Living in the coldest inhabited places on Earth already seems like a daunting challenge. Coming from someone who resides in a tropical country, I can only imagine what that must be like.
In the video above, the presenter demonstrates what it takes to be a vehicle owner in Yakutia, Siberia widely considered the coldest inhabited place on the planet.
The extreme temperatures, which can plummet as low as -94 degrees Fahrenheit (-70 degrees Celsius), make this a particularly tough undertaking. If a car is left unprotected in such conditions, it can freeze solid within minutes.
It’s worth noting that the temperature captured in the video above was -58 degrees F (-58 degrees C).
To unfreeze a car, locals use a specific method that takes about two hours. It’s yet another chore to add to their routines, and the video walks viewers through the steps involved. The featured car is a UAZ, recognized as one of the most rugged vehicles ever produced in Russia.
To prevent a car from freezing outdoors, insulating it and storing it in a heated garage during winter is essential.
However, maintaining a warm garage in these extreme conditions can be both challenging and expensive.
As a result, many residents opt to “mothball” their cars by removing the battery and leaving the vehicle outside to freeze, planning to revive it once spring arrives.
Another method to keep a car from freezing during the harsh winter is by keeping the engine running continuously a practice common in Yakutia, where vehicles often remain idling from October through April.
While this technique is effective, it naturally results in significantly higher fuel consumption.
Driving under these conditions poses serious risks, especially if a vehicle breaks down on the road. In Yakutia, traveling between towns can take days.
If a car fails in such frigid temperatures, the situation can become life-threatening. Therefore, consistent vehicle maintenance and thorough insulation are absolutely critical.
The video also features two local residents, Konstantin and Anatoliy, who demonstrate how they insulate their vehicles. The pair invested about $70 in the materials and tools needed to shield their car from the brutal cold.
In places where winter isn’t just cold but a daily battle for survival, old Soviet cars continue to thrive while many modern vehicles falter. Cars like the Lada Niva, GAZ Volga, and UAZ-469 have earned a reputation for near-mythical reliability in subzero temperatures.
While today’s vehicles often refuse to start in Arctic conditions without help from engine block heaters, battery warmers, or synthetic oils, these rugged Soviet machines start up with a cough and a growl, then go about their day as if it’s a mild spring morning.
The secret lies not in cutting-edge technology, but in simplicity, overengineering, and a cold-blooded design philosophy that prioritizes survival over polish.
One of the main reasons Soviet engines still work so reliably in extreme cold is their mechanical simplicity. Unlike today’s cars, which rely on a web of electronic sensors, computers, and precisely tuned components, Soviet vehicles were designed without unnecessary tech.
Carburetors replaced complex fuel injection systems, ignition systems were basic, and there was little that could freeze, glitch, or break under stress. That lack of fragility means these engines don’t require perfect conditions to run—just fuel, air, and a spark.
In addition to simplicity, old Soviet engines were built with massive internal tolerances. In other words, they had more space between moving parts than modern engines.
While this design led to lower efficiency and higher noise levels, it also meant that thick, cold oil could still circulate during icy startups. Modern engines often seize or struggle due to tightly packed internals and frozen lubricants, while Soviet designs are loose enough to keep cranking, even when it’s -40°C outside.
Another reason for their resilience is that they were expected to be used in these conditions from the start. Engine block heaters, fuel line warmers, and easy access to vital components were standard considerations.
In the harshest climates, drivers would even build fires under the engines or pour boiling water on the blocks—tactics that these vehicles could handle without flinching. Some models even featured hand-crank starters, offering a backup when batteries inevitably failed in the cold. These crude but effective solutions were all part of the vehicle’s DNA.
Durability also played a role. Soviet car engines and components were famously overbuilt. Made from heavy steel with thick-walled blocks and reinforced parts, these engines are almost impossible to kill.
Their hoses, belts, and seals were designed with resilience in mind, using simple rubber compounds that don’t become brittle and snap in the cold like many modern synthetics. The result is a drivetrain that doesn’t just tolerate the cold—it thrives in it.
Finally, it’s important to understand that these cars were never designed to impress; they were designed to endure. In an era where Western cars were being optimized for performance, aerodynamics, and comfort, Soviet cars were being built to survive the brutal Siberian wilderness, where a breakdown isn’t just an inconvenience—it can be deadly.
Every design decision was filtered through a lens of necessity. The environments these cars operated in forced Soviet engineers to think differently, and that’s why they continue to perform where others fail.
While modern cars might offer luxury and speed, old Soviet machines prove that in the most extreme climates, rugged simplicity beats high-tech sophistication every time.
These cars may not win beauty contests, but when it’s -50°C and nothing else moves, they’ll still get you where you need to go.