A fine balance needs to be struck when creating a car with four-wheel drive. The best off-road cars perform well, regardless of whether they're driving on city roads or through rougher terrain. Now, WIRED tests the top competitors to find a winner amongst the best performing on- and off-road cars.
****: Each of the vehicles was driven both on- and off-road in the UK. Our off-road course was at Loseley Park (loseleypark.co.uk), near Guildford in Surrey. Each of the vehicles was evaluated by WIRED's experienced test driver over the same course that mixed steep inclines, mud and ruts. To ensure a fair comparison, all vehicles were supplied from the manufacturer on standard road tyres.
Land Rover Discovery TD6 HSE Luxury
The new, third-generation Discovery might share its core hardware with the Range Rover, but it is designed to be even more versatile. All of our trio claim to have seven-seater capacity, but the Land Rover is the only vehicle here that can accommodate adults in the rearmost seats, which can be raised and lowered using a smartphone app. Off-road prowess remains at the heart of the brand, at least for its larger vehicles, and in terms of tech it comfortably outpoints its rivals here. The Terrain Response 2 system automatically monitors ground conditions and adjusts the car's electronic setup, such as the throttle, gearbox, differentials and stability control, to optimise progress. This is supported by the introduction of All-Terrain Progress Control, which establishes a crawl speed so the driver can focus on steering. The Discovery had little difficulty dealing with our technical course, and whereas the Toyota can at least match its capability in the hands of an experienced driver, the Land Rover is more accessible. It's also a much better road car and is a significant step forward from the old Discovery. If you want a vehicle to seat seven, scale the Andes and maintain a high level of on-road comfort, then the Land Rover is a clear winner.
On-road: 8/10 Off-road: 9/10 WIRED verdict: 9/10
Price: From £43,495 Engine: 2755cc turbodiesel Power: 177hp Torque: 450Nm 0-100kph: 12.7 sec Top speed: 175kph Approach angle: 34° Departure angle: 30° Wading depth: 900mm
Audi Q7 3.0 TDI Quattro
Conceptually, the Audi works on the premise that most customers' idea of off-roading is a muddy car park, so it lacks the adventurous firepower of its rivals. There's no low-ratio gearbox, manual differential locks or multi-terrain modes, but it can be specced with air suspension and a lift/off-road function that allows the body to be raised by 60mm at speeds of up to 29kph. WIRED was surprised at how well it coped with our course, especially with its sophisticated torque control system that brakes individual wheels if they lose grip. On-road though, it is the best of the trio. The 3.0-litre TDI engine is superb, the ride quality is excellent and its agility is enhanced by the optional (£1,100) all-wheel steering system. Its cockpit is also a haven of tech-focused good taste. Audi has an innate understanding of its customers' needs and the Q7 is bang on target.
On-road: 9/10 Off-road: 5/10 WIRED verdict: 7/10
Price: From £49,505 Engine: 2967cc turbodiesel Power: 272hp Torque: 600Nm 0-100kph: 6.5sec Top speed: 233kph Approach angle: 25° Departure angle: 22° Wading depth: 535mm
Toyota Land Cruiser Invincible
The Toyota Land Cruiser has become the default choice of anyone who genuinely relies on their vehicle - think aid organisations and third-world dictators. For all the addition of wood and leather in recent years, it remains the most utilitarian of our trio. The 2.8-litre turbodiesel is noisy with just 174bhp at your disposal. The ride is too firm, even if the active dampers are in its Comfort mode. On-road performance has never been the point of the Toyota, though. Off-road, however, it excels. In common with the Discovery, it has a low-ratio gearbox, a range of settings to suit the terrain and a Crawl Control function that guides the vehicle forwards without the driver having to touch the pedals. It coped with the off-road course with little more than a shrug. The Land Cruiser lacks the comfort and sophistication of the Land Rover, but it's not hard to see why its lack of pretension and reputation for reliability wins it fans around the world.
On-road: 3/10Off-road: 9/10 WIRED verdict: 6/10
Price: From £36,930 Engine: 2755cc turbodiesel Power: 177hp Torque: 450Nm 0-100kph: 12.7sec Top speed: 175kph Approach angle: 32° Departure angle: 24° Wading depth: 700mm
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
