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Which brand will be the first in Australia with left-hand drive (LHD) to right-hand drive (RHD) local conversions of the full-sized body-on-frame 4x4 wagons that are so popular in North America?
With two generations of Ram trucks now firmly established here and thriving sales for the Chevrolet Silverado prompting Ford and Toyota to follow suit next year with their respective F-150 and Tundra rivals, eyes are now turning to their family-friendly SUV spinoffs.
Fuelling the flames is the incredible reception enjoyed by the Toyota 300 Series LandCruiser and resurgent Nissan Patrol, as Australians continue to devour all large SUVs regardless of price or age.
Keeping in mind that none have yet been confirmed by their respective manufacturers, here, then, is a list of the leading American contenders.
Aside from the Hummer-esque Mega Cruiser created for the Japanese military during the latter 1990s, the Sequoia is the largest SUV Toyota has ever produced.
Derived from the Ford F-150-style Tundra truck, that first surfaced in 2001, the handsome model you see here is the third-gen wagon unveiled earlier this year and spun off the same TNGA GA-F platform underpinning today’s 300 Series LandCruiser.
But the three-row, eight-seater Sequoia dwarfs the latter, thanks to an unmatched 3.1m wheelbase, 5.3m length, 2.02m width and 1.97m height, while a 3.4-litre twin-turbo petrol V6 hybrid drives either the rear or all four wheels via a 10-speed torque-converter auto. Towing capacity is rated up to 4320kg.
Considering that the Tundra is on the way, and combined with all that TNGA GA-F component commonality, it seems that the Sequoia would be a shoe-in. Even with a projected price north of $150,000, it’s not difficult to imagine that the world’s biggest Toyota would make massive inroads with buyers in Australia.
Now in its 25th year and fourth generation, the Ford Expedition is essentially the F-150 truck that’s been turned into a three-row SUV. The existing model debuted in late 2017.
As with its Chevrolet Suburban nemesis, the eight-seater Expedition is available in two lengths, with the longer of the two dubbed Max measuring in at over 5.6m, making it truly huge. Combined with an expansive luggage area (measuring up to 1019 litres behind the third row), that would be extremely handy for airport/hotel shuttle runs.
At present, the only powertrain on offer is a 3.5-litre V6 petrol turbo in a trio of distinct tunes, all using a 10-speed auto similar to that found in the Australian-developed Ranger and Everest, while 4x2 as well as 4x4 choices are available according to grade. Towing capacity tops out at 4218kg.
Ford has also confirmed that an Expedition Electric is in development, and that’s expected to mirror the impressive specification of the popular F-150 Lightning.
With nothing larger than the Everest to take on LandCruiser and the like, it seems natural that the spacious Expedition would be an ideal choice for Ford fans hungry for something bigger and brawnier.
Fun fact. In continuous production since 1934 (barring a four-year break for WW2), the Suburban is the world’s longest running model line. If that’s not impressive enough, as a staple of film and TV for much of that time, it’s also earned a Hollywood Walk of Fame star in 2019. So, we’re talking about a true American legend here.
Some Australians and New Zealanders, of course, will recall the Holden-badged Suburban from 1998 to 2001 (that was the eighth-gen version) with some bemusement as a crude and overpriced sales flop, but this is nothing like that.
Today’s 12th-gen Suburban (along with its 300mm shorter-bodied Tahoe twin) debuted in early 2020, brandishing an all-new style (led by a design team made up of women) and architecture offering an advanced technical specification, including a multi-link rear suspension system to match the aforementioned Ford and Toyota.
Neither, however, can touch the Suburban’s 5.73 metres from front to rear bumper (up from the Tahoe’s 5.4m length), while the Chevrolet brings petrol V8 availability (in 5.3-litre and 6.2L sizes) as well as a 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo-diesel option. All are mated to a 10-speed auto, in 4x2 or 4x4 configurations.
On the flipside, towing capacity for Tahoe maxes out at 3810kg while the Suburban can only manage up to 3674kg. Still, with the Silverado truck version making waves in Australia, the Chevrolet SUV wagon offshoots cannot be too far away.
Note that there are virtually identical GMC Yukon and Cadillac Escalade versions as well, meaning General Motors has the market covered.
If you’re of a certain age or a Jeep historian, you might recall the famous SJ Wagoneer, a 4x4 wagon built from the 1960s to the 1990s and made available sporadically in Australia. They look ruggedly American and are definitely of a bygone era.
Last year, Jeep revived the name for the WS Wagoneer, a luxury SUV flagship built off the latest Ram truck platform, meaning body-on-frame construction like the rest here.
While the Grand name implies an extended body version, in the Wagoneer’s case, it simply means even more luxury. For the stretched model, you’ll need the Wagoneer L, that comes in a Chevy Suburban-eclipsing 5.76m long (up from 5.45m), with luggage space to match.
In North America, there are three engine options: a 6.4L V8 petrol, a 5.7L V8 mild-hybrid petrol and a 3.0L twin-turbo inline six-cylinder petrol, all using an eight-speed auto. As per the others, there’s either rear-wheel or four-wheel drive choices, depending on grade.
The Wagoneer takes the towing capacity honours, offering up to 4536kg with an available Heavy-Duty Trailer Tow Package. Plus, being a Jeep, there’s an elevated expectation of off-road capability that the series duly complies with.
Given the Ram truck’s successful transition to RHD conversion in Australia, the ingredients seem to be in place for the Wagoneer to follow.
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