Best 4x4 buys of 2023

The 4x4 market is booming and has been for quite some time, with utes and SUVs replacing the passenger car as the vehicle of choice for many Australian buyers. Dip your toes into the 4x4 segment and the long list of 4x4 models and variants can be daunting, though.

So we’ve scanned the current major players in the burgeoning 4x4 segment, shortlisting a few favourites where we reckon money will be well spent.

Got a different opinion? Let us know in the comments below.

Ford Ranger

When we compared the all-new Ford Ranger to its long list of contemporaries for our mega dual-cab comparison, we concluded that the Ranger has reset the standards in this segment and set a considerably higher benchmark. For this reason alone, it’s impossible to exclude the vehicle from this list.

Granted it is considerably newer than the majority of its competition, but the Ranger’s exemplary interior, refined composure on bitumen, and well-calibrated powertrains makes it a smart choice.

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The Ranger is available with three engine options: a 2.0-litre single-turbo four-cylinder (125kW/405Nm); a 2.0-litre bi-turbo four-cylinder (154kW/500Nm); and a 3.0-litre V6 (184kW/600Nm). Plus, it now has a full-time 4x4 system on V6 models - joining the Triton in rare company in the Australian ute market.

Waiting times vary and current indications suggest you’ll need to sit tight for about 188 days once an order is submitted (as of January 2023).

Considering it now shares its DNA with the Ranger, it’d also be remiss of us to not include the all-new Amarok, which is expected in showrooms imminently.

Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series

Replacing the venerable 200 Series was never going to be an easy feat, with expectations soaring due to the success of the 200. For the 300 Series, Toyota ditched its V8 powertrain for an all-new 3.3L twin-turbo V6 diesel engine, which is used throughout the entire six-model line-up and generates 227kW at 4000rpm and 700Nm from 1600 to 2600rpm.

The base-spec GX is the cheapest variant and the only model not to exceed six figures when you sign on the dotted line. Still, you’re going to have to pony up $90K to park one in your driveway.

However, 4X4 Australia’s Deputy Editor, Evan Spence, said of the GX: “ I’m struggling to think of a better off-road touring-friendly wagon available off the showroom floor.

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“I’d be buying a GX and spending the extra money on accessories … like all-terrain tyres, a bullbar and a proper snorkel, which will see the GX getting most places you’d want to go.”

Strangely, if you want a set of lockers without visiting an aftermarket shop, the $137,790 GR Sport is the only model in the line-up that gets them from factory. Something to consider if technical off-roading is on the agenda.

The GR Sport also features E-KDSS (Electronic Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System), which combines to make it the most capable 4x4 in the 300 shed from the showroom floor.

Toyota retained low-range reduction across the 300 Series range, and all models use a full-time 4x4 system with a lockable centre diff.

Mazda BT-50 + Isuzu D-MAX

Essentially the same vehicle with different skins, the BT-50 and D-MAX twins offer decent bang for buck in the dual-cab segment.

Despite stylistic discrepancies, the vehicles share core fundamentals of chassis, engine and drivetrain, with Isuzu’s venerable 3.0-litre turbo-diesel engine revised for the current models. Known for its reliability, the engine is good for 140kW and 450Nm.

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The D-MAX dual-cab range begins with the LS-M variant priced at $51,900 and tops out with the X-Terrain which starts at $62,900. The BT-50 XT dual-cab starts at $50,860, while the top-spec SP is priced at $66,090.

A 1.9-litre-powered BT-50 (110kW/350Nm) was launched locally at the beginning of 2022, dubbed the XS. The new entry-level model is priced at a fraction over $50K, but loses more than a litre of engine capacity.

At the 2022 mega ute test where the Ford Ranger was the runaway winner, the next positions on the podium were occupied by both the BT-50 and D-MAX - the BT-50 edging out the D-MAX due to a slightly less-stiff ride, class-leading fuel consumption and its ability to carry a heavier load.

Mitsubishi Triton

If you’re on the hunt for a dual-cab ute and your budget can’t exceed $50K, then the Triton is a vehicle that should be on your shopping list - especially in GLX+ guise which retails for $46,190.

Occupying a sub-$50K dual-cab segment that includes the GWM Ute, LDV T60 and SsangYong Musso, the Triton is - arguably - a much better proposition that can transform from work rig to family weekend adventurer. It’s not a surprise that the Triton consistently sits near the top of the monthly 4x4 sales charts.

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The Triton’s extensive Australian line-up is powered by Mitsubishi's long-serving 2.4-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder diesel engine, which is mated to a six-speed transmission (manual or auto). In GLX+ guise, the rear leaf springs and front coils provide a settled ride on bitumen, soaking up road imperfections nicely.

A compromise with the GLX+ model specifically is that it misses out on Mitsubishi's Super Select II 4x4 system, instead getting the more rudimentary Easy Select 4WD system. Plus, it doesn’t have an Off-Road mode selector, which is standard on higher grades.

Another drawback across the entire range is the archaic infotainment system. Plus, cost-cutting in the GLX+ variant means the interior is rather utilitarian - still, you get what you pay for.

At this price point it’s also worth checking out the SsangYong Musso, which has been known to surprise a few doubters in its time.

Suzuki Jimny

Despite Suzuki Australia pausing sales of the automatic variant earlier this year due to an increasing backlog of orders, we simply couldn’t omit the pint-sized off-roader from this list. When the order books do re-open, though, put down a deposit - it’ll be worth the wait.

Bucket-loads of fun to punt around an off-road track, this fourth-gen Jimny iteration arrived in Australia in 2019, and it has been hard to pin one down ever since. Live axles front and rear make the three-door cult classic a favourite within the 4x4 scene - a great city-runabout and tight-track tourer.

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Its 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine (75kW/130Nm) may sound underpowered, but it only has to shift 1110kg of heft- or 1095kg if you opt for the five-speed manual.

Space may be compromised due to its small stature, but you could rip the rear seats out and convert into a remote-area tourer for two … just sayin’. Or you could wait for the five-door variant which Suzuki debuted at the 2023 Delhi Auto Expo, which is expected to hit Australian dealerships toward the end of 2023.