VAZ-2120 "Nadezhda" is the first and only high-capacity minivan for the domestic auto industry. The idea for such a car appeared in the late 80s, and AZLK also tried to implement it with its "Arbat" project. Unfortunately or fortunately, only one copy of "Arbat" was assembled in 1991, while the fate of "Nadezhda" turned out to be more intricate.
On paper, the project looked just perfect: a 7-seater minivan with all-wheel drive, now no one will be able to refuse a trip to the potatoes, there will be enough space for everyone! However, in reality, adults in the back row could only fit tightly pressed against each other, and the trunk with the 3rd row of seats unfolded existed only technically, in fact it was difficult to put something more than a couple of travel bags in it. Only the front windows opened in the car, air conditioning, of course, was also not supposed to be, whether there were survivors after a trip in this car in the 3rd row in the south of the country is not reported.
The appearance was simultaneously similar to everything and nothing. In early versions, the front headlights were from VAZ-2106, in later versions - from VAZ-2111, the rear headlights were from "Oka" with fog lights again from the "six". In the cabin - the same thing, "I made it from what was available." In general, if we take into account that the car never went into series production - it seems forgivable, if not for the fact that everything that was not nailed down was screwed on with countless self-tapping screws of all kinds. Under the hood of the promising development was an engine from the "Niva", which coped so-so even with the "Niva", but it was even less suitable for a minivan. Like the gearbox, suffering from a greatly elongated wheelbase.
The interior is noisy, cramped, without frills. Passengers in the 2nd and 3rd rows are not entitled to any amenities. Of the pluses - since they were assembled according to the principle "from what came to hand", finding spare parts for it is not difficult, unlike body parts.
As a result, a little more than 8,000 cars were assembled in 8 years, and "Nadezhda" was not destined to reach the assembly line. The car was not popular because the end consumer simply could not understand what tasks this miracle of engineering was built for. It seems that in Togliatti they never understood what they wanted to get from this project and who they wanted to sell it to.
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