Content
- "Chevrolet Niva" and "Lada Niva": comparison of differences
- Safety and comfort "Niv"
- LADA 4×4 and Chevrolet Niva off-road
- What is more difficult and more expensive to maintain: Chevrolet Niva or Lada 4x4
- Resale choice: what sellers offer
- Problems of old people in the secondary market
- What to buy: Niva or Chevrolet Niva
Standard comparisons of “father and son” or “grandfather and grandson” will not apply to these cars: there is not such a large time gap between Tolyatti SUVs. They are more like brothers. The traditional lack of development budgets for the late nineties led to the fact that instead of a full-fledged second generation of the Niva, we received a heavily modernized first one, albeit with a different nameplate on the hood. However, there will still be quite a lot of differences. Let's talk about them.
Necessary improvements
SUV owners usually prepare their vehicle for off-road use. The Chevrolet Niva in question was no exception. Stas told us what he changed in the car so that the Chevrolet Niva could use its full potential:
- Reinforced cardan shafts and reinforced axle thrust rods were installed;
- A 5-inch body lift was performed using non-standard springs;
- 29" wheels for dirt are installed. The turning radius of the car has increased, making it harder for the engine to turn the wheels. It is necessary to install a 4.3 main pair instead of the standard 3.9 - this will compensate for the load on the engine due to the large wheels;
- Installed HBO to save fuel. Gas consumption is approximately 13 liters per hundred. Gasoline is consumed the same way. But gas costs about 22 rubles, and gasoline - 40 rubles per liter of 1992;
- An expeditionary trunk, or rather a platform, was installed. The spare tire has been moved to the top. When the spare tire is installed normally, the door hinges quickly sag. Some people make a special “gate” for the spare tire.
Like any other car, the Shniva has weaknesses. We'll talk about them further.
"Chevrolet Niva" and "Lada Niva": comparison of differences
Officially, since 2004, it, of course, was and is called LADA 4x4, but it still continues to be called simply “Niva” from old memory. Because legal subtleties and copyrights are far from the common man.
And this is fair, because both Nivas have a related chassis, a related transmission and a confusingly similar 1.7 liter engine. They were even modernized, plus or minus together or one after another: the rear suspension mounting points were changed, the cardan shafts were equipped with CV joints, and noise and vibration insulation was improved.
But, despite the commonality of the initial base and modifications, there are many differences. So, the Chevrolet Niva has a different engine mount, a different oil pan, and an original intake tract. The transmission control is different: the LADA 4×4 has three transfer case levers in the cabin, while the Shniva has two. It’s just that in the original, the activation of the lowering and the locking of the center diff are assigned to different levers, while in the later successor they are hung on one.
Also read: Test drive Lada 4×4: Urban does not mean urban
Advantages and disadvantages of the Chevrolet Niva
In the modern car market, the main competitors of Niva Chevrolet are considered to be Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, Kia Sorento and Ssang Yong . All models have the same technical specifications. The Chevrolet Niva differs from them in the size of the engine compartment, interior and interior design.
Advantages of a domestic SUV:
- increased cross-country ability;
- a significant distance from the bottom to the ground allows you to overcome ruts of different depths;
- long service life of the suspension and other chassis parts;
- light weight;
- capacity is ensured due to the length of the wheelbase: the car is designed to transport 5 people and large cargo (to increase the size of the luggage compartment, the rear seats are lowered).
Safety and comfort "Niv"
The main differences between the two “grandfathers” lie not so much in technology, but in comfort and safety options. For example, LADA 4×4 still does not have seat belt pretensioners, and air conditioning appeared in the list of options only after 2014 with the release of the Urban version.
The 4x4 interior is dramatically inferior to the Niva in terms of visuals and comfort. Firstly, even after all the upgrades, it looks like 1977. Secondly, it’s cramped, narrow, and noisy. The Shniva is also not exactly a Mercedes, but the 2009 restyling from the Bertone studio at least brought its interior closer to the standards accepted in low-cost cars: a three-spoke steering wheel, cup holders, more or less ergonomic chairs, and more recently and the media system with navigation is still ultra-budget and Togliatti, but it no longer looks shameful.
