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Vehicle Tests > Towing Comparison: LandCruiser v Prado v Patrol v Jackaroo v ML270
Towing Comparison: LandCruiser v Prado v Patrol v Jackaroo v ML270
Issue: March 2001
Story by Mathieu Raudonikis Photos by Peter Pap
We all know that many people buy a 4WD vehicle with no intention of ever taking it off-road. Many of these buyers chose a 4WD primarily for towing purposes; be it for a boat, caravan or any other form of trailer. Modern 4WDs are ideal for towing in that they are large, heavy and powerful. Their low gearing delivers plenty of pulling power and the option of 4WD gives towing stability and the ability to haul a load off-road or up slippery boat ramps. Diesel engines are ideal for towing because of their fuel efficiency in coping with the demands associated with towing a trailer. With the swag of new, modern turbo-diesel engines available in 4WD wagons in recent times we've chosen to test five of the best for our usual towing test.
Pack Mules
The five turbo-diesel 4WD wagons tested here are the new Toyota LandCruiser GXL, the Overlander 4WDOTY-winning Toyota Prado GXL, our long-term test Holden Jackaroo SE, the ZD30-powered Nissan Patrol ST and the ultra-efficient Mercedes Benz ML270 CDI. All the engines feature electronically-controlled diesel injection and intercooling and all the vehicles were equipped with electronic automatic transmissions. They were all fitted with OEM towing hitches and the suspensions were left standard. That is, stabiliser bars or other devices designed to improve towing performance weren't used so as to evaluate the standard handling characteristics of each vehicle. The use of such devices should improve the on-road feel of the vehicles when laden.
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The trailer used in this test is a Trakmaster Nullabor off-road caravan. The luxuriously appointed dual-axle van features fully independent suspension and weighed in at just over 2000kg with the front water tank half filled. A Trigg Bros. off-road trailer coupling was used and a Kelsey electronic brake controller was fitted to operate the caravan's four-wheel, electric drum brakes.
Tested Tough
The testing procedure followed a set course out of Overlander's Sydney office that included leaving the city, main road and freeway driving, a steep decent down Bulli Pass, an equally steep ascent back up Mount Ousley, secondary road touring and back though town to the office. Along the way each vehicle was timed in a series of zero to 60km, zero to 80km and 80 to 100km acceleration trials, the results averaged and recorded here. We also timed the vehicles on a 4km stretch between set points on the climb up Mount Ousley. All up each vehicle covered about 200km on the test loop and fuel usage figures were recorded for each of them. So let's see how each one performed.
Mercedes Benz ML270 CDI
The turbo-diesel-engined Mercedes-Benz off-roader came on to the market last year with many praising its common-rail injected engine. While it may not be the 4WD you first consider when looking for a tow vehicle the ML270 CDI surprised with its performance and ability.
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Story by Mathieu Raudonikis Photos by Peter Pap
We all know that many people buy a 4WD vehicle with no intention of ever taking it off-road. Many of these buyers chose a 4WD primarily for towing purposes; be it for a boat, caravan or any other form of trailer. Modern 4WDs are ideal for towing in that they are large, heavy and powerful. Their low gearing delivers plenty of pulling power and the option of 4WD gives towing stability and the ability to haul a load off-road or up slippery boat ramps. Diesel engines are ideal for towing because of their fuel efficiency in coping with the demands associated with towing a trailer. With the swag of new, modern turbo-diesel engines available in 4WD wagons in recent times we've chosen to test five of the best for our usual towing test.
Pack Mules
The five turbo-diesel 4WD wagons tested here are the new Toyota LandCruiser GXL, the Overlander 4WDOTY-winning Toyota Prado GXL, our long-term test Holden Jackaroo SE, the ZD30-powered Nissan Patrol ST and the ultra-efficient Mercedes Benz ML270 CDI. All the engines feature electronically-controlled diesel injection and intercooling and all the vehicles were equipped with electronic automatic transmissions. They were all fitted with OEM towing hitches and the suspensions were left standard. That is, stabiliser bars or other devices designed to improve towing performance weren't used so as to evaluate the standard handling characteristics of each vehicle. The use of such devices should improve the on-road feel of the vehicles when laden.
read on below advertisement
The trailer used in this test is a Trakmaster Nullabor off-road caravan. The luxuriously appointed dual-axle van features fully independent suspension and weighed in at just over 2000kg with the front water tank half filled. A Trigg Bros. off-road trailer coupling was used and a Kelsey electronic brake controller was fitted to operate the caravan's four-wheel, electric drum brakes.
Tested Tough
The testing procedure followed a set course out of Overlander's Sydney office that included leaving the city, main road and freeway driving, a steep decent down Bulli Pass, an equally steep ascent back up Mount Ousley, secondary road touring and back though town to the office. Along the way each vehicle was timed in a series of zero to 60km, zero to 80km and 80 to 100km acceleration trials, the results averaged and recorded here. We also timed the vehicles on a 4km stretch between set points on the climb up Mount Ousley. All up each vehicle covered about 200km on the test loop and fuel usage figures were recorded for each of them. So let's see how each one performed.
Mercedes Benz ML270 CDI
The turbo-diesel-engined Mercedes-Benz off-roader came on to the market last year with many praising its common-rail injected engine. While it may not be the 4WD you first consider when looking for a tow vehicle the ML270 CDI surprised with its performance and ability.
next page »
