Vehicles - SA 4x4

Tests & Reviews

Off-road Test

Off-road Test: Mahindra S10 Pik-Up

The second generation Mahindra Pik Up, based on the Scorpio, has had a host of updates which brings it into the 21st century, putting it on top of the budget double-cab-bakkie pile. It is a simple and robust take on the workhorse concept, which is refreshing in a world where fancy car-like features and showy finishes sell a vehicle. This one feels more old-school, rather like an early FJ Series Land Cruiser, and is all the better for it. We drove India’s best for about 1000km, including a trip to a very snowy Matroosberg, to see what it’s made of.…

Black Ops Build

Ironman 4×4’s Black Ops Build: Phase 4

Bakkies are really versatile vehicles. As time goes by, they just seem to get better. In the case of a double cab, this is especially true. The passenger cabins of these trucks are almost car-like in design, and many of them feature an abundance of luxuries that were unheard of even in luxury sedans not so long ago. Add to this the advantage of a lofty perch from which to observe the lesser mortals in their sedans and little runabouts, and one can begin to see why the likes of the Hilux and Ranger regularly top the vehicle sales charts.…

Overlander for Hire

Overlander for Hire: Part IV

In this series we look at what it takes to build a “Class O” Ford Ranger for the Avis Safari Rental fleet. This month: battery power. A few years ago Enertec Batteries were tasked with an enquiry from Avis Safari Rentals to supply them with the best and most reliable battery for their 4×4 rental vehicles as they were experiencing untenable battery problems. Investing in batteries is often overlooked as a general commodity, however, a battery is the heartbeat of the vehicle, supplying all power and starting requirements. It can literally make or break one’s leisure and/or bush experience. First…

Road Test

Road Test: Maserati Levante S

Maserati’s super-SUV has been its best seller in recent times, and with the global shift towards spacious family vehicles in full swing, it’s not hard to understand why the Italian stallion is doing so well. We spent some time with the range-topping Levante S to see what all the noise is about. The supercar SUV trend is inescapable. Soon, we’ll have the new Lamborghini Urus cruising through Camps Bay and Sandton, and it won’t be long before Ferrari follows suit. All the while, Maserati will have been quietly churning out Levantes from its Mirafiori production line in Turin. With coupe…

Fitment

Ironman 4×4’s Black Ops Build: Phase 3, Part 2

Wheels and tyres play an important part in the suspension system of a vehicle and have a direct effect on ride quality. We’re going to look at some of the do’s and don’ts when it comes to selecting wheels and tyres for your 4WD. The standard tyres on the Ford Ranger Wildtrak are Continental Cross Contact LX highway-terrain type tyres, and the size is 265/60 R18. Just to recap the tyre-size thing, 265 is the tyre width in mm, 60 is the profile height of the tyre as a percentage of the width, and 18 is the rim size in…

First Drive

First Drive: Mercedes-Benz X350d

While on the recent Slovenian launch of the new Mercedes X-Class 350d 4Matic, I had ample opportunity to put the vehicle through its paces in the scenic surrounds of the capital city, Ljubljana, and test the new V6 offering on- and off-road. The X350d is the premier vehicle in the X-Class line-up. It is powered by a long-standing 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel in the Benz range, and offers a lot more grunt than the 2.3-litre four-pots in the X220d and X250d. In the lower models, torque is increased from the mid 400s to 550Nm − the benefit of which can be…

Black Ops Build

Ironman 4×4’s Black Ops Build: Phase 3, Part 1

Arguably the most popular 4WD topics around the camp fire are either tyres or suspension, or both. Now that we have fitted a heap of vehicle protection gear to our Ranger, which has added considerable weight, our truck is a bit low to the ground and the skinny wheels and road tyres look out of place. In this next installment of our Ironman 4×4 Bush Truck build, we fit an up-rated suspension system. Suspension Of all the accessories that you could possibly fit to your 4WD pride and joy, a fully matched suspension upgrade kit is one of the most expensive.…

Off-road Test

Off-road Test: Toyota Prado 3.0 D VX-L

I jumped at the chance to take the newest Prado for a jaunt to Arniston and surrounds on the Cape east coast. I’d driven up there in a Ford Ranger and 200 Series GX Land Cruiser in the past year, and it’s a great destination for exploring fishermen’s rock- and sand tracks along the coast, driving gravel, and cruising on some excellent hilly tarmac – notably the R316 to Bredasdorp via Napier. The sort of varied terrain one expects owners will want to tackle in their new fourth-gen J150 Prado. The press launch had included a drive up Sani Pass…

Overlander for Hire

Overlander for Hire: Part III

In this Series we look at what it take to build a “Class O” Ford Ranger for the Avis Safari Rental fleet. We follow step-by-step the modification process from standard to tough overlander. This month: Cooper tyres and Takla seat covers and mats… The Rubber As with any overland vehicle, tyres play a vital role in the Avis fleet – but in this case, with poor tyres their entire business model would crumble. For this reason, Avis Safari Rentals have selected the best in the business for their vehicles, to ensure client safety and satisfaction while reducing cost per kilometre.…

Isuzu MU-X

Isuzu MU-X: down to business

The departure of GM from SA, and with it the Chevrolet brand, left an SUV-sized hole in the Isuzu line-up; fortunately, the new custodians have now filled it with the Thailand-built Aussie-spec mu-X. The Trailblazer was no great volume seller in the mid-size ladder-on-frame bakkie-origins market here. This is properly dominated by Toyota’s Fortuner, with the Ford Everest taking the rest of the lion’s share, and the Pajero Sport now vying for the scraps. Not that the Trailblazer was bad, as it was quite a decent looker; it’s rather that the Chev nameplate had lost currency, and the interior plastics…

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