Most Popular 4x4 ?

[rangieman]

Im doing a bit of research for a friend that asked me what the top 10 4x4,s were .
Now this is not meant to offend us Rover fanatic's:cool:
This is simply my opinion of the cars that the die hards and weekend warriors , tourers , would use .

Anyone with a different opinion feel free to add their idea's and if wanted make the list bigger:cool:

#1 Gq Patrol:twisted:
#2 Gu Patrol:twisted:
#3 80 series Cruiser:twisted:
#4 100 series Cruiser:twisted:
#5 70 series cruiser
#6 Hilux model ?:nazilock:
#7 Prado:eek:
#8 Jeep Wrangler:o
#9 Disco s1+2:D
#10 Classic Rangie:D
#11Pajero :eek:

I know we are all brand loyal so please don't fool your self and say rover,s are the most popular , As we all know we are most of the time the brunt of the jokes:censored:

[Slunnie]

Maybe the 70 series Landcruisers. Not sure about the Jeep in Aus.

[ramblingboy42]

you've opened up a can with more worms than The Flying Spaghetti Monster has tendrils. The only way to accurately determine this is by official sales of vehicles worldwide and that doesn't make it the most popular. Here in Australia over the next 12-18 months Ford are going to see incredible new vehicle sales of the Ranger, simply because it is the only off the shelf vehicle that meets all ancap requirements. Mining managers and contractors are purchasing this vehicle en masse because they don't have to make a single adjustment to it to meet minespec requirements. Is it the most popular new vehicle in Australia? I don't think so.

[rc42]

In Australia I wouldn't expect any Land Rover model to be in the top 10, its the brand that they generally love to hate. Globally it would no doubt dominate the top ten though.

What is the basis for that list? is it from sales, some sort of survey, made up in the pub one lunchtime or maybe from sitting near a popular off-road track and recording the models as they pass?

[rangieman]

In Australia I wouldn't expect any Land Rover model to be in the top 10, its the brand that they generally love to hate. Globally it would no doubt dominate the top ten though.

What is the basis for that list? is it from sales, some sort of survey, made up in the pub one lunchtime or maybe from sitting near a popular off-road track and recording the models as they pass?
We were talking and he asked why I didn't drive a Pootrol , So then he said what do you think is the top ten .
So to the brains trust I went :p

[rangieman]

Maybe the 70 series Landcruisers. Not sure about the Jeep in Aus.
Yes how did I miss that one it just pushed the Landys down another spot:mad:

[Slunnie]

In Australia I wouldn't expect any Land Rover model to be in the top 10, its the brand that they generally love to hate. Globally it would no doubt dominate the top ten though.

What is the basis for that list? is it from sales, some sort of survey, made up in the pub one lunchtime or maybe from sitting near a popular off-road track and recording the models as they pass?

Jeez, don't get your back up or anything! :D

Rangieman said it was his opinion based on what diehards, weekend warriors and tourers use and that others may have different opinions so add them.

[TerryO]

As has been said this is s bit of a can of worms here, it all depends on what kind of usage and 4x4ing, do you count separately touring outback, farm vehicle, weekend mud warrior, mums shopping trolley, mining work vehicle. Caravan tug?

Cars tend to be used for basic transport in 99% of cases, 4b's often don't and are bought for numerous and many varied reasons, often which has little to do with 4x4ing.

How doe's one rate what is actually popular in this instance?

[loanrangie]

I think there should be more twin cab utes in there as their popularity has increased dramatically since they became more civilized.

[steane]

You'd have to get feedback from a huge group of 4wd owners from across the country to get any sort of sensible answer on what are the 10 most popular 4x4s or look at sales across the years. Otherwise the results will be about as useful as those published by 4WD Action from time to time.

Popular doesn't necessarily mean best either, that will come down to what the buyer is looking to do with his 4x4.

On new vehicle sales alone, it's the Hilux at the top of the list and the rest of the list is dominated by 4x4 DC utes.

If it's hardcore 4x4s then the story will be different again, as it would be for tourers.

If the sample group is tight-wad, conservative blokes with beards, then Land Rover will dominate.

