Toyota Land Cruiser News

Thousands of the recently-updated Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series have been recalled due to a transmission issue.A Department of Infrastructure notice confirms the recall relates to 11,019 examples from all variants of the 2025 model year LandCruiser 300 Series. “Due to a Transmission Control Module (TCM) programming issue, the transmission may rev faster than intended causing a loss of motive power and transmission fluid to leak,” the notice reads. “A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source could lead to a vehicle fire whilst driving.“A loss of motive power whilst driving and/or a vehicle fire could increase the risk of an accident causing injury or death to vehicle occupants, other road users and/or damage to property.”A spokesperson for Toyota Australia said the recall was part of a global mandate from Toyota, with no incidents reported Down Under yet. Toyota will contact affected owners in writing to organise an appointment at a Toyota dealership to rectify the issue free of charge. The LandCruiser 300 Series recently had its price increased by $1000 across the range, with the starting price, before on-road costs, now $99,340 for the base GX variant.The updated model impacted by this recall was launched in the middle of 2025, with a hybrid model launching in Australia next month.A recall is also out for 569 examples of the Lexus LX500 and LX600 four-wheel drives in the 2025 model year.The Lexus LX is built on the same platform as the LandCruiser and shares many of its mechanical elements.  

The new Toyota LandCruiser FJ mini 4WD is the car Australia wants and needs but is denied… however, that could all change soon, according to new reports.Toyota’s little LandCruiser made its public debut at the 2025 Tokyo motor show, with rugged looks, built-in toughness and right-hand-drive production locked in.Toyota Australia’s then Vice President of Sales and Marketing Sean Hanley told CarsGuide at the time it would not be available to Australia because the 2.7-litre petrol engine only adheres to Euro 5 emissions regulations.“The LandCruiser name in Australia would be very appealing, but the hardcore reality is we are facing in our country… variable regulations, new criteria, new vehicle efficiency standards,” said Hanley.“It’s not about NVES, it’s just about regulations.“We’re moving to Euro 6 emissions standards. That’s the reality,” he said. Now reports out of Japan point to the FJ LandCruiser scoring a diesel option before the end of the decade, which could make it viable for Australia.The overseas report point to it using the same 2.8-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine with mild hybrid assistance as the current Toyota HiLux ute and Prado 4WD.That means it could gain 150kW and 500Nm of grunt, which is heaps for an off-roader similar in size to a RAV4. It is also a sizeable jump over the current version's 120kW and 246Nm 2.7-litre petrol motor.We won’t know the fate of the diesel FJ LandCruiser for sometime, as it's reportedly not being added to the line-up until 2029.At the Tokyo motor show last year Hanley said if the LandCruiser FJ’s engine was rated to Euro 6 standards, he would consider it for an Australian launch.“If it was Euro 6, I would reconsider it,” said Hanley.“If it does turn out to be a Euro 6 engine, and if it does turn out to be that way, which it could… then that’s something we could re-examine.”The emissions goal posts will have changed by the end of the decade, so there is still a chance that engine will not be available

The large SUV category (starting under $100K) in the 2026 CarsGuide Car of the Year awards brings together one of the most varied groups of models from the super modern, fully electric high-performance to the super capable, off-road beasts. But all have a family focus with practicality at an affordable price.Our shortlist saw entrants from Chery, Hyundai, Kia, Land Rover, Polestar, Skoda, Toyota and Volkswagen.Now it’s time to announce our final top three, including the winner. First up are the two runners up in alphabetical order, then the category winner.Seven-seat upper-large SUVs aren’t unique but fully electric ones are and the Kia EV9 was not just the first of its kind to come to Australia, but it is also a truly outstanding car and that’s why it has easily made it into our top three.CarsGuide reviewers love how the EV9 provides all the practicality and space that an upper-large SUV should with an advanced electric architecture and a package that feels high quality and stylish.“I think it’s one of the cars of the decade,” said CarsGuide Contributing Journalist Byron Mathioudakis.