The two brothers are greatly distinguished by the number of modifications - both factory and not so. Chevrolet Niva is a non-alternative five-door body; 4×4 already comes in three- and five-door versions from the factory. And also - a pickup truck, a van, an all-terrain vehicle. And this is not counting semi-amateur crafts like mobile homes.
The Chevrolet Niva can only boast of factory tuning like the Winter Edition and SE trim levels, which comes down mainly to different bumpers, special paint, wheels and a standard snorkel.
Also read: Chevrolet Niva - from dirt to city. One owner experience
Test Drive
Years don't matter
The Russian all-terrain vehicle has been sitting on the assembly line for many years without any special changes in appearance. However, its design does not become outdated and is still attractive.
It is worth noting the rounded headlight optics, expressive bumpers with nice stampings, a laconic radiator grille, as well as roof rails.
LADA 4×4 and Chevrolet Niva off-road
If you compare the differences between the two old men off-road, you need to approach this issue from two sides:
- if we compare production models;
- when comparing modified models.
The serial ones are identical in cross-country ability, plus or minus, with the difference that the short-wheelbase (2.2 m) three-door is more mobile and flexible off-road than the Niva with its 2.47 meters between the axles. But their transmission and engine limits are close.
But as for the modified versions, there is an endless field of experiments: a Niva on “toothy” wheels will go much further than a 4x4 on standard road wheels. A LADA 4×4 with a snorkel will sail where the factory Niva will stand. And, on the contrary: a Niva with a winch will crawl out of places where an unfinished 4x4 won’t even approach.
In the case of non-factory options, off-road tuning elements begin to play a key role, and the list of differences tends to infinity.
Also read: The Germans about the Lada 4X4: “The car has one name…”
What is more difficult and more expensive to maintain: Chevrolet Niva or Lada 4x4
Same. With a plus or minus note. The market price for the front bumper of the 4x4 Urban is 6,990 rubles, for the Shniva - 6,990 rubles. A windshield for a 4x4 costs around 2,450 rubles, for a Niva – 2,100-2,700 rubles. Bosch oil filter - 318 rubles for 4x4 and 426 rubles for Niva. Complete engine - 66-93 thousand rubles for both.
In general, owning them in everyday life costs about the same amount of money. If you exploit it to the fullest - in the taiga - then there are possible options that are impossible to calculate: everything is too individual.
Servicing a LADA 4×4 will be insignificant, but more expensive if we are dealing with a new or just a warranty car: its maintenance regulations require more frequent visits to the dealer - once every 10 thousand km, versus 15 thousand km for the Niva. As a result, over three years of ownership (or 30 thousand kilometers), LADA 4x4 will require four service visits and maintenance for 28,600 rubles, Niva - three visits and 22,100 rubles (manufacturer prices for September 2020).
Also read: UAZ Hunter was tested in Japan: what impressions did the Russian SUV leave?
Resale choice: what sellers offer
The choice of aftermarket cars is rich: 4,000 Chevrolets and 7,500 4x4s. After all, the original Niva has been on the assembly line for more than 40 years, Niva for almost twenty. With an eye on trouble-free driving every day, of course, you need to look at the latest options. All the factory modifications are screwed in there, of which there are quite a few. There is minimal mileage and the most advanced equipment. In the case of LADA 4×4, let me remind you, this is an air conditioner, in the case of Niva it is a media system.
If you dig around and look for exotics, you can find pre-restyling Chevrolet Niva with an experimental 1.8 liter, 122 hp engine. With. from Opel. Now it’s almost a museum rarity, the number of offers on the market barely exceeds a dozen, but it’s worth it: it has a much better interior (with seats made by the same Opel) and a Japanese Aisin transmission. And it’s inexpensive: the rare Niva Fam1 can be found ranging from 260 to 500 thousand rubles. True, the mileage is corresponding: 200-300 thousand km each.
But mostly, of course, there will be simpler cars - with the native Tolyatti 1.7 liter. And you have to choose meticulously: there are no two identical copies (just as there were none even when they came off the assembly line).
