4WDs Equipped to take Advantage

HOLDEN and Toyota have continued their limited edition blitz, this time adding four-wheel drives to the family.

Holden has released an Equipe version of its medium-sized Jackaroo off-roader, while Toyota is pushing an Advantage edition of its compact RAV4 five-door wagon.

Holden is claiming the 745 Jackaroo Equipes offer a substantial $6500 in extra value over the models they are based on, the SE 3.5-litre petrol V6 or SE 3.0-litre turbo-diesel.

Added features include 12-spoke alloy wheels, headlights borrowed from the top-of-the-range Monterey, wiper/washers, foglights, roof rails and chrome mirrors.

Inside there's a 10-stack CD player, air-conditioning and a meter featuring compass, barometric pressure, altitude meter and outside temperature readings.

That's added to Jackaroo SE's normal list of features which includes dual airbags, cruise control on the petrol model, power windows and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

The Jackaroo Equipe is priced at $43,990 for the V6 auto and $47,480 for the turbo-diesel.

The Jakaroo Equipe comes at a time when the ageing off-roader needs a push, with sales down one third compared too the first three months of 2001, according to VFACTS.

The RAV4 has no such problem with sales actually ahead of the same period in 2001, which might explain why the extras are limited to some exterior dress-up items.

Based on the 2.0-litre five-door Edge, Advantage is offered in two colours - silver ash metallic and champagne metallic - 16-inch alloy wheels, body coloured hard spare wheel covers and body colour painted exterior features.

The asking price remains unchanged at $32,500 for the five-speed manual and $34,500 for the four-speed auto.

Standard equipment already includes dual airbags, remote locking, power mirrors and windows and a CD player.