Skip advert
Advertisement

Steyr-Puch Pinzgauer 718

If any vehicle can lay claim to be motoring's equivalent of Arnold Schwarzenegger, it's the Steyr-Puch Pinzgauer. Both are all-action heroes born in Austria and will go anywhere if you can afford them.

If any vehicle can lay claim to be motoring's equivalent of Arnold Schwarzenegger, it's the Steyr-Puch Pinzgauer. Both are all-action heroes born in Austria and will go anywhere if you can afford them.

They also had to move for the sake of their careers. While the Terminator left his homeland to make a mark in Hollywood, the Pinzgauer put down its roots closer to home - in the Surrey town of Guildford. It's 30 years since the first Pinzgauer rolled off a production line, and it has gone on to great things across the world. Production switched to the UK this year after the original plant began building Mercedes M-Classes, and the new Pinzgauer bosses are aiming for a broader market, including private buyers.

Advertisement - Article continues below

However, if you are thinking about using it for the school run and posing in supermarket car parks, do remember to be careful and not to drive over all those smaller vehicles.

Underneath that boxy body is an unusual cross-tube chassis, with independent springing, which ensures that the ride remains smooth whatever the terrain and the wheels can be manipulated to crazy angles without losing traction. Power is from Volkswagen's 2.5-litre five-cylinder LT van engine. The intercooled turbodiesel knocks out 134bhp, but more impressive is the torque figure - 280Nm at 1,600rpm.

With automatic transmission it's not that different from other off-roaders when being driven on tarmac, except for the lorry-high driving position and boat-like body roll through corners. Yet it feels nimble, with sharp brakes and reasonable acceleration. The steering is a bit dead on roads, but spot-on as soon as the going gets tougher.

And that's when the Pinzgauer is in its element. Switch from two to six-wheel drive at any speed, engage the differential locks, and regardless of the conditions, there is almost nothing that will stop the Pinz. It picks its way over loose sand, slippery inclines and rock faces in a way that would make Land Rover drivers green with envy.

Those used to luxurious off-roaders will be shocked by the inside, though. The cabin is obviously designed for a working vehicle, and little attention has been paid to aesthetics, with a scattering of dials set in black plastic and a steering wheel that would look more at home in a bus. Despite this, prices will make even Range Rover buyers wince. Pinzgauers start at

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Vauxhall Corsa

Vauxhall Corsa

RRP £18,725Avg. savings £4,199 off RRP*Used from £15,337
Omoda 5

Omoda 5

RRP £25,915Avg. savings £2,116 off RRP*Used from £18,900
Volkswagen Golf

Volkswagen Golf

RRP £24,625Avg. savings £2,261 off RRP*Used from £13,211
Skoda Kodiaq

Skoda Kodiaq

RRP £38,140Avg. savings £3,019 off RRP*Used from £13,895
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k
Kia PV5 Passenger - show front

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k

New entry into the electric people carrier market undercuts the VW ID. Buzz by a significant margin
News
29 Apr 2025
Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price
BMW X7 - front

Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price

German firm’s flagship SUV could never be called cheap but it is exceptional value at £735 a month – making it our Deal of the Day for Sunday 27 April
News
27 Apr 2025
New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645
Kia PV5 Cargo on display at Commercial Vehicle Show - front 3/4

New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645

All-new entry into the van market promises competitive pricing and comes with a range of up to 247 miles
News
30 Apr 2025