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UAZ Profi: The Light Truck Built on Off-Road Hardware
The UAZ Profi is a 1.5-tonne light truck shown at the ComTrans commercial vehicle show in 2017 and sold from the 2018 model year. It uses a 2.7-litre petrol engine with 110 kW (150 PS), a five-speed manual gearbox and a ladder frame. Buyers could choose rear-wheel drive or part-time four-wheel drive, and a factory gas option was offered.
Key takeaways
- 1,500 kg payload and 3,500 kg gross weight, within the EU car-licence limit.
- 2.7-litre ZMZ petrol engine with 110 kW (149.6 PS) and a five-speed Dymos gearbox.
- Two versions at launch: UAZ-236021 with rear drive and UAZ-236022 with 4×4.
- Updated in March 2021 with twin rear tyres and a long-wheelbase version for eight pallets.
What the UAZ Profi is
The Profi was UAZ's first purpose-built light truck. It borrowed the front end, the engine and much of the chassis from the UAZ Patriot and the UAZ Pickup. Behind the cab sat a flatbed or a box body.
Its main rival in its home region was the GAZelle Next. The Profi's selling point was the four-wheel-drive version, which few vans and light trucks of that size offered. For the brand's background, read about UAZ and its off-road vehicles.
UAZ Profi specifications
| Parameter | UAZ Profi (2018 model year) |
|---|---|
| Engine | 2.7-litre ZMZ four-cylinder petrol |
| Power | 110 kW (149.6 PS) |
| Gas version | Factory gas system; about 105 kW (143 PS) on gas, per the old 1cars report |
| Gearbox | Five-speed Dymos manual |
| Drive | Rear (236021) or part-time 4×4 with low range (236022) |
| Payload | 1,500 kg |
| Gross weight | 3,500 kg |
| Kerb weight | About 1,900–2,225 kg, by version |
| Flatbed | 3,089 × 1,870 mm; wide version 3,089 × 2,060 mm |
| Ground clearance | 210 mm |
| Fuel use | 11.5–12.3 l/100 km (maker's figures) |
The old 1cars report adds single-source figures: about 5,940 mm long, 2,315 mm wide (2,545 mm with the wide platform), and a turning radius of 5.9 m, or 6.7 m for the 4×4.
By our calculation, the payload equals about 43 % of the gross weight, typical for a 3.5-tonne truck. Check the cost of petrol against gas with the fuel cost comparison.
Cab and equipment
The cab seats three in the rear-drive truck. In the 4×4, the second gear lever for the transfer case takes the space of the middle seat, so it seats two.
Standard equipment at launch included ABS with brake-force distribution, a driver's airbag, electric windows and central locking. The Comfort version added air conditioning, a heated windscreen, heated seats, fog lights and a multimedia system. A double-cab version followed later.
Updates and imports, 2018–2021
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2017 | Profi shown at the ComTrans show |
| 2018 model year | Sales of the 4×2 and 4×4 versions |
| March 2018 | Imported into Poland, with net prices from 56,000 to 99,000 PLN (about €13,000–23,000 at the time) |
| 10 March 2021 | Updated Profi: twin rear tyres, wheelbase 3,530 mm, front track 1,648 mm |
| 2021 | Long-wheelbase version: 7,050 mm long, 4,180 mm wheelbase, eight pallets |
With twin rear tyres, the rear-drive truck's box took five Euro pallets in 10.5 cubic metres. The 4×4 kept single rear tyres and a 9.5-cubic-metre box for four pallets. The update also widened the front track by 48 mm.
Who the Profi suits: our verdict
The 4×4 Profi suits utilities, farms and builders who need to reach sites on dirt roads with 1.5 tonnes on board. The rear-drive truck makes sense only where the price is clearly below rival light trucks. Fuel use is high for a petrol engine of this size, so the gas version is the better choice for high-mileage work.
Compare it with other UAZ models using the comparison tool or browse the UAZ catalogue.
FAQ
What engine does the UAZ Profi have?
It has a 2.7-litre ZMZ four-cylinder petrol engine with 110 kW (149.6 PS), driving through a five-speed Dymos manual gearbox. A factory gas system was offered, which slightly lowers output but cuts fuel costs.
What is the payload of the UAZ Profi?
The payload is 1,500 kg, and the gross vehicle weight is 3,500 kg. The standard flatbed measures 3,089 by 1,870 mm, and a wider 2,060 mm platform was also available for bulky loads.
Is the UAZ Profi four-wheel drive?
Both versions were offered. The UAZ-236021 drives the rear wheels, while the UAZ-236022 has part-time four-wheel drive with a low-range transfer case. The 4×4 is heavier and seats two instead of three.
What changed on the UAZ Profi in 2021?
The update of March 2021 brought twin rear tyres for the rear-drive truck, a 30 mm longer wheelbase and a wider front track. A long-wheelbase version for eight Euro pallets was added at the same time.
