Which is better Niva or UAZ: we check cars on and off-road

Technical specifications

To put it simply, the Niva is a light SUV, but taking into account modern terminology, it is even an all-terrain crossover. Carrying a three-door station wagon body, a wishbone independent front suspension and a low weight of 1850 kilos. In addition to this, the Niva is quite compact, which is appreciated in dense city traffic. Oddly enough, the ground clearance of the VAZ brainchild is even greater than that of the Hunter - 22 cm versus 21.

According to its main parameters, Hunter can be considered a classic SUV with a frame structure, a five-door body and leaf spring suspension. The height of the UAZ is a little over 2 meters, but the Niva is 40 cm lower and shorter. The UAZ weighs about two and a half tons (depending on the configuration), which is a somewhat controversial advantage: in one situation it will help to grip “solid ground”, in another it will only land the SUV deeper in the mud.

Both cars can accommodate 5 passengers including the driver, but the presence of two more doors makes the UAZ much more convenient for getting people on and off.

In terms of power plants, there is parity between the cars: both SUVs offer only one engine. The UAZ is driven by a 2.7-liter engine with a capacity of 128 horsepower, the Niva is driven by a 1.7-liter gasoline engine with 83 horsepower.

Please note that the word “dynamics” is practically not applicable to these cars: if the Niva accelerates to a hundred in 19 seconds, then the Hunter will need 35 for this.

If fuel consumption is important to you, then you should prefer the Niva: it consumes 8.3 liters in the combined cycle, while the Hunter consumes more than 13 liters per hundred.

Both cars are equipped with a 5-speed manual transmission. But their drive is different: the UAZ has a plug-in front axle, while the brainchild of the VAZ has permanent all-wheel drive. Another advantage of the Niva is the locking of the center differential, which significantly increases the vehicle’s cross-country ability.

Advantages and disadvantages

Both cars have both advantages and disadvantages.

The advantages of Niva are:

• low weight and fuel consumption;
• compact dimensions;
• greater comfort and ground clearance.

Flaws:

• lack of frame;
• small trunk;
• not so strong main components;
• less powerful engine.

Now about the advantages of UAZ in comparison with Niva:

• presence of frame;
• powerful engine;
• UAZ is more durable;
• It is easy to repair and find the necessary parts.

The disadvantages are:

• weak dynamics;
• outdated design;
• high fuel consumption.

UAZ or Niva: suspension and addition to the off-road arsenal

UAZ or Niva, what to choose? Hunter's dependent leaf spring suspension transfers vibrations to the body very well. In terms of reliability and driving in mud, there are practically no complaints about it, just as there are no hints of comfort (it’s not for nothing that they called it a “goat”).

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In terms of comfort, the Niva is definitely better. Judge for yourself: there is only a rear dependent suspension, while an independent system is installed at the front, so bumps and bumps are not overcome so harshly. VAZ offers owners some other nice bonuses: power steering, brakes with anti-lock brakes and emergency braking booster. The interior is trimmed with fabric, but there are no other frills here: what the Niva was 20 years ago, it remains the same, except that they began to install an electrical package in front.

With all this, this UAZ is finished even more modestly and minimalistically, one can only say about the power steering and washable floor covering and interior. The scarcity of the basic configuration is to some extent compensated by the possibilities of tuning and purchasing additional equipment (winches, luggage racks, protective bumpers, etc.)

UAZ Hunter – a classic military style for your needs

The appearance of this car has not changed for many years. Recently, the company has made several aesthetic changes and introduced a new name for its flagship, but visually the car has not ceased to be the same passable and durable military jeep that has all the capabilities for maximum performance on any road.

UAZ Hunter has a large number of functional advantages. The body is quite durable, made of good metal that will not quickly rust even with very active and not too careful use. Hunter also has certain functional advantages:

• the base gasoline engine of 2.7 liters and 128 horses was recently updated; the 2.2-liter diesel power unit has 114 horsepower;
• all versions of the car have all-wheel drive with good control;
• if necessary, you can disable the front axle and save fuel;
• The transmission is manual, five-speed, and there is also a two-speed transfer case.

