- Avtovaz unveiled the facelifted Lada Niva Travel, set for production in Q4 2025.
- It features a redesigned bumper, larger grille, full-LED headlights, and new wheels.
- Under the hood is a new 1.8-liter, 8-valve four-cylinder engine producing 89 hp.
The debut of the all-new Lada Azimut certainly grabbed attention this week, marking the first new SUV from Avtovaz in nearly three decades. But that wasn’t all. Alongside the Azimut, the Russian automaker also unveiled a facelifted version of the Niva Travel, featuring a redesigned front end and a new engine.
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The Niva Travel debuted in 2021 as a refreshed version of the AvtoVaz 2123, a model that’s been around since 1998 and was also sold by GM as the Chevrolet Niva until the company exited Russia in 2022. The Travel now serves as a more modern alternative to the classic Niva Legend, which has been enduring since 1977.
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In order to improve its appeal to Russian buyers, the Niva Travel gains a larger grille with an octagonal shape, mounted higher on the nose. The restyled bumper has more modern surrounds for the fog lights, a new lower intake, and a sharper skid plate with an aluminum finish. Finally, Lada updated the headlights with fresh LED graphics, without altering their outer shape.
The refreshed model now features a new set of alloy wheels with a diamond-cut finish, which appear larger than the previous 16-inch rims. The rest of the bodywork remains largely unchanged from the previous version. As the company has not released photos of the interior, it’s likely that no significant updates have been made there.
New Engine And Chassis Upgrades
The nose job of the Niva Travel isn’t just for show, as it also improves engine cooling. This was deemed important as the highlight of the mid-lifecycle update is the introduction of a new and more potent powertrain.
The facelifted Lada Niva Travel (above) compared to its predecessor (below).
The 1.8-liter 8-valve engine is a heavily reworked version of the previous 1.7-liter unit. It has over 50 new components, including new intake, exhaust, cooling, and fuel supply systems. As a result, it generates 89 hp (66 kW / 90 PS), representing an improvement of 7 hp compared to its predecessor. Torque has also increased by 24 Nm (17.7 lb-ft) to a healthier 151 Nm (111 lb-ft), with 80% being available from 1,000 rpm.
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The company claims that the new engine reduces fuel consumption between 3% and 30%, depending on the driving mode, and is less noisy. Power is transmitted to all four wheels through a specially adapted version of the five-speed manual gearbox, which is combined with the standard full-time 4WD system.
More: New Lada Niva Sport Now Offers A Blazing 122 HP – Watch Out, World
While the output of the engine is comparable to base versions of European city cars, bear in mind that the Niva Legend is designed to appeal to budget-conscious buyers. Furthermore, its aging platform might not have been compatible with more potent powertrains from the Lada portfolio.
The unibody chassis of the SUV has also been upgraded as part of the facelift. Lada engineers added a new anti-roll bar to the suspension, which is said to improve handling and comfort. The SUV also gains ventilated discs at the front wheels alongside new bearings.
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The facelifted Lada Niva Travel has undergone extensive development testing in various climatic conditions. Production is set to begin in the fourth quarter of 2025, with pricing details expected closer to its market launch in Russia. For reference, the current model is priced between 1,314,000-1,639,000 rubles ($16,700-$20,900), depending on the trim.
