Lada Niva: the 1970s Russian icon still going strong in 2021

Once upon a time, the same criticism could have been levelled at the Land Rover Defender, the Jeep Wrangler and even the Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen, but those models have evolved into road-friendly (and, for the most part, premium-oriented) city slickers, whose stunning off-road ability comes a distant third to kerb appeal and model cachet on the list of reasons for their enduring appeal.

Not so the Niva, which has soldiered on with utility at the top of its to-do list for more than four decades, which is a big factor in why it remains so cheap. So even though you can bag a shiny new 21-plate example, courtesy of long-time Lada importer Mark Key in east London, don’t expect it to offer a driving experience comparable with its closest western rivals.

The lack of a stereo unit in our test car is the biggest giveaway as to its workaday ethos. Well, that and the hilariously visible coil springs at each end, disconcertingly thin body panels, featureless dashboard and chunky diff-lock and transfer-box shifters on the centre console. It’s a bit of a palette-cleanser in today’s touchscreen-saturated and semiconductor-dependent new car market, and one that’s not without a whiff of retro chic about it.

There are quirks and complaints to deal with, of course, not least that the gearstick is almost unreachable in first and third gears, despite the driver being positioned exactly where the designers intended, and the indicator and high-beam stalks feel attached to the steering column only in spirit. You can only laugh at the separate ignition and door-lock keys, held together by a stylish translucent white ziptie, and the tangible drop in engine power that comes with the activation of the air conditioning.

In sensible driving situations and over short distances, though, it’s not half as arduous and exhausting to pilot as you might expect. There’s power steering, electric windows, air conditioning and even self-cancelling indicators (how very bourgeois), so once you’ve got over the ever-disorienting sensation of shifting with your right hand and the ever so slightly off-centre pedals, it’s a perfectly adequate runaround. Just get used to smiling and waving. A lot.

If you’ve ever driven an instantly recognisable classic like the Volkswagen Beetle, a once-commonplace relic such as the Morris Marina or even something as hilariously misplaced as the Hummer H2 on British public roads, you will appreciate just how much joy such cars bring to other road users and passers-by. Park, say, an FSO Polonez behind a Lamborghini Aventador in Knightsbridge and see which one attracts the most attention. It’s the same with the Niva: for every grimace-inducing thump from the suspension, steering column creak or graunchy gearshift, you’re rewarded for your sacrifices with a van full of beaming builders, a thumbs-up from a jealous tree surgeon or a nostalgic gaze from a one-time Lada owner.

Rarity will do that to a car, of course, but when that exclusivity is paired with almost unparalleled accessibility, it’s a recipe for a real people-pleaser. And boy is the Niva accessible. Key’s imported examples are priced from £12,495 before taxes, which makes the Russian off-roader about as expensive as a base-spec Citroën C3, if you’re in the mood for a tenuous comparison. A more obvious alternative is the Duster 4x4 from fellow Renault Group brand Dacia, but even that wants £19,245, while a Suzuki Jimny – with just two seats – costs more than £20,000 after tax.

In the interests of full disclosure, the Terra Brown-painted Luxe model you’re looking at here costs £17,795 (by virtue of its far jazzier alloy wheels, electric windows and aircon), which is about what you will pay for a 2007 Land Rover Defender 90 in two-seat commercial form.

The Niva could show its closest-priced rivals a clean pair of mudflaps on the rough stuff, too, with the not insignificant benefit that you won’t be so worried about dings and scrapes. Hell, a battered old 4x4 looks 10 times more purposeful and well used than a pampered example, so get it mucky.