Mercedes-AMG G63 Vs. Land Rover Defender V8 Vs. Jeep Wrangler 392

As soon as upon a time, it was a foregone conclusion that the best-performing off-roaders had eight-cylinder engines. Parnelli Jones’ “Massive Oly” Ford Bronco featured a grunty 351 Windsor and dominated the 1971 and 1972 Baja 1000 races, the light-weight 3.5-liter Buick V8 discovered a cheerful house underneath the hood of the succesful Vary Rover Traditional, and Chevy’s legendary K5 Blazer acquired energy from a likewise-legendary small block.

Of us, the occasions they’re a-changin’, and rugged off-roaders just like the Ford Bronco, Toyota 4Runner, and even the luxurious Lexus LX make do with six- and even four-cylinder powerplants. Whither goes the dirt-ripping, baritone-bellowing, V8-powered in right this moment’s smart, eco-conscious world?

Effectively, listed here are three solutions. By our utterly unscientific metric, we determine the Jeep Wrangler 392, Land Rover Defender V8, and Mercedes G-Class (seen right here in AMG G63 type) are the one off-road–succesful, high-performance V8 SUVs in the marketplace right this moment, so we needed to spherical them up for a considerably unconventional comparability take a look at. Our vacation spot? A dry lake mattress deep within the California desert. Our mission? Work out which one among them is the quickest… on grime… over a quarter-mile drag race. After all, such a foolish goal demanded as a lot documentation as potential, which is why there’s additionally a reasonably enjoyable video embedded up high.

2022 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392

• Engine: 6.4-Liter V8
• Output: 470 Horsepower / 470 Pound-Toes
• As-Examined Worth: $83,965

Rumors of a V8-powered Jeep Wrangler have been round nearly so long as the drop-top SUV itself. After years of teasing (and one operating idea in 2020) the automaker lastly gave us a manufacturing model bearing the identify Wrangler 392. That includes the identical naturally aspirated 6.4-liter V8 because the Dodge Challenger SRT and Ram Energy Wagon, the primary V8-powered Wrangler serves up 470 horsepower, 470 pound-feet of torque, and a sky-ripping exhaust observe that solely comes up brief compared in opposition to an SR-71 Blackbird. By way of noise, nothing else comes shut, particularly on the Jeep’s $83,965 value as examined (together with $1,595 vacation spot)

With a standard eight-speed computerized transmission, full-time four-wheel drive with a selectable low vary, and strong axles (with locking diffs) entrance and rear, the Jeep is appropriately low-tech. As a substitute of difficult drive modes and energetic suspension settings, the Wrangler 392 merely asks for somewhat brake torque after which an entire lot of throttle to stand up and operating. The automaker claims it’ll hit 60 miles per hour in 4.5 seconds, on to a quarter-mile time of 13.0 seconds earlier than hitting a tire-preserving velocity governor at 112 mph. These are staggering numbers given the Wrangler’s 35-inch mud-terrain tires and ox-cart axles.

Whereas steely-nerved Motor1.com Managing Editor Brandon Turkus had no downside flirting with triple digits on our surprisingly clean grime racing floor, I by no means felt that comfy on the highway. Southern California’s perpetual highway development, slim lanes, and unclear markings make the Jeep really feel 12 toes extensive. Imprecise steering additionally requires fixed corrections at freeway speeds – ever seen an previous Hollywood movie the place the actor is driving a automotive on an clearly faked sound stage, his fingers consistently flicking the wheel backwards and forwards? That pantomime will really feel very acquainted to a Wrangler 392 driver.

We shouldn’t anticipate excessive ranges of driving refinement within the 392, particularly because it’s based mostly on an SUV that begins at underneath $30,000. There’s a number of normal package, like heated leather-based seats, adaptive cruise management and lane departure warning, and a logical 8.4-inch Uconnect touchscreen with wired smartphone integration. However it’s nonetheless finest to focus as an alternative on the distinctive pleasure of driving a V8 SUV with the home windows down and the optionally available cloth roof retracted. This Wrangler lives and dies by the rumble of its dual-mode exhaust combined with the scents and sounds of the nice outdoor, so bundle up and activate the seat heaters if it’s chilly.

2022 Land Rover Defender 90 V8

• Engine: Supercharged 5.0-Liter V8
• Output: 518 Horsepower / 461 Pound-Toes
• As-Examined Worth: $113,525

The 1997 Land Rover Defender – the nameplate’s final providing within the US – completely featured a lusty V8 along side its rugged functionality. So when the brand new Defender arrived in 2019, we have been a bit disillusioned that solely Land Rover’s (admittedly wonderful) mild-hybrid inline-six was the highest engine choice. That modified for 2022 when the Defender V8 joined the celebration packing a supercharged 5.0-liter shared with quite a lot of Jaguar and Land Rover merchandise.

