© JAMES TAYLOR
Editor: Land Rover Enthusiast Magazine

Background

The Lada Niva was designed for heavy-duty use in the inhospitable regions of the former Soviet Union during the Seventies, and was only later adapted as a fun and leisure vehicle to suit European market trends in the Eighties and Nineties. With that in mind, it is easier to understand the background to this vehicle, which is quite a remarkable one in many ways.

The most interesting features of the Niva are its chassisless construction (still rare in the 4x4 world) and the fact that it came with permanent four-wheel drive and coil spring suspension at a time when only the Range Rover offered such features. Its low cost quickly helped it to achieve popularity in Britain, and the importers have also offered van versions alongside the standard three-door estate.

The first Nivas to reach the UK were left-hand drive examples, which were imported as long ago as 1978. Some were converted to right-hand drive in Britain, but imports of right-hand drive models did not begin until 1983. To improve the Niva's market image (always handicapped by its association with the Lada cars which are the butt of so many jokes), the importers followed up with the better-equipped Cossack model, which featured a number of UK sourced parts. A soft-top model, converted in Greece, was also briefly available in the mid-Eighties.The Niva's biggest advantages are that it is cheap to buy and able off the road; its biggest disadvantages are its build quality, some aspects of its design and its lack of refinement on the road. Despite the age of the design and some serious drawbacks, it continued to sell a few hundred examples every year before being withdrawn from sale in UK

Character summary

The Niva is a small three-door 4x4 with the limited luggage space typical of short-wheelbase vehicles. It is a rather crude vehicle in many ways, with little refinement, a rather old-fashioned facia design and a cheap-looking interior. Passenger space in the rear is limited, and the standard vinyl-covered seats are not very comfortable; the UK-sourced items in Cossack models are very much better.

Noise at speed makes the Niva unsuitable for long-distance work, although it is perfectly accept able as a town runabout. Its limited towing capacity makes it unsuitable or large trailers or caravans. Owners also have to endure niggling design shortcomings - such as the need to remove the bull bar an early Cossack models in order to change a headlamp bulb. The vehicle is probably best bought for recreational off-road use and short road journeys only.

Performance summary

The Niva is not particularly pleasant to drive on the road; even the refinements introduced in 1993 did not transform its overall character. It suffers from vague and heavy steering, a notchy gearchange, uncommunicative brakes and an awkward driving position. Its Fiat-designed engine is capable of propelling the vehicle at over 80mph, but most drivers find 65mph a comfortable maximum because of the high noise levels. Overtaking can be a slow and risky business as the engine lacks high-speed torque. There is also a lot of body roll in cornering. However, the ride quality is reasonably good, in spite 0f the vehicle's short wheelbase.

Where the Niva comes into its own is off the road - the environment for which it was designed. Its small engine delivers enough torque for most situations, the short wheelbase, minimal overhangs and high ground clearance prevent fouling, and the long travel suspension gives both good axle articulation and a fairly comfortable ride on rough tracks.

Reliability, weaknesses, spares

The build quality of the Niva is poor, with rough edges and exposed metal in the interior, and poor detail finish in many areas. Build quality was improved in 1993, but is still not up to Western standards or expectations. Some of the Russian-made consumables (such as wiper blades) are of poor quality and are best replaced with European equivalents. Rust is to be expected in the body seams of older vehicles, under the bright trim and around windows. The gearchange becomes sloppy with age and the catch on the Cossack's swingaway spare-wheel mount is often ineffective. Even new vehicles may suffer from water leaks. Worth knowing is that reconditioned engines are not available and that an expensive new power unit is likely to be the only solution to a major engine failure - which is fortunately rare.

Nivas tend to suffer from many irritating faults which do not actually disable the vehicle. Mechanical reliability, however, is very good. This is perhaps fortunate, because spores can sometimes take several weeks to arrive through [ado dealers.

Resale values

Although the Niva does hold its value better than Lada cars, depreciation is heavy. Early examples can now be bought for a few hundred pounds. The less common Cossack models are generally more desirable and therefore hold their value better than the base Niva.

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