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Vehicle Tests > 4WD Comparison - Forced Labour
4WD Comparison - Forced Labour
In terms of practicalities, the Triton also doesn't fare all that well with the equal lowest towing capacity, the second-lowest payload and only a mid-sized tray. Good thing then that it has so much driver appeal.
Nissan Navara D22 ST-R ($38,490)
With a new 98kW/304Nm 2.5-litre engine, this is the ute that came back from the dead. Well, not quite but the pervious iteration of the D22 (with the 110kW/314Nm 3.0-litre engine) can't live in today's world where Euro 4 emission standards apply. With the help of a detuned version of the engine that powers Nissan's newer, flasher and slightly bigger D40 ute, the D22 lives on to serve as a budget offering.
But budget price doesn't mean budget appointments. In fact far from it as the Navara is the best equipped here by a good margin. For starters it's the only one with alloy wheels and ABS as standard. It also comes with quality Bridgestone Dueller A/T tyres and driver and passenger airbags as standard.
But it's not all good news. The engine, while a modern design, isn't a great performer and only manages to better the Mahindra amongst this lot. Not particularly flexible off the bottom end it then also runs out of puff in the top end, which means that you have to row it along with the gearbox to keep it where it does its best work. It's also not exceptional on fuel, nor is it particularly refined or quiet.
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But the engine is still better than the rest of the package, which is well and truly showing its age. It's the only vehicle here with the old-school combination of torsion-bar front suspension and ball and nut steering. On the road this makes for vague steering and loose handing, along with the Mahindra the worse dynamic experience here.
This old school feel is carried over to a cramped, small cabin whose floor feels to high, yet the driving position is too low, especially for offroad excursions. The back seat is also the most cramped and likewise the tray is the smallest of the five.
Some redemption comes in the form of a one-tonne-plus payload and a 2800kg towing capacity, the second-best here. Driving position aside, the Navara is also relatively handy off road with generous clearance, good wheel travel for this class of vehicle and the previously mentioned A/T tyres.
Ssangyong Sports Dual Cab Tradie ($27,990)
Like the Mahindra, the Tradie doesn't fit into the pattern determined by the three Japanese utes. For starters it has a two-litre engine and it also the only vehicle that uses coils rather than leaf springs on its rear live axle.
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Nissan Navara D22 ST-R ($38,490)
With a new 98kW/304Nm 2.5-litre engine, this is the ute that came back from the dead. Well, not quite but the pervious iteration of the D22 (with the 110kW/314Nm 3.0-litre engine) can't live in today's world where Euro 4 emission standards apply. With the help of a detuned version of the engine that powers Nissan's newer, flasher and slightly bigger D40 ute, the D22 lives on to serve as a budget offering.
But budget price doesn't mean budget appointments. In fact far from it as the Navara is the best equipped here by a good margin. For starters it's the only one with alloy wheels and ABS as standard. It also comes with quality Bridgestone Dueller A/T tyres and driver and passenger airbags as standard.
But it's not all good news. The engine, while a modern design, isn't a great performer and only manages to better the Mahindra amongst this lot. Not particularly flexible off the bottom end it then also runs out of puff in the top end, which means that you have to row it along with the gearbox to keep it where it does its best work. It's also not exceptional on fuel, nor is it particularly refined or quiet.
read on below advertisement
But the engine is still better than the rest of the package, which is well and truly showing its age. It's the only vehicle here with the old-school combination of torsion-bar front suspension and ball and nut steering. On the road this makes for vague steering and loose handing, along with the Mahindra the worse dynamic experience here.
This old school feel is carried over to a cramped, small cabin whose floor feels to high, yet the driving position is too low, especially for offroad excursions. The back seat is also the most cramped and likewise the tray is the smallest of the five.
Some redemption comes in the form of a one-tonne-plus payload and a 2800kg towing capacity, the second-best here. Driving position aside, the Navara is also relatively handy off road with generous clearance, good wheel travel for this class of vehicle and the previously mentioned A/T tyres.
Ssangyong Sports Dual Cab Tradie ($27,990)
Like the Mahindra, the Tradie doesn't fit into the pattern determined by the three Japanese utes. For starters it has a two-litre engine and it also the only vehicle that uses coils rather than leaf springs on its rear live axle.
next page »
