Chevrolet Niva - description of the model. Where is the Chevrolet Niva produced for Russia and the CIS countries Everything about the Chevrolet Niva

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Chevrolet Niva is a budget SUV of a compact unit with a monocoque body, also with a permanent all-wheel drive system. This car is the result of a "joint creation" of specialists from and American automobile builders from.

Domestic workers were able to develop a vehicle, and the Americans "finished" and installed it on a conveyor assembly. Chevrolet Niva is rather “austere” (has only the necessary minimum of options) and attracts mainly with a small price tag, as well as good off-road performance. The entire range of Chevrolet.

Car history

The predecessor was the VAZ-2123 version, presented to the public back in 1998. But after a group of GM engineers “intervened” in 2002, the novelty received Chevrolet nameplates, entering the assembly line in an “updated incarnation.” The production of cars was launched in Togliatti at the facilities of the GM-AvtoVAZ joint venture.

Since that time, the car "wins the hearts" of many domestic motorists, while still remaining in demand. About 30,000 drivers buy a Chevrolet Niva every year.

From the start of production in 2002 to 2015, this compact off-road vehicle has sold more than 550,000 copies.

Concept version off-road vehicle VAZ 2123 Niva in 1998 was presented during the Moscow International Automobile Salon. The design bureau expected that the car would replace the VAZ-2121, which had been produced at that time almost without changes for more than 20 years. But in order to move the car into mass production, there was no money.

Therefore, the license to produce a new car, and hence the rights to the Niva brand, was sold to the GM concern. It is clear that the production version of the car did not get the same appearance as it had at the first show. American designers made more than 1,700 changes to the domestic car. Therefore, many consider the Niva car to be a fairly independent compact SUV.

As a result, in 2002, the serial first Chevrolet Niva began to be produced from the plant. From the very beginning, some believed that after the assembly of the novelty began, the production of the VAZ 2121 would cease. But this did not happen, because the new car cost 2 times more than its predecessor. After 2009, the vehicle has undergone modernization.

According to the Association of European Businesses of the Russian Federation, from 2002 to 2008, an all-wheel drive car was bought most often in our market.

Appearance

Its affiliation with the American car brand Chevrolet Niva shows only the logo on the grille, body and steering wheel. In general, judging by the body shape, you can easily guess the standard style of an SUV. Only the rear axle beam indicates that off-road vehicles belong to the division.

The appearance of the Chevrolet Niva is capable of not causing negative emotions, it looks quite relevant, despite the fact that it was developed back in the mid-1990s. But hardly anyone will call appearance budget crossover unfashionable. After all, the car is intended not only for comfortable movement on country roads, but also for taking off-road.

It's nice that the car is seriously prepared for off-road. There is a sufficiently powerful protection of the power unit, a successful weight distribution along the axes, as well as minimal side overhangs. Pleases plastic body protection. The impressive ground clearance is ideal for our roads. And the presence of short plastic bumpers and flat, as if squinted headlights, testifies to the SUV's desire for a difficult march on a bad road.

The ergonomics of the model received a good rating. Despite the rather modest dimensions, all doorways are spacious. "Reserve" migrated from the engine compartment to the door luggage compartment. The fact that the car has a spare wheel on the rear door, along with a continuous beam of the rear axle, clearly indicates that we are not facing a compact SUV, but a real “combat” SUV.

Thanks to the beveled A-pillars and well-made side glazing, the aerodynamics of the body and the quality of visibility are significantly improved. The installed roof rails only add practicality to our crossover. Stern optics looks nice and is an adequate addition to the entire rear of the machine.

The plastic backing of the rear bumper was quite successful both in terms of design and ergonomics. Chevrolet Owners Niva I can no longer worry about damage to the bumper paintwork during loading of a bulky or heavy load.

Salon

Inside, the Chevrolet Niva I generation is spacious and comfortable. An excellent overview of all areas is provided, so we can express well-deserved gratitude to the company's specialists. Given the inexpensive price tag, the interior of the car looks pretty good. It is clear that when finishing, they decided to use the same rough-type plastic.

The seats installed in front have archaic adjustments, and the “tidy”, together with the front console, has received an old-fashioned appearance, even if we draw an analogy with the cars of the late 1990s. It's nice that the car is equally good for the city and countryside. The Russian SUV has air conditioning, hydraulic power steering and good noise and vibration isolation, which is clearly better than that of the "mother" model.

