A new Lada Niva Travel carries a sticker price near 998,900 rubles, according to the AVTOVAZ price list. When looking at the total cost of ownership over five years, maintenance and operating costs push the figure just over a million rubles, a calculation published by the Price of Auto portal suggests.
To model the total cost realistically, several assumptions were chosen: a five-year service life, a driver in their mid-30s, a decade of driving experience, and an average five-year mileage around 100,000 kilometers. The model places the car in daily use around Moscow and the Moscow region.
Under these conditions, the period cost for owning the vehicle comes to about 1,040,000 rubles. That breaks down to roughly 17,300 rubles per month. Each kilometer driven is estimated at about 10 rubles and 40 kopecks, reflecting typical wear, fuel, insurance, and maintenance expenditures over the period.
The cost structure reveals where money tends to go: fuel accounts for approximately 711,270 rubles, or 68% of the total; insurance costs (OSAGO plus Casco) run about 177,676 rubles, which is 18%; routine maintenance consumes around 117,800 rubles, or 12%; and around 2% is allocated to winter tires and road tax. These proportions align with common ownership patterns for this class of vehicle in urban and peri-urban environments around Moscow, where fuel use tends to dominate the expense mix due to frequent city driving and highway trips during peak years of ownership.
For buyers, these figures translate into practical budgeting guidance. If the aim is to minimize the five-year cost, owners might explore a few strategies: selecting a fuel-efficient driving style, maintaining tire pressure and engine health to optimize fuel economy, comparing OSAGO and Casco options for the right balance of coverage and premium, and planning ahead for seasonal tire changes and tax obligations. While the initial price is a one-time outlay, the five-year horizon highlights how insurance, maintenance, and fuel share the burden of ongoing ownership costs.
In the real-world context, the numbers can shift with changes in fuel prices, insurance rates, and maintenance costs driven by vehicle wear, local service pricing, and the evolving price of spare parts. Prospective buyers should regularly reassess the cost structure as new repairs, tire sets, or policy terms come up, ensuring the ownership plan stays aligned with personal budgets and driving needs. The five-year assessment therefore serves not just as a snapshot, but as a living framework for understanding the true cost of owning a Lada Niva Travel in metropolitan Russia and nearby regions.