New and tested 4WDs

Fortune(r) favours the brave
Wednesday, 16 March 2016
With SUV sales making up an increasingly large segment of the new vehicle market...
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Torque of the town (or country!)
Thursday, 18 February 2016
Toyota’s 200-series Land Cruiser gets a mid-life cut-and-tuck plus some welcome driver and safety aids for the 2016 model year.
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Good sport!
Thursday, 18 February 2016
The new Pajero Sport has landed in New Zealand and Mitsubishi has big plans for it. The ‘Sport...
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Toyota talks tough
Wednesday, 20 January 2016
Before a comprehensive two-day drive programme late last year, Toyota NZ General Manager -Product, Spencer Morris, told the assembled motoring writers that new Hilux ‘ is the toughest (yet) most...
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4WD of the Year
Wednesday, 09 December 2015
Last year Ford’s Ranger did the unthinkable – toppled Toyota’s Hilux as the country’s top-selling ute, a feat achieved after an unbroken 32 year run by the Japanese manufacturer.
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New model Suzuki Vitara
Tuesday, 10 November 2015
Everyone in the 4WD scene has got a Suzuki Vitara story of one kind or another. Usually they involve tales of daring-do out in the bush along the lines of an old Mark Twain quote; “it’s not the size...
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New model Mazda BT-50
Tuesday, 10 November 2015
In response to Ford packing the new Ranger with technology (particularly in the top spec models) Mazda has decided to take a completely different approach with the refreshed BT-50.
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Spider Car
Tuesday, 10 November 2015
The Swincar (that’s its real name) has been designed by a trio of French enthusiasts who have big ideas for their spider-like vehicle.
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First drive Ford Ranger
Monday, 05 October 2015
You’d have to have been living under a rock these last few months to have missed word of the first major upgrade to NZ4WD’s Ute and overall 4WD of the Year, the Ford Ranger.
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New model Toyota Prado
Monday, 05 October 2015
Toyota’s Prado remains a stand-out in the SUV sector. But is a new diesel engine enough to keep it ahead of the pack?
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New Ford Everest
Wednesday, 16 September 2015
The Everest marks a return to a tough ladder chassis for a Ford SUV in these parts of the world, with a suite of off-road electronics to complement its impressive 225mm of ground clearance and class-...
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Land Rover Discovery Sport
Wednesday, 12 August 2015
Think of that poster boy for all things adventure, Edward Michael ‘Bear’ Grylls, and you’ve pretty well got Land Rover’s new Discovery Sport in one.
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New model Toyota Hilux
Wednesday, 12 August 2015
John says the Hilux has great new styling, a fantastic interior – with a lot more room inside, particularly in the back – plus metallic finishes on the dash, steering wheel and doors, and hand...
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New Nissan Navara almost here
Wednesday, 10 June 2015
The Nissan Navara has long been a mainstay of the ute segment here in New Zealand. And now a new model is about to go on sale in New Zealand to take the fight right back up to the likes of the Ford...
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Do it once, do it right
Wednesday, 13 May 2015
A tricked up Volkswagen Amarok nick-named ‘Rokky’ is the vehicular star of Red Stag Timber Hunters Club show on Sky. And poster-ute of this month’s fit-out feature.In the past our features have been...
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Five of the best
Wednesday, 13 May 2015
If you already drive one it would have come as no surprise to you that last year, Ford’s all-conquering Ranger was not only named NZ4WD magazine’s Ute of the Year award, it also won the Best (overall...
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New Everest raises the bar – Ford
Wednesday, 13 May 2015
Ford’s all-new Everest SUV, due here later this year, will raise the bar in the SUV sector, Ford ASEAN president Matt Bradley said at its official world launch at the Bangkok International Motor Show...
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Fieldays 5 Ute shootout
Tuesday, 12 May 2015
We video test five of New Zealand’s top-selling 4WD utes. Today’s double cab utes are literally...
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The Ultimate Kiwi Land Cruiser
Monday, 20 April 2015
Being a famer, contractor or tradesman has its advantages…like being able to justify the purchase ‘for work’ of one of Toyota’s iconic 79-Series Land Cruisers.
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New tougher, smarter Ford Ranger
Monday, 20 April 2015
Evolution rather than revolution was the underlying theme when Ford unveiled its upgraded Ranger ute at the Bangkok International Motor Show on March 23.
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One tough truck
Wednesday, 18 March 2015
Andrew Satherley, or Sav as he is more commonly known, has been around motorsport from an early age competing in... 
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Small wonder
Wednesday, 18 March 2015
The Renegade is the new baby of the Jeep family and is based on the same “Small US Wide 4X4” platform as the new Fiat 500X SUV that it is built alongside in Italy.
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Hawk amongst the doves
Wednesday, 18 February 2015
All new Cherokee models – and this is what has some hardened 4WDists turning up their noses – are built on the Fiat Chrysler group’s ‘Fiat Compact Platform (FCP for short), the same common traverse...
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ARB-equipped Ford Ranger
Monday, 15 September 2014
Passing  through Palmerston North the other day I passed Autokraft, the North Island ARB distributor and local ARB agent, (Peter Munro Commercials in Christchurch is the SI distributor) and parked...
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Time to accessorise?
Tuesday, 20 May 2014
You could have a lot of fun buying bits and pieces for your vehicle, but for a new working ute the extra accessories you choose will need to make life a lot easier. Here’s an introductory guide to...
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