“I still look at it and it stuns me and I just think it’s beautifully packaged … it’s a Range Rover for Kia money. Korea should be so proud of that car.” While the EV9’s futuristic looks were loved by the team, some thought the high price might put people off. The Toyota LandCruiser helped spark the world’s fascination with SUVs decades ago with its ability to take families on adventures to places regular cars had no hope of ever reaching. But while there’s a multitude of other SUVs out there now, the latest-gen LandCruiser 300 Series is still one of the very best, which is why it’s here on our top-three list.    CarsGuide News Editor Dom Tripolone said the LandCruiser 300 was one of the vehicles that did its job well: “It does what it says on the box. It’ll last a long time.”The team mentioned the good resale value of the LC300, its reputation for reliability and that its intended buyer who wants to go off-road or go anywhere will absolutely love it.Hyundai’s new-gen Santa Fe shocked many with its wildly different look to the previous model when it arrived in late 2024.But, while the design was polarising, CarsGuide reviewers couldn’t deny that this was an outstanding SUV in almost every other way.  “It genuinely achieves everything it sets out to do,” said CarsGuide Deputy News Editor Tom White. “I also love the design of it – it’s superb.”With a choice of hybrid and petrol powertrains in both front- and all-wheel drive, the Santa Fe is comfortable and easy to pilot in the city or on long haul trips. Available in six- and seven-seat formats, the Santa Fe caters impressively well for families with its practicality and space, plus with its extensive features list and affordable entry price represents excellent value for money.

Toyota Australia has increased the asking price of a number of its popular SUV models.From January 1, 2026, the Toyota C-HR, LandCruiser Prado and LandCruiser 300 Series all received price hikes of up to $1500, depending on the model and variant.“Toyota is committed to keeping price increases to a minimum. These changes came into effect recently due to increased costs and inflationary pressures both here and overseas,” said a Toyota Australia spokesperson.The 2026 Toyota C-HR is now priced from $46,940 before on-road costs to $58,890 before on-road costs. Pricing for the entire line-up is $1500.The 2026 Toyota LandCruiser Prado is now priced from $73,200 before on-road costs to $100,690 before on-road costs. Pricing is up $700 across the line-up.The 2026 Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series $99,340 before on-road costs to $147,160 before on-road costs. Pricing is up $1000 across the line-up.Pricing tables for all three Toyota models are at the bottom of this story.This is the first time the current-generation Prado has received a price rise in Australia since it was introduced in late 2024.Since it first launched, Toyota introduced a five-seat version of the popular GXL mid-spec variant following criticism of the compromised boot space of the seven-seat versions.The Prado was also the third best-selling Toyota model in Australia during 2025, behind only the popular HiLux and RAV4.While the existing LandCruiser 300 Series with its 3.3-litre twin-turbo V6 diesel engine almost already reaches $150,000 before on-road costs, it’s expected to surpass this with the forthcoming 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol ‘Performance Hybrid’ GR Sport and Sahara ZX trims.While the first-generation Toyota C-HR was a sales success, sales of the current second-generation which was introduced in 2024 have been notably softer.During 2025 a total of 2892 examples were sold which is up 2.3 per cent year-on-year. However over the same period Toyota also sold 12,686 examples of the similarly sized Corolla Cross.This is likely due to the fact the current C-HR is much more expensive than it was. It’s now sourced from Turkey instead of Japan and as a result incurs a five per cent import tariff.2026 Toyota C-HR pricing:2026 Toyota LandCruiser Prado pricing:2026 Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series pricing:

