Which is better: UAZ or Niva? The eternal dispute

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Published: November 22, 2018

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Everyone knows that the quality of roads in Russia is not very good. And if you go a little further than the city, off-road conditions begin altogether. And only serious crossovers and SUVs, such as Land Cruisers, Range Rovers and other jeeps, are suitable for off-road use.

True, such cars cost a lot of money. Therefore, today we will look at more affordable SUVs from a domestic manufacturer. We’ll also find out which car is better off-road: Niva or UAZ. We will compare the UAZ Hunter, the Russian Gelendvagen with the popular 3-door Niva 4x4.

• Purpose of UAZ and Niva
• Technical characteristics of Niva and UAZ
• Engines
• UAZ or Niva: differences in suspension design
• Which car is better off-road?
• Prices for Niva and UAZ
• So which car should you choose?

Purpose of UAZ and Niva

An important factor is that the UAZ Hunter was originally created as an army vehicle. It has a reliable frame design. Then it was called UAZ 469, people call it “goat” or “bobby” to this day.

As for the Niva, it was created as a civilian car. It has a different design - without a frame, and the body is load-bearing. But the main purpose of the Niva is driving on broken country roads and in places where there are no roads at all.

Since the UAZ is a military vehicle, it has less comfort than the Niva, but its off-road qualities are slightly higher. The frame design demonstrates its advantages off-road.

UAZ Hunter - a classic of the SUV genre in Russian design

Since the development of this UAZ, little has changed in it. The company did some work with the exterior, brought the interior closer to more modern standards and received a lot of positive customer reviews. However, the UAZ Hunter retained the same engine with minor modifications. The company supplemented the updated model with a diesel unit and a slightly different transfer case. However, Hunter has many significant advantages:

• classic design that inspires confidence, brutal masculine appearance of an SUV;
• excellent frame design, as well as very high ground clearance, allowing you to drive on any road;
• there is a choice of engines - a diesel or gasoline unit, but you can’t expect power from them;
• the ability to implement the most daring improvements, engineering and design additions.

The reliability of the car is quite high, and the thickness of the metal body is also impressive. UAZ Hunter is in demand among lovers of outdoor activities, fishing, hunting and traveling on uncharted roads. However, the car provides quite adequate comfort when driving on asphalt roads. True, I would like to get a little more power. The price of 360 thousand rubles looks very attractive to buyers.

Technical characteristics of Niva and UAZ

The VAZ Niva weighs less, and in general it’s difficult to call such a compact car an SUV; the Niva is a compact 3-door crossover with increased cross-country ability. The Niva's weight is only 1850 kg, and its ground clearance is 22 cm. Hunter's ground clearance is 21 cm.

UAZ Hunter is a classic frame 5-door SUV with springs. Its height is more than 2 meters, which is 40 cm more than that of the Niva. The weight of the UAZ, depending on the configuration, exceeds 2.5 tons. The heavy weight of a car can be both an advantage and a disadvantage.

It will also be interesting to read: Toyota SUVs: model range and characteristics

In skillful hands, such a jeep will cling better to solid soil, but in inept hands, such a heavy jeep can easily bury itself. Despite the number of doors, both Hunter and Niva can easily accommodate 5 passengers along with the driver. But, it is clear that disembarkation and embarkation of passengers is more convenient in the UAZ.

Ride quality and maneuverability

Both cars are not intended for racing. Niva cannot boast of high dynamics - its engine is not designed for racing. However, the car goes through road bumps softly and smoothly, which is good news. But you shouldn’t expect miracles off-road. Therefore, if someone is wondering which is better in terms of off-road capability - the UAZ or the Niva, then there is no need to think - they should take the UAZ.

It's hard to say which is better - Niva or UAZ Patriot. You cannot compare these machines - they are initially different and intended for different purposes. Those who prefer more compact sizes choose Niva. Dirt lovers choose Patriot.

Engines

Under the hood of the UAZ there is a 2.7-liter 128-horsepower engine. The Niva has a 1.7-liter engine with a power of 83 hp. With. Despite the fact that the Niva’s engine is not as powerful, it accelerates faster than the Hunter. Niva reaches the first and last hundred in 19 seconds, and Hunter in 35.

In addition, the fuel consumption of the Niva is less than that of the Hunter. In the combined cycle, the Niva has 8.3 liters of gasoline, and the Hunter - 13 liters per 100 km.

