Lada Built A $19,800 Wagon With Three Pedals And Black Steelies

Cheap cars with manual transmissions are turning into endangered species across most of the world, but Russia just got a fresh proposal aimed at family buyers. The Lada Iskra SW picks up a new trim that pairs a six-speed manual with the strongest engine in the range and a set of black steel wheels.

Lada revealed the Iskra back in mid-2024, though the cars didn’t reach buyers until mid-2025. It rides on a localized take on the Dacia-derived CMF-B architecture that dates to the Renault Group era, and it comes in sedan, SW, and SW Cross forms. The lineup now stretches further with a configuration built to handle rough roads with a full load aboard.

More: Lada’s 49-Year-Old Niva Just Got Its First Airbag And A Rust-Proof Body

While entry-level variants of the Iskra run a naturally-aspirated 1.6-liter engine producing 89 hp (66 kW / 90 PS), the Iskra SW Drive gets the more potent version with 105 hp (78 kW / 106 PS). The real news sits one row down the spec sheet, as the CVT is gone, replaced by a six-speed manual. That pairing already existed in the sedan, but dropping it into the wagon hands buyers a more useful body to go with it.

Lada

The manual does more than wake up the driving, it also outruns the CVT. The SW reaches 100 km/h (62 mph) from rest in 12.7 seconds and carries on to a top speed of 174 km/h (108 mph), which makes it 1.2 seconds quicker and 8 km/h (5 mph) faster than its automatic counterpart. Lada quotes fuel consumption of 7.8 lt/100km (30.1 mpg) for the three-pedal car.

More: Lada’s Long-Frozen Next-Gen Niva May Have Just Slipped Into Public View

Built with simplicity in mind, the Lada Iskra SW Drive rides on a set of 15-inch steel wheels finished in black, although it retains the chrome inserts on the grille rather than going full-poverty spec with unpainted bumpers. Despite the cost-cutting measures on the outside, the kit remains relatively generous for a budget model. Standard features include the 8-inch Lada Enjoy Evo infotainment, heated front seats, heated mirrors, A/C, cruise control, and dual airbags.

Lada

Pricing for the new Iskra SW Drive opens at 1,565,000 rubles, roughly $19,800 at today’s exchange rate, which undercuts the CVT version and its 1,677,000-ruble ($21,200) ask. It also lands just $500 above the Iskra SW fitted with the 89 hp engine and the five-speed manual. The cheapest Iskra of all remains the entry sedan, which starts at 1,277,000 rubles ($16,100).

More: Lada’s Budget SUV That Was Once A Chevy Time Travels To 2025 With A Facelift

While the Iskra lineup doesn’t include a performance-focused model, Lada recently showcased the Iskra Cup by TMS Motorsport. The track-only racecar was designed for a single-make series and features a custom bodykit, a lowered suspension, white alloy wheels, and a roll cage. This one is powered by a turbocharged 1.6-liter engine with 215 hp (160 kW / 218 PS) mated to a six-speed sequential gearbox.