The sportiest version of the aging SUV has entered production, featuring a number of styling and mechanical upgrades
- Avtovaz has started production of the Lada Niva Sport ahead of its market launch in Russia.
- The most powerful version of the Niva makes 122 hp and benefits from chassis upgrades.
- It features a Sport emblem on the grille, 16-inch wheels, wider fenders, and a hood scoop.
The Lada Niva has been chugging along since 1977, like the automotive equivalent of a ’70s band still doing reunion tours. Yet, much like a sequel nobody asked for, it keeps resurfacing whenever AvtoVAZ decides to tweak it just enough to call it “new.” This time, it’s the Niva Sport, a “sportier” trim with a stronger engine and a few athletic aspirations. By “sportier,” we mean it might finish a 0-60 sprint before your coffee gets cold, but hey, let’s give credit where it’s due.
The big news here is the Niva Sport’s new longitudinally mounted 16-valve four-cylinder engine, pumping out 122 hp (91 kW / 124 PS) and 151 Nm (111 lb-ft) of torque. Sure, these numbers won’t exactly set the Nürburgring on fire, but they’re a substantial leap forward compared to the asthmatic 82 hp (61 kW / 83 PS) and 129 Nm (95 lb-ft) squeezed out by the standard 1.7-liter petrol engine powering the rest of the Niva lineup.
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The newfound power is paired with an upgraded five-speed manual transmission featuring a reinforced fifth gear, a beefier clutch housing, and a single-lever transfer case. Power is transmitted to all four wheels via a permanent 4WD system.
More notably, Lada has thrown in “sporty suspension and brake settings,” which allegedly give the Niva Sport a leg up in driving dynamics over its more humble siblings. Of course, calling a Niva “sporty” is a bit of a reach—okay, a massive reach—but these adjustments might at least make it slightly less of a wrestling match to maneuver on anything that isn’t a straight line or a dirt path.
The exterior features a red Sport emblem on the plastic grille, a new set of 16-inch alloy wheels, wide fender extensions, additional LEDs at the front, and a hood scoop. Oddly, Lada didn’t opt for the body-colored bumpers found on the Urban and Black trims, nor the more aggressive grille and headlight housing of the Bronto, which would have complemented the design here.
Inside, the Niva Sport features red accents on the seats that contrast with the black upholstery. This theme extends to the red stitching on the steering wheel, instrument cluster, glove box, gear levers, and seats. From the available cabin photo, it appears the Niva Sport is equipped with air conditioning, electric mirrors, and electric windows, but lacks an audio system, though this could be added later.
The carmaker says the sportier addition to the lineup is inspired by rally Nivas, including one that recently won the transcontinental Silk Way Rally Marathon 2024. Although the launch of the Niva Sport was delayed several times over the past few years, the company has now officially confirmed the start of production.
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Lada has yet to reveal specifics about the Niva Sport’s market launch or pricing, with details to follow at a later date. However, local media are speculating that the new version could surpass the psychological barrier of 2,000,000 rubles (approximately $20,000), making it the most expensive model in the lineup. For context, the current Niva range starts at 981,000 rubles ($9,800) for the no-frills Classic trim and tops out at 1,485,000 rubles ($14,800) for the off-road-focused Bronto Prestige.
