4WD BUYERS GUIDE
Buying the right 4WD is critical and in this Buyers Guide, we highlight the strengths and weaknesses of new and used wagons, utes and heavy duty off-road vehicles. Also in the Buyers Guide are motorhomes and campervans. Many of the vehicles tested have video reports to let you see how they perform on and off road; and some also include tow tests. There are also suggestions for desirable bush modifications.
LATEST ARTICLES
BUYING ADVICE
Hybrid 4WDs are the future in Australia
Every vehicle maker is now committed to electrification in some form on all new models. For Australian-market 4WDs it’s a certainty that we’ll see ‘real’ 4WDs – vehicles with true off-road capability – in increasing numbers in the next two years.
2WD or 4WD
The success of the Peugeot 2008 DKR race machine in two Dakar events has prompted some off-road enthusiasts to suggest that there may be a place for a 2WD to challenge the accepted ability of a 4WD for off-road touring. It’s not that simple.
4X4 CAMPERVANS
Jacana Envy Sprinter-based campervan
The Jacana Envy fit-out is available on medium-wheelbase and long-wheelbase Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans, with four-wheel-drive available as an option.
Jacana Seeker VW Crafter campervan
The Jacana Seeker fit-out is available on medium-wheelbase and long-wheelbase VW Crafter vans, with 4Motion four-wheel-drive available as a low-cost option.
HEAVY DUTY OFF-ROAD VEHICLES
Bush fire fighters need better equipment
The volunteers who risk their lives and give up their time to defend life and property from disaster deserve our highest praise and long-postponed remuneration as well. The under-funded bushfire effort in this country is a national disgrace.
Isuzu NLS 200
Isuzu Australia hasn’t dominated the local truck scene by accident, but by carefully analysing every possible market segment. The latest release is a ‘softer’ 4WD than the go-anywhere NPS, targetting customers who need a traction truck, not an expedition vehicle.
4X4 MOTORHOMES
Suncamper Sherwood S Series
Suncamper’s Sherwood looks like a cross between a slide-on camper and a motorhome, but it’s a proper C-class motorhome, albeit a compact one. Our colleagues at iMotorhome took one on a bush excursion.
Hino 817 4X4 with SLRV bodywork
SLRV Expedition Vehicles has fitted a motorhome body to the Hino 817 4×4 chassis, with mixed results.
SOFT-ROADERS
Genesis launches its first SUV
The production GV80 realises the vision of the GV80 Concept first shown at the 2017 New York auto show. The interior and exterior styling of GV80 was a collaboration between Genesis design studios located in South Korea, the United States and Germany.
Soft-roader – 2WD or 4WD
The success of the Peugeot 2008 DKR race machine in the 2016 Dakar event has prompted some off-road enthusiasts to suggest that there may be a place for a 2WD to challenge the accepted ability of a 4WD for off-road touring. It’s not that simple.
UTES & CAB CHASSIS – LARGE
HSV Silverado
Released in mid-2018 the HSV-modified Chevrolet Silverado 2500 range comes with truck-diesel grunt.
Electric LandCruisers
Many industries are interested in zero-pollution electric vehicles – particularly underground mining – and the ubiquitous LandCruiser ute is an obvious candidate for electrification.
UTES & CAB CHASSIS – MEDIUM
HSV Silverado 1500 LTZ Premium
The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LTZ Premium edition has been given the right hand drive treatment by HSV. Like all US-market ‘1500’ series utes it has limited payload of around 700kg, but can tow up to 4500kg.
Jeep Gladiator
Jeep has re-entered the Australian 4WD ute market after an absence of 35 years. The newly announced Gladiator is based on the Wrangler four-door, but with an extended wheelbase.
WAGONS – LARGE
Bus 4×4-converted Toyota Granvia
The Bus 4×4 AWD conversion kit for the Toyota 300 Series Granvia features full time 4WD, high and low range gearing, and high ground clearance, putting this premium people mover into the large 4WD wagon category.
Lexus
Based on LandCruiser 100 and 200 Series the Lexus 470 and 570 models have never achieved the Range Rover cache they obviously craved. However, they’e beautifully assembled machines with silky-smooth petrol V8 power.
WAGONS – MEDIUM
Mahindra XUV500 seven-seat wagon
Mahindra is best known for its sturdy, great value for money Pik Up ute range, but the global-scale Indian company also makes a bargain-priced seven-seat wagon.
SsangYong Rexton
The 2019 SsangYong Rexton has been released with optimism from SsangYong Australia that it will do much better in the market than its predecessors did in the past.
WAGONS – SMALL
Ol’ Number One
This Land Cruiser FJ25 was the very first Toyota 4WD purchased by Leslie Thiess. Enthusiasts refer to this model as the great grandfather of Toyota’s 70 Series, reckons Jim Gibson.
Mitsubishi Pajero 3 Door
Mitsubishi’s re-introduced three-door wagon lasted only four years, from 2007 until 2011. The current-shape three-door was available overseas from the introduction of the NM monocoque-body-chassis model in 2000, but wasn’t brought here until the 2006 NS re-skinned model.
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