Cathy, Thorpey, Kylie and Nikki had just shown the world that Australia can hold its own in sports and culture, we’d given quite a few of our guns away, the Millenial Bug wasn’t such a concern anymore… and three sedans dominated Aussie roads.A quarter of a century ago, the year 2000 was just in the rear-view, and the sales charts looked very different to today.What better time than 25 years later to look back at the cars and brands Australians were heading to the showroom for?Not only were there fewer utes and SUVs being sold, they didn’t even make up a third of the new vehicle sales in the country combined that year. Utes and SUVs were lumped together in the same section of the VFACTS report (the sales figures industry stakeholders, pundits and media receive each month) alongside heavy trucks.Only 8413 new Toyota RAV4s were sold, making the Daewoo Lanos (9029 sales) more popular that year. Compare that to 2025, when the RAV4 ranked second in sales for the year with a whopping 51,947 units, only topped by the Ranger (56,555).Speaking of which, how did our now-favourite utes fare in 2000? The Ford Courier, the Ranger’s predecessor, sold just 6769 units, while the HiLux managed to hop into the top 10 with 21,509 sales. Still somewhat short of its 51,297 in 2025.To be fair, if you’d asked someone if they were buying a Ford ute, the Courier wouldn’t have been the first thing to come to mind. Ford sold 13,698 Falcon utes in the year 2000, putting it well ahead of its Commodore rival’s 6361.That can be explained easily, Holden didn't build a new ute for the VT generation Commodore of the late-’90s, instead continuing to sell the VS ute alongside the VT sedan.The near-new AU Falcon ute (released in mid-1999) had the car-based ute market covered for the turn of the century.Those two now-gone badges, along with the enduring Toyota Camry and the impressive Mitsubishi Magna, were impossible to avoid on Aussie roads then, with the Commodore, Falcon, Camry and Magna being first, second, third and fifth (thanks to the Corolla in fourth) most popular cars in the country in 2000.Between them they contributed to the total 198,766 large passenger cars sold in 2000, which made up 35.9 per cent of the year’s new vehicle sales. In 2025, large passenger cars made up just 2285 sales, or 0.2 per cent of the market.Small cars made up the other major chunk of sales back in 2000, with 154,050 sales being 27.8 per cent of the market. They were 72,222 sales and 6.0 per cent of last year’s market share.The aforementioned Daewoo was in the top 10 brands (just) in terms of sales for the year 2000, but was the only brand in that list that no longer exists.A scroll through the list shows other long-gone names like Daihatsu, Saab and Proton, and one not-so-long-gone name — Citroen.Daewoo Nubira? Daihatsu Sirion? Even the Proton Satria? These forgotten cars all sold in the thousands back then.Giants like Kia and Hyundai have come a long way, too. The brands once known for the Excel or Accent, plus the Kia Rio in its most ‘cheap and cheerful’ phase (RIP) are now global powerhouses with new technology and reliability commonly in the same sentence as their badge names. Hyundai, at least, was still a top-10 player back then.Below, there are tables with the most popular models and brands from the year 2000 and the figures we gleaned from the data — note the badge names have been consolidated so that cars with Commodore (for example) includes all body types.Top 10 cars sold in Australia in 2000Top 10 cars brands in Australia in 2000  

Large SUVs are the big, spacious heroes of suburbia, favoured by families with more than a couple of kids and picked for their adventurous and sporty looks when probably a people mover would do.Of course, there are the large SUVs that aren’t just tough looking but incredibly capable off-road, too. Then there are those which are fully electric, and bring supercar acceleration to something that feels like the size of a small house.As part of our ongoing 2026 CarsGuide Car of the Year awards, here are our top 10 large SUV model ranges from the sub-$100K category in alphabetical order and why they made the cut. Our top three, including the category winner, will be announced February 6.Chinese carmaker Chery brought its flagship Tiggo 9 seven-seater SUV to Australia in late 2025 and in one grade only - the Ultimate.CarsGuide reviewers found the Tiggo 9 to be outstanding value for money, but also standing out is its ‘Super Hybrid’ system which offers a large battery, fast charging and a long combined range with excellent fuel efficiency.Add to this a superbly comfortable ride and you can see why the Tiggo 9 has made our shortlist.  Hyundai’s Santa Fe quickly became an Aussie family favourite after it was launched here 25 years ago. Loved for being spacious and affordable, this large SUV became safer, better to drive and more refined over the years until we come to today’s fifth-generation model, which is the best yet.The Santa Fe is a three-row large SUV available in both petrol and petrol-hybrid powertrains. It has some fierce rivals in this large and affordable SUV segment, but CarsGuide reviewers loved the way it combines practicality and value for money with style and refinement that can withstand all the spills and rough treatment delivered by families.  