Lada
has made a number of improvements to the 4×4 SUV it sells in Russia – aka the
Niva in the rest of the world. The
changes focus on making the cabin a more enjoyable and comfortable place to be
in, as well as improving safety. The dashboard has been refreshed and now
features a new climate control system with rotary dials and bigger air vents,
white lighting for the speedometer and tachometer, as well as an expanded menu
for the trip computer.
Additionally,
the glove box has grown in size and two 12V sockets have been added at the base
of the center console. On the center tunnel, the Lada 4×4 now gets two new
cupholders and a storage space for small things.
Inside, the off-roader gains new seats with increased lateral support
that are said to offer more comfort. On three-door models, the folding
mechanism for the front seats is now more reliable and the rear seats gain two
headrests – we kid you not, they weren’t available before. The
rugged Lada also gains new interior lighting, overhead handles, sun visors and
A-pillar trims. Finally, the carmaker says vibrations and noise in the cabin
have been reduced thanks to new powertrain mounting brackets and more efficient
insulation.
On
the outside, the only update regards the range-topping Lada 4×4 Urban, which
gains fog lamps integrated in the front bumper. As for
the rest of the car, there are no mechanical changes, which means the
off-roader soldiers on with the same 1.7-liter naturally-aspirated
four-cylinder gasoline engine making 83 PS and 129 Nm of
torque. The unit is mated to a five-speed manual transmission and a standard
4WD
