Cool 4WD’s We Should Have in Canada
Story & photos by Budd Stanley, additional photos courtesy of Toyota, Nissan and VW
Forbidden Fruit
Now I’m not complaining, but life as an Automotive Journalist means you sometimes spend more time sitting in airplanes rather than behind the wheel of your prime subject and passion, the automobile. Over the last five years, this means I’ve seen a fair share of the world, and whenever I can, I try to spend a little more time overseas to take in the environment and experience the vehicles that we never get to see on this side of the pond. They are by no means luxury or low production 4WD’s, but to us Canadians they can easily be considered exotic. Just like the Scandinavians fixation with American muscle cars and the Japanese obsession with German and Italian cars, it always seems we are attracted to what we cannot have.
So, I’ve put together a list of fascinating 4WD’s that I have had the pleasure of sampling in foreign lands, why I loved them, and what you might be able to do to get that same experience here in the Great White North. I give you my five favourite foreign 4WD’s along with an honourable mention.
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Toyota Land Cruiser 200
It may not be entirely stock, but the capabilities of the 200 are true to the Land Cruiser name.
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David Dewhurst
Lexus LX570
The Land Cruiser 200 can be found in Canada as the Lexus LX570.
Toyota Land Cruiser 200
Where can you buy it: The Land Cruiser 200 can be found in most regions of the world, more commonly seen in Europe, Australia and Africa.
North American Equivalent: Believe it or not, technically the Land Cruiser 200 is sold here in Canada; only it goes by the name Lexus LX570 and commands a much higher price tag.
How much is it: Being a modern vehicle, the Land Cruiser 200 can be found as low as $20,000 CAD for a 2008 Prado version. Newer examples can net as high as $80,000 CAD.
Why I loved it: My time in the Land Cruiser 200 may have been short, but the impression it left on me will last a lifetime. On an extended layover in Iceland, I went by Arctic Trucks to see how the Vikings built their off-roaders. The example that I experienced was not exactly what you would call stock, floating on top of 44-in Dick Cepek’s, with some wheelbase adjustment, lockers, massive fender flares, yet only a slight lift. Regardless, the quality of the base platform shone through in some local playgrounds just outside of Reykjavik. While this is the first Land Cruiser to adopt IFS (Independent Front Suspension) and does not come from the factory with such an aggressive stance, the big Land Cruiser proved an impressive machine. As it is still the official vehicle of NATO, my views are well backed up.
Suzuki Jimny
The Jimny is one of the most fun and capable 4WD’s I’ve ever had the pleasure to pilot.
Suzuki Jimny
Where can you buy it: Virtually anywhere outside of North America, although most prevalent in Asia and Europe.
North American Equivalent: None, but 1970 – 1980 Suzuki LJ80, 1981 – 1985 Suzuki SJ410 and 1986 – 1995 Samurai come as close as it gets.
How much is it: While small and somewhat invisible to anyone that isn’t a fan of compact 4WD’s, the little Jimny does hold a very loyal following. As such, prices have held strong, $4k to $7k will net you a late 90’s unit, upwards of $20k for the highly coveted 1.5L diesel that is still on sale today.
Why I loved it: This has to be one of my all-time favourite vehicles. It’s small, light, maneuverable, returns ridiculously good fuel efficiency and best of all, they still come with solid axles front and rear. Like its older brother, the Samurai, the Jimny makes up for its ground clearance issues with its maneuverability, able to wheel around obstacles that hang up even the most well built off-road rigs. Still shaking your head? If you remember our October issue in 2012 (volume 15, issue 5), I wrote about taking this stout little wheeler up the side of the Mount Hekla, some of Iceland’s most challenging terrain. The little Jimny not only went far beyond the point where the trail stopped, it also left two other substantial 4WD’s behind. This experience is why I chose to buy a Samurai not so long ago.
Toyota Land Cruiser 70-Series (VDJ)
The 70-Series etched its worth in me as soon as I drove it over a landslide that covered the road in front of me.
Toyota Land Cruiser 70-Series (VDJ)
Where can you buy it: New Zealand, Australia and Africa
How much is it: The hard working nature of the large diesel powered versions are legendary in the land of Oz, and as such, even beat down ten year old mining trucks fetch an asking price in the area of $17,000 CAD, while new versions are a staggering $77,000 CAD.
North American Equivalent: If you can still find a solid example, the 70-Series was a popular Canadian 4WD back in the late 80’s and early 90’s. Diesel versions even came with the formidable 13B-T.
Why I loved it: Many Toyota fans have fond memories of the 70-Series Land Cruiser before they all turned to red dust. They were a fantastic 4WD that would continue to run strong well after the body rotted off the frame. Toyota Canada decided the 70 was not winter-friendly and promptly replaced it with the 80-Series in its next generation. But the 70 was such a good vehicle, in drier climates such as Australia, it is still the workhorse of Toyota’s 4WD arsenal. Today you can buy a 2014 Land Cruiser in SWB, LWB (Troopy), single cab pickup or LWB double cab pickup. Your choice of power is a turbo diesel straight six (1HD-FTE) or an incredible 4.5L twin-turbo diesel V-8 (1VD-FTV). While the Super Duty reigns supreme in agriculture and mining here, over in Australia, the 70 is the undisputed king, even when an F-350 is available.