So much kudos needs to go to Kia for launching its largest SUV ever - the EV9 - as an all-electric model only. A brave move that even made the EV9 unique in its segment as the first fully electric, seven-seat, upper-large SUV on the market.CarsGuide reviewers found the EV9 to be practical, superb to drive with outstanding levels of comfort and performance, and while it can be pricey there’s large fast charging batteries, with long ranges and vehicle-to-load power capability.Add to all this the futuristic chiselled looks and you have an SUV that’s bravely different, and beautifully fit for purpose.The Land Rover Defender is iconic. Famous for being the choice of transport for decades of hardcore adventurers to royalty and everyone in between, not many SUVs can combine prestige and off-road prowess like the Defender. The new Defender is a far more luxurious affair than the early Land Rover Series 1 from the 1940s that started the whole off-road SUV thing, but the blocky looks are still reminiscent of its agricultural ancestor.CarsGuide reviewers found the Defender to be comfortable and great to drive, with excellent practicality but fuel consumption can be high and towing capacity less than rivals.Available in a short- and long-wheelbase, with a choice of powerplants from supercharged V8s to hybrids the Defender is an exceptional go-anywhere luxury SUV.The Polestar 4 is a prestige electric coupe-style SUV that arrived in Australia in 2024, causing chins to wag due to its complete lack of rear window, and a digital review mirror.The rear window controversy was good publicity for the brand which arrived in Australia in 2022 with its Polestar 2 sedan but had seemingly gone off the boil with the arrival of a multitude of new Chinese electric SUVs.At 4.84m end to end, the Polestar 4 is about a finger’s length longer than the Tesla Model Y, but more expensive and would see its rivals as Audi’s Q6 e-tron Sportback and BMW iX3.  CarsGuide reviewers found the Polestar 4 to have an impressive driving range, excellent performance, great styling… but that lack of back window and the digital rear view mirror, not so great. The new-generation Skoda Kodiaq arrived in 2025, bigger and more refined than the previous version, even if the styling appeared to have barely changed. CarsGuide reviewers found this seven-seater to be practical with excellent cabin storage and packed with loads of standard features, making the Kodiaq excellent value.Superb to drive with great handling and a comfortable ride, the Kodiaq is the alternative to more mainstream rivals such as the Mitsubishi Outlander or Toyota Kluger.  Toyota’s seven-seat large SUV has also been on the shopping list of Aussie families since 2003 and while there’s more rivals to pick from than 20 years ago, the Kluger remains popular.CarsGuide reviewers found the Kluger to be spacious, practical, effortless to drive and with a fuel efficient hybrid powertrain, it is also outstanding value for money and comes with low servicing costs and Toyota’s reputation of reliability.Aussie Klugers are made in right-hand drive at Toyota’s Indiana plant in the United States.  Toyota’s LandCruiser 300 Series is a legend in its own time, acclaimed worldwide as one of the most capable large off-roaders, that’s comfortable, and with an exceptional reputation for reliability.With rivals such as the Nissan Patrol and Land Rover Defender, CarsGuide reviewers found the LandCruiser 300 Series to not only be great off-road, but also have good on-road manners, too. Reviewers noted, however, the high price tag and the need for better off-road tyres.The new-gen Toyota LandCruiser Prado arrived in late 2024 amid high expectations given the popularity of the previous modelsThe new Prado had a completely new retro cool look, but also a higher price tag. Still CarsGuide reviewers found the Prado very effective off-road and a big improvement over the previous gen with an increased towing capacity of 3500kg. But CarsGuide reviewers also found the Prado to be underpowered and not as good value for money as a Ford Everest or Isuzu MU-X.   Volkswagen's Touareg is a large, luxurious SUV that’s closely related to Audi’s Q7 but without the higher price.While all Touareg’s are five-seaters only, CarsGuide reviewers found it to be practical, full of sophisticated tech and refined in design and quality.A plug-in hybrid in the sporty R grade is available but CarsGuide reviewers found energy consumption to be high and EV driving range to be low.

