4×4 Australia’s expert judges are voting on the best 4×4 of all time.
What do you think will make the list? Take our poll here or if your top 4X4 didn’t make the cut tell us about it on Facebook!
Does the original WWII MB Jeep make the grade? Where is it today?
Is the Land Cruiser 70 Series the best 4×4 ever? Surely it must be…
Stay tuned for more and the final verdict…
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During the past 45 years, Range Rover has delivered a series of industry firsts as it has evolved into the peerless SUV we know today.
As well as introducing a host of advanced technologies, many of which have since become industry standards. The original Classic model was cited as an ‘exemplary work of industrial design’ when it became the first vehicle to be displayed at the world famous Louvre museum in Paris.
Do you consider the Range Rover to be among the Best 4x4s Ever?
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When you travel in remote areas and things go wrong, sometimes you have to do whatever it takes to get back on the road.
Correct practice and OH&S might go out the window but so long as it keeps you on the track and no one gets hurt, it’s all good. In this case, the vehicle winch was used to straighten out a bent bull bar to pull it off the tyre.
Happy Days!
Click here to watch Across the Bight: Part 1.
As if self-driving and autonomous cars weren’t stupid enough, now Range Rovers can be remotely operated from your iPhone. We can’t wait to see what the hacker will do with this.
What ever happened to the joy of driving?
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Ford’s new Ranger Wildtrak has broken cover, bringing a fresh look and more gear – including an optional technology pack of advanced safety features that could see the price bust $60k.
As with the upcoming facelift for the rest of the Ranger range, the Wildtrak – expected to be priced from close to the current car’s $57,390 ask – gets revised front and rear styling, including new headlights, bumpers and bonnet.
The Ranger continues with 4×2 and 4×4 models, a turbo diesel-only engine lineup (2.2-litre four-cylinder for basic models and 3.2-litre five-cylinder for others), cab-chassis or ute configurations and three body styles – Single Cab, Super Cab and Double Cab.
There will also be four model grades; XL, XLS, XLT and the Wildtrak flagship.
The Wildtrak – which makes up almost one in 10 Ranger sales – will be exclusively a 4×4 Double Cab with the 3.2-litre engine.
The trademark Wildtrak styling add-ons remain, albeit revised for the upcoming PX MkII that arrives in September. That includes 18-inch alloy wheels, blacked out bumper inserts, side steps and a sports bar.
The orange Ranger hero colour has also been changed slightly to Pride Orange (replacing Chilli Orange); it’s one of five available for the Wildtrak.
Inside, too, the Wildtrak benefits from the new Ranger’s redesigned instrument cluster that includes dual 4.2-inch customisable colour screens on either side of the analogue speedo. There’s also a new dash design with an 8.0-inch colour touchscreen and Ford’s latest Sync2 operating system.
As with the rest of the Ranger line-up the Wildtrak will get a speed limiter, an LED light to illuminate the tray, tyre pressure monitors and a 230V powerpoint for camp gear or charging on the run. Other Wildtrak features remain, such as the reversing camera, 12V outlet in the bedliner, satellite-navigation, heated front seats and roller shutter over the tray.
Ford will also offer a “Tech Pack Option” on the Wildtrak and its lesser equipped sibling, the Ranger XLT. It brings a suite of active safety features, including lane departure warning, lane keep assist (to provide mild self-steering back into the lane), active cruise control (to maintain a distance to the car in front) and collision alert, which uses the forward radar to monitor traffic and alert the driver if they are at risk of a crash.
There’s also electric steering replacing the hydraulic setup, something that brings incremental fuel savings of about 3-per cent (overall fuel savings are yet to be confirmed).
Speaking of which, the 147kW/470Nm outputs of the 3.2-litre five-cylinder turbo diesel are unchanged, but work has been done to improve refinement and reduce noise.
The Wildtrak’s six-speed auto, too, has been recalibrated for slight improvements to performance, efficiency and refinement.
And those choosing the six-speed manual – previously clunky in its operation – can look forward to a smoother shift action thanks to a new cable shift system.
The basic mechanical package of the updated Ranger hasn’t changed, with a shift-on-the-fly dual-range transfer case and rugged ladder frame chassis.
The suspension tune will get minor revisions, but the basic architecture remains, with independent coils at the front and a live axle leaf spring setup at the rear.