The 70-Series and I have been through a lot. I had the potent V-8 twin-turbo diesel Troopy in Australia just prior to Expedition Flight4Life, and was caught in the massive floods that country experienced in 2012. I was forced (reveled at the chance) to ford flooded valleys and rivers with water coming up over the hood. I crawled over landslides and washed out roads and deep muddy trails just to make it from Sydney to Brisbane. I was massively impressed with the Land Cruiser; together I thought that we were invincible. Not even Mother Nature can stop a Land Cruiser. And despite all this, I still averaged 10L/100km. What a machine.
Nissan Patrol
The 90’s generation Patrol I drove in Australia was the epitome of a utilitarian 4WD, simple, easy to fix, never let you down.
Nissan Patrol
Where can you buy it: New Zealand, Australia, Japan and Europe
How much is it: Decent mid-90’s variants can be found for $3K to $5K CAD. The much sought after Safari diesels will fetch upwards of $15,000, with prices skyrocketing for newer (and less utilitarian) models.
North American Equivalent: Yes there is, despite the Patrol becoming a little watered down since the 90’s, much like the Lexus LX570 having direct ties to the Land Cruiser 200, the Patrol can be found on our shores disguised as an Infiniti QX80.
Why I loved it: Like the Land Cruiser, the Patrol and I have a long history together, we spent three full months joined at the hip during the Expedition Flight4Life. As the ground crew chase vehicle, a mechanic and I traced a 14,000 km trek throughout the whole of Australia. The utilitarian simplicity and rugged nature of the Patrol meant there was nowhere the Flight4Life Paragliders could land that we could not get into. Whether is was rocky terrain, flooded paddocks or sand dunes, we always got our pilots out of any sticky situation. Not only was the Patrol extremely rough and capable, it was also very reliably. Over the entire 14,000 km adventure, it required nothing more than a couple filters, oil changes and plugs.
Toyota Hilux D4-D
Many people just see these as foreign Tacoma’s but the Hilux has a much different character and powertrain, both are better.
Toyota Hilux D4-D
Where can you buy it: Everywhere but here, prevalent in Europe, Africa, Australia and New Zealand.
How much is it: Much like its North American equivalent, the Hilux is a highly sought after and reliable vehicle. Therefore, there are very few to be found in the classifieds and what can be found carries a large price tag. Expect to find a well used late 90’s Hilux diesel for not much less than $10,000 CAD, newer unmolested examples fetch upwards of $60,000.
North American Equivalent: 1995 to present Toyota Tacoma. While the Tacoma is not a direct copy of the Hilux they do share many features. Unfortunately, diesel power is not one, although Hilux diesel conversion kits are available from select companies such as Dieseltoys, but will cost even more than importing a whole vehicle.
Why I love it: It may look like a Toyota Tacoma, but it’s not. A little smaller with much more attractive diesel drivetrains, the Hilux is the workhorse of Australasia and Europe. I spent some time down in New Zealand back in 2010 and to help stretch out my time there, I volunteered as a WWOOF (Willing Workers On Organic Farms). This meant I had free room and board so long as I put in a six-hour workday on a local ranch. My duties included planting, pruning and watering trees, vineyards and orchards, haying fields and general duties on a massive ranch. My trusty partner was a diesel Hilux trayback 4WD that had been around the paddock more than a couple times, but still delivered everything I ever asked of it. Rarely did it see tarmac roads or a light load, hauling hay or equipment into the farthest reaches of the backcountry. If experience and Top Gear has taught me anything, it is that the Hilux is the Cockroach of the automotive world, it may not be pretty, but you know that it just won’t die.
Volkswagen Amarok
The Amarok was surprisingly capable and properly rugged, two things I was not expecting.
Volkswagen Amarok
Where can you buy it: Europe, Australia and South America, however as the truck was created in 2010, there is no “easy” way to import.
How much is it: A base model will run you approximately $36,730 CAD, while the special Off-Road edition will run as high as $55,000 CAD
North American Equivalent: If you see some kind or resemblance between the VW Rabbit Caddy (pickup) and the Amarok… then yes.
Why I loved it: An honourable mention has to go out to the Volkswagen Amarok. I did not spend a large amount of time in it or go on some great adventure, but when I did get to take one out for a rip, it was surprisingly good. While there were rumours the Amarok would be a unibody truck for Europe, the result turned out to be a proper body on frame 4WD. Not known for their trucks, I figured a VW pickup would likely feel much like a Honda Ridgeline, however quite the opposite. Despite its good looks, the Amarok was a rugged little beast that boasted a peppy 2.0L TDI engine. I may have only been in the truck for a little over an hour, but the only thing I could think of when I got out, was how could VW refuse to bring this winner to Canada?