Vehicle Tests > 2007 4WDOTY Contenders

To help the judges with their assessment of the vehicles, Overlander has a long established list of five criteria to score the vehicles against. Each vehicle is scored out of 10 against the five criteria for a total out of a possible 50. The judges' scores are then tallied to determine the winner.
The five criteria are -

Value for Money
This is simply what you get for your money with consideration given to the fact that what may be expensive to some is affordable to others. It really is how much vehicle you are getting for the money.

Soundness of Engineering
A measure of how well the vehicle is engineered. How well does the engine and transmission work; how much fuel does it use; how well does the vehicle ride and handle in all conditions; how good is the dust sealing; the air-con; the interior; does the vehicle appear to be 'bolted' together properly; even simple things like the quality of the tie-down hooks in the luggage area are taken into account.

Fulfilment of Intended Function
All vehicles, even different 4WDs, are designed to do different things. This is a measure of how well a particular vehicle fulfils its design brief. Obviously a 4WD ute is designed to do a very different job than a luxury soft-roader.

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Progressiveness of Design.
This is a measure of design/technical advancement and covers every aspect of the vehicle: engine, driveline, chassis, suspension, body, interior, etc. A particular design element doesn't have to be new that year to be significant. A particular manufacturer may have introduced a new feature several years back, but that feature may still be right up at the pointy end of design.

The Overlander Factor
This factor represent the 'bush practicality' of the vehicle: genuine 4WD ability; design robustness (underbody protection etc); touring range; load space/carrying capacity; tyre practicality/alternate tyre choices; and the potential to fit factory and after-market accessories to enhance bush practicality.

4WDOTY Route 07
As always, the route taken for the 4WD of the year test program was designed to take the finalist vehicles over the many varied terrains that your average Aussie 4WDer would expect to find. Steep, rocky fire trails, sand dunes, muddy tracks, back roads and highways all make up the route which in 2007 covered close to 1300 kilometres over five days.

Day one of the test started early at Vic Widman's Great Divide Tours driver training facility near Braidwood in southern New South Wales. Here we are able to assess each of the vehicles side by side on 'control' hills and obstacles to see how the various traction systems operate, gauge engine braking on descents, check clearances and generally get a feeling for the individual vehicles. All the judges first watch as each vehicle is driven over the set pieces then there's a free for all when everyone gets to drive each vehicle over the different terrain.

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