Good, better, best – Part 1

There’s some stiff competition in the diesel 4X4 double-cab arena. In a great display of dust, sweat and gears CAR magazine organised a shoot-out with eight contenders to settle the off-road bakkie battle and I tagged along.

Read Part 2 of the double-cab shoot-out here 

Read Part 3 of the double-cab shoot-out here 

Read Part 4 of the double-cab shoot-out here 

The contenders

The double cab shootout contenders

From left to right in front row: Isuzu KB 300 D-TEQ DC 4X4;  VW Amarok 2,0 BiTDI 4Motion DC 4X4 AT; Toyota Hilux D-4D 3,0 DC 4X4; Ford Ranger 3,2 TDCI XLT 4X4 AT

From left to right in back: Foton Tunland 4X4 DC 2,8 Luxury; Mazda BT-50 SLE High Ride DC 4X4 and Mitsubishi Triton 3,2 D DC 4X4. (Plus the GWM Steed 2,0 VGT 4X4 luxury – not pictured here).

The test

There’s something about dust and diesel that’s really exciting. Especially when there’s a good 4X4 course ahead and a collection of big bakkies.

Our team of drivers assembled at the Land Rover Experience on the Simonsig wine estate near Stellenbosch to inspect an army of metal and big tyres. In the ranks, stood eight double-cab leisure bakkies with differing capacity, technology, suspension systems and comfort levels. Our mission was to tackle 4X4 obstacles, tar roads and gravel tracks to establish the pecking order, without kicking up too much dust (it was almost harvest season and we wouldn’t be popular if we damaged the vineyards).

Dust, sweat and gears on the 4X4 course

The Stig

Enter Hannes Grobler. The off-road and rally champion has been hitting the dirt for about 36 years and 4X4 bakkies are his thing. CAR magazine took advantage of his expertise and asked him to play The Stig, putting the cars through their paces after we’d all been for a joy ride.

Hannes Grobler South African off-road and rally champion

The 4X4 course is relatively simple, with all the right challenges bar a deep sand track.

Tackling the 4x4 course

There’s a steep descent down soft sand to test engine compression, an equally sheer ascent to test torque, two axle-articulation exercises to gauge a vehicle’s ability to keep its wheels on the roads, or the subsequent need for a rear diff-lock if the tyres come away from the track and various other bumps and pits.

Watch the CAR video

Now that I’ve set the scene, sit back and enjoy the awesome CAR magazine video of the event to whet your appetite for the big bakkie battle:

Read Part 2 of the double-cab shoot-out here