Lada Sport continues to improve the new Niva Sport — an SUV that has been on sale since April 2025 and has already undergone a series of technical improvements. According to Konstantin Gystarov, the company's leading design engineer, in the corporate video "At the Factory," the changes affected dozens of components, from the suspension to noise insulation.
One of the first updates was the replacement of the rear suspension arms: owners complained about their deformation during active driving. Now, all cars are equipped with reinforced "racing" arms with a U-shaped reinforcement along the entire length — a solution that came from motorsport. Following this, engineers improved clamps, pipes, clips, and other "invisible" elements that affect reliability.
Currently, the Lada Sport team is working on improving noise and vibration isolation, as well as optimizing lubricants for cardan and intermediate shafts.
Gystarov noted that the company had to re-equip part of the assembly line to assemble the Niva Sport — previously, the Niva had never been produced on the LADA Sport line. This allowed for quality control at every stage and the implementation of engineering solutions previously only characteristic of the brand's sports models.
More significant changes await the SUV in 2026 — simultaneously with the restyling of the base Niva Legend. The update will affect the body, suspension, and power structure of the car, while preserving the "soul of the Niva" — compactness, cross-country ability, and ease of maintenance.
Today, the Lada Niva Sport is equipped with a 1.6-liter 16-valve naturally aspirated engine with 122 hp, sports camshafts, a lightweight intake and exhaust system, and a special ECU firmware. Acceleration to 100 km/h takes 11.8 seconds, and the maximum speed is 162 km/h. The car received disc brakes on all wheels, a rear anti-roll bar, shock absorbers with "racing" settings, and increased ground clearance up to 220 mm.
Standard equipment includes air conditioning, heated seats, electric mirrors, roof rails, additional high beam headlights, and a hood scoop for improved ventilation. The model's cost remains unchanged — 1.7 million rubles.
Lada Niva Sport is AvtoVAZ's first attempt to bring the Niva closer to modern sports SUVs without losing its legendary off-road capability.
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