All controls are located near the driver, so it is not necessary to reach them, being distracted from the control of the crossover. Sitting in the front seats is comfortable enough for a compact off-road vehicle. Armchairs have comfortable headrests and lateral support.

The interior upholstery is good, so you will have to try harder to get it dirty or flooded with water. The rear sofa can comfortably accommodate 2 adults of large build. Three people can sit, but it will be a little uncomfortable due to the seat profile, as well as the floor transmission tunnel.

Restyling of 2009

In 2009, the car underwent restyling, which resulted in a new look from Bertine. The result turned out on the face - the SUV began to look much better. Changes can be seen if you pay attention to the grille, which received an enlarged Chevrolet emblem, as well as to the front bumper.

The head lighting looks quite unusual: the “foglights” have received a round shape, and the front fenders have improved direction indicators. The side of the body is decorated with plastic overlays, and the exterior mirror housings are now painted in body color.

More "top" versions of the Chevrolet Niva of the 1st generation are equipped with sixteen-inch alloy wheels. The front doors have the signature Bertone Edition badge.
Rear end all-wheel drive vehicle received a stylish form of new lights, and the rear bumper has a special loading area, unpainted type.

The design team was able to insert two stylish and original grilles into the rear bumper, which perform not only a decorative task. They improve air circulation inside the updated Chevrolet Niva, so the windows are now less foggy. Generally speaking, the updated appearance causes a certain attention and respect even among very picky motorists.

Those who often encounter off-road will appreciate the novelty. Ground clearance deserves special attention - 200 millimeters under the rear axle with a fully loaded car. With curb weight and 15-inch wheels, ground clearance is 240 millimeters, which is very good result. Curb weight - 1410 kilograms.

In 2009, the Niva underwent an update, and the Italian studio Bertone also worked on improving the appearance of the car.

Inside the cars that were produced after 2009, the specialists took into account all the complaints and suggestions of customers. There are more auxiliary compartments and convenient cup holders. Newer versions now received a mirror that was attached specifically to the windshield. Thanks to this moment, it turned out to reduce the degree of unpleasant sounds.

The restyled version of the Chevrolet Niva has a new 3-spoke steering wheel made in Portugal. The “tidy” has noticeably changed, which the workers made better and more modern. After 2011, cars began to have airbags and pretensioner seat belts, and the seats themselves “grew up” in terms of convenience.

Now you can fix the luggage compartment lid in three positions. You can control the vehicle remotely using a modern flip key, which is equipped with a remote control. The ceiling received a pair of lighting lamps. The interior of the restyled Chevrolet Niva looks spacious, comfortable and ergonomic.

Versions produced after February 2014 have more modern seats with improved lateral support and new headrests. Despite the use of cheap plastic, there is not much inside the car extraneous noise and other problems. This was achieved thanks to the high-quality assembly.

The volume of the luggage compartment is 320 liters, but if necessary, this figure can be increased by folding the seats in the second row. Then for the owner of a domestic SUV there will already be 650 liters of usable space. The luggage compartment does not have a threshold, the doorway turned out to be quite wide, which greatly simplifies the loading / unloading of luggage.

Specifications

At the moment, the first generation Chevrolet Niva has only one version of the power unit. The company decided to supply a domestic SUV with a reliable atmospheric gasoline engine, which received an in-line layout with four cylinders and a total working volume of 1.7 liters.

The engine also has a distributed fuel injection and a 16-valve gas distribution mechanism. The motor fully complies with Euro-4 environmental standards and develops 80 horsepower and 127.4 Nm of torque. The company's specialists decided to synchronize this power plant with a non-alternative five-speed mechanical box gears.

Thanks to this, the car accelerates to 140 kilometers per hour. The first hundred is given to Niva in 19.0 seconds. If we talk about gasoline consumption, then in the city, an SUV will ask for about 14.1 liters. On the highway, this figure will drop to a value of 8.8 liters, and in mixed mode, the engine will eat about 10.8 liters of AI-95.

All versions of the Chevrolet Niva have a mechanical permanent all-wheel drive system on the platform of an interaxle locking differential, as well as a two-speed transfer case. Together with increased ground clearance and small size all-wheel drive system of the car has a good geometric cross-country ability.

Also, the car is stable during turns on slippery road surfaces and can tow trailers weighing up to 1,200 kilograms. The engineering group considers the use of cardan shafts with the introduction of constant velocity joints to be the main modernization of the Niva Chevrolet. In addition, this includes changes in the “razdatka”, which received 2-row output shaft bearings. Thanks to the improvement of the gear lever, it was possible to reduce the noise inside the SUV.

