It’s enough to bring a tear to the rheumy eye of all the die-hard 4x4 types out there. Bar the extremes of a winch challenge or 4x4 Trial event most electronically function-managed showroom stock AWD SUVs can now go more places than their prized Series 1 or 2 ‘Landy’ ever could.
The fact that most SUV buyers remain woefully ignorant of the off-piste capabilities of their ‘kid collector’ is a shame. But in saying that more and more are being pressed into service to tow a caravan, boat or bar rack full of mountain bikes, so all is not lost.
Like Auckland property prices there has to be a point where new ‘car’ buyer say ‘enough-is-enough’ and the number of new vehicles sold month on month steadies or even –shock, horror – drops.
There was no sign of any slackening off of demand in October (the latest available statistics as this was written). On the contrary, according to Motor Industry Association figures it was the strongest October on record and – with 15,530 registrations - the second strongest month period!
What is selling is just as interesting.
Year-to-date SUVs remain the biggest sellers with 51,688 (up from 43,025 in 2016) with Passenger cars at 37,877 – just – ahead of Light Commercials (37,710 which includes utes).
Speaking of which (utes) Ford’s Ranger remains both the top selling Light Commercial model and top selling model overall with 7950 registrations (cfm to 7045 for Toyota’s Hilux.)
And so to the nominees and winners of our annual 4WD of The Year feature. The vehicles eligible had to be tested and/or driven between November 2016 and October 2017. Criteria, as always, was multi-faceted best-in-class but with a weighting toward off-road ability.
Compact 4WD SUV of the year 2017: Suzuki Vitara Turbo
Combination of responsive, tactile chassis and eager-beaver 1.4 litre Booster Jet turbo engine means Suzuki’s Vitara takes Compact 4WD SUV honours for a second year in a row. Holden Trax deserves special mention for great chassis and roomy interior while Toyota C-HR gets the nod for looks and making the most of the least (just 1.2 litre) engine capacity!
Medium 4WD SUV of the year 2017: Ford Escape
What’s in a name? Plenty, it would seem, if you are Ford and you want to distance yourself from the unloved Kuga. It’s replacement is the Escape, arguably the best revamped model (re) launched over any platform in 2017. Where the Kuga was a solid model with little to distinguish it, the comprehensively revamped Escape has a cool modern appeal more akin to an iPhone.
Large 4WD of the year 2017: Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk
The sheer capability and competency, ex-showroom, of Jeep’s Grand Cherokee Trailhawk has to be experienced to be believed. While you should expect nothing less from a ute-based ladder-frame Everest of Fortuner, experiencing just where you can take a close to three-tonne, unibody-based SUV on road tyres and pressures and in air-conditioned and leather-trimmed comfort is mind-altering.
4WD utility of the year 2017: Ford Ranger Wildtrak
Simply put Ford’s Ranger is a phenomenon. While other utes might be bigger (RAM 2500), more powerful (V6 Amarok) and better off-road (Iveco Daily 4x4) but Ranger remains the best all-rounder – by a decent margin at that - and continues to sell like the proverbial hot cakes.
Overall 4WD of the year 2017: Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk
Big call this year but Jeep’s Grand Cherokee Trailhawk is a thoroughly deserving overall winner. Ford’s Ranger retains its vice-like grip on the #1 spot in the 4x4 Ute category but this time it is beaten to the overall numero uno in the magazine’s overall rankings by one of if not the most capable, most comfortable SUVs yet built.’
To read every story in the NZ4WD Annual go to Zinio.com (Dec 08) or purchase your own hard copy at the Adrenalin store.