The 2-door Defender 90 Carpathian Version examined right here might be the new rod of the bunch, weighing lower than the Mercedes however nonetheless packing 518 hp and 461 lb-ft. Land Rover claims the V8 can hit 60 in 4.9 seconds and high out at 149 mph, and the boxy sport-ute is definitely fairly clean and polished on the highway. With a brief wheelbase, it will probably really feel a bit twitchy, however in comparison with the Wrangler, the Defender appears like a Dreamliner by way of straight-ahead stability. That’s what occurs if you examine a $113,525 SUV with one which prices 30 grand much less.

The Motor1.com workers additionally universally praised the Defender’s inside high quality and styling, with engaging coatings on the plastic components and durable-feeling technical seat upholstery. The one huge exception is the seeming acre of uncooked sheetmetal contained in the entrance door – it’s clear that the door panel is sized for the Defender 110’s shorter entrance apertures. Then once more, the seen spot welds could add some classic allure if that’s what you’re into. And if that’s the case, you in all probability don’t need our tester’s high-maintenance matte paint.

The Defender V8 could look retro, however underneath the pores and skin, it’s very trendy. A totally impartial suspension makes use of sturdy air springs to offer extra floor clearance over obstacles, and the full-time four-wheel drive can present a variable torque break up or lock the middle differential relying on the circumstance. For actually sticky going, there’s additionally a selectable low vary, so not all the things has been modernized.

Land Rover’s refined Terrain Response system additionally makes an look on the Defender V8, permitting the motive force to pick out packages for mud and ruts, deep snow, rocky trails, and sporty on-road driving. There are even a handful of slots for customized packages – to the one who drove the Land Rover after us, we hope you loved our Dry Lake Launch setting.

2021 Mercedes-AMG G63

• Engine: Twin-Turbocharged 4.0-Liter V8
• Output: 577 Horsepower / 627 Pound-Toes
• As-Examined Worth: $184,500

If cash isn’t any object and most output is the aim, then the selection is evident – Geländewagen. Mercedes’ boxiest car may very effectively be its most fascinating, discovering attraction with everybody from upscale Aspen households to Manhattan membership youngsters. However limiting the Mercedes-AMG G63 to celebration valets and personal college dropoffs must be a sin as a result of this SUV felt prefer it might set off earthquakes tearing throughout the California desert. Sixty mph occurs in 4.5 seconds, with a high velocity of 130 when you’re courageous.

Underneath the hood is our trio’s smallest, but strongest, engine – a (now-rare) twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 producing 577 hp and a staggering 627 lb-ft, courtesy of the engineering geniuses from AMG. Affalterbach additionally breathed on the G-Wagen’s nine-speed computerized transmission, which sends energy to all 4 wheels through manually lockable entrance, heart, and rear differentials. As on the opposite SUVs, the switch case additionally boasts low-range gearing if wanted. The matte-finish Monza Gray paint (a $6,500 choice) requires you to change into superb pals together with your native hand automotive wash, however its army vibe appears to be like proper at house on these boxy fenders.

Classic appears to be like apart, the G63 splits the distinction between the old style Jeep and the poised Defender by way of composure – not shocking given the fashionable impartial entrance suspension paired with a extra conventional strong rear axle. Freeway speeds are not as nerve-wracking an expertise as they have been within the previous G, however that is nonetheless a giant, top-heavy SUV and it handles prefer it. A Nappa leather-based sprint and seats, multicountour therapeutic massage up entrance, and flashy AMG badges on the headrests and ground mats give the most costly car in our take a look at ($184,500 as examined) the nicest inside – to nobody’s shock.

That backside line gave us some pause when placing the AMG via its paces off-road, however no danger, no reward. And boy does the G63 reward those that take it to get soiled. The AMG Path Bundle is a should for desert driving, together with a entrance brush guard, mud flaps, and an off-road setting for the adaptive dampers, in addition to all-terrain tires for extra grip. Past that, the out-of-the-box functionality of this factor is nuts, with three locking differentials and a powerful quantity of suspension journey given its supercar powertrain and posh cabin.

Low Vary Earlier than Excessive Pace

Earlier than we acquired into the hilarity of an off-road drag race, our drivers – Turkus, Director of Video Clint Simone, and me – wished to change into acquainted with the V8 super-SUVs within the grime. The highway to our dry lakebed obliged with some fairly pleasurable trails – nothing that got here near taxing the bounds of floor clearance or suspension articulation, however difficult sufficient to suss out these off-road legends’ traits.

