Land Rover makes very few compromises when it comes to off-road capabilities. It packs its SUVs with features that allow them to go almost anywhere. The Defender and Range Rover may look different on paper and in person, but those differences wear off when they both hit the dirt. New Carwow video pits the two against each other in an off-road battle.
Powering the Range Rover is a 4.4 liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine. It produces 530 horsepower (395 kilowatts) and 538 pound-feet (730 Newton-meters) of torque. The Defender features a larger supercharged 5.0-liter V8 engine that develops 525 hp (391 kW) and 468 lb-ft (625 lb-ft) of torque. The Defender is heavier than the Range Rover, weighing 5,738 pounds (2,603 kilograms) and 5,533 lbs (2,510 kg) respectively.
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The first fight – the uphill drag race – is the only one where strength is somewhat important. The more powerful Range Rover dissipates its power more smoothly, allowing it to slide up hills and beat the Defender to the top. Range Rover won the second contest, which tested the vehicle’s hill descent control system. They are very similar, but the driver of the Defenders makes a mistake and loses the race.
Subsequent events tested the SUV’s maneuverability, traction and suspension. Navigating the narrow forest corridors was easy for both, but the Defender is a bit more graceful than the Range Rover. The Range Rover struggled in a challenging chassis articulation, scraping the underside of the driver’s side door and causing some damage to the SUV. The Defender may have less ground clearance, but has better approach, breakover and departure angles.
The two SUVs are fairly similar in the off-road arena, with many differences resulting from the different driving modes and configurations. Bringing a six-figure SUV into the off-road park seems dicey, but they are capable machines designed for fun on the dirt, and it’s always a pleasure to see these vehicles used to their full potential, scratches and alh