It is worth adding that from 2006 to 2008 this machine was available in the FAM-1 (or GLX) version. She had a 1.8 liter Opel engine Z18XE, developing 122 horsepower. In addition to this motor, this option had an Aisin 5-speed manual gearbox with an integrated transfer case, which is known to many by. The car did not receive much demand, so in a couple of years only about a thousand copies were sold.

As a basis for the Chevrolet Niva, a load-bearing body was laid, where there is a front independent spring suspension based on double wishbones and a rear dependent five-bar spring suspension. As brake system front discs are used braking devices, and at the back are simple drum mechanisms.

The brake device has a vacuum booster, and older equipment is equipped with an electronic ABS system. Reechnoe steering gear functions together with the hydraulic booster "steering wheel". Before serial release, the novelty was tested in various harsh conditions: from hot Asian deserts to cold Siberia.

In all situations, the model proved to be the best. She is not afraid of low and high temperatures and other extreme conditions. Car suspension Russian assembly without shaking and unnecessary inconvenience is able to overcome various obstacles.

Crash test

The Chevrolet Niva car has all the best off-road characteristics from the previous version 2121. The domestic SUV received not only a fresh look. When creating the development department drew Special attention not only in appearance. Some additional design solutions have been added that allow you to get a little closer in terms of quality and comfort to foreign cars.

Today, a car has all the necessary modules to become a truly convenient and comfortable car. During the full crash tests, it became clear that due to the limited engine compartment, if we compare the model with the previous car, there was an urgent need to install airbags. During testing, the main damage occurs on the lower part of the body.

After the Chevrolet Niva crash test, it is noticeable that the lower part of the car was heavily wrinkled, and the disks were also deformed. After the impact, the steering wheel hit the dummy so hard that it became oval. The most important reason for this is insufficient body strength. But it is the body that should have the main protection of passengers during a head-on collision. This could result in serious injury to the driver.

The strapped upper torso suffered differently than the lower, which can be pinched during floor deformation. The displaced clutch mechanism, as well as the pedal assembly itself, also causes concern. Because of this, you can get serious lacerations. The first off-road models suffered from the displacement of the lower body latches during a collision. But later they began to use the most durable body structure.

After getting acquainted with the Chevrolet Niva crash test, it becomes clear that the body is the most unprotected place in this vehicle. During its damage, a gap appears in the steering column, the clutch mechanism fails, so the chance of getting various injuries to the driver and front passenger increases. Therefore, now the car has a body reinforcement with protection of the clips from breaking.

The doors have metal bars that protect against side impact and excessive transverse deformation. However, this is not enough - judging by the international specification system, the Chevrolet Niva can only be attributed to the middle segment of safety among passenger vehicles.

Price and configuration

As of 2017, the domestic market offers the Chevrolet Niva in 6 trim levels: “L”, “LC”, “GL”, “LE” and “GLC”. The standard version of an off-road car costs 588,000 rubles and has:

• ZF hydraulic power steering;
• immobilizer;
• Power windows on the front doors;
• fabric salon;
• 15-inch steel "rollers";
• Central lock;
• Audio preparation with 2 speakers;
• Isothermal glasses;
• Rear passenger footwell heating and electrically adjustable exterior mirrors.

The maximum configuration is estimated from 719,500 rubles. She possesses:

• Two front airbags;
• Combined interior trim;
• Electronic ABS system;
• air conditioner;
• Fog lights;
• Heated front seats;
• Regular audio preparation, designed for 4 speakers;
• 16-inch light alloy rollers;
• roof rails;
• Factory alarm.

Niva Chevrolet is a new modification of the car off-road VAZ 2121, produced in the USSR. The latest model has a streamlined body, modern technical options. But despite all this, the model remained Spartan in terms of configuration.

Her appearance, as well as the level and quality of the interior, leave much to be desired. Therefore, in terms of tuning, Niva Chevrolet provides a wide range of actions. Each driver strives to make his car individual so that they are different from everyone else.

Do-it-yourself tuning Niva Chevrolet

Very often, car owners "pump" their vehicle for off-road driving. The technological process cannot be called complex. You can install a power kit, the list of which includes the presence of a powerful front bumper made of bent steel pipes with a platform for a winch. It is not difficult to produce this thing, it is important to have the necessary tools and equipment for working with metal.

