Thread: Fuel Efficient 4WD

It is important that @Synthetic remembers that he's talking to a bunch of guys that - for the most part - will just recommend what they've got. Me with my Hilux, others with their Suzukis. Both options are equally valid. Then there are the extreme ends of both options, like our mates on here who do river crossings in cars built like Coke cans that would have made Top Gear proud in their heyday!

So the thing is Synthetic, is both options are... equally valid. It is 100% dependant on what grade of tracks you think you want to tackle, and how much gear (weight) you will be carrying at the time. This is really important, as so many guys buy big hairy 4WDs then never use them for what they are designed to do. Equally, guys who have a Vitara or similar might push the limit because they encounter something they weren't expecting, and come to grief in something a larger / higher vehicle would stroll through.

Weight and cubic capacity is also really important. Gear, plus dog, plus bleeding red stag carcass? A ute tray just makes so much more sense, if you're doing it regularly.

But backing up what @vietnamcam said above, in 2000 I drove one of the original Rav4s in Mozambique, and that little car was a revelation. It was the first time I'd ever used a small AWD crossover and it was farkin' brilliant. The only thing I'd caution, is that I was alone in the car 95% of the time, with just my rod and tackle box and a few fish, and the moment we drove out with four adults and all their camping gear, it was a completely different story! Where before I used raw pace to get over sandy humps and soft holes, I couldn't do that any more without hitting the bump stops really hard, and things turned to custard. The absence of low range really hurt. Also didn't have a compressor so dropping the tyre pressures helped, but then couldn't reinflate when we reached the tar seal.

That's where the Jimny comes into its own with proper ladder chassis, 4WD and the hi/low box. A Grand Vitara is a good option too, just more prone to sill damage. The mechanicals underpinning these "All Grip Pro" systems are in a totally different class to a soft roader AWD like the Rav4. Big difference! Personally? I'd love one of the current 2019 model Jimnys. But I'd keep my Hilux, I'll go to my grave in that truck.

Its also worth remembering that all these modern 4WD systems are electronically controlled, whereas a traditional part-time 4WD ute with stick selected 2WD / 4WD hi / 4WD low is all mechanical. To me, in NZ conditions, the more electronics you have governing drive train, the more nervous I am with river crossings and long, wet, muddy bog holes. Just sayin'..... been there, done that. Water and electricity has never mixed particularly well, just ask Land River Disco owners. When modern vehicles are 10+ years old, that's when I'd be getting really nervous.

I need to correct something, the current Jimny has a traditional stick select transfer case. Not a push button electronic controller. That's a massive plus in my book.

electrics and water don't go well together

Get the suzi man. Get some muds on there and eventually a lift kit.

Better off having 2 specialist vehicles than 1 compromise. A 4wd with road tires is really only good for a bit of wet grass or mud and mud tires are loud and and suck the gas when on road..

Just buy my Navara. Comes with a set of road tires also ��

https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....ara-ute-45558/

I'd just like to add, having owned a Pajero a Jimny and 2 Vitara's that fuel efficiency and 4wd
don't belong in the same sentence!

I'd still rate the Jimny the best offroad but it was tits as a daily driver. I'd imagine the
2019 version is a bit better with the 1500cc motor.

Just another idea is you could get a quad bike & use that when you need it

Originally Posted by hunt08

Just another idea is you could get a quad bike & use that when you need it

An Echo towing a trailer with a quad wouldn’t be a good mix.

Originally Posted by Shootm

An Echo towing a trailer with a quad wouldn’t be a good mix.

Would look fucking hilarious though

Originally Posted by hunt08

Just another idea is you could get a quad bike & use that when you need it

Second this. Your little Echo would handle towing a quad on a little motorbike trailer

Originally Posted by Synthetic

Since getting my Toyota Echo stuck last time in the Ruahines,

I googled Toyota Echo.

Thanks everyone for all your advice.
Looks like having a commuter vehicle and a separate 4wd specifically for hunting is the way to go.
Something with a 2L engine or smaller would be ideal.

Originally Posted by Synthetic

Thanks everyone for all your advice.
Looks like having a commuter vehicle and a separate 4wd specifically for hunting is the way to go.
Something with a 2L engine or smaller would be ideal.

Some of the 2.5/3.0 turbo diesels are pretty efficient, don't assume a shitty little petrol will be cheaper to run.

I have a 2018 Jimny. Its pretty sweet if you don't need much room.
Solid axles front & rear, ladder frame chassis. Proper 4wd w/ transfer case etc. Mines a manual.

There are not a lot of vehicles that can touch a Jimny off-road. The Jimny sticker that says "don't follow me you wont make it" is fairly accurate. They are very light weight and even standard have pretty big wheels for their size/weight so don't get bogged down and sink where other vehicles will. Plus they are really easy to lift and run large 30" plus tires if you really want to. They have a huge aftermarket.
The only other vehicles nowadays that im aware of that have solid axles front n rear are a Jeep Wrangler, or a proper full sized land cruiser.

I have a Great Wall x240......Unfortunately it's rusting away.