06:19 08-12-2025

Lada Niva Travel review: off-road 4x4 specs, price, EU limits

Lada Niva has long earned a reputation as a simple, tough off-roader, and in Russia it is still sold in its classic guise as the Legend. Yet the family also includes a more road-friendly take — the Niva Travel. In essence, it is an attempt to nudge the Niva toward the SUV mold while preserving what matters most: a genuine off-road drivetrain and geometry built for poor roads, as noted by Motor1’s Spanish edition.

The model is compact: length about 4.09 m, wheelbase 2.45 m. For rough ground, the crucial bit is different — all-wheel drive with a low range and a lockable center differential, which lets torque be split rigidly between the axles. Ground clearance is a claimed 22 cm, and a full-size spare is mounted on the tailgate — a practical solution for long trips. In the Comfort Off-Road version the package gets more serious still: dedicated tires, a snorkel, and underbody protection, signaling that the car is designed for life beyond asphalt.

The cabin looks its age, but in a vehicle like this the priorities are ease of repair and resistance to hard use, the Spanish journalists pointed out. Another plus is the classic lever to control the transfer case modes: the logic is straightforward and does not depend on any screen menus — a welcome kind of simplicity when the path turns rough.

The outlet also explained that such a 4x4 would not reach Spain or the EU for two reasons: restrictions on trade with Russia and an engine that falls well short of European emissions rules.

Under the hood sits a naturally aspirated 1.7-liter gasoline engine rated at 80 hp. Highway pace is modest, but the engineering is simple. In Russia the price starts at roughly €14,580 at the current exchange rate.