How long is a piece of string? What’s the sound of one hand clapping? Will the Niva ever die? There are just so many questions that cannot be answered in this world. On the Niva front, the geopolitical situation being what it is, we might be in a “Schrödinger’s car” situation now. A quantum 4×4, if you will. But until very recently, the most exportable Brezhnev-era civilian product ever was still alive and well.
I don’t know how these were imported into Japan, but I see the odd one very occasionally. This is the most recent one I’ve encountered to date and the LWB variant is pretty rare outside Russia, so I thought we’d check in on the Niva, as I’m pretty sure that, given the aforementioned geopolitical issues, export markets will have been reduced to a literal handful of countries. And Japan won’t be one of them.
When it was launched in 1977, the three-door Lada Niva 2121 had a 2200mm wheelbase. The first hint of an evolution was the 2129 “Cedar,” a three-door Niva with an extra 50cm between the wheels displaying a limousine-like extra middle window. It was produced in small quantities by AvtoVAZ’s experimental division in 1992-94, but clearly this body style had limited appeal.
The real show-stopper would only arrive with the grafting of extra doors, creating the 2131 in 1995. The very same 2700mm wheelbase also served for other Niva derivatives, such as the ambulance (which has two doors on one side and the Cedar’s limo window on the other) and the extended cab pickup. An armoured car variant, especially popular with banks, was also on the roster. With only 84hp to get it going, that must be quite a sedate kind of money transfer.
It’s quite unclear to me where this relatively substantial, if rather slow, SUV was ever exported over the years. I don’t think I’ve ever seen one in Western Europe, but then again this stretch came at a price, and Nivas were chiefly attractive in most foreign markets due to their being cheap and manoeuvrable, which this is not as much as the regular three-door Niva. Perhaps the good folks at AvtoVAZ were mainly aiming this one at the internal and near-abroad (i.e. former USSR) markets.
I’m not too well versed in the Niva’s numerous and confusing production changes and facelifts. Any model produced for over four decades is bound to have had a lot of those, in any case, but this is compounded by the fact that Lada typically implemented some changes on export cars, but not always on domestic ones (or not at the same time). But on the whole, the driver of a 1978 Niva would not be lost in this 2021 model – there may not be that many bits that are identical here to the very first Nivas, but the layout never changed. And those levers look pretty identical to those found in the early cars.
The grille was given a thorough update with a chunkier look, complete with a new chromed emblem, in 2015. Circa 2019-20, after having been renamed “Lada 4×4” for about 15 years, the Niva name returned to the old SUrV-ivor. Quite why this happened exactly is murky, but it might have something to do with GM pulling out of their JV with AvtoVAZ. The Russian partner regained full rights to the Niva name, so the Chevrolet Niva was rebaptized Lada Niva Travel and the 4×4 became Lada Niva Legend – both in three- and five-door variants. Around this time, production of the extended cab pickup came to a close.
To answer one of the questions I was posing initially, it seems the Lada Niva is still being produced, albeit at a slower pace. It is said (but not verified) that AvtoVAZ made over 5000 units in 2023. But It is also said that production of the LWB version was halted not long after the start of the “special military operations” in Ukraine in early 2022. We may be witnessing the beginning of the end for the Niva. Maybe.
So here’s hoping that this last-of-the-line LWB Niva will keep its shiny demeanour for many years and that its 83hp 1.8 litre engine is as sturdy as a T34 tank, because it’s more than likely that Lada imports into Japan will not be recommencing soon. Incidentally, the theme I’ll be going for this week will be “Same same, but different” – i.e. cars previously featured on CC, but in a different variant or body style. Anything to keep the mind occupied while events slowly unfold, eh?
Related posts:
Curbside Classic: 2004 Lada Niva – The Empire Strikes Gold, by T87
Curbside Classic: Lada Niva Pickup Truck, by David Saunders
COAL: From Russia, With A Whole Lada Love, by David Saunders
CC Capsule: Lada Niva For Sale, by Robert Kim
CC Capsule: Lada Niva–With A Drop Top And A Body Kit, by David Saunders
I’d buy one.
But then I wish I were paid in BRICS.
Not a Commie, I just dislike our current situation.
Did it come with this glassine paint or was it cut, buffed, polished and waxed ? .
I like the smaller versions, will prolly never get one though .
-Nate
There is an orthodox church on the west side of Ann Arbor, which hosts a “Russian Festival” each September, except for the year of the start of the “special military operation”. I mosied over a few years ago for a look-see. Found this 78 Niva on display.
With the doors open, I got a better look at the interior.
the earlier badge. Rover used a Viking ship logo too. Wonder if Rover ever tried to sue for trademark infringement?
Street legal here in Michigan.
Perfect.
I’ve owned a few Lada Nivas of the regular three door variety and found them to be very character filled vehicles. Unfortunately, I am not sure I’d want to own one right now with the image projected by current world events. Canada received a convertible and short wheel base pickup variants as well the regular three door but never this long wheel base five door. It lacks the visual balance of the three door but is a heck of a find anywhere outside Russia.
I managed to spot one of these five doors in Cuba but only in a fleeting way from inside a moving vehicle. It gives off a familiar but something is just a little off vibe.
It just makes me dream of being able to go buy a brand new Jimny from a Suzuki dealership that I can’t find . Really a shame.
So move to Australia!
Or, on second thoughts, don’t.
There’s such a stonking waiting list for these here – such that 3 or 4 y.o. old ones go for more than they were new – you might get in my way if I happened to get the money to queue up myself!
That’s the first thing I thought when I saw this Niva. The paint appears pristine and up to the very high local standards for classic cars. Even the rear brake drums appear sandblasted and or painted. Either way it’s a cool car that can drive through whatever you point it towards.
The rear drum is a really cool finned aluminum piece.
Well that’s a new one on me. We got the 3-door models new here in NZ for a number of years, but I’ve never seen a 5-door. The 3-doors always seemed a tad crude to me, but they had a decent enough reputation, and good ones still go for good money.
As a sheer piece of design, I’ve always thought the 3-door was quietly wonderful, and it looks good (to me) nearly 50 years later. When you look close, it’s surprisingly different to the Range-Rover it at first appears to ape.
I also wondered for years why Japanese makers didn’t fit long-travel coils as Lada did. Imagine a flexy-sprung Suzuki, with the reliability they built in, why, the place would still be swarming with them!
Did not know they made that version, the 3 door is a weapon if it will run, some were towed off the ships here new and stripped for parts, they towed them on in Russia, the exact number will be shipped in time finished or not.
I have known about these 4-doors for quite a while. But then, as a reformed fan of the old USSR – look, I was young, ok – I am fairly familiar with the fact that many, many things from all Russian regimes might be stretched without folks knowing – especially the truth.
Can’t imagine any Russian motor is too fondly thought-of in Japan, what with those northern islands and all, or no?
I wish our time window for these was wider in Canada while I’ve never driven one I appreciate a good tool and these look perfect for completing day to day chores in rural areas.
If I could have packed one in my bags when I left Russia, I certainly would have. The Niva is truer to SUV history than most of what the US markets now, and always felt like a very honest vehicle. Perfect? Нет. Capable and fun? Да, конечно!
Thanks for widening our knowledge yet again, and another well kept Japanese classic.