In the eighties and nineties in particular, Lada models were common cars on the Dutch road network, but in 2021 you have to look for those Russian Fiat 124-based models with a magnifying glass. Even the later Lada’s Samara are almost completely extinct. Still, thanks to Techzle reader Danïel Spoelder, we have a Lada on the digital shelves of In het Wild today. And what a. What about a Lada Vesta SW?
Even the non-Lada fanatic is familiar with the more angular than a shoebox designed models such as the 2105, 2104 and especially the classic Niva, the non-enthusiast can still remember. The 110, 111, 112, Priora and Kalina, which were still delivered in the Netherlands, are perhaps less well-known models of the Russian brand that were still delivered in the Netherlands through official channels. Lada is no longer active in Western Europe, but in its home country Russia it is still alive. The models of the Kalina family are now all going through life under the Granta flag, the brand has a Largus based on the first Dacia Logan MCV in the range and the old Niva is still very much alive. It is now called Niva Legend and is delivered alongside the Niva Travel. Lada even has a compact crossover in the range with the XRay, but there is more! In Russia, for example, it sells Priora successor Vesta, which has existed as a sedan since 2015 and also in station wagon form since 2017. Techzle reader Daniël Spoelder sent us these photos of such a Lada Vesta SW, the only one in the Netherlands!
Techzle once tested a Vesta Sedan through Autobedrijf Snippe, a specialist in the import of young used Ladas. Four copies of those four-door Vesta have been registered in the Netherlands. The gray Vesta SW in these photos is in any case the holy grail because of its unique status in our regions. The car rolled off the production line in Izhevsk, Russia in 2018 and entered our country for the first time in 2019.
Lada delivers the Vesta SW with a 106 hp 1.6 and with a 1.8 that kicks it to 122 hp. The Vesta SW in these photos has the 1.6 under the hood, a four-cylinder which in this case is also linked to an LPG system. Incidentally, the Russian consumer can order both the Vesta and Vesta SW as a boldly dressed and raised Cross version. In contrast to, for example, the XRay, the Vesta is still on a real Lada platform, although the brand has been allowed to grab various parts from the warehouse of parent company Renault. For future models, Lada will use a cheaper version of Renault’s CMF platform. Indeed, just like Dacia.
To a lesser extent, the Vesta and Vesta SW symbolize the rudimentary image that Lada had in Europe a few decades ago. Nevertheless, they are a unique appearance on Dutch soil.