Sales market: Russia.
Chevrolet Niva- Russian compact off-road vehicle. According to the Association of European Businesses of the Russian Federation, it was the best-selling SUV in Russia in 2004-2008. Produced by GM-AvtoVAZ. The concept car VAZ-2123 was first demonstrated at the Moscow International Motor Show in 1998 and was presented as the successor to the Niva VAZ-2121. Serious changes in the model affected only the body, which became more spacious and gained more modern look, the mechanical part was left virtually unchanged. In 2001, the license and rights to the Niva brand were sold to the General Motors concern, which significantly corrected the design and in 2002 launched the production of Niva under the Chevrolet brand. In March 2009, a restyled version of the SUV was introduced. The body design was brought under the general corporate style of the Chevrolet model line, the main changes affected the exterior and interior design. Everything chevrolet cars Niva are equipped with a permanent all-wheel drive and a gasoline 4-cylinder in-line engine VAZ-2123 with a volume of 1.7 liters and a power of 80 hp.
The restyled version of the Chevrolet Niva is offered in five trim levels: L, LC, LE, GLS and GLC. The base includes central locking, power windows of the front doors, height-adjustable steering column, power steering, alarm, HA, 60/40 split rear seats, unpainted electrically heated exterior mirrors, 15" steel rim tires. Heated legs of passengers in the rear seat, a cabin filter, cup holders and a section for small items, audio preparation (connection block and wiring to acoustic speakers in the front doors) are provided. The LC is equipped with air conditioning. Higher-priced GLS and GLC trims include additional upgraded leatherette interior trim, interior décor, rear dome light, heated front seats, roof rails, painted mirrors and door handles, alloy wheels, isothermal glass, fog lights. The LE version stands apart in model range, it is specially prepared for off-road conditions and requires an external antenna and roof rails, off-road tires on black alloy wheels, external air intake (snorkel) for overcoming water obstacles, front winch mounting bracket, engine and gearbox protection front axle, protection of the rear bumper with a towbar (drawbar).
The VAZ-2123 engine is installed on the car, which is a development of the VAZ-21214 injection engine with adaptation to the new engine compartment. Equipped with a distributed fuel injection system, it has a power of 79.6 hp. at 5200 rpm and a torque of 127.5 Nm at 4000 rpm. It is clear that with such an engine, Niva does not pretend to be a dynamic car - acceleration from 0 to 100 km / h, according to passport data, will take 19 seconds. Fuel consumption in the combined cycle is 10.8 liters per 100 km. Toxicity standards comply with Euro-4.
Front independent double wishbone and rear dependent suspension Chevrolet Niva is actually the legacy of a distant predecessor, the Niva VAZ-2121. Sturdy, reliable construction, maybe not too comfortable by today's standards, but great for driving on rough terrain and roads with poor coverage, and easy to maintain. Front disc brakes, rear drum brakes. However, this car is valued by another - a real (“honest”) mechanical permanent all-wheel drive, where there is simply no such thing as transmission response. According to the manufacturer, "Chevrolet NIVA is in constant off-road readiness." A low row (a rare feature today) in the transfer case allows for extra traction. Respect also deserves the parameters of geometric patency.
Considering that the car's roots go back to the development of the mid-80s, the designers had to work hard to improve safety. In particular, the seat belt mechanism has been improved, the power elements of the body have been modernized to better absorb impact energy. Separate versions (FAM-1) were produced with ABS, airbags and seat belt pretensioners. Since August 2011, this equipment has already been part of the GLS and GLC trim levels as standard. In 2014, the seats were upgraded - now they have more pronounced lateral support, a backlash-free backrest adjustment mechanism, and a new shape of the head restraints.
Chevrolet Niva remains one of the most sought after SUVs on the market. This car will suit those who are ready to turn a blind eye to some objective shortcomings (cramped interior, small trunk, weak and uneconomical engine), but for whom affordable price, cross-country ability of the Niva, more modern, in contrast to its predecessor, appearance and interior, a variety of trim levels. Chevrolet Niva - for those who are mentally prepared for the fact that they may have to put their hands on the car, especially if it is not a new car.