[FeatherWeightDriver]

Im doing a bit of research for a friend that asked me what the top 10 4x4,s were

Apparently the top 10 SUVs sold new in 2012 were mostly soft roaders, but unless your friend is in to that sort of thing last year's new sales are not a useful measure :D

Top ten SUVs
1. Holden Captiva - 18,643
2. Toyota Prado - 17,045
3. Nissan X-Trail - 16,066
4. Mazda CX-5 - 15,861
5. Toyota RAV4 - 14,651
6. Ford Territory - 14,646
7. Toyota Kluger - 13,239
8. Nissan Dualis - 13,141
9. Subaru Forester - 11,533
10. Hyundai ix35 - 11,469

Interestingly, they also reckon 2496 Range Rover Evoques were sold, and Land Rover sales were up 36% on 2011 (which I assume includes Range Rovers). I assume that sales increase is not due to a sudden uptick in Defender sales :wasntme:

Source: 2012 Australian new car sales | FCAI VFACTS sales | new car sales (http://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/4wds-lead-car-sales-to-record-highs-20130104-2c850.html)

[jimr1]

I, did read in a 4x4 mag a few years ago that Toyota had sold 70,000 Land Cruisers in one year ,in Australia going to, Governments ,Prime Producers , mines , and Recreation . I think that would be all there range , ie Troopies ,Trays ,and Wagons . With the Hilux , then the Prardo , they would have to be up at the top . As for our Defenders I think they only make about 18,000 per year , and that's to go World wide . I do know Land Rovers have been my choice for the last 40 + years , I think I'll stick with them !!..

[FeatherWeightDriver]

(yes I am bored at work)

Some very interesting stats for NSW here:

Registration (http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/index.cgi?fuseaction=statstables.show&cat=Registration)

particularly

table115_2013q1.html (http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/publicationsstatisticsforms/statistics/registrationandlicensing/tables/table115_2013q1.html)

Apparently 35% currently registered "off road" vehicles (which I assume includes softroaders) in NSW is a Toyota.

MANUFACTURER Off-road Vehicles TOYOTA 368,467 SUBARU 133,432 NISSAN 93,429 MITSUBISHI 71,490 HOLDEN 69,758 HONDA 49,733 FORD 48,638 MAZDA 33,861 HYUNDAI 31,777 JEEP 24,419 SUZUKI 21,173 LAND ROVER 20,011 BMW 13,450 LEXUS 11,521 KIA 11,319 VOLKSWAGEN 10,985 VOLVO 9,108 MERCEDES BENZ 8,584 AUDI 8,154 DAIHATSU 5,119 RENAULT 2,498 PORSCHE 2,066 SKODA 1,828 SSANGYONG 1,777 DODGE 1,242 GREAT WALL 1,138 RANGE ROVER 1,060 PEUGEOT 730 HUMMER 374 LEYLAND 268 ASIA 67 DATSUN 47 MAHINDRA 43 LADA 25 X TRAIL 22 OTHER 14 INTERNATIONAL 13 AM GENERAL 11 CITROEN 7 GMC 7 TATA 3

Interestingly at the end of Q1 this year there were 22,000 Land Rovers and 1,000 Range Rovers registered in NSW. I thought there would have been more Range Rovers, particularly in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney!

I wonder how they do their classifications between Off-road Vehicles and Light Truck though. Are the 967 light truck classified Land Rovers all of the Defenders?

[pop058]

Apparently the top 10 SUVs sold new in 2012 were mostly soft roaders, but unless your friend is in to that sort of thing last year's new sales are not a useful measure :D

Top ten SUVs
1. Holden Captiva - 18,643
2. Toyota Prado - 17,045
3. Nissan X-Trail - 16,066
4. Mazda CX-5 - 15,861
5. Toyota RAV4 - 14,651
6. Ford Territory - 14,646
7. Toyota Kluger - 13,239
8. Nissan Dualis - 13,141
9. Subaru Forester - 11,533
10. Hyundai ix35 - 11,469

Interestingly, they also reckon 2496 Range Rover Evoques were sold, and Land Rover sales were up 36% on 2011 (which I assume includes Range Rovers). I assume that sales increase is not due to a sudden uptick in Defender sales :wasntme:

Source: 2012 Australian new car sales | FCAI VFACTS sales | new car sales (http://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/4wds-lead-car-sales-to-record-highs-20130104-2c850.html)

Mostly, the entire list is soft core :p

[Homestar]

I would think if you made the rankings based on the % of vehicles still on the road compared to the number made, then Land Rover - Globally - would win hands down.

I don't see a lot of other brands 20 year old 4x4's floating around, let alone 30, 40 and 50 year old examples...