As for the gearbox, both cars have a 5-speed manual transmission. The Niva has permanent all-wheel drive, and the UAZ has rear-wheel drive, but you can also connect the front wheels. Also, the Lada Niva also has a center differential lock, this can be considered a serious advantage that allows you to increase the vehicle’s cross-country ability.

Niva Urban - a new generation of an old SUV

The AvtoVAZ concern reacted quite passively to requests for updating the good old Niva, offering either a new shape of the steering wheel or minor and invisible changes in the interior. But last year, a new product thundered - Niva Urban, which the concern positioned as an excellent solution for lovers of off-road vehicles. The car can be used both off-road, receiving all the advantages of a regular Niva, and in the city. The main features of the Urban model are as follows:

• the same 1.7-liter engine and 83 horsepower became a definite disappointment for potential buyers;
• the concern offered several new designs, changed the exterior in some details, and added modernity;
• the new wheels look very attractive, this has become an important replacement in the appearance of the car;
• all the functions of the SUV remain intact, you will be able to conquer any obstacles;
• The interior has become more comfortable; you can operate the Niva Urban in city or highway mode.

Of course, a consumption of 10 liters per hundred kilometers will not please the buyer. In the urban cycle, this car consumes up to 14 liters per hundred. The outdated power unit clearly needs to be replaced and thoughtfully updated. However, while there are no options for updating the power plant, the company sells the Niva Urban SUV, which has slightly changed its appearance, for 445,000 rubles in the basic version, which is quite bearable under the current circumstances. We invite you to look at the capabilities of the old UAZ and Niva in really extreme conditions in the following video:

UAZ or Niva: differences in suspension design

The UAZ Hunter has a dependent leaf spring suspension, which is distinguished by its reliability when driving on mud and stones, but on the other hand, there is a complete lack of comfort. That is why this car is called the “goat”.

Below is a video about how a UAZ overcomes a puddle:

Compared to the Hunter, the ride on the Niva is softer, since the suspension here is different: independent in the front and dependent in the rear. In addition, the Niva also has power steering, ABS brakes and emergency brake assist.

The interior has a fabric interior and power accessories have been added to the front doors, but otherwise the car remains the same as it was 20 years ago. Among the options is only a cigarette lighter, and what else is needed for a comfortable ride on the harsh Russian off-road.

It will also be interesting to read: UAZ Patriot SUV characteristics

As for the UAZ Hunter, its finishing is even more modest, but there is an opportunity to make tuning based on your taste preferences. Typically, Hunter owners purchase a winch, a protective bumper or a guardrail, and also install an additional trunk or gas tank. Since this is an off-road vehicle, it is usually made as functional as possible for off-road driving.

UAZ Hunter reviews

UAZ Hunter 2000 reviews

Name:
City:
Ulan-Ude Hunter, 2000, 2400 cc.
see, Gasoline, Transmission, All-wheel drive Pros:
both a foreign car and a growing auto industry in one
Cons:
few spare parts
What was repaired:
no,

UAZ Hunter 2007 reviews

Name:

4039966
City:
Krasnoyarsk Hunter, 2007, 2700 cc.
see, Gasoline, Transmission, All-wheel drive Pros:
High cross-country ability
Cons:
Fuel consumption, lack of comfort in the cabin
What was repaired:
Cardan crosses, timing sensors, crankshaft position sensor.

Name:

Ivanov VLADIMIR
City:
Turochak Hunter, 2007, 2700 cubic meters.
see, Gasoline, Transmission, All-wheel drive Pros:
Huge margin of safety.
You won't find a better car for fishing and hunting at a similar price. Cons:
Quite hard and minimal comfort.
For Oskets!!! What was repaired:
The pump blades dissolved, after three years of its operation resulting in overheating of the engine and capital at 182,000 km.

Name:

12521935
City:
Novosibirsk Hunter, 2007, 2200 cc.
see, Diesel, Transmission, All-wheel drive Pros:
Low fuel consumption. Doesn't get hot in hot weather. Good cross-country ability.
Cons:
You can't heat it up in cold weather. It leaks in the front when it rains.

Name:

123
City:
Yugorsk Hunter, 2007, 2200 cc.
see, Diesel, Transmission, All-wheel drive Pros:
Moving like a tank

Name:

6760459
City:
Chita Hunter, 2007, 2900 cc.
see, Gasoline, Transmission, All-wheel drive Pros:
Unpretentious, passable and warm.
Cons:
When it rains, it runs along the junction of the roof and the body and fogs up.
What was repaired:
Bendix (47 thousand km.) Clutch replacement (65 thousand km.)