Read completelyChevrolet Niva is essentially a global restyling of a well-established Russian market Niva 2121 models. Basically, the changes affected the appearance of the car, the arrangement of the instruments on the panel has changed, it has generally become more comfortable. But at the same time, there were some problems with the transmission and engine, which caused breakdowns on previous models. As a rule, this has led to the fact that most owners are unhappy with their car. Only those who have purchased new car who did not have time to "show" themselves leave positive feedback.
Many problems begin even at the moment when the car enters pre-sale preparation in dealership. But thanks to our mentality, checks are approached through the fingers, so when you get a seemingly new car, you always encounter such problems as creaking door locks, loose bolts, and so on. Usually this manifests itself already in the first thousand run. And already in the first year of ownership, it is necessary to additionally lubricate the hinges of the car and tighten all the bolts if necessary.
But also in Niva Chevrolet weak spots are not only bolts and locks. The main components of the car are also prone to malfunction.
The power unit is tuned for high torque, so it shows low dynamics during acceleration. In engines of this type, the occurrence of a gland leak is most likely. At the same time, for a replacement under warranty, it is not enough to provide a car in which there will be a small leak. This is usually not covered under warranty. The operation of the air conditioner is usually not satisfactory. But due to the design features, when it is turned on, the engine loses a significant amount of power. This is especially pronounced when driving on the highway. Symptoms are decreased dynamics and increased. The engine itself is reliable, thanks to the simplicity of design and the use of proven materials. Requires inspection and overhaul not earlier than 250 thousand kilometers. Every 100 thousand kilometers a careful inspection is required.
The most common problems are with expansion tank. Under the influence of pressure and high temperatures, the plastic is destroyed and leaks appear. On some cars, the pump quickly fails. This happens with frequent use at high speeds.
The weakest elements in this system will be ball, steering linkage, rods and oil seals. Hubs need to be checked periodically. Usually, problems in the wheel bearing manifest themselves in the first 30 thousand kilometers. Due to off-road use, cv joints often fail. This is due to dust and dirt getting on the anthers, as a result of which they tear faster.
Here the main source of problems are the crosses located on the cardan. Cardans themselves are also not reliable. Slotted cause strong vibration during movement.
electrical equipment
The most common failure of the window lifter mechanism. This can happen even in the first six months. Many problems have been transferred to the Chevrolet Niva from the Niva 2121 model. This is a starter and a generator. It must be remembered that these components can be changed under warranty, so it is important to pass all MOT at the dealer on time. Over time, problems with the fuel sensor may appear. Due to exposure to high temperatures, the wiring leading to the radiator fan is destroyed, due to which a short circuit occurs and the fuses blow.
Separately, it is worth mentioning, because here the problem lies not in the wiring, but in an ill-conceived design. Because of high temperature lamps and small housings often melt plastic headlights. To prevent this, it is better to install LED light sources in the dimensions.
Body
Here the problem is no different from other cars - basically it is corrosion. But due to the unsuccessful design of the arches, moisture can accumulate strongly, which greatly accelerates corrosion. If you do not follow the car, then you can get large foci that will make the car unusable in 3-4 years. Paint on plastic parts peels off quite often. If left untreated, scratches will rust within a week.
Here the main drawback, which manifests itself immediately upon leaving the dealer's salon, is the lack of sound insulation. This is especially felt when driving more than 100 km / h, when the transfer case and the engine have a large load.
But despite all this, thanks to the low price and a large number of spare parts in car dealerships, this car is still popular among car enthusiasts. The simplicity of the design, which allows you to independently eliminate all the shortcomings and off-road qualities, allow you to storm even the most remote parts of the country, while not being afraid to disable the car. But still, you should not overestimate its capabilities and monitor the most vulnerable nodes in time.
