UAZ Patriot History

The first UAZ Patriot rolled off the Ulyanovsk line on 17 August 2005, replacing the UAZ Simbir (UAZ-3162) and marking a genuinely new era for the marque. Where prior UAZ models were evolutions of 1940s and 1960s architectures, the Patriot was designed from the outset as a modern SUV — with a large, five-door body, updated suspension geometry, a new steering system, and a capacity for five adult passengers plus 200 kg of cargo. Its launch price of under US$5,000 made it one of the most affordable new 4×4 SUVs in the world.

The Patriot uses a 2.7-litre petrol four-cylinder producing roughly 128 hp paired with a 5-speed manual transmission and a two-stage transfer case, retaining true body-on-frame construction and solid front and rear axles for serious off-road capability. A series of facelifts updated the interior progressively: the 2012 facelift brought a redesigned dashboard, a Takata-Petri four-spoke steering wheel, and a 2-DIN media unit; subsequent updates in 2014 and 2016 refined safety equipment and trim levels.

The Patriot has become UAZ's best-selling model in the post-Soviet era and the vehicle most commonly associated with the brand internationally. It competes as a budget off-roader in Russia and Commonwealth of Independent States markets against Chinese and Korean imports at far higher prices, a positioning that has kept it viable despite its aging mechanical underpinnings.