Five most fuel-efficient 4x4s in Australia

What is the most fuel-efficient 4x4 Australia offers at the time of publication? The answer may surprise you.

Australians love off-road driving, that’s reflected in the big sales numbers the likes of the Toyota Prado, Toyota LandCruiser and Nissan Patrol have enjoyed in recent years.

These are big, capable and very practical vehicles, but they’re not typically associated with fuel efficiency for those very reasons. Size has a tendency to increase fuel consumption.

Which is why the most fuel-efficient 4x4 you can buy in Australia is the pint-sized Suzuki Jimny, which manages to sip just 6.4-litres per 100km on the combined urban/extra-urban cycle laid out by the regulators.

Are 4x4s renowned for being fuel efficient? 

The LC300 has a fuel economy rating of 8.9L/100km.

Efficiency is an interesting aspect of modern off-roaders, particularly in Australia. While most popular 4x4s tend to be larger vehicles which are therefore less fuel-efficient, Australia is a vast country and fuel stops can be spread out in the outback.

That’s why range is just as important as fuel consumption, and why some 4x4 models are fitted with especially large fuel tanks. The latest LandCruiser 300, for example, has a fuel economy rating of 8.9L/100km and a total diesel capacity of 110-litres (split across an 80L main and 30L sub-tank). This gives it a theoretical driving range of more than 1200km.

The other factors in determining efficiency are engine type, with turbo-diesel engines typically more popular than petrol because it provides more torque while using less fuel. 

Then there’s the fact they’re four-wheel drive (4WD), which is fundamentally less fuel-efficient than a two-wheel drive (2WD) vehicle because it has to use more energy sending power and torque to both axles.

What makes one 4x4 more economical than others?

Some 4x4 offer greater towing capacity than others. (Image: Glen Sullivan)

Looking at our list below you’ll see a diverse list of models, ranging from the compact two-door Jimny up to the family-friendly, seven-seat Land Rover Defender 110. However, what’s perhaps most important to note is that the list is headed by two smaller models, so size does play a major role in determining which model is more fuel-efficient than the other.

There are obvious other elements to consider too, such as tow capacity, because many 4x4 owners like to take a trailer or caravan for longer journeys. Obviously when towing something fuel consumption can increase but some 4x4 offer greater towing capacity than others.

A Jimny, for example, can only manage up to 1300kg of braked towing capacity, whereas a LandCruiser will manage up to 3500kg.

What is the average fuel consumption for a 4x4?

The Patrol is powered by a 5.6-litre V8 petrol engine. (Image: Glen Sullivan)

That’s an impossible question to answer because, as we’ve mentioned above, there are a variety of factors that go into determining fuel economy.

For example, the Nissan Patrol is powered by a 5.6-litre V8 petrol engine, so it’s fuel economy is much higher than the similar-sized but V6 turbo diesel-powered LandCruiser 300. The Patrol uses a claimed 14.4L/100km compared to the newer LandCruiser which returns 8.9L/100km.

However, the Jeep Compass Trailhawk is still a capable off-roader but because it’s smaller it uses even less than the LandCruiser, just 6.9L/100km.

So you need to compare similar models in size and engine type to get the best idea of what 4x4 is the most fuel-efficient for your needs.

1. Suzuki Jimny

The little Jimny is an affordable and fuel-efficient off-roader. (image credit: Ironman 4x4)

Fuel Consumption: 6.4L/100km

Cost: From $26,990 (plus on-road costs)

It’s probably not the first vehicle you think off when someone says ‘4x4’ and it won’t suit everyone’s needs. But, if you’re looking for an affordable and fuel-efficient off-roader then the little Jimny may be just what you need.

Its 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine only makes a modest 74kW/130Nm but with a five-speed manual gearbox you can use just 6.4L/100km of fuel. With its 40L fuel tank you should be able to get more than 600km of driving between visits to the bowser, too.

One of the big reasons it’s so frugal is its size, tipping the scales at just 1095kg. But that’s also one of its biggest disadvantages, it’s a two-door model with small rear seats and a tiny boot.

2. Jeep Compass Trailhawk

The Compass is still a relatively small vehicle compared to your more-typical 4x4s. (image: Tim Nicholson)

Fuel Consumption: 6.9L/100km

Cost: From $52,650 (plus on-road costs)

The Compass is the next step up from the Jimny in more ways than one. It takes second spot on our list thanks to its claimed return of just 6.9L/100km, only fractionally more than the Suzuki despite being a bigger, more powerful and better-equipped 4x4.

The key to the Trailhawk’s efficiency, especially compared to the rest of the Compass range, is its 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine. The rest of the range uses a 2.4-litre petrol engine, but the Trailhawk’s 125kW/350Nm diesel both has more torque and uses less fuel.

While it’s notably larger than the Jimny, it’s still a relatively small vehicle compared to your more-typical 4x4, so that will rule it out for many.

3. Land Rover Discovery S D300

Land Rover is synonymous with adventure.

Fuel Consumption: 7.5L/100km

Cost: From $109,154 (plus on-road costs)

While it’s fallen into the shadow of the new Defender, the Discovery remains a formidable 4x4 and an appealing proposition for bigger families (it’s a seven-seater) who want to do their off-roading in a more luxurious model.

Land Rover is synonymous with adventure driving and the Discovery has been a staple of the range for decades. This latest version has moved more towards a luxury vehicle role with the arrival of the Defender, but it still has the British brand’s very capable 4WD systems.

It also has a 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo-diesel engine which makes a healthy 221kW/650Nm. 

The downside for the Discovery is the price, at $109,154 (plus on-road costs) it’s the most expensive model on our list.

4. Land Rover Defender 110 D300 SE

The con for the Defender 110 is the up-front cost is high. (Image: Brett & Glen Sullivan)

Fuel Consumption: 7.6L/100km

Cost: From $105,008 (plus on-road costs)

Our second Land Rover on the list, and perhaps the most famous nameplate in 4x4 circles. We’ve ranked it fourth on our list despite it having the same combined cycle fuel consumption figure as the Fortuner because it has a larger fuel tank - 89L v 80L. That gives the Defender the advantage in terms of range, which means it will stretch further between visits to the service station (given the same conditions). 

It also boasts a more potent engine than the Toyota, making 221kW/650Nm from its 3.0-litre six-cylinder diesel unit (the same one from the Discovery). It also possesses all of Land Rover’s off-road driving knowledge accumulated over the decades, so it’s a very capable 4x4.

The con for the Defender 110 is, like its Discovery sibling, the up-front cost is high. The D300 SE is the entry-level model in the 110 line-up and starts north of $100K, so it won’t be to everyone’s taste or budget for a 4x4.

5. Toyota Fortuner

The Fortuner is based on the HiLux ute. (image credit: Dean McCartney)

Fuel Consumption: 7.6L/100km

Cost: From $49,965 (plus on-road costs)

It may not get the same level of attention as its Toyota off-roader siblings - the Prado and LandCruiser - but the Fortuner makes the cut on our list. 

Powered by a 150kW/500Nm 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel the Fortuner uses just 7.6L/100km. That compares to the Prado’s 7.9L/100km and the LandCruiser’s 8.9L/100km, giving the Fortuner a comfortable edge.

Based on the same underpinnings as the HiLux ute the Fortuner is a rugged and capable 4x4 but lacks the polish of its more popular stablemates. Still, if efficiency is your priority then the Fortuner may be the right Toyota 4x4 for you.