Today, every resident of Russia is familiar with the Chevrolet Niva, which over the period of its existence has managed to become a real people's car. Niva Chevrolet combines a number positive qualities: excellent cross-country ability, high reliability, spacious salon, comfortable operation, etc. However, the main advantage this car is a low price, since even an almost new Niva can be purchased at a price of 400-500 thousand rubles, and the price of earlier models can be only 300 thousand rubles. Below we present detailed test drive Chevrolet Niva 2009 model year(restyling), in which all elements of the car will be considered: from the appearance to the technical part.
General data and impressions from Niva
Production of the Chevrolet Niva began back in 2002. Until 2009, the car did not receive updates and was sold in a very modest configuration, and even despite this, it was very popular with drivers. In March 2009, a restyled version of the Niva was released, which received a number of updates, became more powerful, more comfortable and more functional. A restyled version was taken for a test drive, which to this day remains one of the most popular cars in Russia.
After a test drive, the new Chevrolet Niva left a positive impression. The updated Niva received a new body from the Bertone studio, an updated interior and a plastic body kit. crosses cardan shafts were replaced by CV joints. The front suspension swivel joints have also been updated. Later versions of the Niva received ABS, airbags, new optics, roof rails, 16″ alloy wheels and other important updates.
Our Chevrolet Niva pleased with a smooth ride, good maneuverability and high cross-country ability. Perhaps, driving performance Niva fully justify the cost of the car. If the pre-styling version had problems with shaking at high speed, then the new Chevrolet Niva easily swallows minor bumps and does not cause discomfort. Additional comfort is achieved through excellent handling and a spacious interior. By the way, the interior of the car is not distinguished by high-quality materials, but the build quality is at the highest level.
As for the functionality of the car, we got the version with ABS, airbags, CV joints and other elements that were integrated into the Niva only after 2011. Versions of cars produced before 2009 did not have even a small part of these advantages.
If we rely on the low price of the car, then we can safely say that new Niva- one of best solutions in terms of price and quality ratio. Of course, in many ways it is inferior to the same Duster, but the price of the Niva is much lower. For 400-600 thousand rubles, buyers get a passable SUV that has a number of useful features and is very easy to maintain.
Appearance of the Russian SUV
Every resident of Russia is well acquainted with appearance Chevrolet Niva. Of course, it is difficult to call the Chevrolet Niva a stylish car, but it is clearly not chosen because of the design. Fields released after 2009 look very good.
The car wrap was created by Bertone. At the front, the car received an updated grille, on which a large Chevrolet nameplate is installed. The car also received round foglights and upgraded turn signals. The mirrors are body-colored, and plastic lining is installed on the sides of the car. Top-end cars are fitted with 16-inch alloy wheels. The rear of the car received new stylishly shaped lights, and rear bumper received a special loading area.
As for the colors, the car is offered in the main colors "Graphite", "Quartz", "Liquid Silver", "Iceberg" and "Auster". Red, green and other bright colors are very rare.
Salon - Convenience and Space
The interior of the Chevrolet Niva is spacious, comfortable and provides an excellent overview of all areas, so manufacturers can put a positive mark on it. In versions of the car released after 2009, all complaints and wishes of customers were taken into account. The cabin has a lot of additional compartments and convenient cup holders. In the new versions, the mirror is attached directly to the windshield, which has reduced the level of unpleasant sounds.
The car also received a new 3-spoke steering wheel made in Portugal. Noticeably changed dashboard which has become better and more modern. In versions after 2011, airbags and pretensioner seat belts appeared, and the seats became much more comfortable. Now it is possible to fix the trunk lid in 3 positions. The car is controlled remotely using a modern flip key equipped with a remote control.
Salon Chevrolet Niva turned out to be spacious, comfortable and ergonomic. Despite the use of inexpensive plastic, there are no extraneous noises and other problems in the cabin. This is achieved due to the high build quality. In addition, the cabin has good sound insulation, which increases its comfort. And the interior of the new Niva looks quite good, despite the absence of expensive elements.
