If you take a look on the road, you will see a lot of large bakkie shaped vehicles travelling around. They are not actually bakkies. If you take a closer look, you will see the badge “4x4” on the back. Bakkies are not 4x4 vehicles, they are 2x4s. 4x4 vehicles use all four wheels to propel the car, not just the front or back pair.

At first 4x4 vehicles were made for function not form, but as they became more popular, car manufacturers started to add luxury features into their 4x4 vehicles. Things are now at the point where 4x4 vehicles are sometimes more comfortable than regular vehicles which started out being designed for comfort.

One of the additions made to 4x4 vehicles to make them more luxurious was additional safety features. It is now possible to get a 4x4 with a surround camera system. This will warn the driver of impending collisions on all four sides of the vehicle. You can also have electronic stability control which will assist in preventing the typically top heavy 4x4 vehicle from rolling if it corners quickly or is involved in an accident. The braking system has been upgraded to abs (anti-lock braking system) which helps to stop the vehicle faster if needed without locking the brakes.

4x4 vehicles have always been considered fuel inefficient. Not any longer. The advances in technology with regard to engine building and fuel economy have allowed 4x4 vehicles to become comparable to other vehicles with similar engine capacities as far as fuel consumption goes.

4x4 vehicles are no longer just for those who enjoy off road driving and bundu bashing. They frequently never even set tyre on a dirt road. Some people, especially those who find the interior of regular sedans to be too small, prefer the 4x4 to a regular car. They have more space and greater power than most cars. In a country where the roads often leave something to be desired, they manage much better than on road cars. Being the size they are, htey do not have a tendency to disappear into the potholes found on many of South Africa’s roads and do not break at the site of a dirt road.