SDV6 Diesel or V6SC Petrol?

[splud]

My wife and I are also doing the great Aussie trip and have ordered a 21ft van etc, but now we are putting in an order for the Discovery. (long story, was going for a 2016 RRS, but wheel rims are too big for the outback!)

My question is: V6 Petrol or V6 Diesel as we both like the power from the petrol, (coming from an Evoque 2ltr petrol). We test drove a the SDV6 and it just felt a bit sluggish, but haven't been able to try the V6SC.

Any suggestions would be great!
Thanks
TC

[shanegtr]

Doing the lap of honor while towing, diesel all the way

[Slunnie]

Diesel for the big trip also unless you want to pay through the nose for the trip aand maybe carry jerry cans if needed and then just enjoy the vehicle.

[splud]

Ha, I thought the general answers would be Diesel..

But the V6SC is such a brilliant engine, and roughly based on the specs (I know not real world especially towing a van), based on 50,000kms the petrol would cost $9600 as opposed to the diesel being $6345 and thats so long that you can find good petrol in the outback!

Has anyone chipped there SDV6, worth looking at or a no-go when towing?

Thanks,

[Slunnie]

I think you will find that is the consensus for the big trip, but it's not the be all and end all answer. The big trip is only one small part of the vehicles ownership and there is no reason why the big trip cant be done with the V6SC. In many respects, it might just be better the buy the engine you enjoy the most so that you're happy with the vehicle over those 50,000km as the vast majority of the time you wont be towing that van around the country. I also wouldn't be worried about being able to find petrol in the outback.

[jonesfam]

I BIG advantage of a Diesel is having all that Grunt!
Jonesfam

[Boggs]

Well, depends where you mean by "outback". Many of the remote communities in WA and NT only sell "opal", the un-sniffable petrol, and I'm told that it is less than brilliant for sophisticated engines like a V6SC. If you carried enough fuel to get you between major towns where you could get real fuel then it probably wouldn't be a problem. this is all heresay as I've never driven anything but an oiler in those areas. Oh yes.. stand guard over your real petrol.

[Bytemrk]

Another vote for the diesel, I've not driven the V6SC but from what I read it produces 250kW of power and 450Nm of torque.

I'm a little surprised at anyone describing the SDV6 as 'sluggish", I know the petrol motor produces more power (kW) than the diesel , but I think you will find that towing the van, what you want it torque.

SDV6 produces 600Nm

And as the others have said, if you venture anywhere properly remote....you wont get decent petrol, you will get diesel.

Good luck with the choice, I think you should be happy with either option really, depending on your intended destinations.

[LandyAndy]

Mark is on to it,power isnt what you are chasing,its torque for towing.Petrols for power,diesels for pulling.
Wait until a few of the ex landcruiser/pootrol owners chirp in on just how good these 3lt D4s are towing.
I think you felt the D4 was sluggish as its a behmoth compared to the ewok.I upgraded from a D2 TD5 wich was no slug,the D4 kills it
Even towing with the D2,it went just as well towing a load as not.Yet to fully test the D4,didnt even feel 1 tonne loads of firewood behind it.
Andrew

[cripesamighty]

Although it's no slouch off the line, my BIL's SDV6 D4 didn't quite compare to his recently traded in 4.0L petrol Prado for initial get up and go. He was a little disappointed at first, but you couldn't get the smile off his face after he came back from a trip away towing a quite large pop-top caravan in the D4.

To say he was impressed is a total understatement. My sister couldn't shut him up about how it felt like the caravan wasn't even there and he had to keep watching that the speed didn't creep up too much. I had several texts from her while they were on the road and it was driving her nuts! He just loves the SDV6's torque and he now doesn't take the mickey out of me for talking him into considering a Land Rover when it came time to change over vehicles....

I know a petrol Prado isn't a SCV6, but for a comparison, it's the torque you will be wanting. Good luck with whatever you choose though.