RY-INDRUK
80 | September 2019 go! Drive & Camp
In four-wheel drive and high-range gears
(4H), between 33% and 50% of the available
torque can be sent via a viscous coupling
to the front drive shaft, bu
if the rear wheels lose trac
mode is similar to the all-
drive systems in Audis an
BMWs, and works well
on wet, winding roads
when you’re worried
about skidding. Thanks
to the hydraulic nature
of the coupler, you can
switch from 2H to 4H
while driving, and leave
it in 4H regardless of
whether you’re on a tar
road or on gravel.
Four-wheel drive and
high-range gears plus the
differential locked (4HLc) i
for tar roads because the frontandreardrive
shafts are mechanically locked together
and receive equal amounts of torque.
However, the differentials on each axle still
determine how much torque each wheels
receives. When you turn the Triton’s 4x4 dial
to 4HLc, the centre differential occasionally
struggles to engage when stationary with
the gearbox placed in neutral. You then have
to drive a few metres forward or backward
before a tell-tale light confirms that 4HLc
is successfully engaged. We found that the
centre differential locks more readily if you
switch from 4H to 4HLc while driving at
low speed. In 4HLc, the onus is still on you
to deactivate traction control if conditions
require it – like when playing in dunes, for
example. The digital display between the rev
counter and speedometer now also shows
three electronic driving modes: sand, gravel
and mud/snow.
Four-wheel drive and low-range gears and
the centre differential locked (4LLc) works
similarly to 4HLc, but the low-range gearing
ups the torque at the expense of speed. You’ll
be using this mode to either plow through
knee-deep snow and sticky mud or to crawl
over boulders, and the Triton must absolutely
be stationary with its gearbox placed in
neutral before you can engage 4LLc. In
4LLc, the traction control will automatically
deactivate and a fourth electronic driving
mode – rock – will become available.
What makes the Triton even more
capable is a lockable rear differential that
provides extra sure-footedness when the
terrain become more challenging. We had
It boasts off-road talents that give
it the potential to be an excellent
adventure rigSPECIFICATIONS
Model.............................................................................................2,4ℓ DI-DC4x4automatic
Engine.......................................................................................2 442cc,four-cylinderdiesel
Power.......................................................................................................... 133 kW@3 500rpm
Torque....................................................................................................... 430 Nm@2 500rpm
Transmission..............................................................................................6-speedautomatic
Fuelconsumption..............................................................................(tested)8,2ℓ/100km
Weight...............................................................................................................................1 850kg
Approachanddepartureangles..................................................................28°and 23 °
Towingcapacity............................................................................................................3 100kg
Groundclearance.......................................................................................................... 220 mm
Guarantee...............................................................................................3 years/ 100 000 km
Serviceplan...............................................................................................5 years/ 90 000 km
Safetyrating............................................................................... (EuroNCAP,2015)PRICE................................................................................................................................R589 995DRIVING IMPRESSION