History and description car Lada 4x4 «Niva»

VAZ-2121 "Niva" is a Soviet and Russian small SUV with a front engine and permanent all-wheel drive. It has been produced at the plant in Tolyatti since 1977 and to the present day. Since 2006 it has been called "Lada 4x4". The body of the basic model is in the form of a 3-door "station wagon". There is an extended version of the car called the VAZ-2131 or "Lada 4x4 5D" with a 5-door station wagon body.

History of the model

The idea of creating a cross-country vehicle for rural residents appeared in 1969. At that time, prototypes of the Izh-14 and Moskvich-415 vehicles already existed, but they were not launched into serial production. In 1970, Alexey Kosygin (chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR) set the task for automakers to create a comfortable SUV.


Since 1971, technical advice on choosing a concept for a new car began, and in 1972, the first prototype was manufactured. The car was immediately made as unified as possible with other Zhiguli. The exterior design was similar to an ordinary passenger car, and the interior was almost completely identical VAZ-2106. In 1972, several prototypes were created for road tests under the name VAZ-E2121, and in 1973, preparations for serial production began.

For large-scale road tests in 1974, 15 cars were produced, and in 1975 another 50. Before the start of mass production, they were tested both at testing grounds and on the roads of the country, including a motor rally to the Urals and the Pre-Urals. To compare off-road and comfortable characteristics, the car was tested in comparison with the domestic UAZ-496 and the British Range Rover. In 1975, an order was signed to begin production.

In 1977, the conveyor capacity was 25 thousand cars per year, then 70 thousand per year, and by 1981 the capacity was 70 thousand per year. About 80% of the production at that time was sent for export. In the USSR, the car was not in great demand due to its high price, high fuel consumption and small interior. After the price was reduced in 1985, the Niva gradually began to conquer the domestic market. As of 2013, about 2 million cars were produced.

Vehicle specifications

The body of the "Niva" is a 3- or 5-door "station wagon", with a 4- or 5-speed transmission and permanent all-wheel drive, operating through a two-speed transfer case located in the middle of the car, as well as the ability to lock the interaxle differential. There is no interwheel differential lock. Ground clearance (clearance) is 220 mm, which, together with short body overhangs, makes the car very passable off-road.

At first, the car was equipped with an in-line four-cylinder carburetor engine from VAZ-2106 1.6 liters with 80 hp and 116 Nm torque. The next modification of the VAZ-21213 was equipped with a 1.7 liter carburetor engine with 82 hp and 126 Nm torque.

In 1979, the Niva was awarded the USSR State Quality Mark. In 1978, the car was recognized as the best in its class at an international exhibition in the Czech city of Brno.

VAZ-2131, back view

VAZ-2131, interior

VAZ-2131, trunk

Main modifications of VAZ-2121

• VAZ-2121 "Niva" - a basic model with a 1.6-liter engine with a capacity of 80 hp. In 1976, a pilot batch of these cars was released;
• VAZ-21211 "Niva" — the first industrial modification of the Soviet SUV (1977-1987);
• VAZ-21211 (Lada Niva 1.3) — export modification with a 1.3-liter engine with a power of 69 hp. Produced since 1978;
• VAZ-21212 (Lada Niva 4x4) — export modification with right-hand drive;
• VAZ-21213 — with a redesigned rear end with a lower loading height, a more powerful 1.7-liter engine with 82 hp with a Solex carburetor, contactless ignition system and a 5-speed manual transmission. The interior and instrument panel were also updated;
• VAZ-21214 (Lada 4x4) is a modification of the VAZ-21213 model with a 1.7-liter engine with 83 hp and central fuel injection.
• Lada 4x4M is an updated version of Lada 4x4. Changes occurred during the period 2009-2011. Lighting devices, interior upholstery, transmission and rear suspension were updated. Power steering on all models. Some components are unified with the car Chevrolet Niva;
• VAZ-21215 — export version with diesel engine Peugeot XUD 9SD (1999-2007);
• VAZ-21216 is an export version of VAZ-21213 with right-hand drive and a carburetor engine;
• VAZ-21217 is an export version of the VAZ-21213 model, with a 1.6-liter engine;
• VAZ-21219 — transitional modification with body, interior and suspension from VAZ-2121, 1.7 liter engine and transmission from VAZ-21213 (1993-1994);
• VAZ-2121B - armored cash-in-transit vehicle based on VAZ-2121 (1992-1993);
• VAZ-2121F-export commercial vehicle based on VAZ-2121 and 21213 with a "wagon" type body (rear part of the cabin in the form of a cargo compartment);
• Lada 4x4 "Lynx" - a small-scale model of the Lada 4x4 car for hunters;
• Lada 4x4 Urban — differs from Lada 4x4 in bumpers, radiator grille, steering wheel, air conditioning, electric mirrors and electric windows. Produced since October 2014;
• Lada 4x4 Fora (VAZ-212180 "Fora") - a small-scale version of the 21213 model extended by 30 cm (1996-2011);
• Lada 4x4 Force (VAZ-212182 "Force") is an armored cash-in-transit version of the VAZ-21218 model;
• Lada 4x4 Landole (VAZ-212183 "Landole") - a car with an open body;
• VAZ-2129 "Kedr" - a small-scale model extended by 50 cm based on the standard VAZ-21213 and became the basis for the five-door model VAZ-2131;
• VAZ-2129 "Utiliter" - a commercial modification of "Kedr" without a back seat and barred rear side windows;
• VAZ-2130 "Kedr 2" - a small-scale modification of the VAZ-2129 with a modified interior layout (1993-1994);
• VAZ-2131 (Lada 4x4 5D) — a five-door model based on the VAZ-21213 (21214), extended by 50 cm. It was produced in the AvtoVAZ Pilot Industrial Production (1995-2015), and then production was transferred to the main conveyor. As of 2016, over 150 thousand VAZ-2131s have been produced, making it the second most popular in the classic "Niva" family;
• VAZ-2131 SP (-05, -45) - ambulance based on VAZ-2131 with a rear overhang increased by 300 millimeters and a high roof;
• VAZ-2131-02 (-22, -42) is a "civilian" five-door version of the ambulance model VAZ-2131-05 with a regular five-seat interior.