After 49 years, the Lada Niva finally gets airbag and rust protection

AvtoVAZ has started mass production of the revamped version of the Lada Niva Legend, the legendary Russian jeep. The start of the assembly line took place on July 20, a date that coincides with the automaker’s 60th anniversary, and sales in Russia are expected to start at the end of August.

The big news is under the hood: the old 1.7 engine with 84 hp leaves and an aspirated 1.8 eight-valve engine enters, the same as the Niva Travel, which yields 91 hp. Torque, according to the manufacturer, grows by about 2.4 kgfm, and consumption should drop from 3% to 30%, depending on use.

But what draws the most attention is the arrival of items that the Niva never had. For the first time in almost half a century, the model receives a front airbag for the driver. The bodywork also debuts galvanized steel sheets on both sides at points such as the hood, roof, tailgate and front panel, quite a reinforcement against rust. Completing the package are ventilated disc brakes at the front, revised suspension, 16-inch wheels in two colors and minor adjustments in the interior.

From the launch in 1977 to the Brazilian trails

The Niva arrived in 1977 as one of the first SUVs in the world with a monocoque body and permanent all-wheel drive, something advanced for the time. Since then, it has hardly changed on the outside: the square silhouette stands the test of time, with a touch-up on the bumpers in 2020. Inside, it went from the 1.6 engine to the 1.7 in the 1990s and now to the 1.8.

Brazilians know this jeep well. It landed here in 1990, in the wake of the opening of imports, and was the first Lada sold in the country. Cheap and resistant, it fell into the taste of those who enjoy off-road and still appears on trails today. The brand’s operation lasted until 1995, when the increase in the import tax ended the Russian adventure in Brazilian lands. Half a century later, the Niva is still going strong, proving that simplicity is also synonymous with longevity.