Ask an expert

Four wheel drives can be a tricky buy if buyer is unaware can you point out some points to look for? I'm looking at a 4wd under 100,000km on the clock, what do you recommend would be a good one to purchase from about $9k to $15k?

Cheers,

From the "Ask Jack" archives - 22 August 2008

It very much depends on what you plan to do with the vehicle. If its into the bush, up the beach or some off-roading on a regular basis then the Suzuki Vitara is a good choice. It has a very good reliability record and will take you most places.

The other big plus is on the hard seal it performs pretty much like a normal vehicle and maintenance costs are reasonable. If you are looking for a bigger vehicle or you are going to tow then the Toyota brand is the first one which springs to mind.

The Hilux Surf or Nissan Pathfinder will fit into your price range but be warned, the bigger the vehicle regardless of make/model the higher the risks. Both diesel and petrol versions can be expensive to maintain.

If you are planning a trip to the snow fields or worried about getting stuck in some mud occasionally then vehicles like Subaru (all wheel drive), Toyota RAV4, Honda CRV or Nissan X-Trail these are by far the most refined for on road use but are more than capable of doing the job.