Toyota Australia has responded after Queensland Police alleged an international crime syndicate was targeting its vehicles in the Brisbane region.Between October 20 and December 2, 60 high-end Toyota vehicles, including LandCruisers and Prados, were stolen with the intent to ship the vehicles to the United Arab Emirates, according to Queensland Police. The vehicles were valued at about $9.0M.Several of the vehicles were recovered in Melbourne and Queensland before they headed overseas.Queensland Police have arrested seven men and charged them with more than 300 offences.Brisbane Detective Acting Inspector Russell Joyce said, “This was an extremely complex operation with a disciplined international syndicate allegedly targeting vehicles for personal gain.“The QPS is sending a strong message that offences of this nature will not be tolerated, and police will be relentless in their pursuit of any alleged offender,” he said.Toyota Australia said it has worked closely with the Queensland and Victorian Police to identify the devices used in the thefts.The company said it had implemented security enhancements to counter their effectiveness.In a statement Toyota Australia said, “Toyota is committed to continuously improving vehicle security and has progressively introduced advanced protective measures across its range.“In 2025, Toyota took further steps to enhance security on several models, including the New HiLux, LandCruiser 300 and LandCruiser Prado providing owners with even greater peace of mind,” the statement said.Toyota is going a step further and developing factory approved genuine accessories, which include an additional immobiliser, to combat the issue.The Japanese carmaker is also working on a process to prioritise owners affected by theft to receive replacement vehicles as soon as possible.

The future is bright.

In the age of increasingly dominant Chinese car brands, how can Japanese favourites stand out?

Four-wheel drive vehicles are widely considered ‘real’ off-road vehicles, but all-wheel drive vehicles are also capable of tackling off-road adventures in their own right.However, for the purpose of this yarn, we’ll focus on 4WDs.So, what are the top five off-roaders of all time? This is a purely subjective yarn, so feel free to pitch in with your opinion and your own top five off-roaders of all time.Read on. (Note: all prices in this yarn were correct at time of writing.)All versions of this legendary 4WD have for a long time found favour with off-road adventurers because of their drivability (ease of use and comfort); its capability (in general driving terms, as an off-roader, and for hauling heavy loads); its reputation for reliability (which, some say, has lapsed in recent years); and its fixability if something goes wrong. Rest assured, if you suffer experience vehicle-based strife, even out past the black stump, you’ll likely be able to find Toyota parts somewhere near-ish without too much hassle.Many Cruisers are used as off-road vehicles (for work and play), but which Cruiser variant should be your preferred choice if you’re after a reliable, capable and comfortable long-distance tourer to haul camping gear or tow your camper-trailer or caravan? Take your pick: 40 Series, 60 Series, 70 Series, 80 Series, 100 Series, 200 Series. The 105 (more widely known here as the Prado) is the Cruiser’s less macho little brother, but it is still very popular because of its reputation as a capable, comfortable touring platform.Our mate Alf Johnston's 80 – pictured throughout this yarn – is a 1996 GXL 80 Series with a 24-valve 6-cylinder 1HD-FT turbo-diesel engine and automatic transmission. It has a touring friendly 270-litre fuel tank – a long range fuel tank set-up – and 30-litre water tank. A standard version had a 90-litre fuel tank and a 45-litre fuel tank.For me, the 4.5-litre V8 twin turbo-diesel engine (200kW and 650Nm) is the stand-out.There is a massive trade-off when buying most Cruisers though: new or used, it may be on the wrong side of expensive. Just ask anyone trying to buy a second-hand Cruiser about ‘Toyota tax’, i.e. the persistently high re-sale value of any Toyota that’s for sale, especially a Cruiser.Towing capacity is listed as 750kg (unbraked) and 3000kg (braked).Price: Expect to pay from $9999 for a 1999 Toyota Landcruiser 100 Series GXL 4X4 (with almost 391,000km on the odo) through to $242,000 for a 2022 Toyota Landcruiser 70 Series