VAZ Lada Niva II (2123 / Travel) photos

The second-generation compact SUV, originally designated as VAZ-2123, has been in continuous production since 2002, famously marketed as the Chevrolet Niva under the GM-AvtoVAZ joint venture and subsequently rebranded as the Lada Niva Travel. Built on an extensively refined unibody chassis derived from the original classic Niva platform, the model features a five-door layout with modern suspension geometry and reduced noise and vibration levels. Power is predominantly delivered by a 1.7-liter naturally aspirated inline-four gasoline engine with electronic multi-point fuel injection, paired with a five-speed manual transmission, a two-speed transfer case, and a manually lockable center differential. Over its lifespan, the vehicle underwent several major updates, including a significant styling refresh penned by the Italian design studio Bertone in 2009, followed by a dramatic front and rear redesign in late 2020 when it transitioned to the Lada Niva Travel moniker. The vehicle successfully merges serious off-road capability with practical urban ergonomics and has been extensively distributed across Russia, the CIS region, and selected international export markets.