Best workhorse 4x4s
Experts pick three great family off-roader on a £10k budget
THE PLUSH CHOICE
Toyota Land Cruiser
THE venerable Land Cruiser earned a reputation for its unburstable reliability and capability in inhospitable terrain. You’ll struggle to find a farm track to beat it, and it comes loaded with plenty of kit as standard and strong build quality.
Yet despite a torquey diesel engine, the Toyota isn’t as nice to drive on the road as the Nissan due to vague steering and an unsettled ride. We saw a 2004 3.0 D-4D LC4 with 70,000 miles for £9,895. INSIDE, the Toyota’s layout isn’t the most modern. There’s no arguing with the kit and solidity on offer, plus it’s comfy for five, although the third row is cramped and the seats are a chore to remove. THE Land Cruiser didn’t feature in Driver Power 2017, but finished a high 25th in last year’s survey. Owners praised ride quality (11th) and reliability (3rd). High running costs were widely reported with this car. THE RUGGED CHOICE
Mitsubishi Shogun
MITSUBISHI’S Shogun is an excellent tow car, but it also works well in farm use. It’s not the prettiest choice inside or out, and the interior feels rather utilitarian, but the big 4x4 is superbly practical and just as capable as its rivals here off-road.
Trouble is, it’s unrefined on-road – it doesn’t ride or handle well. Wind, road and engine noise are all noticeable. In the classifieds was a 2007 Shogun 3.2 DI-DC Equippe with 54,000 miles for £9,750. THE Mitsubishi’s interior is full of cheap plastics, but that means it’s durable and can withstand plenty of abuse. Five-seat models have a generously large 663-litre boot, accessed by a side-hinged door. THIS Shogun didn’t feature in either the 2016 or 2017 Driver Power satisfaction surveys. However, we’ve heard reports of irritating engine rattling and other mechanical problems on some vehicles. THE ALL-ROUND CHOICE
Nissan Pathfinder
THE Pathfinder is essentially a rebodied SUV version of Nissan’s Navara pick-up. While that might put some people off, it actually means it’s extremely strong and durable, great at towing and superb off-road.
It’s far from a traditional SUV on the road, with a shuddery ride, but its 2.5-litre engine is quieter than the others and it doesn’t handle badly. The interior is nicer than the Shogun’s, too. It’s cheap, with a 70,000-mile 2008 2.5 dci Aventura costing £9,000. DESPITE offering a decent tally of kit, the Pathfinder is still some way off the Toyota for quality. There are seven seats as standard, and the rearmost chairs fold into the floor, unlike in the other two cars here. THE big Nissan failed to make it to this year’s Driver Power survey. It didn’t feature in 2016’s rundown, either, but owners have pointed out some annoying gearbox problems in the past.