For starters, the Wrangler 392’s easy, elemental nature pays dividends when the going will get tough. As a substitute of a parsing litany of switches and infotainment menus, the Jeep driver merely must resolve if the full-time four-wheel drive is sufficient or if low-range gearing shall be essential. Moreover, an articulation-enhancing entrance sway bar disconnect is a button push away, as are locking entrance and rear differentials. As soon as dialed in, the Wrangler is a veritable mountain goat, with loads of torque, traction, and suspension journey for almost any path at your native OHV park.

“Contemplating how far more inexpensive it’s – lower than half the value of the G-Wagen – and the general functionality that come from its off-road–oriented tires and suspension setup, I’d battle to choose one of many others over the Jeep,” mentioned Turkus. He’s not alone, as all three of us appreciated its simplicity – and the detachable doorways and roof.

Nevertheless, the off-road refinement of the next-priciest car was exhausting to fault. Regardless of its rock-fearing 22-inch wheels and low-profile all-terrain tires, the Land Rover Defender V8 had no hassle following within the Jeep’s tire tracks. Though it lifted a wheel far more continuously – air suspensions undergo from lowered journey when aired up all the way in which – and its considerably difficult terrain administration system takes a second to dial in, the Defender was extra comfy to drive, with much less steering wheel kickback and hump-and-bump cabin motions over obstacles.

“The Defender is charming past perception,” opined Simone. “This truck is sweet with the inline-six and it is simply nice with the V8. Clean energy output and a enjoyable noise to go along with it.”

Whereas I echoed Simone’s sentiments and appreciated the Defender’s well-rounded habits, Turkus was disillusioned. “It doesn’t really feel almost as particular because the others,” he mentioned. “I used to be anticipating an SVR-like expertise, however that is merely a Defender that occurs to have a V8.”

“Simply the door shut noise alone is well worth the value of admission.”

It’s exhausting to not lust after the push of a twin-turbocharged V8 echoing off the partitions of an underpass, however even within the grime, the Mercedes-AMG G63 is an effective time. There’s an off-road–particular drive mode that reduces traction management intervention and softens the adaptive suspension a bit, and bodily buttons actuate the differential lockers and switch case. From there, it’s only a matter of pointing the clamshell hood and bulging entrance flip alerts up a hill and easing the throttle over obstacles. Even with much less suspension journey than the Jeep, you’ll run out of bravery earlier than the G runs out of functionality.

“Though the Mercedes is successfully double the value of its counterparts, a few of that’s justified by the actually spectacular total high quality,” mentioned Simone. “Simply the door shut noise alone is well worth the value of admission.”

Go Quick, Don’t Die

As soon as acquainted with the whys and wherefores of our throttle-happy threesome, we forged tons on who would drive what via our estimated quarter-mile span of grime, however fortunately, all of us acquired what we wished. Dyed-in-the-wool Detroiter Turkus muscled the Jeep – “My plan is easy. Mash the throttle and maintain on.” I used to be glad to drive the delight of Nice Britain, particularly since this was my first expertise with Land Rover’s unimaginable supercharged V8. And we gave the tallest automotive to the shortest man, not within the least as a result of Simone is a well-documented lover of the G63.

After a number of observe runs to make sure every driver was getting probably the most out of their launch, we every made our method to the beginning line. After getting the all-clear over the radio, I sounded the Defender’s horn 3 times earlier than the metaphorical flag dropped. To my delight, the Defender launched out of the opening fast, however it wasn’t lengthy earlier than the extra highly effective G63 made up the distinction. By the tip of the race, the Mercedes was touring at 108 mph to the Defender’s 104 and the Jeep’s 100-ish, signifying a strong two-car-length distance every between first, second, and third.

The race was admittedly shut – spectacular given the $100,000-plus value distinction between the Jeep and the AMG.

We made our method again to the beginning for a rematch, then one other and one other, however the ending order may as effectively have been written in stone. The Mercedes-AMG G63 couldn’t be touched, regardless of how exhausting the Jeep Wrangler 392 and Land Rover Defender V8 tried. The race was admittedly shut – spectacular given the $100,000-plus value distinction between the Jeep and the AMG.

On The Highway Once more

On the finish of the lengthy day within the desert, none of us wished to swap automobiles for the three-hour drive house. Turkus braved the loud, raucous Wrangler 392 for the love of its enjoyable character and good exhaust observe. Simone loved the refined inside and strong development – in addition to onramp-obliterating acceleration – of the G63 AMG. And I break up the distinction within the polished Defender V8, whose ample consolation and energy made it a stunning highway journey companion on the lonely desert freeway.

Separated by tens of 1000’s of {dollars} and a figurative chasm between every car’s supposed buyer, the Jeep Wrangler 392, Land Rover Defender V8, and Mercedes-AMG G63 are hardly opponents one with one other. However that didn’t cease us from discovering loads to like about every. The V8-powered off-road SUV’s days are numbered, however at the very least we acquired a crack at a few of the finest which have ever been constructed earlier than the style dies.