Brontosaurus: Review of Niva modification - Lada 4×4 Bronto (2018)

The Bronto takes on steep sandy slopes very confidently - if you tuck in the lower part in advance and lock the center differential.
The Bronto takes on steep sandy slopes very confidently - if you tuck in the lower part in advance and lock the center differential.

What is the difference?

If you are familiar with the Lynx, then you are familiar with the technical features of the Bronto in general terms. It has Val-Racing self-blocks at the front and rear with a blocking coefficient of 0.65. The main pairs have a gear ratio of 4.1 instead of the standard 3.9. The springs are reinforced (Perm production), the front shock absorbers are from a relative named Chevrolet Niva. Wheels with Bontyre Stalker M/T mud tires with dimensions 235/75 R15 are supplied by the Volga Tire Company. The standard 16‑inch spare tire under the hood is now positioned as a spare tire and is supplied with a corresponding sticker.

Options and prices

For whom?

Lada 4x4 Bronto is an excellent second or even third car in the family. It’s as if dad was thinking about buying himself a quad, but realized that for the same money you could buy a whole new Niva, and even with special training. Moreover, from the dealer, with a guarantee and without headaches during registration. Although, if you take the Bronto at maximum speed, it turns out that dad was considering something very premium as an ATV: for a Bronto in the Style body kit, with foglights and camouflage paint, they are asking 740,000 rubles. Neither the fashionable “pixel” color nor the “Alligator” protective composition are listed in the factory price list yet, and each is capable of raising the price by another 50 thousand.

Air conditioning, heated front seats and heated electric mirrors, electric windows, ABS and audio preparation - all this is also available on the regular Lada 4x4.

Air conditioning, heated front seats and heated electric mirrors, electric windows, ABS and audio preparation - all this is also available on the regular Lada 4x4.

Test Drive

The magazine “Behind the Wheel” shares its impressions of driving the Lada 4×4 Bronto in rough conditions:

In the city

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Improved sound insulation (as on Urbana) does not save you from the usual howl of the transfer case, drowning out the roar of the engine and the hum of the “spikes”. And in other respects, this is still the same short-wheelbase Lada 4×4, but with increased ground clearance and high-profile tires: the steering wheel has a very conventional “zero”, the stern periodically tends to skid, and acceleration to city speeds in terms of heroism is comparable to the first attempts of mankind to overcome force of gravity.

On the sand

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But on the sand, the Lada 4?4 Bronto is in its native element! Where a standard car would have already begun to dig in, this one rushes like a small proud tank? - praise be to self-blocks! The box office has huge ground clearance and toothy tires, although there is no need for spikes here. Bronto takes steep sandy slopes without any problems, you just need to first stick the lowering gear in and lock the center differential. The engine is catastrophically “not enough”: it’s easy to stall. Differential locks are a great help when driving in a straight line, but in turns the front “block” does not help in any way to screw the car inward - the turning radius increases noticeably.

In the snow

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At the very first traffic light it became obvious that our Bronto was the fastest car in the city! Self-blocks show themselves in the most favorable light: while “under-drives” and even all-wheel drives with dead center couplings are kneading snow porridge, the “brontosaurus” shoots from a standstill and gloatingly squeals with a transfer case already at the next intersection. At the same time, if you don’t fool around, Bronto even walks along slippery curves very confidently - without trying to fall out of the turn. The degree of differential locking is chosen successfully: it helps to “rattle out” and almost does not impair handling. Bronto allows you to calmly drive where a regular Lada 4-4 would have long ago sat on the suspension or, in the absence of inter-wheel self-blocks and on simpler tires, would have stalled.

Lada 4×4 Bronto can be called an off-road Urban. This is a car that is easier to perceive by city dwellers, but is a real SUV that is prepared for tough off-road tests.

By the way, we previously compared the Lada 4×4 Bronto and Gelendvagen off-road. Would you like such a LADA for yourself?

Keywords: lada 4×4 bronto

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Service maintenance

Inside the car

All products manufactured by PSA Bronto OJSC undergo mandatory certification. A high level of organization of production control allows the company to offer its consumers today reliable and high-quality cars and spare parts for them.

Like the VAZ Niva, produced by AvtoVAZ, the Niva Lynx of any modification, produced by PSA Bronto OJSC, is a serial product. The entire Lynx model range is sold to customers through a dealer network of organizations that is able to ensure high-quality fulfillment of the manufacturer’s warranty obligations. Such organizations carry out repairs of Bronto cars and the entire range of their technical maintenance.

The acquisition of the Lynx will allow any buyer to become the owner of not only the off-road properties of the Niva, but also to significantly increase their capabilities thanks to the small-scale production of PSA Bronto OJSC.

And also interesting: Cross-country ability of the Niva VAZ 2131 and VAZ 2121. Test video

The difference between Niva Lynx 2022 and Bronto

Until 2013, the AvtoVAZ concern produced this model in a limited edition of no more than 200-300 units. Lada Niva Lynx is aimed at off-road enthusiasts and was developed on the basis of the VAZ-21310. The differences from the Bronto model are that.

