Classic pearls of the future - Lada 4x4 Niva
04/12/2017
It's hard to believe, but you can still buy the Lada Niva new in 2017, even though it's now called the Lada 4x4. It celebrated its 40th birthday on April 5.
It still has the same box-like body and the characteristics that made it successful: Robustness, economy and simplicity.
While Land-Rover has put an end to the old Defender and thus the only older 4x4 original type has dropped out of the race, the Russians will continue to build the Niva as long as there is still a demand for it in the world. And at reasonable prices. A new Niva costs around EUR 11,000 in Germany and around CHF 18,000 in Switzerland.
And it could be worth it when production is discontinued, which will happen sooner or later in view of the constantly tightening legal framework. Even today, only small numbers are leaving the factory and, depending on the country, they benefit from special registration regulations. In any case, the last Defenders have (so far) proved to be good investments, perhaps it will be the same with the Niva.
The current version is powered by a 1.7-liter petrol engine, meets the Euro6 standard, has five gears and even ABS. You can live with that, especially as the compact off-roader is only 3.74 meters long and 1.68 meters wide.
Compared to the huge SUVs that are omnipresent today, the rustic Lada, which actually paved the way for the all-wheel-drive leisure vehicle, looks wonderfully likeable. This makes it predestined to become a classic pearl.
