Let's keep going with the Land Rover Discovery. Costly, boxy and it needs constant trips to the petrol station in order to keep it satisfied. That does not stop it from being the number one selling 4x4 in the world though. The Land Rover discovery performs well on road and off road it performs even better; making a mockery out of holes and bumps in the road. The engine is a modified Jaguar design; meaning power and speed was not an afterthought, but an integral part of the plan. Air suspension gives the Land Rover a smooth and silent feel, owning to a meaty V6 diesel system. The Land Rover cannot be beat when it comes to safety and security; six airbags, stability control and anti-lock brakes keep you firmly on the road. Inside the cabin you will feel like the commander of an airplane; there is ample space for the driver and the passengers to stretch their legs. Storage compartments are placed in all directions with Sat-nav, Dolby Stereo and a 6-speed gearbox rounding off an overall impressive package. Expensive to run, but a pleasure to drive, the Land rover Discovery is a 4x4 king of the road.

A bright, shining star of the 4x4 world - the BMW X5 is everything you want in a 4x4 and more. As long as you are not looking to actually go off-road very often that is. On-road, it's a BMW; with all the modern trimmings you could ask for. Off road, performance is uneven and limited. The X5 has a fantastic 7 seating option and when changed to the five seat positions, a massive amount of boot space is available. The price is steep though, close to R780, 000 with all the bells and whistles. For this amount of money, you could purchase two cheaper 4x4's and have cash to spend. It's a BMW though and a very desirable model at that. It looks nothing short of amazing and has the most modern interior of them all. The X5 comes with the iDrive system, which is prevalent in all newer models. A salesperson would have to work hard to sell this to me, but in the end I would be sold, purely on looks and name alone. Test first and if you can afford, then this is money in the bank, as resell value is very high.

The Nissan X-Trail is a fantastic option if you are considering a budget 4x4 for your collection. Here is a fine off-road and on-road MPV with space for the whole family, as long as you squeeze grandma in the back. It's certainly not visually stunning; with a toy-car look to it that is initially unappealing. But a great ground clearance and better then average fuel consumption makes this a clear budget winner.

I love 4x4's and I own a Land Rover myself. Nothing beats tearing through traffic and scaring other drivers out of the way. Sure I pay heavy when it comes to petrol and maintenance, but the smile it leaves on my face is priceless and worth it every time.