1. The Niva Lynx was produced in both three-door and five-door versions.
2. The design of the front/rear bumpers varies. The Bronto modification received additional fog lights.
3. A spare wheel is installed on the roof of the Lynx specification.
4. The configuration of the side sills and the design of the wheel rims have changed.

Suggested Modifications

Currently, the Bronto Lynx is represented by several modifications; let’s look at the most popular ones. Niva Lynx 1 is a three-door station wagon, produced on the basis of Lada-21214, the length of which is 3740 mm. The five-door station wagon Niva Lynx 2 is produced on an extended Lada-21310 base, its length is 4240 mm.

The full name of these models is as follows:

• Lynx 1 - 212140-070-20 "Bronto-Lynx 1";
• Lynx 2 - 213100-070-41 “Bronto-Lynx 2”;
• Lynx 3 - 213100-770-41 "Bronto-Lynx 3".

The modifications are united by the identical structural design of the transmission, chassis and body described above. Comfortable driving of the Lynx is ensured by power steering and electric windows of the front doors. All models are equipped with a VAZ-21214 gasoline engine with distributed injection and electronic control. The working volume of this engine is 1690 cm3, rated power is 61 (83) kW (hp).

Tuning the Niva model

The curb weight of the three-door station wagon is 1210 kg. Niva Lynx 2 and the same long-wheelbase Lynx 3 have a slightly larger curb weight - 1350 kg. The different weights of the models naturally affect the difference in fuel consumption; on hard surfaces it can fluctuate in the range of 10.8-12 liters per 100 km. The fuel tank volume of Lynx 1 is 42 liters, Lynx 2 and 3 is 65 liters.

Features of LADA 4×4 Bronto

When the domestic SUV was being finalized, the main emphasis was on changing the chassis. The engineers were given a difficult task - to improve cross-country ability to the highest possible level, striving to ensure that in this parameter the LADA Bronto is not inferior to foreign models of the same class. It’s worth noting right away that the specialists not only coped with the task, but also ensured that the car can be used on city roads, and not just when driving off-road.

The first thing that was implemented was raising the body by 4 cm, which led to shortening the overhangs. The springs and shock absorbers in the suspension were replaced with those used in the assembly of the Niva-Chevrolet. The choice was made in favor of these particular units, since they have proven themselves to be highly reliable and able to withstand heavy loads.

Origins

Spectacular car design

Lynx is produced at the PSA Bronto OJSC enterprise, located in Tolyatti. Since 1993, this subsidiary of AvtoVAZ has been producing special vehicles, the technical characteristics of which differ markedly from the base models. These are vehicles with high cross-country ability, increased comfort and capacity, and even armored vehicles.

An important aspect of Bronto's activities is the serial production of all manufactured models. The entire line of models of the enterprise must be tested for compliance with the requirements of state standards. The excellent operational capabilities of the special equipment produced by Bronto remain invariably in demand in the automotive market. Niva Lynx, whose technical capabilities have been tested under the most extreme operating conditions, is one of the models that are in maximum demand among consumers.

Bronto Lynx was presented as a small-scale model in 2009. Its main difference from the basic Lada 4x4 prototype is considered to be improved cross-country ability. Since it is very often made to order, its configuration can be significantly expanded with additional equipment. The most popular of them are: air conditioning, winch and roof rack.

Today Bronto produces Lynx, the technical characteristics of which have been certified by the state, with its own original VIN integrated into the car body.

In the cabin

Let's continue the review (Lada 4×4 Urban) and look at the car's interior. There are interior changes. There are few of them, but it's better than nothing. So, the very first thing is the steering wheel. It decreased in diameter and became slightly thicker. As for reviews, car enthusiasts unanimously say that now the steering wheel fits much better in the hand.

Another change is the floor tunnel. There are two cup holders for glasses of different sizes, as well as an ashtray. In addition, this block contains control keys for electric windows and adjustment of side mirrors. The power package also includes heated seats.

The manufacturer presented the chairs as completely new. They are stitched with orange stitching, but there is one catch. Experienced drivers will notice that these are Samara seats. And it’s not just the appearance that will remind you of this. The feeling of sitting in this chair really screams about this. The crossbar still obtrusively presses into the lower back. But the different upholstery material and modified profile make the fit feel cozier.

• New Niva Urban price, photo, video, characteristics of the new Niva Urban

What do owner reviews say? Lada 4×4 Urban (“Niva”) has become more comfortable. On long trips and in the city, sitting in the chair does not tire your back, although the seating position is unusual. Car enthusiasts say that the sensations can be compared to sitting on a stool rather than lying on a sofa. Only children will be comfortable sitting in the back.

The trunk can accommodate 265 liters with the standard rear seat arrangement. If you fold the back, then the volume will double.

Specifications