Few engines earn a genuine cult following, but Nissan’s TD42 straight-six diesel is one of them. In an era when turbocharged, electronically managed powerplants dominate the conversation, there’s something quietly compelling about a big, naturally aspirated diesel that simply refuses to die. The TD42 was built for hard work, remote terrain, and decades of abuse — and it delivered on every count. It also happened to go head-to-head with one of the most legendary diesel engines ever bolted into a 4WD: Toyota’s 1HZ. So how does Nissan’s iron-lunged six stack up against Toyota’s near-indestructible workhorse?
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