Off-road improvements include the installation of new wheels and tires. Some owners of a domestic SUV install a snorkel - exhaust pipe overlooking the roof. This may be necessary in cases where the car will be used in extreme off-road conditions.

Separately, it should be said about the installation of the winch. Some are mistaken in believing that this element is only necessary for participants in various off-road competitions. Such an assistant will be an excellent help during outdoor recreation, in the country and fishing.

Can be purchased electric winch, which will allow you to independently get out of holes, ditches, as well as help others get out of difficult areas. Some hide the body of the equipment under a homemade metal casing. You can also install a protective, military coloring, matte or glossy type.

Power unit tuning

There are many varieties of improving the Chevrolet Niva power plant, which can significantly increase its technical data. Some owners do:

• Replacing the crankshaft and piston rings, which allows you to increase the volume by 0.1 liters;
• Replacement of nozzles;
• Replacement of the control unit;
• Correction of the geometry of the power unit by increasing the diameter of the valves and the pusher well for the intake and exhaust channels. Need new pushers with a diameter of at least 1 mm;
• Sealing valves, which allows you to increase power by 10 percent;
• Replacing the catalyst with a flame arrester. This refers to the tuning of the Chevrolet Niva exhaust system, but it really helps to improve the technical data of the motor.

To perform these manipulations requires direct intervention in technical part vehicle. by the most the best choice can be called chip tuning "engine" Chevrolet Niva - work with the "brains" of the motor - the injector.

This requires software knowledge. In this case, you can change the technical settings of the car. This method can be called the most accessible.

suspension tuning

Because this car created for driving on a bad road, the car's suspension must cope with serious loads, but not all and not all the time. To do this, you can improve the patency by strengthening the suspension. The simplest solution is lifting or increasing clearance. You can also improve the transfer case by eliminating childhood diseases. For example, you can:

• Change the basic bearings to double row;
• Replace covers;
• Do not forget to replace the seals;
• Equip the transfer box with an auxiliary shaft support.

It is very important to make the correct centering of the transfer case, which will reduce the degree of vibration and increase the technical life of the unit.

Salon tuning

In the standard plan, many do the upholstery of the cabin. Those who have money buy genuine leather. You can also install sports-type seats instead of regular simple chairs, with pronounced lateral support.

Fans of a bright interior resort to xenon or bi-xenon illumination of the interior, bottom. No harm in improving sound insulation. Instead of the basic stereo system, you can install a “board computer”, which can also be called a functional solution.

headlight tuning

Such procedures are carried out not only to improve the aesthetic appearance, but also for improved light and its range. Chevrolet Niva owners install additional LED lenses on dimensions, rotary modules, supplemented with LEDs. Some change the color, tone, texture and headlight substrates, install chips, reflectors and replace factory bulbs with LEDs.

Pros and cons

Machine advantages

• Stylish, modern and aggressive exterior design;
• The presence of high ground clearance;
• headlight protection;
• Winch;
• Two full-size spare wheels;
• The presence of a luggage compartment on the roof;
• All kinds of protection for bumpers and the lower part of the side of the car;
• Pleasant, modern interior;
• Comfortable steering wheel, which received adjustment;
• Improved instrument panel and center console;
• Improved interior soundproofing;
• Plenty of free space;
• Enlarged luggage compartment;
• Airbag;
• The top equipment has a touch screen;
• reinforced power unit;
• honest, not electronic system all-wheel drive;
• Good permeability.

Cons of the car

• In urban conditions, the car looks very unusual;
• Not a record-breaking engine;
• Rear suspension dependent (someone may consider this a plus);
• Big fuel consumption.

Comparison with competitors

Today, Niva Chevrolet has competitors and there are not so few of them. Each vehicle has its own advantages and disadvantages. The most common competing cars on the market for this car include, and, as well as Suzuki Grand Vitara, TagAZ Tingo, great wall H3. You can also mention domestic rivals, in the face, Lada Niva and.

There are other models of this unit, but they already have a different pricing policy. Renault Duster is considered by many to be the most direct rival of the Chevrolet Niva. This is the most familiar or advertised car of the ones listed above. Initially, you can pay attention to the data of the power unit.

Renault Duster has 3 versions of power plants. This is a petrol 1.6-liter, 115-horsepower (156 Nm), as well as a petrol 2.0-liter, 144-horsepower (195 Nm) version. It is envisaged and diesel engine, with a volume of 1.5 liters, which develops 109 horsepower and 240 Nm of torque.

