ROCK STARS
THE TOP SEVEN-SEAT SUVS THAT CAN ACTUALLY GO OFF-ROAD
Genuinely tough SUVs are a rare breed — but here are five that can climb mountains and cart the family
It’s winter and thoughts might be turning to a properly capable seven-seat SUV for a bit of slush and/or snow work and school-run duties for the third term onwards.
The vast popularity of SUVs in recent years has meant that the genre has evolved more towards on-road use and comfort. Most modern SUVs simply aren’t made to go very far off-road; we’re talking light-duty, off-tarmac driving at best.
But there are still a few sturdy models, designed to do some hard-core off-roading.
Here are the five top-selling seven-seaters that can still take some real punishment.
Ford Everest
How much? $73,990-$79,990
The Ford Ranger is the top-selling ute in New Zealand (not to mention the top-selling vehicle overall), so it makes sense that Everest is the country’s most popular seven-seater with true offroad ability. The two have plenty in common: similar look, a biturbodiesel 2.0l engine with 10-speed automatic transmission and a proper low-range for mudplugging.
The Everest is more sophisticated than the Ranger underneath, with full-time AWD and independent rear suspension for improved onroad comfort and handling (this is a common theme with ute-based SUVs) but make no mistake: it delivers when the going gets tough.
Mitsubishi Pajero Sport
How much? $58,990 (special offer)
And you thought SUVs all looked the same. We like the Pajero Sport for its quirky styling but also its value, equipment and capable offroad technology.
It’s not a terribly close relation of the full-size Pajero, despite the name; rather, it owes a lot to the current Triton ute.
The Sport is a pretty smooth onroad machine as well, thanks to its three-link rear suspension (again, more complex than its ute sibling), eight-speed transmission and Super Select AWD system.
But it’ll also follow the Triton into the great beyond — and carry six passengers in the process.
Holden Trailblazer
How much? $58,900-$62,990
Like all Holden models, the Trailblazer will soon be no more.
But this Colorado ute-based seven-seater (remember when it was called the “Colorado 7”?) has been a long-running and popular off-road wagon. It remains a strong seller — while stocks last, obviously — and it’s well worth considering, given there’s potential for a bargain and Holden has committed to a decade of servicing and support.
The 2.8l turbo-diesel engine is torquey (only six gears with this one though), the cabin is stylish while still being durable and it’ll really show up the more crossover-focused Acadia when there are rocks in the way.
Toyota Land Cruiser Prado
How much? $71,990-$92,990
Toyota’s SUV range is big enough that it divides them into soft and hard models.
The hard-core off-road stuff includes the Hilux-based Fortuner, but that model is still outsold by the more upmarket, much more iconic Land Cruiser Prado.
It might be the smaller Cruiser (the massive 200-series sits above it) but the Prado is still one very serious off-road machine. It’s very traditional in some respects, but there’s plenty of tech as well: the top VX Limited has a Kinetic
Dynamic Suspension System, which combines greater on-road body control with increased axle articulation in off-road situations.
Range Rover Sport
How much? $149,900-$209,900
Yes, a bit of truly premium metal has made it on to the list. Land Rover is legendary for SUVs with astonishing off-road ability — while giving nothing away in sheer luxury or comfort, especially with its Range Rover models. The Sport is no exception: it’s supremely talented in the rough and will wade its way to far-flung places while occupants are cosseted in leather goodness. Not your first thought when it comes to sevenseaters? Well, unlike the full-size Range Rover, the Sport offers the option of third-row seating.