Top 5 Russian vehicles that should have been a hit in the West.

5. Moskvitch 412

Also known as the 2140, the Moskvitch 412 is notorious for leaking fluids and refusing to understand the concept of reliability. Manufactured in the period between 1967 and 2001(under a number of different code names and ‘facelifts’), it survived nearly half a century behind the iron curtain. The curb weight was 1,045 kg (2,304 lb) and first models featured a 1.5, 4 cylinder engine tilted 20 degrees. The engine was often problematic; one would have to carry a complete tool box in the trunk including spare parts like spark plugs in quite large quantities.

4. GAZ-24 Volga

Manufactured between 1970 and 1985, the Volga is the beast of Russian road-going vehicles. Interestingly, the prototype of the car came out with a 3 liter V6 putting out 120 horse powers, but actual production vehicles featured an inline 2.5 liter four cylinder, producing 95hp and a 5.5 liter V8 in the GAZ 24-24 model. The car was a hit in the Soviet Union, and Eastern block countries. The Volga was sold in large numbers to "important" people who held import positions, and to the regular man, the GAZ-24 remained a dream car.

Volga tuning potential, AKA Russian muscle

3. VAZ-2101

The Lada 1200, VAZ-2101 or Zhigula, as it is known to the common man, was built from 1970 until 1988. It was a re-design of the Italian Fiat 124 to better tailor the needs and uses of Eastern European drivers. The car featured a 1.2 liter in line four cylinder engine making 63hp, and in 1974, a 1.3 liter in line four cylinder making 5 extra horse powers. A compact sedan design, with reasonably high ground clearance, chunky tires and low end torque, it meant that the Lada 1200 was a great all round terrain vehicle. You are not going to rock crawl in the Zhigula, but it was perfect for tarmac "highways" and dirt trails. Once again, it goes without saying that the simplicity of the design meant that maintenance and repairs were the petrol head’s dream.

2. Ural-4320

The Ural 4320 is an all-terrain, all-purpose, all wheel-drive vehicle initially designed for the Russian military. The key words here are all-wheel drive, as this truck is a 6x6 wheeler. Production began in 1976 and due its its extremely versatile design capabilities, production has not yet ended. This truck can go anywhere and literally be anything that the driver wants it to be. It can be a simple truck bed, a for of transport for up to 27 passengers, radio reconnaissance station, or rocket launch pad. It is also ideal for civilians who purchase a truck after it has been retired from the forces, as it can feature a simple truck bed with a crane, perfect for log transport out of hard to reach forests on cliff sides. This Ural comes with two diesel engines, a V6 producing 180 hp and a V8 producing 240 hp. Load carrying weight is 5,000 kg (11,000 lb) and trailer carrying weight is 11,500 kg (25,350 lb).

The 4320 carrying lumber

1. Lada Niva

Just like the Ural-4320, the Lada Niva is still in production today, and has been since 1977. It was perhaps the only car that the Lada company really tried to push to the West. It went on market in Iceland, Austria, Uruguay and Great Britain (aside from Eastern Europe of course), under names such as: Sport, Taiga, Diva and Cossack. In Russian though, the name was one which held the cars legacy, "Niva" meaning crop field.

The combination permanent all-wheel drive system, composed with three differentials, a 4 or 5 speed manual gearbox with high/low range, an all round coil spring suspension, independent in the front and 5 link type in the rear was an extreme hit from the very start of production and over time it proved to be a very capable off-road vehicle. Some say the Lada Niva even inspired the design of the Suzuki Vitara. The engine in the Niva is a 1.6L (on some markets a 1.7L or 1.9L diesel) in line four cylinder, putting out 72 hp and 126 N·m (93 lb·ft) of torque. Fuel consumption of such "simplistic" Lada engines is considered very good even to today’s standards, as this engine consumes 8.25 L/100 km (34.2 mpg) of petrol. Although speaking from experience, to make the math work, one would need to drive by the old rules of fuel economy, aka switching the engine off and using the car’s inertia down hills.

It’s hard to put enough emphasis on how capable the Lada Niva is off road. I rather you see for your self. Below is a Fifth Gear episode, where some also very capable off road camera vehicle struggle up a hill against the Niva.

Fifth Gear Lada Niva drive