Top^What is a pick-up and cab chassis 4x4?

The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) refers to the humble ute with four-wheel drive (4WD) or all-wheel drive (AWD) - and also known as 4X4 - as the Pick-Up and Cab Chassis 4X4 segment.

Top^What is the difference between a ute with 4x2 and 4x4 then?

Mostly it is the fact that the pick-up and cab chassis 4X4 has torque going to both the rear wheels and the front wheels, when required.

Most Ute 4X4 set-ups are part-time, being rear-wheel drive RWD most of the time, until extra traction needs means that the driver can either select AWD or 4WD manually, or press a button for it to kick in automatically as the need arises.

To make them better off-road, most Pick-Up and Cab Chassis 4X4 models have extra ground clearance (totalling upwards of about 180mm, and often much over 200mm).

Top^Are the cabins of a pick-up and cab chassis 4x4 just like a regular 4x2 ute then?

Except for the fact the cabin is a little higher in a 4X4 model, most Pick-Up and Cab Chassis 4X4 vehicles are almost identical in their interior presentations as to their 4X2 siblings..

This means that they come in a single cab model with either a tray or a cab chassis for more bodywork to be added later, with two or three seats.

Then there are the extra length cabins known variously as a Dual Cab or Space Cab (among other names), that have an extra row of seats behind to carry more people, and sometimes two extra doors to aid entry.

Extra cabs often mean that there is length tray length as a result.

Top^What engine and gearbox choices are there for pick-up and cab chassis 4x4 vehicles?

The one-tonne or one-tonner vehicles employ four-cylinder petrol, four-cylinder diesel or V6 petrol engines ranging from about 2.0 litres to 3.5 litres.

Gearbox choices are normally four-speed automatic or five-speed manual.

Top^What about a pick-up and cab chassis 4x4 suspension?

Almost all have struts up front and a leaf spring (or Hotchkiss) live-axle rear suspension system.

Top^What are their payloads?

Payloads vary wildly, but the one-tonne utes or pick-ups are so-called because they usually can handle around one tonne of payload.

Top^Are there any environmental or green pick-up and cab chassis 4x4 vehicles?

As with the 4X2 Utes, no hybrids are available in this segment for now.

However, the diesels generally do offer improved fuel economy and thus lower emissions, especially CO2 carbon dioxide emissions, but their NOX Nitrogen Oxide pollution is greater.

Top^Are there any advantages of having a ute with 4x4 instead of 4x2?

A Pick-Up or Cab Chassis with 4X4 gives you greater go-anywhere abilities, so they can be used off-road or over rougher ground than normal rear-drive or two-wheel drive utes.

They also tend to have better resale value than their 2WD siblings.