That's probably the only way I can think of to put LR on the top of the list...:D

[FeatherWeightDriver]

Mostly, the entire list is soft core :p

Perhaps. Depending on how you define soft core. ;)

I gave Prado the benefit of the doubt as I felt sorry for it.

[steane]

Mostly, the entire list is soft core :p

That's because it is a Top 10 SUV list.

The list of interest would be the 4x4 list or the 'commercial vehicle PU CC 4X4' category which is as follows so far for 2013 (add Prado some Range Rovers and a handful of others to this list and you have a 4x4 list);

Make / Model - YTD Sales

Toyota Hilux - 15396
Nissan Navara - 12068
Mitsubishi Triton - 11073
Ford Ranger - 8099
Holden Colorado - 6554
Mazda BT-50 - 4673
Toyota Landcruiser - 4521
Isuzu Ute D-Max - 4205
VW Amarok - 3400
Great Wall V200 - 1238
Nissan Patrol - 472
Great Wall V240 - 175
Ssangyong Actyon - 140
Land Rover Defender - 34

[pop058]

That's because it is a Top 10 SUV list.

The list of interest would be the 4x4 list.

sounds fair. So how do we define a real 4x4. Do we exclude anything that is available as a 2WD version. ?

[Chucaro]

sounds fair. So how do we define a real 4x4. Do we exclude anything that is available as a 2WD version. ?

I guess that it will be any vehicle that it is capable to go to the same places that a Land Rover/Range Rover can go ;)
Then again that would be an off road capable vehicle.

[steane]

sounds fair. So how do we define a real 4x4. Do we exclude anything that is available as a 2WD version. ?

IMO it's a 4x4 or 4WD if it has a LR transfer case. I don't think it matters if you can get a 2WD version of the same vehicle, you just look at the 4WD version.

Actually, I should just say low range gearing because they don't all use a TC to achieve that, ie Amarok.

[steane]

This is a more comprehensive list. There are quite a few 4x4s classified as SUVs. Anything with a wagon body. This list is everything obviously 4x4 pulled out of the SUV and Commercial Vehicle sales lists for 2013.

Make / Model YTD Sales

Toyota Hilux - 15396
Nissan Navara - 12068
Mitsubishi Triton - 11073
Toyota Landcruiser - 9701
Ford Ranger - 8099
Holden Colorado - 6554
Jeep Grand Cherokee - 4805
Mazda BT-50 - 4673
Isuzu Ute D-Max - 4205
VW Amarok - 3400
Mitsubishi Pajero - 3160
Great Wall V200 & X200 - 2128
Nissan Patrol - 1872
Jeep Wrangler - 1629
Toyota FJ Cruiser -1506
Land Rover D4 - 1171
Mitsubishi Challenger - 947
Holden Colorado 7 - 827
Land Rover RRS - 730
Nissan Pathfinder - 610
Great Wall V240 & X240 - 454
Land Rover Defender - 360
Land Rover Range Rover - 156
Ssangyong Actyon - 140

[Homestar]

I guess that it will be any vehicle that it is capable to go to the same places that a Land Rover/Range Rover can go ;)


That would narrow the field quite a bit...:D

[ramblingboy42]

its a good discussion, what are the parameters? Grumble is 14 yrs old and I don't feel like I'm driving an old vehicle. All my mates I go bush with drive late model Toyotas/Rangers/Navaras except for one ol'bastard has an original 80 series cruiser. But lets keep it going for a while, some interesting statistics coming out.

[bob10]

The one you own. Bob

[FeatherWeightDriver]

So how do we define a real 4x4.

And then the fight started... lol

[superquag]

How so we define a 'real' 4WD ? - How about a car that you can trust... in the Ruff Stuff, (not to break ) going where no 4wd has been before, but can and will travel to and from "there" equally, well, reliably...

- You know, boring cars that don't need a major overhaul before/after a trip.... just jump in and go. - Stuff like inadequate door-opening mechanisms that need regular adjusting, that 'overload' and kill German-quality locking motors... bad soldered joints in ECUs, and electric seats that always work. Smooothly. Or delicate cooling systems that eat themselves away just to spite you if they are'nt 101% 'maintained' every 12 months...:eek:

To put it bluntly, electronics and 'mechanics' that are of a quality and reliability matching the price tag, like the Japs and Koreans have managed for decades...

Having used two Classics, one ('89) Pajero, a (petrol) GQ and turbo-diesel Navarra dual cab for the same work, I'd take either Nissan for work and the Pajero for daily-driving & non-towing stuff only... It's air-conditioner and heater worked a treat !


