4x4 of the Year awarded

4x4 Australia Magazine has annointed the Range Rover Sport TDV6 with its prestigious 4X4 OF THE YEAR. Australia's number one offroad and adventure magazine, 4x4 Australia said the Brit-built four-wheel drive wagon represented "a breakthrough crossover for both tarmac travel and off road adventure."

The award follows a comprehensive testing program of the new release four-wheel drives on the Australian market.

“It has long been the mantra that you cannot produce a 4X4 that is great on-road and equally good off-road. Our winner redefines that way of thinking,” said 4x4 Australia editor, Dean Mellor.

“It’s an accomplished tarmac traveller and can go deep into the bush without raising a sweat. The Range Rover Sport has advanced 4X4 development in a mammoth way. There are few vehicles -- at even twice the price -- offering its level of innovation,” Mellor said.

The Range Rover Sport TDV6 was pitted against a field of new release Australian market four-wheel drives that totalled 18. Whittled down to a final group of six, the vehicles were tested by 4x4 Australi's panel of expert judges across all types of terrain and a broad range of conditions.

The final six were Mercedes-Benz ML320 CDI, Nissan Pathfinder TI V6, Land Rover Discovery S V6, Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo CRD, Nissan Pathfinder ST-L TD, and the Range Rover Sport TDV6.

The March issue of 4X4 AUSTRALIA (out this week) details the day-by-day testing program that was used to select the winner, and the reasons why certain vehicles were cut from the competition.

Or read more online at 4x4 Australia's website here