Lada 2102 3 1.3 (70 Hp)


Overall Rating

6.2 / 10
Safety N/A / 5
Not Rated
Engine 2.5 / 5
Value 4.0 / 5
Performance 2.0 / 5
Comfort 2.5 / 5
People\'s Opinion N/A / 5
Not Rated

Lada 2102:

The VAZ-2101 "Zhiguli", commonly nicknamed "Kopeyka" , is a compact 4-door sedan or wagon, called small class, passenger car, model 1 in Soviet classification, and produced by the Soviet manufacturer AvtoVAZ, introduced in 1970 as the company's first product.
The car is a licence-built version of the Fiat 124, that was heavily modified and tailored for the rough climate and road conditions across the Soviet Union and much of the Eastern Bloc countries. Subsequently, it was widely, and successfully exported to the West under the Lada brand, for over two decades. The station wagon version was known as the VAZ-2102....(Read more on Wikipedia)

3 Overview:

Lada 2102 (3). With 96 Nm of torque, it offers ample pulling power. It has moderate fuel consumption (~10.9 l/100km). Weighing only 1020 kg, it’s quite light. Rear‑wheel drive offers dynamic handling and sporty feedback. Acceleration is relatively slow (0–100 km/h in 20 s). The top speed reaches 145 km/h. A car with an extended rear cargo area, combining passenger comfort with increased storage. Seating for 5 makes it ideal for daily use.

Safety Rating
Not rated
Euro NCAP Year N/A
Adult Occupant N/A
Stars N/A
Expert Note:
The Lada 2102 was produced long before modern safety standards and Euro NCAP testing began. It lacks contemporary safety features like airbags, ABS, or advanced crumple zones, offering only basic passive safety for its era.

1.3 (70 Hp) Verdict:

Rating 3 stars

Performance Verdict

The 1.3-liter engine with 70 Hp provided modest performance, typical for a utility vehicle of its era. A 0-100 km/h time of 20 seconds indicates leisurely acceleration, suitable for relaxed cruising rather than spirited driving.

Fuel Economy

Fuel consumption figures of 10.9 l/100 km urban and 8.2 l/100 km extra-urban are relatively high by today's standards, reflecting older carburettor technology. It was acceptable for the 1970s but not particularly economical.

Best Use Case: General utility, rural driving, or light family transport where practicality and low purchase cost were prioritized over performance or fuel efficiency.

Pros and Cons:

Pros:

  • • Robust and simple mechanicals, easy to maintain and repair.
  • • Spacious station wagon body, offering good cargo capacity.
  • • Affordable purchase price and running costs (for its era).
  • • Reliable rear-wheel-drive powertrain, good for various conditions.
  • • High ground clearance for rough roads.

Cons:

  • • Very modest performance with slow acceleration.
  • • High fuel consumption compared to modern vehicles.
  • • Lack of modern safety features and driver aids.
  • • Basic interior comfort and amenities.
  • • Outdated design and technology by the end of its production run.

Specifications:

General:
Brand:Lada
Model:2102
Generation:3
Modification (Engine):1.3 (70 Hp)
Start of production:1971
End of production:1986
Powertrain Architecture:Internal Combustion engine
Body type:Station wagon (estate)
Seats:5
Doors:5
Engine:
Power:70 Hp @ 5600 rpm.
Power per litre:53.8 Hp/l
Torque:96 Nm @ 3400 rpm.
Engine displacement:1300
Number of cylinders:4
Engine configuration:Inline
Number of valves per cylinder:2
Fuel injection system:Carburettor
Engine aspiration:Naturally aspirated engine
Valvetrain:OHC
Engine layout:Front, Longitudinal
Cylinder Bore:79 mm mm
Piston Stroke:66.2 mm mm
Compression ratio:8.5:1
Performance:
Fuel Type:Petrol (Gasoline)
Fuel consumption (economy) - urban:10.9 l/100 km
Fuel consumption (economy) - extra urban:8.2 l/100 km
Acceleration 0 - 100 km/h:20 sec
Acceleration 0 - 62 mph:20 sec
Maximum speed:145 km/h
Weight-to-power ratio:14.6 kg/Hp, 68.6 Hp/tonne
Weight-to-torque ratio:10.6 kg/Nm, 94.1 Nm/tonne
Acceleration 0 - 60 mph:19 sec
Space:
Kerb Weight:1020
Max. weight:1420
Max load:400
Trunk (boot) space - maximum:1035 l
Trunk (boot) space - minimum:345 l
Fuel tank capacity:45 l
Size:
Length:4059 mm mm
Width:1611 mm mm
Height:1458 mm mm
Wheelbase:2424 mm mm
Front track:1365 mm
Rear (Back) track:1321 mm
Powertrain:
Drivetrain ArchitectureThe Internal combustion engine (ICE) drives the rear wheels of the vehicle.
Drive wheelRear wheel drive
Number of gears4
Transmission typeManual
Front brakesDisc
Rear brakesDrum
Steering typeWorm-reduction unit
Tires size155/80 SR13
Front suspensionDouble wishbone
Rear suspensionCoil spring

What’s the best feature of the Lada 2102? Tell us in the comments!