If we compare the "Frenchman" with the domestic version, then already in the basic version power point Renault Duster is more powerful. This seriously increases its appeal among SUV connoisseurs who move more in the city and on the highway. Someone thinks that the off-road qualities of the Renault Duster are enough for country trips, but for dirt and serious off-road, a stronger clutch is needed, as well as an increased ride height.

Although the comfort level of Renault Duster meets many criteria for modern drivers. Although the power of the French crossover is higher than that of the Chevrolet Niva, it also costs an order of magnitude more. As for the transmission, the Niva has a plug-in overdrive and a mechanical differential lock, while the Duster has an electronic clutch for switching between 3 travel modes.

The equipment level is also better and richer in the French car. Therefore, the final version should be taken by the buyer himself, guided by his priorities.

Sales market: Russia.

The restyled version of the Chevrolet Niva is offered in five trim levels: L, LC, LE, GLS and GLC. The base includes central locking, front power windows, height-adjustable steering column, power steering, alarm, HA, 60/40 split rear folding seats, unpainted electrically heated exterior mirrors, tires with 15" steel rims. Passenger feet are heated back seat, cabin filter, cup holders and a section for small items, audio preparation (connection block and wiring to acoustic speakers in the front doors). The LC is equipped with air conditioning. More expensive GLS and GLC trims include additionally improved leatherette interior trim, decorative interior moldings, a rear dome light, heated front seats, roof rails, painted mirrors and door handles, alloy wheels, isothermal windows, fog lights. The LE version stands alone in the lineup, it is specially prepared for off-road conditions and includes an external antenna and roof rails, off-road tires on black alloy wheels, an external air intake (snorkel) to overcome water obstacles, a winch mounting bracket at the front, engine protection and front axle gearbox , protection of the rear bumper with a towbar (drawbar).

The VAZ-2123 engine is installed on the car, which is a development of the VAZ-21214 injection engine with adaptation to the new engine compartment. Equipped with a distributed fuel injection system, it has a power of 79.6 hp. at 5200 rpm and a torque of 127.5 Nm at 4000 rpm. It is clear that with such an engine, Niva does not pretend to be a dynamic car - acceleration from 0 to 100 km / h, according to passport data, will take 19 seconds. Fuel consumption in the combined cycle is 10.8 liters per 100 km. Toxicity standards comply with Euro-4.

The front independent double-lever and rear dependent suspension of the Chevrolet Niva is actually the legacy of its distant predecessor, the Niva VAZ-2121. Strong, reliable construction, maybe not very comfortable by today's standards, but great for driving on rough terrain and roads with poor coverage, and easy to maintain. Front disc brakes, rear drum brakes. However, this car is valued by another - a real (“honest”) mechanical permanent all-wheel drive, where there is simply no such thing as transmission response. According to the manufacturer, "Chevrolet NIVA is in constant off-road readiness." A low row (a rare feature today) in the transfer case allows for extra traction. Respect also deserves the parameters of geometric patency.

Considering that the car's roots go back to the development of the mid-80s, the designers had to work hard to improve safety. In particular, the seat belt mechanism was improved, modernized power elements body for better damping of impact energy. Separate versions (FAM-1) were produced with ABS, airbags and seat belt pretensioners. Since August 2011, this equipment has already been part of the GLS and GLC trim levels as standard. In 2014, the seats were upgraded - now they have more pronounced lateral support, a backlash-free backrest adjustment mechanism, new form headrests.

Chevrolet Niva remains one of the most sought after SUVs on the market. This car will suit those who are ready to turn a blind eye to some objective shortcomings (cramped interior, small trunk, weak and uneconomical engine), but for whom affordable price, patency of the "Niva", more modern, unlike its predecessor, appearance and interior, a variety of trim levels. Chevrolet Niva - for those who are mentally prepared for the fact that they may have to put their hands on the car, especially if it's not new car.

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Despite the fact that work on the 2123 project began in the first half of the eighties of the 20th century, at some point it became clear to the designers that it was more expedient to create a new model, and not try to improve the usual VAZ-2121.

Since all the forces of the factory workers at that time were thrown into putting the VAZ-2108 on the conveyor, they began to seriously engage in a promising cross-country passenger car a little later. The official starting point can be considered 1986, when the terms of reference for the model 2123 were finally formed and sent to the design departments of AVTOVAZ.

