1990 Lada Niva 1600 Review - A Tough 4X4 From Eastern Europe!

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DISCLAIMER!

The thoughts, feelings, and opinions expressed in this video are the sole thoughts of Zack and no one else. The thoughts expressed in this video do not reflect the owner, dealership, or organization that owns the vehicle featured. The purpose of this video is to provide entertainment with the hope that you will take what you see and formulate your own opinions. DO NOT make a financial decision based off of this video.



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[larrymacfarlane]

My mom had a Niva! We had a dealership in Edmonton back in the early 90s. It came with a crank start handle. The seats were black vinyl and burnt your legs after sitting in the sun. It was pea green with orange interior lights…..

[amogus]

Fun fact: The Lada Niva is the world's first mass-produced off-road vehicle with a unibody construction. so by definition it's the first crossover in the world.

[ScottyBennitone]

I love the design and look of these. Total KISS principle.

[VitaliyKofman]

In my childhood, these cars were nothing special. Now on YouTube = ❤❤❤

[andrisjakubovs]

The Niva is a good and capable car actually, but you have to have in mind that: 1) It's not body on frame - the frame is somewhat integrated into the body like on a cherokee XJ, but the metal is a LOT thinner - thus you can only do suspension lifts and since the metal is thin and rusts - it's easy to destroy the chassis/suspension off road, especially pulling someone out or being pulled out. (That's why in Russia on off road events UAZ drivers say to Niva drivers: "How do you want your Niva pulled out of the mud: in one piece, or as usual?") 2) This is not a part time 4x4. It's full time with a locking central diff and high low gear - so no locking hubs in the front wheels and spinning your axles all the time. So if a front diff jams - you cant just unlock hubs and drive home in rear wheel drive.

[richardchiriboga]

The Russian cars are rugged because the roads are bad. Many years ago The Soviet Union bought a complete car factory from Fiat. It made the Fiat 124. The Soviets beefed it up and made it so you could take the whole thing apart with a screw driver. My brother in law in Ecuador bought one in about 1994. When I saw it I was amazed. It was a 1972 Fiat 124!! My other brother in law had a Niva so they were a real Lada family. Hey, they were really cheap. Tough, but not too reliable. Both cars were sold after only a couple of years.

[Roddy_Zeh]

These are still very loved here in Brazil, great cars, super robust.

[bwofficial]

I want a Niva. Before Russia started their shenanigans, I was considering importing one. They're simple, practical, and capable. I love that these have been in production basically unchanged for so long. It's not a bad-looking SUV/hatchback/thing.

[thevoxofreason]

Love these simple little cars. They remind me of early US 4x4's, like Jeeps or Scout 80's, in their simplicity and focus.

[bluemoondiadochi]

Lada perhaps didnt need to woo consumers, but it DID have an important purpose to fulfill. and persuade a number of bigwigs that it was good enough to even get manufactured. It's looking at it from a different angle than consumerism, but it shows that regardless of private competition not really existing (competition did exist during design phase) there was still a lot of ingenuity, craftsmanship and pride in designing it, and designing in a way no other off road vehicle was designed until that point.
as for "do you need an off road vehicle?", that wasnt the whole question. the whole question was: "do you need an off road vehicle meant to get you in and out alive from deserts, forests, taiga, tundra, during scorching summers and freezing winters? Yes? here you go."

[jgg]

I remember looking at a Niva at a car show in Stockholm many years ago. It was brand new and back in the trunk I could already see rust under the lining. However I really like the functional design and minimalistic philosophy behind them.

[saamsaab]

This was EXACTLY the review I was waiting for 👏

[bluerazor]

My grandpa had a purple '03 Niva 1.7 with the 5-speed, he was the first owner and hearing the hum of the engine brought back so many memories!

[jimkanellakos]

5:36 that flashing button. It's like a missle is ready for launch 😂

[GeeEm]

A couple of months ago, I saw one of those little Lada sedans driving around Portland.

[deletedaccount]

Great review! This car looks very well kept.

[gopherasoda]

I was quite literally thinking this morning "man, it would be cool if he reviewed a Lada Niva;" and people say there's no god 😅

[micahmeade]

This was my car, I can confirm everything he says is 100% true it works better offroad but the 4×4 turns into 1 wheel drive very quickly

[Beertimeisnow]

4:44 it says DIFFERENTIAL GEARBOX unlock/lock TRANSFER CASE low range/ high range gear

[Jokker]

Very cool to see a Niva again. I bought a new one in 1993 in Canada . Way better off road then on !