Choosing the Car

I was driving a Mazda CX-5 when I started this blog – a car I felt really good in, but one that didn’t have much off-road ability and that left me stranded a few times… which is also why I sold it.

My initial thought went like this: sell the Mazda, add some money and get a Land Cruiser (automatic, definitely automatic). Except I didn’t get around to selling the Mazda and, carried away, I ordered another car… another small SUV, again without much off-road ability, but this time a brand-new one…

Until I decide whether I’ll drive to the end of the world in this car or another one, I’ve kept looking left and right to see what other options I might have. Here’s where things stand:

• Toyota Land Cruiser
• Land Rover Defender
• Nissan Patrol.
• Mitsubishi Pajero. Although I don’t really know many overlanders with a Pajero
• Toyota Hilux.
• Dacia Duster. After seeing that Attila and Norbert made it all the way to Siberia… I added this one to the list too

I asked ChatGPT for the pros and cons of these cars, and here is the answer:

Toyota Land Cruiser

• Pros: Excellent reliability, proven off-road capability, common in the regions I want to travel to
• Cons: High price, high fuel consumption.

Land Rover Defender

• Pros: Iconic design, advanced off-road capability.
• Cons: High maintenance costs, less reliable than its rivals.

Nissan Patrol

• Pros: Generous space, powerful engine.
• Cons: High fuel consumption, cumbersome handling.

Mitsubishi Pajero

• Pros: Robust, affordable, reliable.
• Cons: Dated design, not as luxurious, not as common on

Toyota Hilux

• Pros: Reputation for being unbeatable on rough terrain, very reliable.
• Cons: Less comfortable on paved roads.

Dacia Duster

• Pros: Affordable price, decent on light terrain.
• Cons: Limited capability for serious off-roading, modest interior.

I’d add a few pros of my own for the Toyota:

• since it’s one of the best-selling car brands in the world, there’s a better chance that, in the places I want to go, I’ll find parts and mechanics who know the brand.