GXL (dual-cab chassis, loaded up with aftermarket gear and with 38,294km on the odo).Pros:RobustReliableNigh-on unbreakableCons:Hard to find oneEven harder to find one that hasn’t been thrashedWhen you do find a good one, it’ll be expensiveAnother Cruiser bonus: you can build up and customise your ultimate tourer with the help of Australia’s fantastic aftermarket industry – think ARB, Ironman 4x4, TJM, and the like.The Y63 is on its way but until then take your pick from new and used Patrols: GQ, GU, whatever.This well-respected 4WD wagon is another of Australia’s favourite touring vehicles and can be seen everywhere on the nation’s roads, and parked in caravan parks, or set up for camping.Any Patrol can be built up and customised as an ultimate tourer, but for me the mission-ready current-generation V8 Patrol Warrior wins out over the rest.Let me explain: a few years back Nissan Australia enlisted the expertise of Melbourne-based automotive engineering company Premcar to transform the Navara into the hard-core Pro-4X Warrior, which was a great success – and then Premcar did the same to the Patrol.At time of launch Premcar had baked into the Patrol more than $15,000 worth of top-notch conversion work, engineering upgrades and fitment of accessories to turn the 4WD wagon into the Warrior.It is bigger, wider and taller than the Ti spec Patrol on which it’s based and it has upgraded Aussie-tuned suspension, a Warrior-specific wheel-and-tyre package, a bi-modal exhaust system, substantial underbody protection, a 48kg increase in payload over the Ti to 736kg, as well as a whole lot of other stuff intended to turn the legendary 4WD wagon into an even more appealing vehicle, on- and off-road.The Warrior has the same 5.6-litre V8 petrol engine as the regular Patrol line-up but that’s fine because that engine – producing 298kW at 5800rpm and 560Nm at 4000rpm and matched to a seven-speed automatic transmission – is a bloody cracker.It also has a re-engineered version of Nissan’s Hydraulic Body Motion Control system, a 50mm total suspension lift with new springs front and rear (increasing vehicle height to 1990mm, 50mm more than the Ti), and increased ground clearance (323mm, 50mm more than the Ti) and wheel track (1735mm front and rear, 40mm more than the Ti).As with the Cruiser, the Patrol can be built up and customised as an ultimate tourer with the help of Australia’s great aftermarket industry (ARB, Ironman 4x4, et al).Price: Expect to pay anywhere from $115,990 for a 2025 Nissan Patrol Warrior (4X4) Y62 MY25 (with 546km on the odo) through to $122,990 for a 2025 Nissan Patrol Warrior (4X4) Y62 MY25 (with 5698km on the odo).Pros:GutsyIt’ll go anywherePlenty of sparesCons:ThirstyHard to find a good one for the right priceHard to find a good one that hasn’t been driven hardWhile older versions of the Ranger are well worth considering, let’s focus on the newer post-2022 versions here.The Ranger and its wagon stablemate, the Ranger-based Everest, are both refined, comfortable and capable, and either of them make a great platform as an on- and off-road touring vehicle.The Ranger – with either a 3.2-litre five-cylinder turbo-diesel engine (147kW/470Nm) a 2.0-litre four-cylinder twin-turbo diesel engine (157kW/500Nm), or the new-ish 3.0-litre V6 turbo diesel engine (184kW/600Nm) – is a solid and nice-driving unit.Obviously, if it’s your cup of tea, the Raptor is the go.Same goes for the Everest, though because it’s a wagon, it lacks the Ranger’s work-friendly versatility, but it does yield a smoother ride and handling overall.Long-distance road trips aren’t daunting if you know you’re clocking up the kays in these vehicles, which both offer refined on-road driving experiences.Ford’s all-wheel drive system is smooth in its application and helps to make these vehicles comfortably capable in most off-road scenarios.The Ranger and Everest have become increasingly prevalent on our roads in recent years and they appeal to off-road adventurers who want comfortable and capable touring vehicles.The Ranger has listed towing capacities of 750kg (unbraked) and 3500kg (braked). The Everest has listed towing capacities of 750kg (unbraked) and 3000kg (braked) or 3100kg (braked), depending on the variant.Price: Expect to pay from $28,888 for a 2022 Ford Ranger Xl 3.2 (4X4) Px MkIII MY21.75 (with 219,805km on the odo) through to $95,990 for a 2025 Ford Ranger Raptor 3.0 (4X4) MY25.25 (with 