Interesting review. I like that it can tow more than my prado that would be useful as would the locked axles. Pity it's left drive, I'm sure you will get used to it but it must have a bearing on sight lines especially for over take manoeuvres. Does the fuel get noticeably worse with a big trailer on or is it just that inefficient regardless, I know my 2.8td doesn't use much more when towing as it's just generally bad on fuel. Do you notice it being bigger than the jimny in town, I know my prado feels really wide in parking spaces but I think some of that is the shape of the bonnet it goes for days. Glad you are liking it?
Thanks. And some great questions, I'll try to answer.
- You can get these in right hand drive too, but only with the 2.8 diesel I believe. In either manual or auto. I didn't really study this, so you'd need to double check as it will depend where in the World the vehicle is coming from. The short wheel base 71 Series isn't available in Ox for instance, which would be the most obvious RHD market.
- Personally I've not found LHD to be an issue. The large rear side windows help loads at junctions and round abouts and the narrow A and B pillars help too. I don't often overtake tbh, so that hasn't been an issue for me either. Although I'd say it is 6 of one, half dozen of the other in this regard. On some roads you'll have a harder time seeing past the vehicle in front. But some roads allow you to hug the verge and see down the other side of the vehicle in front, something you can't do with RHD.
I'd say, if you overtake a lot, then yes LHD is a disadvantage, but overall it is perfectly liveable without any detriment or thinking about it otherwise.
For me, I've owned LHD Camaro's for over 20 years, so was very used to it. Also growing up on a farm you kind of get used to tractors having gear levers and controls all over the show, so that also wasn't an issue for me.
- Towing I've not done yet. I'm sure it'll use more fuel, but with plenty of grunt and power and a good spread of gears, I suspect unless you are up near the limit, it will handle a trailer with ease and only have minimal impact. Hill or mountain areas where you have to make it work will of course impact it more so.
- Size. The Jimny was obviously very small and boxy, which is great for parking. The 71 Series is bigger, but it in't hugely bigger and it is still boxy. It is a very similar width to a traditional Defender 90, this makes it good to park (although being LHD it is easier to miss align yourself in the bay!). But general town traffic driving it feels nice and compact and nimble still. Feels way more compact than my p38 Range Rover or even my Mum's old Freelander 1. From the drivers seat the only thing you do notice is the huge bonnet. I think its a combination of a low/deep windscreen (the windscreen is much bigger than on the Jimny or a Defender) and the shame of the current bonnet with the bulge. Plus the bonnet is mostly flat, so you can see all of it, most more modern vehicles the bonnet curves away from you, so you only see part of it. Psychologically this makes you think the vehicle is bigger/wider than it is. But once you remember it is still a small vehicle you learn to ignore this.
