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Papua New Guinea presents an exciting opportunity for anyone that loves travelling the unpaved path. The most amazing views, the most pristine beaches and the coolest rivers require some radical off road experiences! 

For the majority of Papua New Guineans the road ‘home’ often means unsealed roads,  zero bridges, wet crossings, kilometers of loose gravel, mud and at times almost 45-degree-angle drives uphill on unpaved, rock and root ridden roads. Rural PNG roads are perfect testing grounds for off-road vehicles and thrill seekers.

In rural PNG, you will notice that the most preferred, the most driven off roader is the Toyota Land Cruiser Troop Carrier, or as it's commonly known, the ‘10 seater’. Mining companies, non-government organizations, security firms, government departments all prefer a version of the LC to provide logistical support for their rural teams. But is the Toyota LC the best off-roader? 

A vehicle that in all appearances seems to match the LCs caliber in off road qualities on the global market is the Nissan Patrol. Incidentally Toyota and Nissan (or Nissan-Datsun at that time) both began making a four wheel drive type vehicle in the 1950s for the Japanese army. The competition between the two manufacturers is still very much alive today with both matching technology for technology, feature for feature.

_{Modified Nissan Patrol TD42 | Source: 4WDACTION}

We have decided to compare the Toyota LC 70 series Troop Carrier with the Nissan Patrol TD42 ten seater, primarily because of the availability of these vehicles in PNG and also there is a lot more aftermarket availability of these two models in country compared to other off road brands.
 
Both are sturdy and powerful work horses that can be disguised as luxury vehicles. There are many features and specifications that we could compare but today we are interested in which is the ultimate off roader for PNG roads. Below are 6 comparisons that we have made between the Toyota Land Cruiser 70 Troop Carrier and the Nissan Patrol TD42.

1.Driving luxury

In this category we are comparing both comfort and the overall look of the vehicle. If you like curves then obviously you’ll prefer the Nissan Patrol but if you like lines and a more ‘butch’, sqaure look - the LC is more your style. Both have about the same amount of interior space, but the Patrol has just a tad bit more leg room and head room, while the LC feels wider, you got more shoulder to shoulder space. The LCs standard seats make driving an easy experience no matter how short you are. The Patrol’s seats are far more comfortable as a passenger, the driving experience just as pleasant however taller people do feel a bit cramped after an hour of driving. Comparing the dashboards - the LCs is simpler and therefore easier to handle when you want to adjust volume, temperature etc on an extremely bumpy ride. In standard models you can legally fit 13 people in a LC Trooper and only 10 in a Nissan Patrol, which would make a Land Cruiser more ideal to the Papua New Guinean wanting to transport family and cargo to and from the village.


_{Interior Nissan Patrol | Source: Parkers}

2.Suspension 

3.Power

Power and speed also are appreciated when you are travelling long distances and have to carry a load. Whether you are carrying heavy equipment for work or are transporting food for a customary obligation you want to be able to get to where you need go as quickly and efficiently as possible. There are several factors that contribute to the overall power of a vehicle and standard models of both pack a good amount of power. In PNG the Patrol has the advantage of having the pre-installed intercooler turbo versions available in country.  Both models have a 4.2L diesel engine, both are 5 speed manual transmissions (although Nissan has the automatic transmission available in country). The Land Cruiser produces more power in their standard form with 96 Kw of power and 285Nm of torque (standard models have a inline 6 cylinders) while the Nissan Patrol produces 85Kw and 264 Nm (the newer standard models have 4 cylinders).

_{Toyota Land Cruiser 70 series with Inter Turbo Cooler | Source: Driven.co}

4.Fuel

5.Aftermarket

6.Price

The standard Nissan Patrol TD42, ten seater is more affordable straight from the showroom at K132,000 (AUD$45,408) and the standard Toyota Land Cruiser 70 series Troop Carrier (ten seater) is K192,000 (AUD$66,048). In terms of upkeep and maintenance the Patrol is slightly more pricey. If you want to get your vehicle insured, these two models have the same chassis size so insurance costs would be almost identical if not the exact same. If you want to check out the range we have available on Marketmeri.com you can click Here.

The final conclusion? Your ultimate off road vehicle is relative to your requirements. If you are going to be doing more wet crossings then perhaps you should consider the Land Cruiser because of the standard snorkel. If you are going to be trekking across places with craters and extremely uneven roads then you should consider the Patrol’s wheel travel that is afforded by the coil spring suspension. Your budget, your requirements will be ultimate decider but for the love of a smoother, more comfortable ride and a smaller dent to savings, we’ll go with the Nissan Patrol - we just have to make sure that we have all the possible places to buy fuel mapped on our journey so we don’t run dry during the drive.
_{Source: Autoreview}

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