This is how this car appears to us in technical terms. There's nothing overly modern or incredibly expensive about it, but technically the car offers a decent ride. Of course, on a full-fledged military jeep I would like to have an engine with more serious potential, but this is not such a significant drawback.

Off-road argument

The main aspect of the dispute between UAZ and Niva is off-road driving. Over the decades, many comparative tests have been carried out, but even now it is impossible to say with certainty which car you can drive next. It would seem that the UAZ is designed for driving precisely where there are simply no roads, but the Niva is definitely not much inferior to it in this regard.

When getting behind the wheel of these SUVs, try not to put them “on their bellies” or on bridges, otherwise you will have to run for a tractor to the nearest village or always carry a winch with you. However, in terms of “getting stuck” driving, the Niva is somewhat superior to the heavy UAZ: less weight allows you to not sit down so deeply, and with some skill, in some places you can even get through at speed (but remember that this requires some experience).

A little history

To understand the essence of the problem, you just need to remember for what purpose each of these cars was created. We will be talking about the usual UAZ - the Kozlik (469), or at least the Hunter, and the usual three-door Niva, or its modification VAZ-21214M.

The first of these vehicles was created by order of the military and was intended for movement in any conditions, including as part of a tank column. The Niva was originally designed for residents of rural areas and for moving along roads, albeit country roads, broken to pieces and flooded with water, but also roads, as well as along highways and in urban environments.

A simple comparison of them makes it possible to understand that, despite some similarity in purpose, these are different cars. But they complement each other, which allows us to choose the right machine for specific conditions. But we can return to its purpose a little later.

Price issue

In terms of price, the Niva is more attractive than the UAZ: a new car will cost you 465 thousand rubles, while the Hunter is available from 609 thousand. However, it should be noted that the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant regularly holds special promotions and produces anniversary series.

As part of the promotion, for example, the Hunter in the basic configuration is available from 490 thousand, the “Victory” series – from 670 thousand (550 for the promotion), the Trophy configuration – 670 and 550 thousand, respectively.

Behind the scenes

If you don’t use the Lada’s off-road capabilities by at least 40%, and the UAZ by 60%, both SUVs will seem like antediluvian trash. But on the day of the shooting we had a blast. Vanya Barinov’s photographs from the testing ground where tracked vehicles are tested are proof of this. Guided by the popular wisdom “if you don’t know the ford, don’t poke your nose into the water,” we measured the puddles with poles and even looked into the lake. And yet they almost drowned Niva, getting stuck on the muddy bottom. It worked out, but the clothes had to be washed twice, and the shoes still smell like a swamp. Had a great time!

Additional Variables

On the secondary market, both the VAZ 2121 and the UAZ Hunter can be purchased for around 100 thousand. If you are going fishing or hunting in a remote area, but you don’t want to go to unknown distances in an expensive passenger car, there is an option to buy a used UAZ or Niva “on the spot” and feel free to hit the road. Even if you destroy the car you bought, it will be worth the money spent in full.

When planning a long journey, keep in mind that the Hunter’s trunk is much larger than that of the Niva, which means you can take more supplies, and there will still be room for trophies.

When choosing any of the compared cars, keep in mind that they have virtually no room for modern technology. The owners openly say that the same Niva was frankly outdated 15 years ago, and the manufacturer simply does not see the point in changing anything in it in the presence of the Chevrolet Niva and Urban. But both cars can rightfully be called proven, even verified by time. There are no problems with spare parts, as well as with repairs: the service station has long known how to eliminate various malfunctions of these old-timers. However, for Niva both spare parts and the cost of additional services are somewhat more attractive.

Niva is a long-standing SUV with national flavor

Since its creation, Niva has not changed much. Now, however, the car is called Lada 4*4. The car is produced in the same forms, in the same design, as it was first produced - three decades ago. But we are choosing a car for hunting, so the least amount of attention will be paid to the design.