An important feature of the terms of reference for model 2123 was the body type - frame. Such a design with hinged plastic panels at that time in Togliatti had both supporters and opponents. In the world, there were already production cars made according to this scheme - for example, the Renault Espace minivan.

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However, soon the idea of ​​"rolling up" the Niva was abandoned, because it required huge financial costs and a complete readjustment of production: in large-scale conditions, the production of a car with a frame body required the development of new technologies and materials. The power structure had to be made using high-alloy steels, and the front panels required expensive and difficult-to-manufacture plastic. And this meant that with all the seeming advantages of a frame-panel structure using "eternal" plastic, its serial implementation at that time was impractical.

crossover thoughts

In order to test the idea of ​​using a chain drive in a transfer case in practice, VAZ purchased a transmission from an SUV Mitsubishi Pajero first generation.

As it turned out, in order to use such a design, the plant would have to acquire a license, as well as eliminate all the "technological" issues associated with a radical alteration of the transmission. New cardan shafts, pedal assembly, body parts(central tunnel and bottom), exhaust system and much more stopped the designers, forcing them to remain true to the "native" scheme, which by that time had already been tested and verified by both professionals and hundreds of thousands of ordinary car owners.

There were also those at the plant who believed that the new Niva should be brought even closer to passenger car, deliberately worsening its off-road qualities. At the same time, such a "crossover" model could be widely unified with the latest front-wheel drive - VAZ-2108. Yes, yes, some experts insisted that the motor for 2123 should be placed not along, but across the engine compartment!

In order to study the issue in practice, UGK VAZ purchased two "Japanese" - Nissan Prairie and Honda Civic Shuttle, which have been extensively tested.

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Opinions were divided: some designers believed that cross-country ability could be sacrificed in the new car in favor of other consumer qualities, while others believed that the Niva-2 should not be inferior to the VAZ-2121 in terms of off-road potential. It is not surprising that those designers, constructors and testers who were directly involved in the development of the first Niva adhered to the "jeep" concept. They just stood up for the "native" scheme and did not allow the compact Togliatti SUV to be turned into a crossover like the Toyota RAV4 or Hyundai Tucson. History does not suggest the subjunctive mood, but Niva, it seems, had the opportunity to enter the same river twice and again be ahead of the time with his concept - this time "parquet". It did not work out - due to the fact that the "twenty-first" in terms of off-road qualities proved to be very bright, they did not dare to abandon its main trump card at the plant.

Don't forget about beauty

Having finally decided that the new Niva would conceptually be an improved successor to the ideas of the previous SUV, the designers moved on to body design.

Initially, two layouts were made. V. Semushkin's version strongly resembled the modernized VAZ-2123, which was clearly "tied" to the old platform.

Early design new Niva(1980)

While on the sketches of A. Belyakov, the promising Niva appeared completely different - a five-door, more streamlined and "chubby", with narrow headlights and an aerodynamic silhouette.

Much in the lines and solutions in one way or another echoed, on which at that time they were also working at VAZ.

More precisely, the concepts of Belyakov and Syomushkin (later) looked more like a station wagon with the index 2111 - plasticine models 2123 give a clear understanding of who the car of the tenth family owes its original appearance to.

A little later, Belyakov emigrated, and for obvious reasons, they abandoned his ideas on the appearance of 2123. But somehow a delegation from Japan came to the plant. Representatives of Honda got acquainted with the developments and ... in the late nineties, the world saw compact crossover HR-V, amazing.

Another version of the appearance of the VAZ-2123 belonged to the VAZ designer V. Stepanov, who later used his own developments for a new UAZ with an index of 3160, also produced in the VAZ STC.

The technical part of the future Niva-2 was being run in by that time.

Despite the fact that conceptually the car remained the same, the designers had to improve it qualitatively. driving performance and increase the level of comfort, and without compromising patency! They did an excellent job with the task.

Stronger, more comfortable, more spacious

The designers did not see the new Niva with the same engine. As a power unit, they proposed using the engine of the future "tens" (16-valve 2110), as well as a 1.8-liter diesel engine, which at that time was being developed for the "forty-first" Moskvich together with AZLK.

At the VAZ they tried to adapt to the Niva and purchased diesel engine- for example, the ultra-economical German ELKO unit, which the Germans themselves wanted .

Finally, there was also a "voice of reason", suggesting at first to install under the hood an ordinary "Zhiguli" engine, "unclenched" by a hundred or two cubes, which later received the index 21213. Irony of fate, but the new Niva was destined to be born and grow old with just such a unit - if not the most modern and high-torque, but really existing in production.

