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TOYOTA HILUX D-4D INVINCIBLE
Page 36
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The year's selection of off-roaders fell neatly into two groups of three pickups and three vans.
The first pickup tested was the Isuzu Rodeo Denver Max 2.5. Unusually these days, the latest model's engine is 500cc smaller than its predecessor, but it manages to produce more power and more torque for less fuel, The Rodeo has never been far from the head of the field when it comes to dynamic behaviour and this latest version upholds the tradition. With earlier examples the interior was a bit dull, but it has been considerably improved.
In contrast, Toyota's Hilux has been given the 500cc extra capacity it desperately needed and is much the better for it.
Our test vehicle also came with automatic gears, but surprised us with its economy. It's comfortably equipped and well built, although its sheer bulk might be a negative for some users.
Our third pickup is another three-litre, the Ford Ranger. It's no secret that this range-topping Wildtrak is aimed at the dual-use market: weekday worker and weekend leisure accessory.
The big new engine's 154hp certainly gives plenty of grunt, which helps off-road, but we concluded that maybe it was rather more than was good for the traction on-road.
We didn't test any Mitsubishi pickups in 2007. but the firm did provide two of our three 4x4 vans: the Shogun and Outlander.
The baby Shogun gets a most unbabylike 3.2-litre engine to provide its motive force, and returned highly respectable fuel economy. However, its hatchvan-like payload of just over half a tonne puts it into something of a small niche. But if you're an engineer or a courier who has to get a small load somewhere in seriously adverse conditions, this could be just what you need.
The second Mitsubishi is also constrained by payload, although it does manage to carry just over 700kg. Effectively a five-door estate car-based van conversion, the Outlander offers a useful 1,800mm of load length.
The real ace up its sleeve, however, is its Volkswagen 2,0 TD1 engine which returned a whisker under 50mpg unladen.
At the time these words were penned Land Rover was still owned by Ford and the latest Defender owes its drivehne to the Blue Oval parts bin.
The new Transit engine and six-speed gearbox were vital for emissions, but it's the new interior that provides the great leap forward. What hasn't changed is its legendary off-road ability if anything it is enhanced by a sprinkling of electrickery.
That a vehicle even graces these pages in its 60th year is testimony to the brilliance of the original design. The latest Defender is still good enough to challenge the best, but it has a few compromises that relegate it to the runner-up slot.
The winner is a pickup, and it wasn't easy separating the three. However, our suspicion that the only two things to survive Armageddon will be the scorpion and the Hilux means our Testers' Choice is the Toyota... a mere stripling of 40 summers.