Best Opinion Articles of 2016: Part 1

A few big opinions were launched during 2016 by 4X4 Australia’s writers.

Some opinions were met with a ‘here, here’, while others received more of a brutal reception, especially on Facebook – thanks widely to keyboard trolls.

To get you through the holiday period, we’ve compiled a list of the hardest-hitting, most-popular opinion pieces of 2016.

1: PART TIME VERSUS FULL TIME 4X4

While driving a base-spec Hilux Workmate in Sydney, Fraser Stronach realised how much better off he’d be with full-time 4x4 instead of part-time. The addition of a centre diff could make a world of difference!

2: DIESEL ENGINES ARE GETTING SMALLER

Fraser’s article on the shrinking diesel engine caused a bit of a whirlwind when it was published back in April, 2016. He notes how the only models bucking the downsizing trend are the Ford Ranger and Mazda BT-50 twins. Is the shrinking diesel engine a good or a bad thing? Read Fraser’s two cents.

3: TOP 10 4X4 TRIPS IN AUSTRALIA

When planning your next off-road adventure, why not take advice from the guy who has pretty much been everywhere! It seems plenty of people did, as Ron Moon’s article on the best 4x4 trips in Australia was one of our most popular in 2016.

4: BENEFITS OF DIESEL FUEL

It seems our readers are eager to learn about diesel donks, with this article being one of the most clicked in 2016 – perhaps due to the improvements the engine has received in recent years. Fraser runs through the benefits a diesel engine has over the long-endured petrol.

5: TOW RATINGS ARE JUST MARKETING HYPE

Ron was sick and tired of manufacturer’s claiming bogus tow ratings, so he vented his frustrations here. Too often has he seen grey nomads towing more than their 4x4s are capable of!