Car Gamebreaker Review, no. 75/1984
Soviet Wind of Change? - Sputnik Natasha (see full article here)
Today we review exceptionally rare car on Western European roads, but don't bother, it's so rare that one can spot a tiny comet without a telescope on the clear summer night. We present you the Sputnik Natasha Sport.
Sputnik has a reputation of building ugly, boxy cars with cheap 76-85 RON engines which trail a obnoxious traces of coaly black smoke behind them. These cars are very common and unavoidable for lives of most Iron Curtain simple, ordinary workers. Most Western people avoid them at all costs, because of this reason.
But not this time. Sputnik Natasha is very streamlined car, but Soviet traces are still present with more crude, polygonal design. This model was actually designed in Italy, so that's why it looks very decent compared to most Warsaw Pact competitors, and we predict solid success among cheap hatchbacks on European markets, except for race with cheap and also reliable Japanese competitors. Natasha is average-sized hatch with two innovations for this Soviet brand. It's FWD and it has unibody chassis, which is pionieered in Europe almost a decade and half ago.
Engine is 1.5 L (1499cc) inliner-four, but our local car seller supplied model perfectly tailored for Western markets. It's powered by 111 bhp turbo-charged engine of Japanese origin with solid stats, and automatic transmission of Western German origin. Fuel economy is around 7.6 l / 100 km's, which is above acceptable, because it still runs on cheaper and cruder Soviet 86 RON (Note: We're in the literal 1984, not the Orwellian one). Engine stats are even more improved with Swedish-made mechanic fuel injection Jenssentronic.
Interior is simple, crude and without sense of creative geniousness. Made of red-coloured cloths on seats with most plastic parts like control board, transmission box and floor panels. Nothing special and Eastern European roots here are most visible here.
The roof window is must-have option here for every sunny summer with hot temperatures. So, in this intermediate trim package you can't avoid it at any cost.
Handling is very responsive and easy, only major problem are actually crude and slow brakes of local origin which are cause of quite erratic fading. They're probably made in some Siberian garage augmented by primitive ABS, which is included because of very strict European regulations.
Talking about car safety, Natasha has solid safety bars made of harsh steel, similar to the chassis' one, so our advice is to avoid the frontal crashes with this model at any costs, because your average car will receive the bigger damage than this Soviet compact.
So, here we have the final verdict:
Design: 3,5/5
Engine: 3,5/5
Transmission: 3,5/5
Fuel economy: 4/5
Interior: 2,5/5
Braking: 2,5/5
Handling: 4/5
Safety: 3,5/5
Overall points: 27/40
The car actually drowns in the mediocrity compared with finest brands of the compact class (Familiewagen, Luxo, Pinault, Zonda, Koyoda etc.) but it's still way better than most decayed British models from the 1970s or early 1980s, and not to talk about couple of generic American compacts (Moldt Brewer for example). Our advice? Give it as a gift for your kids as the reward for good results in the private college. The car is almost loan-free, because you can only get it as a gift from Soviet friend in exchange for better ration savings.
NOTE: Big thanks to Abibas Corporation which has brought us couple pairs of the tracksuits and sneakers as the donation. No Cheems here included, they're just here for lols in the promo picture.
Detailed stats - see below for summary:
Inspired by 1984-1991 Lada Samara / VAZ 2108 intermediate trim. Enjoy : )
- Country of Origin: Soviet Union (USSR)
- Production years: 1984-1992
- Engine: 1500cc Inliner-4, turbocharged (Western origin turbo)
- Compression: 9:2:1
- Fuel system: Charged, multi-point electronic fuel injection (Western type)
- Redline: 6200 RPM
- Wheelbase: 2.54 meters
- Drivetrain: Front-wheeled drive (FWD), transversally mounted engine
- Transmission:4-geared Synchro Automatic
- Suspension: MacPherson Strut (front) / Solid Axle Coil (rear)
- Empty Weight: 1044 kgs
- Engine power: 111 bhp @ 5200 RPM
- Engine torque: 157.8 NM @ 4600 RPM
- Brakes: 2LS discs (front) / SLS drums (rear)
- Acceleration: 0-100 km/h for 10.40 seconds
- Fuel type: Unleaded, cheap Soviet 87 RON
- Fuel economy: 7.6 l / 100 km
- Top speed: 202 km/h
- Drag coefficient: 0.338 Cd
- Exterior material: Steel unibody / crude plastic bumpers and side details
- Car colour(s): Lada Lemon (Pastel)
- Interior material: Plastic / red cloth
- Steering type: Manual Rack & Pinion / ABS installed
- Extra: Black decal on the car center / roof window on center
Dismiss Notice
In the upcoming weeks mod approvals could be slower than normal.
Thank you for your patience.
In the upcoming weeks mod approvals could be slower than normal.
Thank you for your patience.

Beta 1984 Sputnik Natasha 1.2
1980s Soviet drifting car