You’ve decided you’d like to join the droves of drivers cutting loose on off-road tracks and deserted beaches, revelling in the feeling of freedom, as the throttle of horsepower buzzes beneath your feet and even the most rugged terrain is crushed under your hard-wearing tread. Jumping online, you’ve observed a growing diesel divide, as passionate enthusiasts claim a real four wheeler won’t succumb to the pressure of a petrol tank. While this is all very well, there are objective and reasonable arguments generated by both camps; let’s take a look at a few of those points now.
Power
Diesel engines have been long derided for their somewhat sluggish performance on the straight, turtling behind petrol models; this heaviness will dissuade some buyers, especially if you prefer the vibrations of a petrol powered ride. Don’t discount turbo just yet. Though diesel engines struggle with the bluster of everyday life, they are substantially more stable over obstacles and rocks, generating a low rev and sustaining forward motion without stalling. A petrol model won’t be disadvantaged but demands a lot more from both driver and engine, maintaining a high rev torque to conquer the same terrains. Fancy a day on the sand? There are no definitive differences between petrol and diesel models; if you foresee a lot of time in the sand-traps, either choice will be a good one.
Braking
This is where the reliable petrol eater falls down – they are natural air suckers, gasping in the stuff one hundred percent of the time. Imagine you’re charging down-hill, wind in your hair, dust in your eyes and you feel the need to brake slowly – because of its airy appetite, the petrol engine has a compression ratio of around 9:1, offering a problematic stopping experience. Conversely, the diesel packages an increased resistance to speedy driving, making it perfect for downhill crawls and less so for suburban driving.
Maintenance
If you’re looking for a low maintenance 4WD, a diesel alternative may not be for you, requiring a little bit more TLC than a petrol model. While the oil change and filter are simple enough, diesel engines hide some significant, costly factors under the hood. Basically, a diesel engine is composed of more fiddly, breakable parts that can adversely affect the functionality of the vehicle, costing thousands of dollars and hours. On the other side of the coin, the petrol engine is pretty self-sustainable, requiring less effort and less cash to keep it all running smoothly. Food for thought? If the alternator on a petrol 4WD gives out, you won’t make it very far - on the other hand, a diesel engine can run no worries without one.
Fuel Efficiency
A Land Rover top model 4WD will give you more bang for your buck across both types. While there are new innovations being made all the time with petrol based vehicles, diesel still walks away in this category overwhelminglyvictorious. Less volatile, long-lasting and accessible in the most remote areas, diesel improves fuel efficiency by an impressive 20-50%. So what should you choose? It depends entirely on what you intend to use your 4WD for, where you’d like to go and what adventures you plan to experience in the future.
