Thread: The A Team

4 x 4 Australia has an interesting report, 'The A Team', in its latest issue, which it describes as ' the seven best 4x 4s money will buy' for those who are 'keen to head straight from the showroom to serious off-road tracks with only a tyre stop along the way'.

Fraser Stronach rates the seven chosen vehicles in this order:
1 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon
2. Toyota Land Cruiser 70 series dual cab
3. Mercedes-Benz G-Class Professional
4. Ford Ranger Raptor
5. Toyota Land Cruiser 200 Series GXL
6. Land Rover Discovery SD4 HSE
7. Suzuki Jimny

It's an interesting comparison. I'm glad to see the Discovery be recognised, I agree with a lot of what he says and I realize there could be endless arguments about this. I suggest you get the magazine's current issue and read the details for yourself.

However, I think the comparison gives too much weight to 'weekend toys' and not enough to serious overlanding vehicles. I also think there are other criteria that should have been used.
For example, the comparison gives GVM and kerb weight figures, but does not subtract them to give an effective payload. Doing that produces some interesting results. The Wrangler crashes out of consideration while the Discovery moves up the rankings. After all, how can you choose a vehicle to head off on a serious trip if it can only carry two people and a toothbrush? Payload is very important.

I also think maximum towing weight is very important when many people want to tow caravans, campers or trailers, but it was not mentioned in the article.

So, here are some details I added.

PAYLOAD ranking
1. G-Class Professional CDI 1210kg
2. 70 Series dual cab 1140kg
3. Discovery SD4 HSE 921kg
4. Ranger Raptor 758kg
5. 200 Series GXL 610kg
6. Wrangler Rubicon 409kg
7. Suzuki Jimny 345 kg
So, notice how calculating payload sent the Rubicon crashing from first to sixth place.
Notice also how the Discovery soared from sixth to third place.
The Rubicon and Jimny are not serious overland vehicles, based on payload. Even the 200 series is marginal on 610kg.
Fill the fuel tank, install a fridge, load some water, camping gear and clothes, and there is only enough payload left for 2-3 people. Not good enough.
For comparison, my 110 Defender wagon has a 1044kg payload while a 110 dual-cab can carry 1525kg and a 130 dual-cab a massive 1607kg.

TOWING ranking
3500kg: 70 series, 200 Series, Discovery
3140kg: G-Class Professional wagen
2500kg: Ranger Raptor
2495kg: Wrangler Rubicon
1300kg: Suzuki Jimny
So, if a serious tow vehicle is needed, and a margin for safety is important, the only real choices are the 70, 200 and Discovery.
A G-Class might sneak in if the caravan is not too heavy. The Wrangler and Raptor are really only suitable for camper trailers.
Again, my Defender can tow 3500kg.

PRICE ranking.
These figures are rounded because many options are available, so ticking boxes can cause wide variations, and are specific to the models mentioned, so they are only a general guide.
1. G-Class about $110,000
2. Discovery SD4 HSE about $100,000
3. 200 Series GXL about $90,000
4. Ranger Raptor about $75,500
5. 70 Series about $70,000
6. Wrangler Rubicon about $69,000
7. Jimny $24,000
For comparison, the last Defenders sold new for about $50,000.

SAFETY
While most of these vehicles scored five stars, it should be noted the Wrangler scored a miserable one star, while the Jimny got three stars. How can Jeep design a new vehicle which can only score one star? Are they serious?
Yes, my Defender is hopeless for crash safety, that's true, but I'm sure the new Defender will score five stars.

SO, would I trade my 2009 Defender for any of them? No, I wouldn't.
The Wrangler and Jimny are toys, not credible overlanding vehicles, and I certainly want more than one star of crash safety from any new vehicle.
It also has to be able to tow 3500kg, like my Defender, and have a roomy body.
I don't want a ute, so that rules out the Raptor and 70 Series.
The G-Class has the best payload of them all, but is too cramped inside, as is the Wrangler. The Wrangler's payload is uselessly small and the Jimny is a joke.
The porky 200 needs to go on a crash diet, uses too much fuel and has a poor payload for such a large vehicle.

So no, I would only consider the Discovery in this group, and it would be an SE TD4 for about $77,000 plus options.
Bring on the new Defender!

What do you think?

Some of the team are pretty expensive cars. If money no problem I would have a Dodge Ram with Cummins and Allison. A bit of space inside and plenty of grunt.