Chevrolet Niva's predecessor in the Volga Automobile Plant was a VAZ-2123 SUV. The construction of Chevrolet Niva has been largely copied from this car, although there are significant changes to replace obsolete nodes.
The main difference between Chevrolet and Niwa is the new carrying body of a streamlined form. The most significant deficiencies of the VAZ-21213 are eliminated:
- The gear reducer shall be "connected" by the engine;
- The construction of the INCD drive has changed (the gear does not "depart");
- an intermediate shaft has been installed on the ShRUC, which does not require precise centering;
- the front and rear wall of the shaft of the same length.
The system of brakes has undergone substantial modernization:
- The main brake cylinder shall provide a safe diagonal diagram of the circuits;
- A new vacuum amplifier is installed on the vehicle.
Chevrolet Niva has the same "classic" engine, but a larger volume with a large number of new nodes (such as the hydraulic fluid of the GRM chain).