CHEVROLET NIVA test drive since 2002 SUV

Sherche la Fam

The import power unit for a long time was waiting for the line to get under the hood of Niva. Finally, I waited for Chevrolet-Niva FAM1 with an Opel engine and an Aisin gearbox can be bought for 538 thousand rubles. Gennady Emelkin got acquainted with the new version of the all -terrain vehicle.
Chevrolet-Niva FAM1
The first batch was released in the spring of 2006. The main production since November 2006.
Engine: Opel Z18xe, 1.8 l (122 hp).
Gearbox: 5-speed mechanical production of Aisin.
Summary: GLX.
Price: 538 000 rub. ($ 20 300).

Russian uniform, Japanese boot
Outwardly, the car has not changed only distinguished by a chrome nameplate on the back door. But in the interior of the refinement, two airbags appeared, the front seats became better. The driver's pillow, as usual, is hidden in the steering wheel hub, and passenger in the front panel. Now the small volume of the glove box can be justified by increasing safety. The driver’s chair is supplemented by height adjustment, and in the longitudinal direction it moves a little further than a high driver on long trips will be more convenient. But the steering column, as before, is regulated only by the angle of inclination of the longitudinal movement of the steering wheel and there is still a truly comfortable landing. Conserving the seat, you will have to sacrifice either to move it forward, or reduce the tilt of the back. The site for the rest of the left leg remained the same small foot not entirely placed and clings to the toe by the cover of the fuse block. An acceptable position must be sought.

The gearbox and the handout are new, but the levers of control of them in their former places. At minimal speeds of the idle speed, the engine noise in the cabin barely audition, there are no familiar twitches of the body and tinkling the gears in the box. The clutch pedal almost in the floor is small, but there is no free work at all.

The Japanese Aisin boxes have always been famous for the clarity of switching, but in this field all this disappeared somewhere. The first and second gears are stuck with effort, there is no clear fixation, and the fifth is located close to the third and the lever move is very small. You will not get used to it, it seems that the third has not turned on. In addition, on bumps with strong shocks, it sometimes crashes.

UNEQUAL MARRIAGE
At the same time, the dynamics accelerate to hundreds are almost twice as much as that of Niva with a native engine. Up to 3500 rpm, the noise of the motor is noticeably distinguished against the general background, but the sound is pleasant. After some lull, and again a surge of about 4000 revolutions, only much louder already interferes. Vazovsky in similar modes works much quieter! In addition, the engine is sharpened under a regular passenger car well picks up at the top, especially after 3,500 rpm, and on small loads is modest. Here the VAZ-2123 (controller M7.9.7) surpasses a foreigner with its verified settings.

The handout of the fruit of joint efforts. The housing is domestic, imported filling. But this Commonwealth benefited. Now the differential lock turns on easily and even on a stopped car. Previously, this had to be done in motion at low speed. However, there are its disadvantages. In the range from 60 to 90 km/h, its mournful song is clearly distinguished from the general noise. The new version of fastening the handouts and replacement of the crosses in drives for CV joints significantly reduced transmission noises and vibrations. Characteristic resonances at speeds 60, 80 and 120 km/h remained in the past. In terms of vibrations at high speeds, the all -round is close to the front -wheel drive car, and the general noise is greater than that of the Niva with the domestic engine. The standard sound insulation is beyond the power of withstanding a vocal power unit.

The increased dynamics raised the requirements for the brake system, the place of the 9-inch vacuum amplifier took 10-inch with the new main cylinder. In addition, ABS appeared. On dry asphalt and on heterogeneous coating, she successfully copes with her task of deviations from the course even with emergency braking.

Small bumps and joints of the roadway The suspension swallows playfully, but the obstacles are more seriously shaken by the body. With the VAZ engine, all this is not so noticeable.

They did not live richly
The new Shevy engine is well known in Russia, it was installed on Opel-Vetrotre of the 2001 model (ZR, 2005, No. 5). It is quite reliable, but demanding on maintenance: the timing belt is recommended to be changed every 60 thousand km, paying attention to the state of the pump. It is possible that at the same time it will be necessary to replace it. When a belt break, the repair will pull on thousands of dollars (well, at least there are no problems with spare parts). When starting in frost, the engine can fit, but this is not a defect, but an ecology fee.

Shevy ran 20 thousand kilometers at the time of acquaintance, and some flaws have already come out. So, in the engine compartment, the air flow sensor is rubbed on the soundproofing of the hood, butter from the left and right oil seals leaks, and the distribution box flows along the rear oil seal. With the rear bridge hung with the rear bridge, the ABS right -wing sensor is pulled like a string; His cliff is a matter of time. There are other minor defects inherited, but we will not be repeated. Obviously, one promising car still needs to be brought to the level of its price.

Chevrolet Niva Fam1 Neither the German engine, nor the Japanese box, nor the American name can hide its proletarian origin.
+ Quick acceleration of the car, adjusting the driver's seat in height, minimal vibrations of the transmission. High safety ABS and airbags.
- The loud noise in the cabin at speeds above 80 km/h, fuzzy gear shift, increased noise of the distribution box, high price. The power unit is not adapted to the car.

For the same money

Chery Tiggo $ 16 50019 800
In China, the car went on sale in 2005. Since the summer of 2006, he has been gathering in Kaliningrad. In size, it is close to the field, the volume of the trunk is larger (392 versus 320 l). In Russia, it is proposed in three trim levels, but with one 2-liter engine.

Kia Sportage $ 18 900
In Kaliningrad, two body options were produced since 2000 (ordinary and elongated). The transmission is all -wheel drive with the turn off the front bridge. For the past two years, only a mechanical 5-speed gearbox has been installed. The engine is one, 2-liter. In the fall of 2006, the issue was stopped.
 
 

 

Gennady Emelkin
 

Source: The magazine "Driving"