At the time of the start of production, the VAZ-2101 was the most comfortable in its class, one of the most modern and reliable domestic cars, which immediately made its ownership a sign of prosperity and well-being. Among the most pleasant features of the VAZ-2101, car enthusiasts noted its high unpretentiousness, reliability and ease of maintenance, smooth ride, dynamics, and comfortable interior (including good performance of the heater). Objectively, the VAZ was superior to other Soviet cars in terms of manufacturing, and especially interior trim, had good dynamics and handling, a small amount of maintenance work for those years, and a fairly modern appearance (for the first years of production).