Control and comfort
Manufacturers with each new version made the Niva more comfortable and maneuverable. Outwardly, the car seems difficult to manage, but in reality it is not. Niva perfectly obeys the steering wheel and does not cause any problems when driving in different areas.
Before mass production a new version Chevrolet Niva has been tested in various harsh conditions: from the hot deserts of Asia to the cold Siberia. In all cases, the car showed itself from the excellent side. He is not afraid of low and high temperatures and other extreme conditions.
An important advantage of the new Niva is a high-quality suspension, which is able to overcome various obstacles without shaking and unnecessary inconvenience. The power steering works well, providing quick steering response. The brakes aren't bad either, working well on both straights and slopes. Excellent car handling is provided at speeds up to 110 km / h. At higher speeds, you need to be more careful.
Unfortunately, there are some problems in the Chevrolet Niva in terms of handling and comfort. The car's engines are not very powerful, which makes driving over rough terrain more difficult. It’s quite difficult to move uphill on the Niva. Under such circumstances, the engine starts to roar and slowly accelerate the car. Another problem is the gearbox, which is quite difficult to operate until it is fully warmed up. However, over time you can get used to it.
In terms of control and comfort new Chevrolet Niva as a whole, then here you can put a positive assessment. For this part, the car, although not perfect, does not have significant flaws. Within a few weeks, you need to get used to the features of the car, and there will be no problems in driving.
Testing Niva off-road
Off-road testing and testing also managed to uncover strengths Chevrolet Niva. In spite of low power motor, Niva easily passes difficult areas: whether it is difficult to pass mud or large slopes.
An important advantage of the Chevrolet Niva is that it is able to easily keep high speed even on difficult terrain. When other cars slow down a lot when passing difficult sections, the car easily moves under 70-80 km / h without noticing obstacles in its path. By the way, while driving off-road, Niva coped with difficult sections without using a central differential lock.
New Chevrolet Niva will be a great solution for lovers of outdoor activities. Regardless of the complexity of the roads and climatic conditions, the car shows its best side.
Good dynamics and comfort of the car are achieved due to the following technical characteristics:
- length - 4048 mm, width - 1786 mm, height - 1652 mm, ground clearance - 200 mm;
- gross vehicle weight - 1860 kg;
- engine power - 80 hp;
- maximum speed - 140 km / h;
- acceleration to hundreds - 19 seconds;
- Gearbox - 5MKPP;
- fuel consumption per 100 km - 14.1 liters in the city, 8.8 on the highway;
- trunk volume - 320 l (650 l with the seats folded).
These make the car convenient for almost any purpose. Today price of a new Chevrolet Niva is 500-700 thousand rubles. Niva fully justifies its price and provides its owners with everything they need: a spacious interior, excellent handling, high cross-country ability, etc. The only characteristics that need further improvement are acceleration to hundreds and fuel consumption. However, the current indicators are not critical.
Prices and equipment
At the moment, you can purchase a Chevrolet Niva car in 6 trim levels:
- L - minimum equipment with a minimum set of functions and amenities (price - from 500 thousand rubles).
- LC - air conditioning and cooling of the glove box have been added to cars of this configuration (price - from 540 thousand rubles).
- GL - there are electric and heated mirrors, a spare wheel cover, central locking, ABS, belt pretensioners, airbags and a number of other amenities (price - from 576 thousand rubles).
- LE - 16″ alloy wheels, All-Terrain function, snorkel for overcoming water obstacles, antenna plug, additional protection for the engine, gearbox and other components, towing device, etc. are added to the basic set of options. (price - from 579 thousand rubles). LE package - perfect solution for outdoor enthusiasts, as it is aimed at use outside the city.
- GLC - Added chrome grille trim, dark bezel headlights, rear dome light, heated seats and windshield, rear view camera (price - from 620 thousand rubles).
- LE + is the most expensive car equipment. It has the maximum number of options and amenities, as well as an interior decorated in black. The price of this configuration is the highest - from 632 thousand rubles.