Name:
City:
Khabarovsk Hunter, 2007, 2700 cc.
see, Gasoline, Transmission, All-wheel drive Pros:
Inexpensive maintenance and cost of tuning and spare parts
Cons:
Poor sound insulation of the interior
What was repaired:
No

Name:

Nikolay
City:
Khabary Hunter, 2007, 2700 cc.
see, Gasoline, Transmission, All-wheel drive Pros:
helps out always and everywhere
Cons:
loves gasoline
What was repaired:
this is a Russian car

Name:

8184251
City:
Tomsk Hunter, 2007, 2200 cc.
see, Diesel, Transmission, All-wheel drive Pros:
maintainable and reliable

Name:
City:
Leninsky Hunter, 2007, 2200 cc.
see, Diesel, Transmission, All-wheel drive Pros:
UAZ has high-speed modern axles and a powerful diesel engine.
Cons:
Russian military clumsy car, if you buy a new one, you have to put your hands in everything and not trust the dealer and car dealerships with car services.
What was repaired:
during the entire period there were no breakdowns. Only bugs quickly crawl on the body; it needs to be treated (shedded) every year before winter.

UAZ Hunter 2008 reviews

Name:

SIA
City:
Yakutsk Hunter, 2008, 2700 cc.
see, Gasoline, Box, All-wheel drive Pros:
A real tank outside the city
Cons:
Noise insulation, but this can be fixed

Name:

5844173
City:
Irkutsk Hunter, 2008, 2700 cc.
see, Gasoline, Transmission, All-wheel drive Pros:
not unpretentious, passable. only positive emotions.. but the housing problem outweighed the desire to ride it.. if I take a car for the forest, only a hunter

Name:

Fedor
City:
Novosibirsk Hunter, 2008, 2700 cc.
see, Gasoline, Transmission, All-wheel drive Cons:
Expensive to maintain, constantly requires investment

Name:

Miklosh
City:
Zlatoust Hunter, 2008, 2700 cc.
see, Gasoline, Transmission, All-wheel drive Pros:
Very comfortable when driving on the highway, excellent performance, good power reserve.
The car is very durable, round-the-clock and year-round operation on forest roads and off-road and by different drivers was successful. Mileage 425,000 km. Disadvantages:
Ergonomics, arrangement of instruments, lack of a tachometer, in summer the heat in the cabin comes from the floor, under which the heated air from the internal combustion engine and radiator is forced at speed.
What was repaired:
Probably I am the rear axle, thanks to the “DRIVER” (you need to keep an eye on the oil and elevators)

Name:

2762696
City:
Novosibirsk Hunter, 2008, 2700 cc.
see, Transmission, All-wheel drive Pros:
Cross-country ability
Cons:
None)))))

Name:

Rinat
City:
Kazan Hunter, 2008, 2700 cc.
see, Diesel, Transmission, All-wheel drive Pros:
Economical and very reliable tank
Cons:
Window glass
What was repaired:
Nothing

Name:

Rusinov Anton Viktorovich
City:
Strezhevoy Hunter, 2008, 2700 cubic meters.
see, Gasoline, Transmission, All-wheel drive Pros:
Cross-country ability, unpretentiousness
Cons:
Too simple interior, cold stove

Name:

serge
City:
Kochki Hunter, 2008, 2700 cc.
see, Gasoline, Transmission, All-wheel drive Pros:
timely and complete maintenance

Minuses:

fuel consumption and lack of engine power

Name:

Valery
City:
Khanty-Mansiysk Hunter, 2008, 2700 cc.
see, Gasoline, Transmission, All-wheel drive Pros:
Drives wherever you want
Cons:
Poor interior
What was repaired:
Current faults typical for UAZ. Easily fixable

UAZ Hunter 2009 reviews

Name:

15837630
City:
Tyumen Hunter, 2009, 2700 cc.
see, Gasoline, Transmission, All-wheel drive Pros:
Passable.

Name:

Dimitry
City:
Dalnegorsk Hunter, 2009, 2700 cc.
see, Gasoline, Transmission, All-wheel drive Pros:
consumption 10 liters per hundred in mixed mode 13.8 liters
Cons:
clumsy work
What was repaired:
no major breakdowns, generator at 200 thousand km

Name:

12725511
City:
Sayanogorsk Hunter, 2009, 2700 cc.
see, Gasoline, Transmission, All-wheel drive Pros:
Cross-country ability, reliability
Cons:
Price of spare parts and their quality
What was repaired:
That

