Land Rover makes very few compromises when it comes to off-road capability. It gives its SUVs features that allow them to go almost anywhere. The Defender and Range Rover may look different on paper and in person, but those differences disappear when the two hit the ground. A new video from Carwow pits the two against each other in an off-road battle.
The Range Rover is powered by 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 the larger 5.0-liter supercharged 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, tipping the scales at 5,738 pounds (2,603 kilograms) and 5,533 pounds (2,510 kg), respectively.
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The first battle – an uphill drag race – is the only one where power matters a bit. The more powerful Range Rover reduced its power more smoothly, allowing it to soar and beat the Defender to the top. The Range Rover won the second competition, which tested the vehicles descent control system. They are quite similar, but the Defender driver made a mistake and lost the race.
The rest of the events tested SUV handling, traction and suspension. Navigating a narrow forest corridor is easy for both, but the Defender was a little more graceful than the Range Rover. The Range Rover struggled with the chassis articulation challenge, scraping the bottom of the driver’s side door and causing damage to the SUV. The Defender may have had less ground clearance, but it had a better approach, breakthrough and departure angle.
Both SUVs are quite similar in the off-road department, with many differences resulting from different driving modes and setups. Taking a six-figure SUV to an off-road park seems risky, but these are capable machines built for fun in the dirt, and it’s always great to see these vehicles used to their full potential, scratches and alh