255km on the odo).Price: Expect to pay from $33,888 for a 2022 Ford Everest Trend (4WD) (with 176,099km on the odo) through to $88,999 for a 2023 Ford Everest Platinum (4WD) (with 22,212km on the odo).Pros:RefinedNice to driveWell-appointedCons:ExpensiveNew versions almost too reliant on techV6 can become thirsty off-roadThe legendary Land Rover Series I, II, III preceded the Defender, but while the older Landies have the monopoly on that ye olde Insta-friendly romantic vision of off-roading, the 75th anniversary Defender 110 of 2023 does it for me.This limited-edition 75th anniversary five-door 110 body style Landie with like-it-or-loathe-it Grasmere green exterior is based on the high-grade HSE variant. Note: three-door 90 body-style versions are also available.The Defender manages to retain the old Defender’s distinctive shape and spirit while introducing the new-generation’s style and presence into the mix.This is a P400 MHEV (mild hybrid electric vehicle) and has a 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, supported by a small electric motor. That engine produces 294kW at 5500-6500rpm and 550Nm at 2000-5000rpm and it’s matched to an eight-speed automatic transmission.The P400 MHEV has a 48-volt lithium-ion battery, aimed at reducing engine load and fuel consumption, and it has a 7kW electric supercharger aimed at minimising turbo lag.The Defender has permanent all-wheel drive and a dual-range transfer case with high- and low-range 4WD. It has a comprehensive suite of driver-assist tech – including Land Rover’s Terrain Response 2 system, with switchable modes such as Grass/Gravel/Snow, Sand, Mud and Ruts, and Rock Crawl. That system tweaks throttle response, engine outputs, transmission shifts and diff control to best suit the terrain.It also has centre and rear diff locks.Defender buyers can add to their vehicle from a range of accessories and Packs, which include grouped accessories to suit your specific lifestyle, i.e. Adventure, Explorer, Country or Urban.Price: Expect to pay from $112,950 for a 2022 Land Rover Defender 110 P400 75th Edition Auto AWD MY23.5 (with 50,970km on the odo) through to $125,800 for a 2022 Land Rover Defender 110 P400 75th Edition Auto AWD MY23.5 (with 25,000km on the odo).Pros:Old-school charmNew-age styleIt’ll go anywhereCons:Price-tagHard to find a good one for the right priceThe Pajero is on its way back – hopefully in the not-too-distant future – but until then if you can find a previous-gen Pajero you’re in luck.Mitsubishi officially ceased production of its fourth-generation Pajero in March 2021, but this no-frills 4WD wagon still holds tons of appeal for seekers of adventure – and that’s why you see a lot of them everywhere: on the blacktop, out in the bush and on our beaches.It’s not the most dynamic or exciting off-roader on the market, in terms of looks or performance, but the 3.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel Pajero (141kW/441Nm) has a legion of fans due to its simple, no-fuss approach to life on and off the road. It’s also not the heaviest hauler around (tow capacity is 3000kg), but it’s a gutsy unit.It’s easy to drive, very capable and very functional. The 4WD Pajero also has 'Super Select II' 4WD system which offers four drive modes: 2H (two-wheel drive, rear), 4H (4WD high range but, in this, safe to use at high speed on bitumen), 4H LC (4WD/all-wheel drive with locked centre diff; suitable for off-road driving at 30km/h or so) and 4L LC (4WD with locked centre diff and low-range gearing engaged; suitable only for low-speed 4WDing (below 30km/h). Turns out 4H is a good state of play for general driving.The 2.4-litre, four-cylinder turbo-diesel Pajero Sport (133kW/430Nm), though light on in terms of towing capacity (3100kg, braked) still compares favourably to segment rivals and dual cab utes in terms of general standard packability and it remains an appealing proposition as an all-round touring machine.Price: Expect to pay from $43,990 for a 2022 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport Exceed (4WD) seven-seat eat MY22 (with 72,349km on the odo) through to $60,888 for a 2024 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport Exceed (4WD) seven-seat MY24 (with 10km on the odo).Pros:Nice to drive on-roadVery capable off-roadDecent fuel consumptionCons:Feels a bit old compared to rivalsTowing capacity (on paper) is less than rivalsSmaller inside than most rivals