Since I own one of those Classics, I keep telling myself that its off-road capacity is light-years ahead of the others...otherwise it barely makes it into the Top 11.

Or put the Classic on a car-trailer and tow it to/from the Ruff Stuff.
:twisted::twisted::twisted: :angel:

[mikehzz]

You could spend a month driving through 15 countries in Europe and UK and you would barely see any of those cars. You will see quite a few Defenders, Disco's, Range Rovers, Touaregs and G Wagens though. Australia is the land of Japanese tractors.

[superquag]

You could spend a month driving through 15 countries in Europe and UK and you would barely see any of those cars. You will see quite a few Defenders, Disco's, Range Rovers, Touaregs and G Wagens though. Australia is the land of Japanese tractors.

Possibly the Australian 4WD owner is more of a pragmatist than his European counterpart.... Demanding (tangible) value-for-money and overall performance that they've been used to with Jap cars

eg, 'My Corolla never let me down, nor did the Corona I traded it for... why would'nt I buy a Landcruiser?'

:twisted:

[disco 3 door]

On a trip today from Werribee to Clyde we spotted 46
Land/Range Rovers. If that is not popular I don't know what is.

[rangieman]

I have been away thats why i have'nt posted back .
Sorry this is not meant to be the most popular new 4x4 or new soft off roader by rego stats:angel: , It is just meant to be the most popular by obervation thats why i had GQ at the top , In my opinion they are like aholes everyone has one and every weekend warrior has one also just about every comp is Nissan heavy:censored:

[superquag]

"...popular by observation..."

Yep, agree totally... I see lots of 'Tradies' towing their work-stuff around in old Nissans, some Tojos, the rare Deefer, - but virtually NO Discos. - even when I've towed with the Rangies... (You know the effect, drive a particular brand /colour/configuration car...and the road seems full of clones...)

Lots of Disco daily drivers, but no 'workers' as such. Several reasons ranging from appropriateness through to co$t/reliability. -Obviously, horses for courses, and, in my humble observations, LR owners seem to prefer playing or D/Driving rather than 'working' them...:angel:

I see lots of D1's and 2's as D/Ds.

[Cobber]

Top 10 in terms of what? :)

It would be interesting to see the various opinions on it though ...

[rangieman]

Top 10 in terms of what? :)

It would be interesting to see the various opinions on it though ...

Read the first post ! and not realy new just what seems the most popular , Which i guess would be different for each area:cool:

[pop058]

"...popular by observation..."

Yep, agree totally... I see lots of 'Tradies' towing their work-stuff around in old Nissans, some Tojos, the rare Deefer, - but virtually NO Discos. - even when I've towed with the Rangies... (You know the effect, drive a particular brand /colour/configuration car...and the road seems full of clones...)

Lots of Disco daily drivers, but no 'workers' as such. Several reasons ranging from appropriateness through to co$t/reliability. -Obviously, horses for courses, and, in my humble observations, LR owners seem to prefer playing or D/Driving rather than 'working' them...:angel:

I see lots of D1's and 2's as D/Ds.

There are a few around doing the hard yards :p My D1 drags about 3 tonnes around most days of the week.

Even my Workshop gets it's share :)

[BMKal]

I can point to at least two D2's seen regularly around Kalgoorlie pulling heavy (tradesman type) trailers daily as "work" vehicles - and a well known sheep station not far out of town has a white D4 as their main "station" vehicle which runs in & out of town, down to Perth etc and is often seen around covered in mud and/or pulling a large tandem caged trailer with bales of hay / sheep / other farming gear on board. It passed me in the middle of the night half way between Southern Cross & Coolgardie last time I was heading up here for the weekend. Large sign in the back window makes it very obvious whose vehicle it is.

But I agree .................. there are a lot more Nissota's in similar roles.

But anyone who thinks that Disco's are not used as work vehicles has blinkers on (or spends too much time around the wealthier suburbs :D).

Dozens of D2's / D3's D4's around where I work - but rarely see one that looks like it has driven outside of the Nedlands / Dalkeith area. :eek:

[Vern]

IMO it's a 4x4 or 4WD if it has a LR transfer case. I don't think it matters if you can get a 2WD version of the same vehicle, you just look at the 4WD version.

Actually, I should just say low range gearing because they don't all use a TC to achieve that, ie Amarok.

Interesting, I'm pretty sure my amarok has low range, and fairly sure it even came with a locker from the factory, must be one of them soft roaders:p