As you can see, the prices between the Chevrolet Niva trim levels do not differ so much, but the differences between them are significant. If you want to save money, you can choose the L and LC trim levels. If you plan to use the car for country trips for outdoor activities, the LE version is ideal. If you value maximum comfort, choose the GLC or LE + versions. The car of each configuration is good in its own way and fully justifies its cost.
Used car selection
Of course, used Chevrolet Niva cars are very popular today, but you should approach the choice of a used car with all responsibility. The fact is that these cars are often used in difficult conditions: trips to the countryside, outdoor activities and other indecencies. As a rule, budget SUVs are in worse condition than standard city cars of the same age, so you need to choose the Niva Chevrolet bu as carefully as possible.
If a year ago I immediately realized that I had an upgraded version in front of me, now, looking at the Niva of the 2010 model, I don’t notice any visible changes. The same plastic body kit, a physiognomy worked out in a single corporate style with dipped-beam headlight sockets, proud nameplates “Bertone Edition” on the sides.
And there is nothing new in the cabin. The inscription “air bag”, even with a magnifying glass, even without you will not find, which means that it is absolutely necessary modern car still no airbags. At the first braking, it turned out that there was no anti-lock braking system either. And where is the promised technological breakthrough?
In fact, Togliatti promised a lot of things: “ease of removing and winding up seat belts”, “modernization of the gearshift lever”, “use of spring clamps to compensate for shrinkage of hoses”, “implementation of cardan shafts with CV joints”, “transfer case with double row bearings”. In the same vein, a dozen more brave phrases.
The freeway of the Simferopol highway allows you to fearlessly accelerate to 120 km / h - what you need. And after a quarter of an hour, I understand that in Togliatti they did not work in vain - the shaking has not yet been completely destroyed, but it has been significantly reduced. Yes, and the reasons to contact the service will now decrease - the dreary procedure for injection of crosses can be forgotten as horrible dream, because the CV joint is a maintenance-free design, you know, monitor the condition of the anther.
So, for the “CV joints” - offset! But is that all? Regrettably ... You will laugh, but even the “updated” seat belt continues to bite the tape in the drum, and the seat sled still makes a painfully familiar creak. What can I say about ABS and airbags...
To me, as a car buyer, and not a “peasant with hands and a heap of free time”, it doesn’t matter at all, by means of which in the same cardan shafts torque is transferred from the engine to the wheels. The main thing is that everything works and does not break. Think I'm asking too much domestic car? But, excuse me, the VAZ-2123, renamed Chevrolet eight years ago, is close in price to its foreign competitors, and therefore the demand from it is increasing.
Alas, despite attempts to improve and fix something in the design of a very talented all-terrain vehicle, the Chevrolet Niva is still closer to the Samodelkin set than to a modern car. But his price is not at all a toy - in maximum configuration Chevy will ease the buyer's wallet by almost $17,000. How will it sell when the Renault Duster debuts on the market?
For Russian outback car better chevrolet Niva not found. There is, of course, the legendary Lada 4 × 4, but if you need not only good cross-country ability, but also more or less decent comfort for trips to the city, then in this case the Niva from GM-AvtoVAZ is the best choice on the Russian market.
For the first time this compact SUV appeared in our open spaces in 2002, although its debut could have taken place earlier. Back in 1998, AvtoVAZ prepared a project for release, which was supposed to replace the outdated Niva 2121 in the model range. But, as often happened with interesting projects of that period, money for mass production new items were not found and in 2001 AvtoVAZ sold the license to the American concern General Motors, which a year later, having made more than 1000 changes to its “color and taste”, launched the production of the first generation of this car.
In 2009, the SUV underwent a restyling, having received a more modern appearance in the spirit of the Chevrolet corporate style. Naturally, an SUV cannot be called the standard of beauty, but in general, the exterior of the Chevrolet Niva is quite attractive, easily recognizable and practical. Despite its compactness, the SUV has well-balanced body proportions and high ground clearance, which significantly improves the off-road properties of the car.
