There’s no denying that the newest Suzuki Jimny is a really succesful, and inexpensive, off-roader. However there’s a less expensive, extra utilitarian different for individuals who need to go off-roading on a price range, and it comes from Russia.

It’s the 2021 Lada Niva Legend, and for essentially the most half, it’s grounded up to now. Launched in 1977, the Niva hasn’t modified a lot, so you may consider it because the Russian equal to the Brits’ basic Land Rover Defender. And that’s exactly the place its success lies. Why change one thing when it’s not damaged?

Below the hood sits a 1.7-liter engine with Bosch gasoline injection that provides you with a grand complete of 85 HP and 129 Nm of torque. Certain, with a prime velocity of 90 mph (144 km/h), the Niva received’t be setting something alight, nevertheless it isn’t making an attempt to both. Driving the Niva isn’t all that totally different from what you’ll have skilled ten years in the past.

See: All-New Niva SUV From Lada Is Set To Debut In 2024

Jonny from The Late Brake Show takes us by his expertise contained in the automobile, stating a few quirks, such because the comically lengthy gear stick. However the brand new inside of the Niva isn’t the horrendous dungeon you may anticipate. The mannequin featured contains non-compulsory air con and different mod-cons (for a automobile of this caliber at the least), equivalent to electrical home windows. Maybe extra importantly, it presents a easy do-it-yourself method to upkeep — one thing that’s demonstrated as our reviewer inadvertently will get caught and opts to wash up the resulted waterlogging himself, a job that most likely wouldn’t be doable in a contemporary, top-flight, electronics-laden SUV.

The Niva begins at simply round £17,000 (equal to $23,500) for the bottom mannequin. Nonetheless, you may snatch one up for simply £12,000 ($16,600) if you’re keen to leap by the hoops of the IVA (Particular person Automobile Approval) your self, wanted because the Lada isn’t formally on sale within the UK.

The Niva is available in quite a lot of trims to select from, ranging from ‘Luxe’ that provides you with air con and electrical home windows to the City, which is mainly the identical, save for just a few beauty upgrades. You additionally get the ‘Black Particular’ version, which is able to assist you to mess around with the colour combos and provides a set of fog lights. There’s the ‘Camo’ spec that comes with factory-applied camo paint, and at last, the ‘Bronto,’ which for £4000 ($5540) extra, provides you with objects like lifted suspension and wider, extra aggressive wheel arches.