Also read: Chinese “SUV” at the price of “Niva”: review of Lifan X60 I (before restyling)
Installing a diesel engine in a field
One of the available options is the independent installation of a diesel engine on the Niva. To do this, you can use the services of large tuning studios or private professionals who modify cars. You can also install a diesel engine on a Niva yourself if you have some experience and specialized tools.
In the process of selecting a diesel unit, many people wonder which diesel engine to put on the Niva. There are a sufficient number of diesel engines that can be installed on this car. Diesel engines of Japanese and European brands are most often installed on Niva with their own hands. The main requirement is the suitable physical dimensions of the power unit for placement in the engine compartment of the Niva.
The need to make changes to the design begins with the mounting features of the diesel engine. The second nuance is the increase in load on the front axle after installing a diesel internal combustion engine on the Niva, since an engine of this type is often heavier. For this reason, it is necessary to further strengthen both the suspension and the body after placing the engine. Almost always, the standard gearbox will also need to be replaced.
The list of general changes to the design of the Niva for a diesel engine includes: replacement of front engine mounts, modified sump, changes to the exhaust system. The engine cooling system is also subject to modernization. The cooling radiator is often changed (a radiator from a GAZ Gazelle car is suitable).
Changes are also being made to the chassis, individual elements are replaced with reinforced ones. For a regular Niva, they can be borrowed from Niva-Chevrolet. As for the operation of diesel engines, it is separately recommended to install a diesel fuel heating system.
The easiest option for replacing an engine for a Niva car is the Peugeot xud9sd diesel engine. The main advantage of this diesel engine is its fastenings, which are similar to the standard gasoline unit. This feature greatly simplifies the installation of a diesel engine on the Niva. Also, the Peugeot XUD9SD does not require a mandatory change of gearbox, allowing you to use the original VAZ gearbox.
You can also install a Peugeot diesel engine with the xud 11 index on the Niva, but in this case the gearbox will need to be changed. The VAZ gearbox with this engine will not last long. The solution is a gearbox from the Fiat Polonez model. Additionally, you will need to install another clutch. No less often, diesel engines from Japanese cars are installed on the Niva.
The best option would be a diesel engine and gearbox, which were originally designed to work in tandem. In this case, the task is simplified due to the correspondence of all attachment points, as well as the coincidence of the axes of the internal combustion engine and transmission shafts. This approach eliminates difficulties in the process of combining a diesel engine and gearbox, and also significantly increases the service life of the associated components. There is no need to calculate what torque a particular gearbox with different diesel engines can withstand.
- Which diesel engine to install on GAZelle and UAZ
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- Diesel engine efficiency | Why is diesel efficiency higher?
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- Breather oil: cause and solution to the problem
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Causes of noises and knocks when operating a gasoline engine in different modes. Detonation, knocking of hydraulic compensators, ignition faults and other reasons.
- Power increase unit: chip box for diesel internal combustion engine
Diesel engine power increase module. Types of chip boxes, features of connection and operation of these blocks. Advantages and disadvantages of a tuning box.
Read news about the new Niva
- Chevrolet Niva 2021 NOW IN RUSSIA! new body configuration and prices photo, video test drive
- Updated SsangYong Rexton SUV: richer, more powerful and with a different automatic transmission - KOLESA.ru - automobile magazine
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Problems of old people in the secondary market
Most problems at the start can be identified by checking the operating history. Here, for example, is a nice option: not the most record-breaking mileage, bargaining is announced at the hood.
And there will be plenty of reasons to bargain. At a minimum, because the car is broken.
And it was seriously beaten - from the front and from the side.
In general, let’s move on right away and see what the owners of Shnivy offer.
And again the report from avtocod.ru tells us not to waste time and move on immediately.
Firstly, the car has a lot of owners and a duplicate title - it is very worn. Secondly, the mileage is covered. Thirdly, there is a ban on registration actions on the car. We don’t even waste time on inspection and look further.
Also read: Lada Xray: the whole truth from the owner’s lips
