The longest Niva and Granta: how do they drive? And how much?

Changes

Isothermal “cubes” for both cars are the same, made of 25 mm thick sandwich panels. The cargo area looks neat and the lighting has not been forgotten. The rear doors swing open 270 degrees, the locking mechanisms are simple and reliable. The side door opens 180 degrees, but you have to be careful: the folded lock can hit the passenger door. At Niva, the loading height turned out to be very large due to the high ground clearance – about a meter.

Both cars kept the supporting structure and were built according to the same scheme. Native spars in the floor are extended, with the necessary reinforcement. Large amplifiers are placed in the sills and a frame is welded to the roof, which connects the front of the body with the cargo area and partition. Of course, you shouldn’t rely on the same level of passive safety as a regular passenger Grant. But I got the impression that it is higher than that of the semi-frame “heels” from VIS-Auto.

The original Grants rear suspension elastic beam has been redesigned for springs. And to maintain ground clearance at full load, in-cab control air springs were added.

The Niva’s rear suspension also got springs and pneumatics. The cardan shaft has also been improved, because the standard length was no longer sufficient. The front shaft remained native, and the rear was taken from the UAZ and crossed with the VAZ crosses. As a bonus, it also has a range of motion along the spline joint that is twice that of the Niva.

How are they going?

The standard 1.7 engine of the “fat” Niva is categorically missing. You can tell you don’t have to ride a van like that, and this is partially true. A high center of gravity, high wind force and increased rolls are bad companions for fast riding.

But the biggest problems lie on the ground. I couldn’t get ten percent higher in third gear, even on the road – the speed and speed are lacking. You can take such a slide only at the second speed. And this on an empty car!

The seven-cube Grants have no problems with the power supply. The test car had a VAZ-21126 engine with 16 valves (98 hp) and an automatic transmission. Unlike Niva, Granta confidently took the same climb in third gear.

FROM THE MANUFACTURER

The Lada range also has its own commercial models based on Grants. They are made in the facilities of the VIS-Auto factory, owned by AVTOVAZ. In addition to commercial models, Niva Bronto is also being built.

Ordinary Airborne Grants (both with an open platform and with a plastic kung) have an official price of about one million rubles (see table). Isothermal vans with bodies made of sandwich panels are more expensive – from 1.1 to 1.5 million, which is still cheaper than Grants Prima. However, their capacity is almost half that. Freight compartments can only accommodate two Euro pallets compared to four for Prima.

Business perspective

Impression of Niva Prima spoiled by the lack of traction. In some situations it is categorically lacking and you should not expect much efficiency from this machine. But this “heel” has no equal not only in areas with asphalt.

Granta Prima liked more. After traveling quite a bit, I caught myself thinking she was no worse than Largus. The control shot could be a machine gun, which Largus basically doesn’t have. But in the current situation you will have to forget the automatic box. Although even without this, Granta Prima hit the mark – mainly because it is 300 thousand cheaper than Largus with the same seven-cube van.

• “Behind the wheel” can also be read in Telegram.