Off-road credentials are also unchanged. There’s 230mm of ground, 800mm claimed wading depth and an electronic locking rear differential. The 3500kg towing capacity – equal class leading – is unchanged and the Wildtrak still gets a towbar standard.
The Wildtrak has been a huge success for Ford as it chases the sales-dominating Toyota Hilux.
Toyota is expected to add a high grade version of the all-new Hilux, which arrives in September. The yet-to-be-named newcomer is expected to target the Wildtrak but won’t be on sale until 2016 at the earliest.
Mazda offers various add-on packs – the Boss Adventure and Boss Sports – for its BT-50, each of which adds side steps, a bullbar and sports bar.
And Volkswagen’s Amarok Highline – the most expensive dual-cab ute on the market, at $62,990 – is one of the brand’s most popular utes.
Ford Ranger Wildtrak PX MkII
Price: $60,000 (estimated)
On sale: September, 2015
Body: Dual-cab ute
Engine: 3.2-litre five-cylinder turbo diesel
Power: 147kW at 3000rpm
Torque: 470Nm at 1500-2750rpm
Transmission: 6-speed manual or 6-speed auto
Ground clearance: 230mm
Approach/departure/rampover angles: TBA
Wading depth: 800mm
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Our trip through the Victorian High Country with Ironman 4×4 gave us the chance to try out the company’s latest Foam Cell Pro shocks on a range of vehicles. We were pretty impressed and asked Ironman’s suspension guru Kristian Ristell to tell us about the tech behind the product.
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When we sent the Hillier family on the Drive 4 Life fundraising tour of the Simpson Desert courtesy of Toyota Australia, they were supplied with a nicely prepped LC200 Sahara for the week-long adventure across one of Australia’s most loved 4×4 tracks.
Glenn Torrens followed along and lets us know how the tech-laden Sahara fared over the 1100-plus sand dunes and dusty tracks.
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Go behind the scenes and take a look at the making of the video, and an insight into the rise of professional drifter Mad Mike Whiddett.
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The July issue of 4X4 Australia is on sale now. Grab your copy to check out the new Nissan Navara, Toyota Hilux – and much more. Here’s a taste:
Grab your copy of 4X4 Australia from newsagents or subscribe to 4X4 Australia in electronic or print format.
IRONMAN ADVENTURE We head to the High Country with some vehicles from Ironman 4×4 giving us the first chance to bush test Nissan’s D23 Navara and have closer look at Ironman’s Foam Cell Pro shock absorbers.
Check out videos of our trip here:
THE BIG BIGHT STAGE 1nStage 1 of this epic takes us across the South Coast of West Oz, from Esperance to the SA border. All off road, All adventure. Stage 2 next month will see the trip conclude across SA to Streaky Bay.Check out videos of our trip here:
- The Great Australian Bight adventure coming soon
- The Great Australian Bight Adventure Teaser II
- The Great Australian Bight Adventure Teaser III
- Big Bight Adventure: Bush Mechanics
- Across the Bight: Part 1
BEST IN CLASS – we rate the best Large 4×4 Wagons – Land Cruiser 200 V Patrol V Discovery.
HOW TO BUY A 4X4 We answer the most commonly asked question – What 4×4 should I buy? Including what things need to be considered when looking for a new 4×4.
CUSTOM 4X4 – JEEP WRANGLER JK8 Sweet Wrangler Ute that Jeep never built
EXPLORE – Murray Sunset NP, VIC + Holland Track, WA + The Old Glenn Innes Road, NSW + Chambers Pillar, NT.
4×4 HISTORY – Ron tells us about one of the Australia’s earliest vehicle explorers Michael Terry.
GEAR – Stabicraft Boat. Helmsman Tim reviews the boat we are giving away as a part of the mega subs prize. Plus, Ron reviews the Hema HN7.
Grab your copy of 4X4 Australia from newsagents or subscribe to 4X4 Australia in electronic or print format.
The 4×4 Australia Magazine July issue is on sale June 11th with Part 1 of our Great Aussie Bight Adventure. We reversed explorer John Eyre’s route and Ron Moon discusses the historical significance of the arduous journey.
Click here to watch Across the Bight: Part 1.
Grab your copy of 4X4 Australia from newsagents or subscribe to 4X4 Australia in electronic or print format.