Four wheel drive cars are known for their ability to go anywhere and here at CWS 4×4 we have argued many times that they represent the most flexible vehicle choice on the market. Whilst there are now thousands of options for those looking for a 4×4 there are certain cars that hold a special place in 4×4 history. In this blog we have chosen 5 of our absolute favourites, cars that not only allowed greater mobility but also changed the motoring world forever;
With a history that stretches all the way back to 1951, the Toyota Land Cruiser is a true icon to any fan of all things four wheel drive. Loved the world over for its go anywhere ability and utterly unimpeachable reliability this car has become a popular sight amongst the most difficult of terrain. With every new generation of the car, Toyota has stuck firm to the basics such as tall ride height and rock-solid permanent four wheel drive system. It has remained a default choice for those that want to get there, wherever ‘there’ may be.
Is there a more iconic or memorable 4×4 out there? As we mentioned in our earlier blog ‘The legend that is the Land Rover Defender’ we are rather fond of this car. The Defender is one of the few 4x4s that can trace its lineage back even further than the aforementioned Toyota, all the way back to the series 1 of 1948. In all that time there really hasn’t been a huge amount of changes, the boxy shape, huge ground clearance, simple controls and utterly incredible off-road abilities mean that you simply can’t go wrong buying one of these. The range of body styles available means that there is a Defender for everyone; need a pick-up? A people carrier? A van? Whatever you need the Defender has you covered.
We hear the grumbles and questioning mutters but bear with us with this on one as the Panda 4×4 really is a legendary 4×4. Until the original came along in 1983 there had never been a car that offered such a broad range of abilities. Many are sceptical of the Pandas off-road abilities but the video below of the current model should silence all critics. Their light weight and clever Haldex 4×4 system means they can keep up with much more expensive 4x4s when the going gets rough. The ace up the Pandas sleeve has always been the fact that it really is tiny, these compact dimensions mean that it is equally as comfortable in a bog as it is parking in a city centre.
A second mention for the Land Rover Marque but it is really hard to dispute the Range Rovers place in automotive folklore. The first vehicle that allowed you to go off road in incredible luxury, the Range Rover is now a favourite with everyone from farmers to footballers and keeps getting better with every generation. Any one that doubts the breadth of the Range Rovers abilities ought to see the video below of the time Fifth Gear compared its ride to a Rolls Royce and then tried to drown it. As suppliers of Range Rover parts for all generations of this amazing car we are well aware of just how good it is.
The Audi Quattro is another vehicle that at first glance wouldn’t belong on this line-up, but it doesn’t take long to see why no line-up of 4x4s would be complete without this incredible car. The Quattro was born as a result of Roland Gumpert driving a military 4×4 and deciding that Audi (where he worked at the time) could implement a 4×4 system for sportier purposes. The rest of the story as they say is history and utter domination in the WRC and Group B championships followed for Audi. The road going Quattro was a brutally effective vehicle. The coupling of a genius four wheel drive system with the now legendary five cylinder turbo engine means that it is still fast even by today’s standards. The Quattro also led the way for sportier vehicles that could not only impress on the road but also when the road ran out.
There are undoubtedly other 4x4s that are equally as capable as any of these options but to our minds these 5 stand alone as real game changers. The 4×4 market is now a hugely versatile one with literally hundreds of options available to you that simply wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for these five. Here at CWS 4×4 we are committed to helping keep all 4x4s on the road and have spare parts for a huge range of models, if you are struggling to find anything then get in touch and our friendly staff will be happy to help.