Name:

9668858
City:
Tyumen Hunter, 2009, 2200 cc.
see, Diesel, Transmission, All-wheel drive Pros:
Easy to maintain.
Cons:
Expensive parts

Name:

8697395
City:
Abakan Hunter, 2009, 2700 cubic meters.
see, Gasoline, Transmission, All-wheel drive Pros:
cross-country ability, maintainability
Cons:
lack of anti-corrosion treatment

Name:

8608513
City:
Yakutsk Hunter, 2009, 2700 cubic meters.
see, Gasoline, Transmission, All-wheel drive Pros:
Passable
Cons:
Often breaks
What was repaired:
None

Name:

Vladimir
City:
Boguchany Hunter, 2009, 2700 cc.
see, Gasoline, Transmission, All-wheel drive Pros:
Not a problem in the forest.
Cons:
Not a cruiser.
What was repaired:
The interior is very noisy at 130.

Name:

Artem Viktorovich
City:
Abakan Hunter, 2009, 2700 cubic meters.
see, Gasoline, Transmission, All-wheel drive Pros:
Excellent Russian car, especially the power of the 409 engine
Cons:
weak cardan shafts
What was repaired:
no

Name:

Airborne Forces
City:
Kyzyl Hunter, 2009, 2400 cubic meters.
see, Gasoline, Transmission, All-wheel drive What was repaired:
Auto rocket!

Name:

Dmitry
City:
Tara Hunter, 2009, 2700 cc.
see, Gasoline, Transmission, All-wheel drive Pros:
Good cross-country ability, strong roof, withstands large impacts and the driver and passengers remain alive and without injury.

Name:
City:
Vilyuisk Hunter, 2009, 2700 cc.
see, Gasoline, Transmission, All-wheel drive Pros:
Passable
Cons:
consumes a lot of gasoline

Which car is better off-road?

Over the years of the existence of these cars, many tests were carried out, where Niva and UAZ vehicles showed themselves in action. By the way, here is a video about off-road driving with the participation of Niva and Hunter:

But as practice shows, in all tests a lot depends on the gasket between the seat and the steering wheel, and on its experience. Another important factor is what tires are installed on the car. If the cars have approximately the same tires, and approximately the same drivers behind the wheel, then they will show approximately similar results on off-road, that is, they will drive equally far into the forest.

The most important thing to remember when overcoming off-road conditions is that it is important not to sit on your belly or on bridges, that is, not to allow the car to bury itself. If you feel that the wheels are starting to slip and the car is standing still, then there is no need to continue pressing on the gas. We must try to go backwards, then forward again. In general, you need to be smart and not stupidly press the gas to the floor in the hope that the car will pass quietly. Much, of course, depends on the specific situation.

By the way, thanks to its lighter weight, the Niva has a greater chance of not getting stuck.

Bottom line

What to choose? In any case, be sure to test cars before purchasing. It is also important to understand why you are buying an SUV: if you plan to spend a lot of time driving around the city and on paved roads, it is better to choose a Niva, as well as if you do not want to feel every bump and hole in Russian destinations with your whole body.

The cross-country ability of these representatives of domestic classics is at a high level, but if you still want a little more dynamics, choose the Niva, but keep in mind that it will not accelerate more than 135 km/h.

Please note that it is very difficult to drive a Niva 2121 or a UAZ as an everyday car; it is still better to use them for forays into nature.

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Prices for Niva and UAZ

Lada Niva is cheaper than UAZ Hunter. If we consider new cars, the Niva costs 465,000 rubles, and the Hunter costs 609,000 rubles. There are promotions when the basic configuration of the UAZ Hunter is sold for 490,000 rubles. There are also more advanced configurations - “Pobednaya”, which costs 670,000 rubles, but with a promotion it can be purchased for 550,000. There is also an off-road “Trophy” series, it costs the same.

It will also be interesting to read: Toyota Land Cruiser Prado 2018 new model with updated design

But the cost of these cars on the secondary market is approximately the same; you can find good options even up to 100,000 rubles. So if you suddenly decide to go hunting or fishing, then you can take a Niva or UAZ with mileage and feel free to use them for these purposes. As for the trunk capacity, Hunter’s is clearly larger, so there will be room to put trophies.

