Appearance
In fact, “Hunter” did not become a new model in the line, but only a slightly modified 469 UAZ. So, front and rear, Ulyanovsk designers have developed a new plastic bumper with large fog lights.
The wheels on the car are now alloy. Road tires are standard here. The rest of the car remained the same. The car has been slightly refreshed, but it still looks outdated and military-like. Many people do tuning for the UAZ Hunter. So, ready-made sets of power bumpers, winches, snorkels and arch extensions for mud tires are sold for this model. With this tuning kit, the UAZ Hunter looks more dignified and brutal. However, the cost of such modifications is sometimes more than hundreds of thousands of rubles.
There are some flaws in the body. Judging by the reviews, the UAZ Hunter has poor paint quality. It feels like the enamel was applied in places without a primer, the owners say. After two years, the paint begins to swell, rise and peel off. “Bugs” often appear, which over time develop into serious pockets of corrosion. From the factory, the metal is poorly protected from rust. And its thickness itself is less. The weight of the new Hunter is approximately 5 percent less than the Soviet 469. They also speak poorly about the quality of welding. The seams on the body are bad and starting to tear. There is also no way to adjust the doors. Over time they close very poorly.
Salon
The car itself is quite tall, but there is not enough headroom for tall drivers. The reason for this is the frame layout - the floor is too high. The interior design itself is more reminiscent of a truck: a flat metal instrument panel with vintage dials in the center. The steering wheel is two-spoke, without any adjustments.
On the passenger side there is a compact glove compartment and a “fear handle”, as the owners themselves call it. The seats in the car, although different from the 469, do not have good lateral and lumbar support. Therefore, many Hunter owners replace these shapeless seats with seats from a foreign car (for example, from an Opel or Toyota). The stove in the cabin is noisy, but warms in winter. Although problems with it are not excluded. So, the pipes may leak or the radiator itself may become clogged. The ventilation in the cabin is poorly thought out. The windows in the car do not open fully. There are only small windows that need to be pulled towards you. But they have almost no effect.
What other pitfalls are there in the UAZ Hunter? The interior of this SUV gets very hot in hot weather. This is due to the ill-conceived design of the roof, which acts as a thermal reflector in the sun. In rainy weather, owners are faced with such a problem as water in the cabin. The UAZ Hunter has a lot of cracks in the joints of the body, as well as a leaky ventilation hatch. This is where the water gets in. As a result, the interior is constantly damp, slush forms under the mats, and the windows sweat.
Another drawback of the UAZ is the side mirrors. They, according to the owners, are very flimsy and at speeds of more than 60 km they begin to vibrate strongly, which distorts the perception of information.
Appearance of the UAZ “Hunter” car
UAZ Hunter
The appearance of the SUV is simple and practical. Its cubic chopped shape has been transformed by a plastic false radiator grille and a front bumper with built-in fog lights. The plastic lining of the front and rear of the car meets safety requirements and protects the modern paintwork from various negative mechanical influences.
The luggage compartment of the UAZ “Hunter” series with a rigid frame body structure is equipped with a hinged door. It provides more convenient, quick access to the trunk, and also allows you to easily load/unload cargo or quickly board/disembark passengers on reclining seats. In versions of the UAZ body with an awning, a side folding rear door is installed.
Improved visibility, vehicle ventilation, and convenient access to rear-view mirrors for the purpose of adjusting them are provided by door extensions equipped with sliding windows.
Luggage compartment of UAZ “Hunter”
Trunk
It can accommodate up to 1130 liters of luggage in a five-seater version. The second row of seats can be folded in a ratio of 60 to 40. With the backrests folded, the trunk volume increases to 2564 liters. Among the advantages are a wide opening and a low loading height.
But there are also disadvantages. This is the gate opening to the left and the hinges sagging. The lid contains a heavy full-size spare tire, which over time causes the hinges to become loose and the trunk lid to close poorly.
Specifications
The UAZ Hunter was initially equipped with only one gasoline engine (we'll look at diesel versions a little later). It is not UMZ at all, but the Zavolzhsky unit of the 409th model. This engine is naturally aspirated with an in-line arrangement of cylinders. With a volume of 2.7 liters, the engine develops only 128 horsepower. The torque is also small - 210 Nm. The engine has a timing chain drive, a cast iron block and a 16-valve head.
What do reviews say about the UAZ Hunter engine? Like all ZMZ engines, the 409 engine is very voracious. So, per hundred in the city the car spends from 14 to 16 liters of 92. Owners also speak negatively about the location of the tank necks (there are only two of them in the UAZ). They are welded in such a way that when filling “to full” there is still 8 liters of free space left.
There is no need to talk about acceleration dynamics. The car weighs almost two tons when equipped. The car accelerates to hundreds in 25-30 seconds. Maximum speed is 140 kilometers per hour. But driving more than 80 is uncomfortable and sometimes scary. Due to the ill-conceived design of the driveshaft, the whole car begins to vibrate at speed. Alternatively, you can install the cardan on the CV joints, like on the Niva. The cost of such a solution is about nine thousand rubles.
Exterior
The car is equipped with a station wagon with five doors and a hard metal top. The appearance, compared to the prototype, has not undergone fundamental changes. This is a military SUV, adapted for work in the city and rural areas.
It is distinguished by characteristic rectangular contours and minimal external creativity. But considering that the car is designed to travel on difficult terrain, external modesty is justified.
The body structure has five doors. The radiator grille is made in the form of two stripes, on the sides of which there are round, slightly protruding headlights. On top, behind the hood, is an air intake cover that is adjustable from the cab. Tow hooks on stamped steel front bumper. On the side, to the left and right of the windshield, there are repeaters made of yellow plastic.
