Interesting, with a new 2.5L diesel donk the Pathy took out this years award...closely followed by, what was it's biggest rival when I bought one in 2000, the new Mitsubishi Challenger.

Both are reasonable options for what we want/need.

I have the new R51 and so far am really pleased with it. Too early to tell (5,500 klm of the clock) what it's reliability and servicing costs will be like but, as I say, so far so good! I don't think it has as much ground clearance as some of its competition but i'm not looking for really heavy duty off-road. There are lots of 4x4 owners who go looking for extreme situations but that's not for me. With a 3000kg towing capacity and 450Nm of torque, its a very good performer.

I'm considering one of these in the near future - what sort of economy are you seeing when towing (and what weight are you towing)?


Cheers.



Mike

Sorry Mike, I haven't towed with it yet so can't advise you on the towing score. I have averaged 10 l/100 so far with mostly city driving. We'll pick up our new van (17"6" single axle van; 1500 Tare) this week and will do a short trip down the NSW coast in March. I'll be happy to give some feedback after that.
Steve

Mike, I should have mentioned that there is a Pathfinder's club and they do have an excellent forum watched by a fairly large contingent of Pathy users. You can check it out at http://www.pcoa.org.au/index.htm
Steve

I can't agree with it's position as being 4WD of the year.

Gravel roader or Softroader of the year perhaps...

Then again Overlander lost me as a subscriber and reader a long time ago with silly choices like these.

Hey webbo51,
Is the R51 the new V6 diesel. I saw it at the Sydney motor show last spring, was due for release Dec 10 or Jan 11.

"See you 'round my campfire"

Geoff & Bev

GQ Patrol 2.8L TD
Millard Horizon 17' Pop Top

No coxy, its the upgraded 2.5. Very good torque though.

Sean, I was surprised too - I don't see the Pathy as being as rugged an off-roader as some others. For my purposes though, it ticked most of the boxes, as did the Prado, the Pathy got the nod on performance.

Not taking anything away from these vehicles.

We have 2x R51 Pathfinders (one auto, one manual) as well as 2x D40 Navaras (both manual) at work. I quite like them on sand dirt and mud as well as the highway, they're just not the best 4WD in Australia

When my younger brother decided he needed a 4WD in his life I helped him choose an R50 Pathfinder after looking at what he needed and would use it for.