 11.2 liters.

Which is better…

Short or long "Niva"? Probably, this question comes to the mind of many who are considering buying this Russian SUV.

It is important for you to emphasize what tasks are set for the car during its operation. After all, each "Niva" has its own characteristics. To do this, you need to consider the advantages or advantages of the short version and similarly consider the advantages of the long VAZ-2131.

Advantages of "Niva 3D"

Short or long "Niva" - which is better? Soon the answer will be obvious, but first I want to consider the advantages of the short Niva.

• Less weight, as a result, less gasoline consumption;
• Short wheelbase - better flotation.
• Small.
• Maneuverable.
• Dynamically wins.
• Low price compared to foreign counterparts.
• Easy to repair.
• Inexpensive parts.

Benefits of long

Continuation of the theme of which "Niva" is better - long or short. Analysis of the advantages of the long version of the car:

• Due to the long wheelbase, the car has become more stable on the road.
• Smooth ride compared to the three-door version.
• Doors for rear passengers.
• Space for rear passengers.
• The trunk is big.
• Tank volume is 65 liters, compared to 42 liters on the three-door version.
• High capacity.
• Low price compared to foreign counterparts.
• Prices for parts and maintainability.

Common deficiencies

It is not easy to choose a short "Niva" or a long one. The three-door version has better flotation, but at the same time it is much worse in handling on the track, compared to the five-door model. The three-door "Niva" has a rather low level of comfort, but it is maneuverable. The five-door car is spacious, good on the track, but it has a lot more fuel consumption. Based on the above pluses, you can find the minuses of each.

Permeability

There are times when, in terms of cross-country ability, one cannot say for one hundred percent which car is better, a short "Niva" or a long one, reviews are different. It all depends on weather conditions, how many people are in the car, what kind of tires it costs. If we consider the situation that two cars are driving through shallow mud, then which Niva - short or long - is better? Most likely, the car that weighs more will pass, and the short car will get stuck. She doesn't have enough weight. But on the other hand, in those situations where there are no stones, or logs, or some kind of obstacles, the short version will rush due to its 220 mm wheelbase, and the long version, which is 50 cm longer in the wheelbase, can sit on the obstacle. In regular and dry weather conditions on dried mud, which is better - a short "Niva" or a long one? Most car owners believe that the VAZ-2121 will still win in terms of cross-country ability.

In the end

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, it can jump on any curb in the city. It is like a small car in size, it is convenient to park, and even if there are very small children in the family, then the three-door version is the very thing, because the baby will not fall out anywhere, will not accidentally open the door. There is no automatic lock on the five-door version, and the child can easily open the door. This is such a digression.

Short or long "Niva" - which is better? If comfort is in the first place, if the volume of the fuel tank, a large trunk and the convenience of rear passengers matter, but cross-country ability will be a small minus, then you should give preference to a five-door car.

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