Working on the interior and ergonomics of the future Niva, the designers were faced with the fact that the compact five-door has practically no serial analogues that could be used as a "reference point"! So I had to measure anything - larger imported jeeps, Suzuki Samurai and Vitara, even my own "perspective" - ​​a tenth model car model!

The designers faced a difficult task: the new car should become noticeably more comfortable than the usual old Niva, providing an acceptable fit for all five inhabitants of the cabin, and not just for the driver and front passenger, as was previously practiced, taking into account the intended purpose of the off-road vehicle. The builders and ergonomists did a great job on the layout, trying to get the most out of the project for the driver and four passengers. The landing mock-up eventually turned into a demonstration interior project, which clearly showed what the interior of the new car would be like.

Long road to release

By 1989, at the technical council of the STC VAZ, the concept of the 2123 model was considered and finally approved. Thus, the result of five years of searches and experiments was a five-door car with a longitudinally located engine and permanent all-wheel drive according to the usual scheme for the Niva - through a center differential with the possibility of blocking.

Alas, the collapse of the USSR in 1991 greatly influenced the history of the 2123 model, the work on which was temporarily tacitly recognized as secondary. As in the case of the G8, all efforts at the plant were concentrated on the launch of a new passenger car - this time the 2110 model.

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In addition, at the VAZ, at that time, the modernized Niva with the index 21213 was launched into the series, but due to problems with rear lights at first, only the “hybrid” with the index 21219 was mastered, where the “two hundred and thirteenth” 1.7-liter engine was installed in old body with a short rear door and six rear optics.

For a number of reasons, work on project 2123 was transferred from the VAZ Research and Development Center to the OPP - pilot production, where four cases for aggregate carriers were welded out of eight ordinary Niva bodies. Alas, they did not wait for their components and assemblies, leaving for decommissioning after a couple of years of fruitless downtime.

Appearance variant from V. Kryazhev (1992)

Since the plant did not pull a serious modernization of the transmission in the new economic conditions, it was decided to stop at maximum unification with the transmission of serial VAZs - gearbox 21074 and "razdatka" 2121.

There were also problems with appearance: since the design of the previous layouts turned out to be too "passenger", it did not really fit in with the "jeeper" concept of the car. In addition, in the early nineties, the exterior of the prototypes already looked more like today than tomorrow. And this means that by the time it was put on the conveyor, the new Niva would be hopelessly outdated. At VAZ, they understood this and tried to find another "timeless design", as they managed to do on model 2121.

Nevertheless, by 1993, the same Syomushkin "found" the look of the Niva again - this time a five-door and modern one.

An interesting detail - the designer really did not want to place a spare wheel on the back door, which many of his colleagues insisted on. After all, the previous solution with a "reserve" in engine compartment was, above all, "engineeringly beautiful."

That is why they tried to attach the fifth wheel under the bottom of the trunk - about the same as it was done on the Renault Duster. However, for layout reasons, the "reserve" was still placed "in a jeepers" way - on the tailgate.

In parallel with the usual five-door, the modelers worked on modifications of the Niva-2 - a pickup truck, a van and even a convertible!

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Moreover, the work on enthusiasm was successful not only in terms of the final result, but also in terms of time - it turned out to complete the whole range in just one and a half to two years.

By that time, the first running samples of 2123 had also ripened. They showed that the car should turn out to be more stable, roomy and comfortable, but ... in terms of cross-country ability new model clearly inferior to the old woman-2121.

In parallel with fine-tuning the technical part at the VAZ, they also worked on the appearance of the Niva. In particular, the management of the plant did not like the "dneproges on the front end", as the plant workers aptly dubbed the solution of the radiator grille with many vertical holes.

General information about the car

Chevrolet Niva (Chevrolet Niva) is a five-door compact SUV (SUV class) with permanent all-wheel drive. Produced from 2002 to the present at the GM-AvtoVAZ joint venture in Togliatti.

