In the bush

Our excursion, which came on the end of some hot days after a long dry Summer-Autumn spell, and just before the rain started to damp down the bush tracks, gave the big Sahara the perfect chance to strut its stuff off the beaten track.

We chose the fire trails north-east of the Thomson dam. There are great tracks here with long stepped declines falling hundreds of feet into steep-walled valleys. And, on the other side, some equally steep and challenging ascents for the climb out.

After a dry season of off-road traffic, most are broken by rocky outcrops and deep wheel ruts.

With humungous clearance (for a standard car), and the effortless power of the diesel V8, little stood in the way of the Sahara.

The secret to challenging off-road trails is being able to approach them without too much momentum. (Charging in and bouncing up and over can look spectacular but will lose traction and control, especially on a longer climb.)

Better - if you’ve got lashings of torque underfoot, good wheel articulation (and, in the case of the Sahara, ‘lockable’ Torsen limited-slip centre differential) – is to approach quietly, pick the line and ‘wind’ your way up. In the Sahara V8 diesel, it’s like having the ‘Hand of God’ at your back. For clambering up a heavily-broken and rutted pinch, there are few more effortless off-roaders.

Descending too is easily controlled, allowing you to pick a line without hammering the underbody. In the steepest of pinches, the ABS hill-descent control can be left to take over (if the rattling ‘on and off’ of the ABS doesn’t bother you).

The only problem in these tracks is the size of the Sahara, the expanse of its bonnet when climbing (“Yo, where’d the track go dudes?”) and its width.

A narrow track can present a real problem if you’re fussy about what happens to the duco. Because we were in a ‘loaner’, we were eyeing the bracken and dogwood on each side of the trails we were on very circumspectly.

Out here, the Sahara simply feels too big. You feel you’re squeezing your way along, like you’re trying to get a size-thirty bum into size-ten jeans. But it won’t be something you’ll feel if you choose to tackle the Simpson.

At the end of the day, perhaps few – outside the SES - will subject the Sahara to a life of narrow fire trails. Most will buy it for its effortless power, its towing capacity, its legendary build-quality and robustness, and, in the case of the Sahara, its comfort.

Of course, you pay a premium price for a premium product, but few cars offer such a package.

You get a sense that Toyota has got the mix ‘just right’ with the Sahara. It is such a competent and effortlessly accommodating machine.

You can criticise its size, question its need, be critical of its style, and get cranky when you’re sharing a city street with it. But it’s hard to find fault with the Sahara’s capability, and even harder to question its quality.

Would we recommend it? With absolute confidence, provided you need something big for a big job.

There is another bloke I’ve heard about who can drag a car with a rope attached to hooks through his eyelids (hours of endless fun). That’s another thing you couldn’t try with a Sahara.

Tim’s Big Statement

“The Sahara itself is its own big statement. While huge, the Sahara is a true surprise for its comfort and ease of operation, as much as for its amazing grunt and off-road capability. The V8 diesel in that huge nose is a tremendous unit. You feel you could tow a Collins Class submarine with the Sahara, and not worry you were pulling the guts out of it.

Toyota’s big-bertha has always been on any list of the best heavy-duty 4WDs; if you’re in the market, the effortless Sahara V8 diesel is worth a very close look.”

Tim likes:

• Remarkable V8 diesel power with frugal thirst
• On-road comfort and expansive cabin
• Brilliant off-road capability
• Relative ease of operation and ergonomics
• Built to outlast civilisation

Tim Dislikes:

• Styling is a bit awkward (an acquired taste)
• It is probably now too damn big (in a world of down-sizing)
• Some body roll and understeer (duh) when pressing on
• There is not much to dislike…