The car is tall enough and comfortable to travel on the most difficult roads. The short wheelbase gives its advantages, adds extreme driving and pleasant sensations. Of course, the car is technically quite well equipped; the company has taken care of its customers in this regard. The standard version of Niva has the following characteristics:

• short wheelbase and three-door body – these are the only options worth considering for hunting;
• 1.7 liter engine - an old, durable unit, time-tested;
• power is clearly not a plus of the car - only 83 horsepower;
• fuel consumption in the combined cycle is kept within 10 liters per hundred;
• all-wheel drive with differential lock, as well as the presence of a low range of gears.

These are the features of the technical equipment of the modern Niva. Considering the fairly high reliability of all units, the car is a good option for use while hunting or fishing. The manufacturer also offered an interesting option - Lada 4*4 Urban. This is an SUV that aims to be an urban crossover, it has slightly higher quality equipment and an interesting appearance.

But we are interested in the basic version of the car, because in technical terms the Urban is not much different from the standard Niva, which costs an order of magnitude cheaper. In the cheapest version, the Lada 4*4 will cost you 365 thousand rubles today. Another about 50 thousand will be immediately spent on additional equipment that is not available at the factory.

Salon comparison

Chevrolet Niva has a comfortable and spacious interior, providing excellent visibility to all passengers. It has good sound insulation, air conditioning, power steering and convenient location of controls, high-quality upholstery. If you compare the interiors of both cars, this car is designed for passengers of average build. A large person will feel uncomfortable.

For those who want to get a spacious, roomy interior, spacious rear seats with enough legroom, you should choose the uaz patriot. The upholstery is made of quality materials. The car has an on-board computer, air conditioning and many useful functions.

Options

Does Soviet mean excellent? Nikita Gudkov

We also went to the bank of the Moscow River, where near the village of Verkhneye Myachkovo several years ago local enthusiasts erected a monument to the Rocket. That's right, with a capital R, because Rocket is the name given to a high-speed hydrofoil motor ship. The first of its kind and extremely successful - about four hundred of these were produced.

It is separated from UAZ and Niva for a decade and a half. Looking at the descendant of the 469 model against the background of the rapid contours of the Rocket, it is difficult to believe that it was born in 1957, and the UAZ in 1972, and not vice versa. And we haven’t yet been in the passenger cabin with anatomical aircraft-type seats.

The level of technical innovation puts the Rocket on a par with the Niva and its permanent all-wheel drive, unique for the 1970s. Designer Rostislav Alekseev was far from the first to tackle the topic of hydrofoils. A new engineering approach - in particular, the priority to meet the requirements of fatigue strength and the use of lightweight materials (the hull is mainly made of D16 aluminum alloy) made it possible to make the 66-passenger ship faster and more cost-effective than transportation by rail or bus. Rocket with a diesel engine with a power of 1000–1200 hp. I calmly maintained a speed of 55–60 km/h.

Also interesting: Fuel consumption is a pressing problem for Chevrolet Niva drivers

An elegant solution: the engine exhaust is used as a thruster. It extends underwater and can be fully pointed to starboard or port to assist when approaching or leaving the dock. Following the Rocket, from 1957 to 1964, seven more types of hydrofoils were developed, including Meteors and their marine version, Comets.

These ships are still in use, they are being transferred to more modern engines, they are groomed and cherished... But the Rockets were not lucky. A couple seem to have remained on the move in Yakutia, a beautiful example is in circulation in Lithuania, but the last three Moscow ones were disposed of back in 2020.

On a pedestal in Myachkovo there is a Rocket with tail number 102. Its history is a reflection of what is happening in the country. She carried passengers for more than twenty years, and then was converted into a VIP banquet vehicle. In 2007, she was stolen and stranded by a drunk motorman. After this, the ship was hardly used until it ended up in Myachkovo.

As a silent monument to the triumph of Soviet engineering and Russian carelessness. Is it normal when in Lithuania the legacy of the brilliant Alekseev is again “put on the backburner”, but in the capital of Russia it is mainly handed over to non-ferrous metal?

Passport details

And also interesting: UAZ Hunter 2021 - photos, all the disadvantages (owner reviews), prices and configurations, video test drive, characteristics.