CHEVROLET NIVA test drive since 2002 SUV

Contest on the field of the opponent

The car has undergone such significant changes in the design that, it seemed, this would necessarily affect the appearance. Alas
Everyone who knows at least a little about the Chevrolet Niva project has heard: an imported motor is about to appear on the car. This event happened. It almost happened, if we keep in mind that sales have not yet begun.
Russian car of increased cross -country ability (albeit with a foreign emblem), gaining great traction and, we hope, reliability, and is more deeply invading the estate of foreign cars of the SUV class. Unfortunately, he becomes closer to them in price.
Like the car sold today (options L and GLS), a more powerful modification will be offered to customers in two trim levels in the cheaper LX and more expensive GLX. Thus, the four all-wheel drive Russian Chevrolet will soon occupy almost the entire price space between the usual Niva and Kia-Sportge.
What, in fact, appeared new? Let me remind you of the story of the pre-production machine (ZR, 2003, No. 11): the Opel-Ecotele engine with a working volume of 1.8 liters was registered by car along with the Japanese gearbox Aisin structurally the same as that of Suzuki Vitar, only with other gear rates.
The car will find ABS and two front airbags, and in the most expensive version air conditioning (by the way, also imported). On powerful modifications will be the front seats Opel from Chevrolet Viva (material in this room) and wheels 215/65R16 instead of today 205/70R15 and 205/75R15.
But these are only visible changes. The designers hidden from the eyes of the buyer count several hundred. Only before proceeding with a detailed study of the materiel, let's try to look at the event down: a large, as you know, is better seen at a distance.
Donor-certificate communication
We have already mentioned another car that would begin to leave the conveyor of a joint venture almost simultaneously with the stronger Niva. The machines in question, in general, is surprisingly few. In any case, for now. But one similarity can already be talked about, namely, about choosing a motor.
A 1.8 liter engine, according to the Ji-Em-Autsovaz marketers, is optimal primarily for the Viva sedan, it will allow you to successfully compete with the Russian focus. This motor will not give the more severe field such dynamics as foreign competitors, but will bring it closer to the level of traction reinforcement, which is necessary for a car of increased cross -country ability.
So far, the main intrigue is how successful the engine characteristic will be for an all -terrain vehicle? Although the motors are identical to the gland, there will be different software on Vis and Niva. Together with a change in the phases of gas distribution, this will leave the designers the opportunity for maneuver.
The European star shines
Among the working names of the new car, Niva-Opel, Niva-GLX is the following: an export corporate or export version. Actually, it is no secret that the alternate in the LX and GLX trim levels is planned to be supplied both to the domestic Russian market and abroad.
For our motorists, the existence of an export option is good. Such a machine should be the maximum degree in a European, comfortable and safe. And these are not just beautiful words. For example, after a thorough study by engineers (including General Motors), the car with the body designed the Crash test according to the EURONCAP method, receiving four of five possible stars. This is a brilliant result for small all-terrain vehicles truth, it will be possible to declare it in a full voice only by starting a serial production of cars and really participating in the European program of Crash tests.
Full -scale safety is inherent in the GLX version, which will be equipped with two pillows, but all cars will receive an enhanced body, including component by Russian engines.
A more powerful engine raised the bar of the high -speed capabilities of the car, so it has ventilated brakes in front, and the vacuum amplifier is increased to 10 inches.
Although no one seemed to complain about the control of Chevrolet-Nobu, the designers intended to improve it. Having changed the characteristics of the springs, the body was lowered by 10 mm. And in order to maintain a road clearance, as we have already said, they used slightly higher tires.
What is dictated by this decision is not difficult to understand. The main competitors of Niva in foreign markets will be SUVs with good handling and mediocre all -terrain abilities. In the last nomination, our car should remain more strongly thanks to a constant complete drive (without electronics) and a reduced row in transmission. For handling, the struggle continues: we improve the behavior of the car on the highway without losing off -road qualities.
Engineers do not cease to improve the acoustic properties of the car. In August, we again saw in the assembly workshop of a joint venture new sound and vibration-insulating materials. By the way, there is another, or rather, two unusual elements for reducing the noise, drive shafts of gearboxes not with cardans, but with hinges of equal angular velocities. The ramparts along with the CV joints are imported. In addition to problems with the quality of Russian components (they had an editorial field), this allowed to get rid of a pulsating rumble at high speed.
Alas, something significant will have to be sacrificed. The new version of the Niva will become only four-seater, this was officially confirmed on the joint venture ji-Emavtsovaz. True, they added the usual Russian so far.
Another important detail: leaving on the VAZ conscience the requirement to refuel their cars with 95th gasoline, the joint venture designers provided fuel with opel with an octane number from 91 to 95 units.
VAZ 21236
Most likely, it is such an index that will receive a new car, because the Chevrolet Niva is assembled under the license of AvtoVAZ. This circumstance, alas, will always give a reason to dig into the shortcomings of the car and tell how they are eliminated.
The designers of the joint venture hope that they managed to finally defeat spontaneously dropping rear windows, howl of cardans (they are not), problems with the reliability of the gearbox (it is Japanese). An additional lining is strengthened by the mounting location of the steering mechanism (recall that in the editorial machine we cooked a cracked spar).
In Togliatti, they almost cope with the clicks from the cooling system (by the way, an imported antifreeze with an increased service life will be poured into the new motor), the slurred work of the climate control handles, and the gearbox gear blooming (and we came across this). Finally, it will finally stop falling out of the fifth door of the washer nozzle to be fixed differently.
For almost all the questions asked to the engineers of the joint venture, we received a detailed answer of what was done, what is being done, what is in the immediate plans. Some of the eternal problems of the Niva may not have time to solve the production of machines with Opel. So, although here they have long switched to imported oil seals, the course of transmission are more common than that of imported alternate vehicles (to put it mildly). The work with the hub knot is just beginning to pull the bearings in the export will be as often as in the 1.7 liters that are produced with the engine. But again, for now.
It is difficult to predict how it will work with the handout! Although the structural scheme remained the same, it has changed the case, gears and shafts in general, almost everything. And most importantly, the handout is joined with a gearbox and an engine to a single power unit.
Finally, in the new field, as well as on cars with the VAZ unit, they should install an enhanced cover of the front gearbox. How can one not recall that it was the author of these lines that were the first to encounter a breakdown of the lid (repeated twice) and raised the alarm. For the sake of truth, we note: engineers consider the old cover strong enough in the drawings, but the real quality of casting fails.
Wet without looking?
I know several people from among their acquaintances, with the hope of a Niva with an imported motor awaiting the publication. Opel, the keyword draws in their imagination a car that is completely unlike the previous one in reliability, dynamics and in general.
I won’t say about at all, the wording is too vague. The appearance, unfortunately, has not changed. The dynamics will, of course, be better than with the VAZ engine, but the car will not reach the characteristics of a dozens or even a sportej. And about reliability I will assume the following.
The basic complaints of today's owners are not connected with the engine, and the gearbox is far from junk. We, in particular, most often forced us to ride unpleasant little things to the service. I would like to believe that there will be less than all of them since both engines are finalized in parallel.
What will be the price? If modifications L and GLS cost 285 and 324 thousand rubles today. (about $ 10 thousand and $ 11 thousand), then the most affordable option with Opel is unlikely to evaluate below 12 thousand euros so much so much officials were called as a guideline.
The terms of publication are said more definitely by sales promise to start this year. So both the car and the prices for it will soon see.
 
 

Alexander Budkin. Photo: Alexander Kulnev

Source: The magazine "Driving"