From Russia with Love
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Yes, believe it or not, we are taking a brand new Lada Niva for a spin, after a smart businessman decided to start importing them to the UK again after 13 years
Words/images: Cohn Barnett Don't bother checking the cover date, this is CA4 in 2010 and you are reading about a brand new Lada Niva. List imported to the UK in 1997, the Russian state-built Niva dropped off the radar when it no longer complied with current emissions regulations. Before then, it had found a niche in the market as a cheap but tough workhorse, with decent on and off-mad capability. Granted, you don't see many on UK roads today, but that's largely due to the fact that Russian sailors on merchant ships delivering to north-east ports used their shore leave to buy up the then unfashionable Lida Nivas, and the boxy Riva saloons, to return to a ready market back home.
Back from the dead Production of the Niva at the Togliatti plant never stopped, although today it shares production line space with a family of modern cars, and 25% of the company is owned by Renault. London-based businessman Mark Key (www. markkey.co.uk) has spotted that there may be a place in the market for a cheap but sturdy off-roader and has begun to import new Nivas into the UK.
There are a couple of immediate downsides to the Niva as imported. Firstly, ifs only available in LHD at present, as the conversion would add too much to the cost. Also, although a Peugeot-powered diesel is available in Russia, it's not available here due to emissions regulations, but a low-cost LPG conversion can ease running costs. In any event, an official combined fuel figure of 31mpg on petrol compares reasonably with some diesel rivals.
Outside, the body pain twork looks tough, but the wheels appear to be painted in olive drab primer and are looking scruffy already. It would be over-generous to say that the interior finish has progressed far since the 70s, with none of today's clever invisible fixings. Items like door handles and assorted controls will be instantly familiar to anyone who ever owned a Fiat Miratiori, but they still work. The upside is that if it breaks, as anything will, you can see how to fix it, as much a benefit in the Brecon Beacons as in the Urals. And just to make sure,
the Niva comes with a comprehensive workshop manual (in English).
On the road, the unfamiliar driving view notwithstanding, the Niva is not a had drive. Performance from the 80hp multi-point fuel injected petrol unit is sprightly, with 0-60mph claimed in 175 seconds on the way to a 91mph top speed. For a relatively light vehicle riding on a tough off-road chassis, the ride and handling are not at all bad. Despite tyres sourced somewhere indecipherably Cyrillic, everything happens progressively and controllably on-road. It's not particularly quiet. but not worryingly noisy, either. At least, not until you turn the heater blower on.
A '70s original
The transmission is live-speed with a dual-range transfer box, permanent four-wheel drive and diff lock. Off-road, the coil-sprung suspension, wishbones at the front and a live rear axle, gives a compliant ride that allows it to travel as fast as your courage permits.
Obviously, trying to sell '70s technology in the second decade of the 21st Century needs helpful pricing. The three-door van version will cost you £7995 (ex-VAT), while the passenger version is £9,995 on the road. There's even a choice of colour: white, blue and maroon. For another £400, the passenger version is available powered by LPG. although the tank currently compromises load space too much for it to be offered on the van.
"But what about after-sales support?", you may ask. We did.The Niva comes with a two-year parts and labour warranty, and apparently spares are readily available from a number of specialist suppliers, both here and in Europe. Key claims that any major parts not available from stock can he obtained from Germany or Russia within 72 hours. He is currently compiling a directory of former Lada dealers who still support the model. •