Lada VAZ-2110

One family, three bodies

The VAZ-2110 is the saloon of a family of three body styles that shared engines, platform and front-end design. The VAZ-2111 estate followed in 1998, and the VAZ-2112 five-door hatchback arrived in 1999 or 2000, depending on the source. A three-door coupé, the VAZ-21123, stayed off export lists and was dropped in 2008.

Export markets knew the cars as the Lada 110 (saloon), Lada 111 (estate) and Lada 112 (hatchback). The hatchback has its own page: see the Lada 112 hatchback.

At 4.27 m (14 ft) long, the saloon sits in the small family car class. Its layout is conventional: a transverse engine, front-wheel drive, ventilated front discs and rear drums.

From a 1983 project to the Priora

The VAZ-2110 took twelve years to reach production, mostly because of the economic crisis of the early 1990s. Work began in 1983, while the Samara family, including the VAZ-2109 hatchback, went on to run in parallel for years.

A 300-series prototype followed in 1987. It was reportedly refined aerodynamically at Zuffenhausen with Porsche engineers, though only one source makes this claim. A 1986 Audi 80 is reported to have served as the reference for dimensions, packaging and aerodynamics. Driveable prototypes ran in 1990 and 1991.

Series production had been planned for 1992, but the crisis pushed it back. For the wider story of the factory, see AvtoVAZ and its Lada cars.

The successor, the Lada Priora, is largely a facelifted and modernised Lada 110. Early in 2006 the 110 itself received new tail lights and a new dashboard. After AvtoVAZ stopped, the car lived on as the Bogdan 2110 in Ukraine, and assembly in Egypt is reported to have continued to about 2015.

Engines and gearbox

All VAZ-2110 engines are transverse inline-four petrol units of 1.5 or 1.6 litres, driving the front wheels through a five-speed manual gearbox. The first saloons used a 1.5-litre carburettor engine, which the factory index list dates to 1996–2001. Fuel-injected 8-valve and 16-valve versions followed, and from 2004 the 1.6-litre engines took over.

Figures come from the ADAC catalogue (manufacturer data for German cars, with German listing periods), except the 1.6 8V row from Autoevolution.

Some figures in circulation need correcting. Several spec sites rate the 16-valve engine at 94 hp, but ADAC gives 67 kW (90 PS). For the 1.6 16V, Autoevolution lists 131 Nm against ADAC's 128 Nm, and the later 1.5 8V rating of 56 kW (77 PS) rests on a single catalogue entry.

Both 16-valve engines make 67 kW (90 PS), but the 1.6 does so at 5,000 rpm instead of 5,600 rpm. The camshafts are driven by a toothed belt. Germany also had an autogas version of the 1.6 16V GLi in 2005–2006.

The 2.0-litre VAZ-21106 used the Opel C20XE engine. It is listed as a limited sporting conversion fitted by an outside company, so its figures are left out here.

Performance and fuel economy

The 16-valve Lada 110 reaches 185 km/h (115 mph) and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 12.5 seconds; the 8-valve cars need about 14 seconds and top out at 167 km/h (104 mph).

ADAC gives NEDC consumption of 7.3 L/100 km (32.2 mpg US) for the 1.5 8V and 7.4 L/100 km (31.8 mpg US) for the 1.6 16V, while Autoevolution quotes 7.7 L/100 km for the 1.6 16V. These are test-cycle figures. The tank holds 43 L (11.4 US gal), and ADAC lists towing limits of 1,000 kg (2,205 lb) braked and 500 kg (1,102 lb) unbraked.

Dimensions, interior space and boot

The Lada 110 saloon is 4,265 mm (167.9 in) long on a 2,492 mm (98.1 in) wheelbase, and its boot holds 416 L (14.7 cu ft). The table shows the 1.6 16V saloon as sold in Germany in 2005–2006.

The boot is often misquoted. Older texts give 480 L and one UK spec site 450 L, but ADAC and Autoevolution agree on 416 L for the saloon; with the rear seat folded, ADAC measures 1,270 L to window height. The payload works out at 475 kg (1,047 lb), not the 800 kg sometimes claimed.

The VAZ-2111 estate is 4,280 mm (168.5 in) long. Its boot is disputed: Autoevolution gives 450 L (15.9 cu ft), the English Wikipedia article 490 L. The drag coefficient is usually quoted as 0.33 for the saloon and 0.30 for the estate.

Equipment and historic prices in Germany

German buyers chose between Li (8-valve) and GLi (16-valve) trim, plus special editions such as the "Spar-Lada" of 2002 and the "GLi Special" of 2004–2005. Equipment was basic: for the 2004 1.5 16V GLi, ADAC lists only the rear centre seat belt and rear head restraints under standard safety items, and fog lights cost EUR 170 extra.

ADAC base list prices in Germany for the periods shown were:

• 1.5 (July 2001 to March 2004): EUR 7,990
• 1.5 16V GLi (March 2004 to February 2005): EUR 8,190
• 1.6 16V GLi (February 2005 to May 2006): EUR 8,190

Safety and build quality

No Euro NCAP result for the Lada 110 could be found, so there is no independent rating to compare. Given the short list of standard safety items in German catalogue entries, check what a surviving car actually has.

German sources describe the car as robust and long-lasting, with minor build-quality defects that could appear in the first months. Auto Bild criticised its high percentage loss in value, although the loss in euros was small because the purchase price was low. The Swedish magazine Vi Bilägare ran a rust test of the Lada 110 in June 2000; its verdict could not be checked.

Rivals and legacy

The Lada 110 competed on price rather than technology: German sources name a purchase price well below West European, Japanese and Korean compact cars of similar size as its main appeal. Europe-wide sales followed by 1999, and the car reportedly stayed on sale in Finland until 2007.

In motorsport, two Lada 110s raced in the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) in 2008. In 2009 the Lada Sport works team started the season with three 110s and switched to the Priora mid-season.

The Priora carried the 110's body and engineering forward, while the Samara-based VAZ-2114 stayed in the range alongside it. For the brand's other models, browse all Lada models.