When it comes to off-road prowess, nothing stirs enthusiasts more than the age-old choice between the Jeep Wrangler and Land Rover Defender. In a world where the 4x4 gets watered down by the increasing popularity of the crossover, these old-fangled machines keep soldiering on and on and on.
The thing is, the times they are a-changing. After 33 years in production, Land Rover stopped manufacturing the Defender this January. When you think about it, this is a great loss considering that the Defender is closely related to the original Land Rover Series launched in 1948. As for the Jeep Wrangler, the JK is due to stop production in calendar year 2017.
What’s wrong with that? For starters, the next-generation Defender is expected to get a little more consumer-friendly. Yes, it will be capable of holding its own off the beaten track, but it won’t be as hardcore or utilitarian as the Defender we all know and love. To make matters even more intriguing for us enthusiasts, Land Rover will position the next-gen Defender between the Discovery range and the Range Rover lineup. Put simply, the next generation will get soft.
The 2018 model year Jeep Wrangler, on the other hand, will employ a little bit of aluminum here and there (as in the hood, doors, and tailgate). The detail that intrigues most is that the Wrangler JL will be offered with an available hybrid powertrain, probably inspired by that of the Chrysler Pacifica. Despite the loss in weight and the eco-conscious babel, the body-on-frame construction and solid axles are expected to be retained on the next-gen Wrangler.
These being said, it’s rather clear than the outgoing Wrangler and Defender are the last of their kinds, the last of the proper off-roaders imbued with a no-nonsense charisma and a neo-retro persona to them. The more pressing question is, which of the two is better in terms of driving comfort, rear seat space, dash ergonomics, off-road capability, on-road ride, and comfort?
4xOverland will be happy to deliver the answer, a rather surprising one of those, in the following video.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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