But we must remember that these cars have long been obsolete, they do not use any modern technologies, which is quite sad and not interesting. But for driving through mud, hunting or fishing trips, these are the best options; you don’t even mind drowning these cars in the mud. Of course, if we are talking about old and inexpensive used cars.

For those who want to see something modern in their Niva, it makes sense to take a closer look at the Chevrolet Niva or the new Niva Urban. Another good thing about Niva and UAZ vehicles is that there are no problems with spare parts and repairs. Any more or less experienced service station employee knows how to repair these cars.

Formation of complete sets

In this parameter, SUVs are not fundamentally different from each other. As a rule, everything corresponds to the standard scheme in the domestic automobile industry.

UAZ Patriot equipment

The basic set of options is called Classic and includes the following:

• bumpers are not painted;
• stamped wheels R16;
• seat headrests;
• floor mats in the cabin and trunk;
• power steering;
• central locking.

The average Comfort package is complemented by R16 alloy wheels, audio systems with two speakers, standard alarm, electric front windows, heated rear window and rear-view mirrors, as well as fog lights in the front bumper. The Limited's top-of-the-line option package adds air conditioning, a spoiler, and heated front seats.

Chevrolet Niva configurations

The basic one is simply called: L. It includes the following options:

• security system with central locking and immobilizer;
• steering wheel height adjustment;
• electric front windows;
• power steering;
• fabric interior;
• side rear-view mirrors are unpainted, but are equipped with electric drive and heating;
• full-size spare tire;
• heated feet for rear passengers;
• headlight range control and some other little things.

The LC package is complemented by air conditioning.

And the top-end GLS modification also includes a combined interior trim, lighting for rear passengers, aluminum trim throughout the cabin, audio equipment with two speakers and a remote antenna. There are also heated front seats, body-colored side mirrors and door handles, roof rails, P16 alloy wheels, isothermal glass and an aluminum bracket for mounting a spare wheel.

UAZ Hunter equipment

For this SUV, due to its asceticism, everything is even simpler, since there are only two main options: basic and top-end. The database includes the following set of options:

• five sets of seat belts;
• stamped steel wheels R16;
• hydraulic power steering;
• cigarette lighter;
• hydrocorrector of headlights;
• Interior trim in washable fabric.

The top-end equipment does not stand out in anything special, except that it is complemented by fog lights and some changes in appearance: nothing drastic, just linings.

Salon and trunk

Finishing the comparison of the Lada Niva Travel and UAZ Patriot, one cannot help but dwell on the interior decoration and free space of the cabin of each of the models. In addition, you must take into account the available volume in the trunk, allowing you to transport cargo.

Speaking about each of the models, it should be noted that the interior decoration uses not the highest quality materials, which emphasize the budget status of SUVs. In the interior of the Lada Niva Travel, only a multimedia system control display can be noted, but it is available exclusively in the top-end equipment version. Exactly the same can be said about the capabilities of the UAZ Patriot.

It is surprising that the management of AvtoVAZ did not decide to qualitatively update the interior decoration of the Lada Niva Travel, especially considering the radical change in the appearance of the SUV. The obviously outdated interior, which was also reserved for the model called Chevrolet Niva, has not gone away and significantly worsens the perception of the car, especially after the pleasant impressions of car enthusiasts associated with its updated appearance.

An important indicator in the characteristics of off-road models is the capacity of their luggage compartment. When going on a trip out of town, you definitely need to put a lot of useful items in your car that you can’t do without. Therefore, the undoubted advantage of the car is its spacious trunk. In this case, the advantage goes to the UAZ Patriot model, which can accommodate cargo up to 2415 liters. In comparison with the “tiny” 650 liters of the Lada Niva Travel, this figure is phenomenal.

Advantages of Niva

The domestic SUV Niva, and in modern configuration Lada 4x4, has a number of positive qualities:

1. Buying a Niva will undoubtedly save the budget for fans of SUVs, because it costs an order of magnitude cheaper than its closest foreign analogues. In addition, it is worth considering operating costs; many Niva spare parts are similar to parts of many domestic cars.
2. When developing the Niva, the peculiarities of the Russian climate are also taken into account, and especially winter inconveniences such as ice, snowdrifts or uneven roads. On the Niva you can get to any destination - fishing, to the countryside or to nature.
3. Niva is an excellent option for driving alone or together. Even despite the horror stories about the heavy steering wheel, many women feel quite confident behind it.
4. As a passenger car, the Niva handles confidently on city streets in traffic, especially since it won’t be possible to accelerate more than 120 km/h in the city.