History of creation

In 1977 Volzhsky car factory began serial production of the all-wheel drive SUV VAZ-2121 Niva. The simplicity of design and good performance have led to the fact that the model continues to be produced to the present, however, under the name 4x4. Nevertheless, in 1998, AvtoVAZ presented a concept car at the Moscow Motor Show, which was supposed to replace the familiar Niva. The concept received the VAZ-2123 index and did not have too many differences from its predecessor - the five-door body became the main one. The release of the new model began in 2001, but the financial problems of AvtoVAZ did not allow it to be introduced into mass production. Cars were produced in small batches. As a result, it was decided to sell the Niva brand. The buyer was the American concern General Motors. American specialists made about 1,700 changes to the design of the new Niva, as a result of which the VAZ-2123 model became a completely independent design.

In September 2002, the first Niva car under the Chevrolet brand was produced at the newly launched joint conveyor of GM and AvtoVAZ. After GM finally transferred the rights to the Niva brand in 2006, it was decided to rename the old VAZ-2121 modification to Lada 4x4. In 2009, the Chevrolet Niva was updated: the car received a new design, a different interior trim, better sound insulation and other technical improvements. In 2012, information appeared about the timing of the release of the third Chevrolet generations Niva. The official website of GM-AvtoVAZ announced the appearance of the model in 2015. It is not yet known whether it will be created on an existing platform or if the designers use something else. Most likely, the model will receive a new line of engines, including gasoline from GM and diesel from.

Technological features and characteristics

Differences Chevrolet Niva from ordinary Niva lots of. The design of the car is made in a completely different style, close to model range Chevrolet. The back door began to come off to the side, not up. Also, a spare wheel began to be attached to this door, which was located in the engine compartment of the VAZ-2121. Suspension, powertrain and transmission significant changes have not endured. After restyling in 2009, the Chevrolet Niva began to be equipped with frost-resistant bumpers, which began to withstand a blow at 5 km / h at -40 degrees. Also added such an accessory as a glasses compartment in the ceiling. Since 2013, Chevrolet Niva's range of colors has expanded to 11 variants.

In addition to the basic versions of the SUV, the Chevrolet Niva also has limited or conceptual developments. The Chevrolet Niva FAM-1, which was produced in 2006-2008 in a limited edition, was equipped with a 1.8-liter Opel engine Z18XE, ABS and transmission from Suzuki Vitara. There is a tuning modification of the Chevrolet Niva Trophy, with a snorkel, a place for attaching a winch and self-locking limited slip differentials in the gearboxes. To coincide with the 100th anniversary of the Chevrolet brand, the release of 300 cars of a limited series called the Chevrolet Niva Limited Edition, similar in equipment to the Chevrolet Niva Trophy, but additionally having 16-inch black alloy wheels and off road tires Continental. There are Chevrolet Niva projects with a pickup truck and a van.

Interesting Facts

During the production of Chevrolet Niva, 100% of engines are tested on engine stands, and transfer boxes and gearboxes are tested in noise booths. Three percent of manufactured Chevrolet Niva pass 40-kilometer tests under a special GM testing program.

For restyling in 2009, a competition was held among 6 design studios. The victory was won by the well-known Italian company Bertone, which also developed the design of the Lamborghini Diablo and Alfa Romeo Pandion.

The Chevrolet Niva Limited Edition is driven by GM-AvtoVAZ CEO Jeffrey Glover. He preferred it to the corporate Chevrolet Tahoe.

Chevrolet Niva became the reason for the "blooper" in the cult TV series "Brigada". In one of the episodes describing the events of 1995, the Chevrolet Niva got into the picture, the release of which began only in 2002.

Pros and cons in comparison with classmates

The main advantage compared to classmates is the lightness of the design, due to which the vehicle's cross-country ability increases. Chevrolet Niva successfully combines the classic advantages of the old Niva and the comfort of a city SUV. Chevrolet Niva has permanent four-wheel drive- in contrast to the main "rival" - .

Main disadvantages of Chevrolet Niva is a weak 80-horsepower engine that provides very modest dynamics, lack of ABS and a high level of noise in the cabin. Also not up to par with security. As a result of tests conducted by the Autoreview magazine in 2003, the Chevrolet Niva received only 1.6 points out of 16.

Numbers and awards

Chevrolet Niva is the best-selling SUV in Russia in 2004-2008, according to statistics from the Association of European Businesses.

The restyled Chevrolet Niva received in 2009 the professional auto journalist award "Off-Road Vehicle of the Year" in two categories - "SUV" and "Premier of the Year".

In 2012, Chevrolet Niva received the "For High Performance" award at the Kiev Auto Show SIA-2012.

From 2002 to 2012, about 430,000 were produced chevrolet cars Niva.

In 2005, the Chevrolet Niva entered the top five most stolen cars.