Are modern 4x4s too complicated for the bush?

Remember a time when people bought 4x4s with diesel engines for their simplicity and reliability? 

Some might say they were the good old days, as the engines were dependable, easy to service and could be repaired by the local mechanic in any town. But 4x4s with such engines were slow, noisy and considered dirty in terms of emissions, making them unacceptable in the modern era.

Common-rail diesel injection, piezo injectors, turbocharging and other systems have all worked to improve both the performance and cleanliness of diesel engines to the point where they are close to petrol engines in performance and remain more efficient. But the emissions systems and complexity of these modern engines have also made them less reliable and more expensive to maintain and repair.

For this reason, many drivers stuck with petrol engines where they could, thanks to the relative simplicity of a naturally aspirated, spark-ignition engine. Sure, the petrol engine used more fuel, but servicing was cheap and simple and it could deliver hundreds of thousands of trouble-free kilometres with just basic home maintenance.

But as petrol engines have decreased in size and been forced to run cleaner, they too have been encumbered with turbocharging, high-pressure injection, emissions systems and other components to maintain performance and clean up tailpipe emissions.

Add in hybrid drive systems and the powerplant under the bonnet of your 4×4 has become a very complex machine, and one that the local outback mechanic may not be able to help you with if something goes wrong, resulting in a costly trip on the back of a truck to the nearest dealer.

These are the things that were going through my mind while driving the LandCruiser GR Sport Performance Hybrid recently. Yes, it remains a LandCruiser in every way, in that it is a competent off-roader, a superb touring wagon and has a big, plush cabin, but there’s a lot of stuff going on underneath and under the bonnet as you drive along.

The V6 diesel engine in the same LandCruiser might not have the complexity of the hybrid system around it, but that modern diesel is still a very complicated powerplant. The truth is, you can’t avoid the complexity of modern powertrains in any new vehicle, but it is something that you should consider when thinking about your next off-road touring rig. 

All of a sudden, purchasing an older 4×4 like an 80 or 100 Series Cruiser or a GU Patrol, then throwing $50K at it to make it as comfortable and reliable as possible, makes a lot of sense.