VAZ Niva - the optimal crossover

There is little in the history of the Soviet automobile industry of cars comparable to the VAZ Niva for the contribution to the world automobile industry. To belittle the role of this machine in the development of a car is very difficult, no matter how high it is to evaluate, it will still be small. It was she who gave a new impetus to the development of jeeps and, in fact, became the first crossover in the world. To understand this, it's enough to go back and remember the history of the machine's appearance.

The first serial car came off the assembly line in 1977, although work on it began in 1970. It was created as a cross-country vehicle for rural residents, and during the construction, Soviet designers violated almost all the stereotypes that existed in the world for such cars.

At that time, the jeep in the conventional sense should have:

-Supplied front-wheel drive;

- Utilitarian, simple and without superfluous conveniences a body;

- soft (canvas) top;

- Frame construction and dependent suspension.

So, this Niva did not have anything! The car was with non-disconnectable all-wheel drive, independent suspension and a rigid metal body with a level of comfort, almost not inferior to a conventional car. In production, parts from mass-produced cars were used. The car showed excellent cross-country ability and confident behavior on the roads in the city and beyond.

In many cases, while carrying out comparative tests with the best SUVs, the Niva, being the weakest of them, showed better results than its opponents. The ability of the machine to overcome relatively small areas of a bad road on the run caused the testers to have a new term for characterizing this possibility - "flying". The machine was tested very rigidly - from the roads and deserts of Central Asia to the mountains and foothills of the Urals, often in the total absence of roads.

When the mass production of VAZ Niva began, the price of the model was 9,000 rubles then. Nevertheless, it was extremely difficult to buy it, 80% of the total output was exported. In Germany, the sale of the Niva was carried out in turn, and there was a record for its purchase, in Austria for several years it was Niva accounted for 90% of the off-road vehicle market.

Despite the sale abroad at a high price, for a long time interest in this car has not weakened. He was constantly supported by Niva's victories on numerous rallies, including she was among the winners of the famous Dakar, and also won such prestigious marathons as "Algerian rally" and "Rally of the Pharaohs". In addition, we can mention the conquest of the height of 5,700 meters and work in Antarctica for several years.

One of the further stages of development was the emergence of VAZ Niva Chevrolet, when GM bought a modernized Niva, being prepared for production in Togliatti, together with the Niva brand. However, the Niva continues to be produced, however, already under the name Lada 4x4. During this time, the machine underwent several upgrades, and despite the fact that its appearance remained unchanged, its characteristics have significantly improved, it is still a favorite car of fishermen and hunters.

To say that the VAZ SUV Niva introduced a new class of the car will obviously not be enough. He largely predetermined and showed the way in which further development of the world car industry went forward, was the forerunner of modern crossovers and comfortable off-road vehicles.