Narrow doors open 90 degrees. External door awnings. Side mirrors at speeds over 100 km. per hour they sometimes try to change the position on their own. The presence of windows along the perimeter creates panoramic visibility.
The rear part of the body is vertical with one door on which the spare wheel is mounted. Above the rear bumper there is a block of vertical rectangular headlights. External minimalism, however, opens up new horizons for tuning enthusiasts.
External tuning of the “Hunter”
The advantages and disadvantages are inherent to the machine. Therefore, “Hunter” is suitable for modeling and interesting modifications. For this vehicle, a necessary modification will be the installation of a sunroof in the cabin roof. This will help eliminate the problem of ventilation and the problem of reducing temperature in hot weather.
It is better to buy a finished aluminum hatch in a store and make markings on it for cutting out the metal. It is better to cut a steel roof with a grinder, not forgetting to cool the seam with water, and first remove the sheathing. It is better to perform the work of installing the hatch with an assistant, using sealant and sealant.
Body kits that expand additional functions can be made independently, if you do not strive for a presentable appearance. Otherwise, it is better to buy professionally designed body kits. The requirement for body kits is to be durable and not bulky. Power body kits are designed taking into account the installation of a winch and an increase in the wheel format to improve cross-country ability.
The specifics of the SUV require it to be equipped with a special expedition luggage rack. To do this, a frame is welded from the profile and reinforced with metal mesh. Then the fasteners are welded for installation on the roof of the car. Additional lighting equipment is installed on the trunk.
Diesel
The diesel UAZ Hunter also exists. Initially, the Andoria engine with an 8-valve head and without a turbine was used as a “solid fuel” unit. With a volume of 2.4 liters, it developed 86 horsepower. Torque did not exceed 183 Nm.
Two years after the first release, this engine was replaced by the domestic ZMZ-51432. The unit featured a 16-valve timing mechanism and, with a volume of 2.2 liters, developed a power of 114 horsepower.
Also, the UAZ Hunter (diesel) is equipped with a Chinese 4JB1T engine. With a volume of 2.2 liters, it develops 92 horsepower.
Characteristics of the chassis of the UAZ “Hunter” car
The front and rear suspensions of the car are dependent. The front wishbone suspension provides a smooth ride, the built-in anti-roll bar keeps you on track, and the dual-acting hydraulic shock absorber ensures smooth ride over rough terrain. The rear suspension has two longitudinal semi-elliptical leaf springs.
Suspension UAZ Hunter
Ease of control of the UAZ “Hunter” during parking and at low speeds is achieved through power steering. The braking system works clearly, quickly and effectively thanks to disc brakes installed on the front wheels and upgraded drums on the rear.
The transmission of the UAZ “Hunter” is equipped with a multiplier and is represented by a synchronized manual 5-speed gearbox and a new 2-speed helical transfer case. In the car, both axles are driven, but it is possible to disable the front one. Wheel formula – 4*4, ground clearance – 210 mm.
Among the design innovations of the car are the “LUK” clutch (only on the UAZ “Hunter” with the ZMZ engine - 409.10) and new drive axles of the “Spicer” type.
About all-wheel drive
The car is equipped with a five-speed manual transmission with rigidly connected Part-Time all-wheel drive. There is also a two-speed transfer case with a reduction range of speeds. The car can move in several modes:
- 2N. Torque is transmitted only to the rear wheels.
- 4H. The power is distributed evenly among the axles in a ratio of 50 to 50.
- 4L. This is all-wheel drive with a low range of gears. Serves to overcome severe off-road conditions.
But as reviews note, even in the top-end configuration, the UAZ Hunter does not have inter-wheel locking. Hubs must be purchased and installed separately. The transfer case, even on the new Hunter, is very noisy.
Suspension
The machine is built on a ladder-type frame. Front and rear – continuous axle. Coil springs are used as elastic elements in the front part. At the rear there are small leaf springs. Steering – gearbox with hydraulic booster. As reviews note, the UAZ Hunter has a very wobbly steering wheel. Finding the center is quite difficult. And at speed you have to constantly steer, even in a new car.
Brakes are discs at the front and drums at the rear. They do not work effectively enough. It takes a lot of effort to brake this two-ton jeep.
Suspension reliability is not at the best level. As reviews note, the UAZ Hunter is equipped from the factory with ball bearings on plastic bushings. Not only do they have no lubrication (which makes the steering wheel very tight), but they also collapse after 15-20 thousand kilometers, as they are completely devoid of protection from dirt. The steering wheel has a weak base. Over time, the fasteners can break off around the hub.
UAZ Hunter
The Hunter model (English: Hunter) has been produced by the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant since 2003. The prototype was, of course, the UAZ 469, which became a legend in the automotive industry and underwent numerous tests in difficult road and operating conditions, which confirmed the practical value of this vehicle. “Hunter” spent 12 years proving his right to be a successor. The entire UAZ model range.
In 2015, the moral and technical backwardness of the UAZ Hunter dictated a reasonable decision to discontinue production, but we had to take into account the opinion of buyers who still wanted to purchase the car.
Therefore, before being removed from the assembly line, the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant produced a custom UAZ Hunter 2016 model year called “Victory Series.” In 2016, the Russian car market presented the model with the following releases:
The updated model retains the qualities of an SUV: unpretentiousness, cross-country ability, relative cheapness and reliability.
Let's sum it up
So, we found out what the UAZ Hunter is. As you can see, the car has a lot of shortcomings and “childhood diseases”. Having bought a new car, you will definitely have to bring it to mind, the owners say. The car does not have any reliability or safety (although the latest models have ISOFIX child seat mounts). On the other hand, this is the cheapest all-wheel drive SUV available today that you can buy new. But you shouldn’t count on reliability or comfort in this UAZ. A more or less civilian option with a comfortable interior and equally good cross-country ability is the Patriot. But its price is much higher.
