VAZ 2120 Надежда I (2120) photos

The VAZ-2120 Nadezhda was a Russian full-time four-wheel-drive seven-seater minivan produced by AvtoVAZ in its experimental-production facility (OPP). It was constructed on a modified, extended wheelbase (lengthened by 500 mm) platform of the VAZ-21213 Niva off-roader, retaining a permanent 4WD system with a lockable center differential, a dual-range transfer case, and an independent front suspension paired with a live rear axle. The body was a five-door minivan featuring a sliding rear passenger door on the right side and three rows of reconfigurable seating. Compared to the classic Niva, the Nadezhda provided spacious family transport while preserving exceptional cross-country capability. Power was supplied by longitudinally mounted gasoline engines, starting with a 1.8-liter carburetor unit (VAZ-2130, 80 hp) and later transitioning to a 1.7-liter fuel-injected engine (VAZ-21214, 84 hp), both mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox. A 2002 facelift replaced the distinctive twin circular headlights with streamlined composite headlight units from the VAZ-2110, alongside restyled bumpers. The vehicle was sold primarily in Russia and CIS countries.