The length of the SUV "Niva" is 3919 mm excluding the "spare wheel" and 4056 mm with a spare wheel. At the same time, on wheelbase allotted 2450 mm, and the front and rear overhangs, respectively, are 721 and 748 mm. Body width - 1800 mm, taking into account the mirrors, the overall width is 2120 mm. SUV height - 1652 mm. Ground clearance(clearance) under rear axle equals 200 mm for a fully loaded vehicle and 240 mm for a curb weight vehicle with 15-inch rims. The curb weight of the SUV is 1410 kg.
The salon here can hardly be called spacious, especially when sitting in the back row, where there is noticeably not enough legroom. But at the same time, the Niva driver is offered a completely ergonomic space with a convenient angle of rotation of the center console, excellent visibility due to extensive glazing and a comfortable fit, especially in cars manufactured since February 2014, when the SUV began to be equipped with more modern seats with little lateral support. and new headrests.
The noticeable advantages of the Chevrolet Niva include a luggage compartment that can hide 320 liters of cargo in the base and 650 liters with the second row seats folded down. At the same time, we note that the trunk is devoid of a threshold and has a wide doorway, which greatly facilitates loading / unloading.
Specifications. Chevrolet Niva is currently offered with only one option power plant. For her role, the manufacturer chose a reliable atmospheric Gas engine in-line layout with 4 cylinders with a total displacement of 1.7 liters (1690 cm³), distributed fuel injection and a 16-valve timing. The engine fully complies with the requirements of the Euro-4 environmental standard and is capable of producing up to 80 hp. power at 5000 rpm, as well as up to 127.4 Nm of torque at 4000 rpm. The motor is aggregated with a non-alternative 5-speed “mechanics”, which allows you to accelerate the SUV to top speed 140 km / h, while spending about 19.0 seconds on the starting jerk from 0 to 100 km / h. As for fuel consumption, the Niva consumes about 14.1 liters within the city limits, 8.8 liters are limited on the highway, and in the combined cycle it consumes an average of 10.8 liters of AI-95 gasoline.
We add that from 2006 to 2008 this SUV was available in the FAM-1 (or GLX) modification, which was equipped with a 1.8-liter Opel engine Z18XE, with a return of 122 hp. In addition to a different engine, this version received an Aisin 5-speed manual transmission with an integrated transfer case, known from Suzuki Grand Vitara. Special Demand SUV Niva FAM-1 was not used and in two years only about a thousand cars were sold.
Chevrolet Niva is based on load-bearing body with a front independent spring suspension based on double wishbones and a rear dependent 5-bar spring suspension. The wheels of the front axle of the car are equipped with disc brake mechanisms, on the rear wheels the manufacturer uses simple drum brakes. Brake system added vacuum booster, and in higher trim levels it additionally receives an ABS system. The rack and pinion steering mechanism works in tandem with the power steering. All modifications of the SUV are equipped with a mechanical permanent all-wheel drive system based on an interaxle locking differential and a 2-speed transfer box. Together with high ground clearance and compact dimensions the all-wheel drive system of this SUV provides excellent off-road geometric off-road capability, stability when cornering on slippery roads and the ability to tow trailers weighing up to 1200 kg.
Options and prices. In the Russian market, Chevrolet Niva in 2017 is offered in six equipment options: “L”, “LC”, “GL”, “LE” and “GLC”.
- For the standard configuration of an SUV, they ask for a minimum of 588,000 rubles. The list of its equipment includes: ZF power steering, immobilizer, front power windows, fabric interior, 15-inch steel wheels, central locking, audio preparation with two speakers, isothermal windows, foot heating rear passengers and outside mirrors with heating and electric settings.
- The car in the maximum modification is sold at a price of 719,500 rubles, and its privileges are: two front airbags, a combined interior trim, ABS, air conditioning, fog lights, heated front seats, standard four-speaker audio preparation, 16-inch alloy wheels , roof rails and factory alarm (plus the above functionality).