The budget C-class sedan Chevrolet Viva, which is almost a complete copy of the second generation Opel Astra, was released in September 2004 at the official presentation in Togliatti, after which it immediately entered mass production at the facilities of the joint venture GM-AvtoVAZ. The release of the car was curtailed in March 2008, and all due to low consumer demand in the Russian market.
Externally, the Chevrolet Viva makes a pleasant impression, although it is not replete with original solutions - it is a rather nice sedan with a harmonious silhouette that successfully combines soft and clearly drawn lines. The car features a nicely designed front end and an ingenious rear end design, so it doesn't look like a "dinosaur" even now.
Viva meets the criteria of the European C-class: the car is 4252 mm long, of which 2606 mm is the distance between the axles, 1709 mm in width and 1425 mm in height. The curb weight of the three-volume vehicle does not exceed 1235 kg, and its total weight fits into 1700 kg.
The interior of the Chevrolet Viva looks dull and ascetic, but it is notable for its solid assembly and pleasant finishing materials. And with ergonomics it has no obvious problems - a simple dashboard that unites four circles, a three-spoke steering wheel of the optimal size and an unremarkable console in the center, on which ventilation deflectors are concentrated, a place for a radio tape recorder and three air conditioning "twists".
The undoubted plus of "Viva" is its inner space. The front riders are assigned comfortable and moderately hard chairs with unobtrusive support on the sides, and a hospitable sofa is installed in the back, albeit with a somewhat flat profile.
The cargo compartment of the Chevrolet Viva in its "stowed" form is designed to carry 460 liters of luggage, but its shape is too far from rectangular, and the hinges eat up a lot of space. The rear seat folds out in a 2: 3 ratio, as a result of which the volume of the "hold" increases to 1230 liters, and a full-fledged "spare wheel" is hidden in the niche under the raised floor.
Specifications. An uncontested gasoline engine is available for the "American" sedan - an in-line four-cylinder Ecotec Z18XE unit with a displacement of 1.8 liters (1796 cubic centimeters), equipped with a 16-valve timing and distributed fuel supply technology.
Its performance is 125 horsepower at 5600 rpm and 170 Nm of torque at 3800 rpm. In addition, the car is equipped with a 5-speed "manual" gearbox and drive wheels of the front axle.
In asphalt exercises, the Chevrolet Viva demonstrates decent results: up to the first "hundred", the three-volume compact community rushes after 9.5 seconds and picks up 200 km / h of maximum speed. In the mixed driving mode, the car "eats" on average 8.5 liters of fuel (in urban conditions it needs 11 liters, and in the suburban cycle - 6.1 liters).
The Viva is based on the GM T-body front-wheel drive architecture inherited from the second incarnation of the Opel Astra. The front wheels of the car are connected to the body by means of an independent suspension of the McPherson type with a transverse stabilizer, and at the rear, a semi-independent structure with an elastic cross beam is used.
The steering on the sedan is of a rack and pinion structure with an electro-hydraulic booster, and disc brakes on all wheels (ventilated at the front) with ABS.
The positive features of "Viva" usually include: nice design, high-spirited engine, good dynamics, confident behavior on the road, energy-intensive suspension, solid assembly, reliable design and affordable service.
The car is not without its drawbacks - poor light from the headlights and poor soundproofing of the cabin.
Equipment and prices. In the secondary market of Russia, it is possible to become the owner of a Chevrolet Viva in the spring of 2016 at a price of 140,000 rubles. In the basic version, the four-door does not differ in the richness of equipment - it has power steering, ABS, ESP, audio preparation with two speakers and packages "Dusty road" and "Bad road". But the "top" version also "flaunts" a pair of airbags, air conditioning, alloy wheels, two power windows, fog lights and heated front seats.
