Gully Kings: Land Rover Defender Vs. Jeep Wrangler And Toyota Land Cruiser Prado

Three cars throw clouds of snow dust into the sky, jump on bumps, roar engines and sometimes dive almost up to their hoods into deep snow ditches. It seems that in the steep ravine of the near Moscow region there are no obstacles for them: the relief of any steepness is taken even without acceleration, and where the depth of the snow exceeds the clearance, the road simply breaks through with an iron sheet of crankcase protection. Powerful engines, powerful crawler gears, sturdy frames and axles … Stop! Frames and bridges? But no - neither one nor the other has long been an obligatory part of a real SUV

Video: Gully Kings: Land Rover Defender Vs. Jeep Wrangler And Toyota Land Cruiser Prado

2023 Author: Natalie MacDonald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-21 02:36

Three cars throw clouds of snow dust into the sky, jump on bumps, roar engines and sometimes dive almost up to their hoods into deep snow ditches. It seems that in the steep ravine of the near Moscow region there are no obstacles for them: the relief of any steepness is taken even without acceleration, and where the depth of the snow exceeds the clearance, the road simply breaks through with an iron sheet of crankcase protection. Powerful engines, powerful crawler gears, sturdy frames and axles … Stop! Frames and bridges? But no - neither one nor the other has long been an obligatory part of a real SUV

Living in a big city, one can sincerely believe that there is no point left in SUVs. But there are at least several reasons why such machines still exist. Firstly, it is a whole army of hunters, fishermen and other fans of wild recreation, for whom it is important to leave as far as possible from civilization. Secondly, there are many protected places in the world, to which no roads are laid, and in huge Russia millions of people live where there are no roads even on maps. Even the entrance to the recently purchased dacha in the suburbs may be impassable!

Finally, an SUV is a way to get one of several types of special pleasure: from harmless city slickness to the opportunity to test yourself and your technique in truly extreme conditions.

Gully Kings: Land Rover Defender vs. Jeep Wrangler and ToyotLand Cruiser Prado

The classic design of an SUV is especially appreciated by lovers of such cars. A real rogue must have a sturdy body (best of all, with a frame), high-torque units, a reduction gear and a set of other hardware that can make the most of the existing laws of physics. An example of such a classic - Jeep wrangler, which even in 2021 has an absolutely recognizable appearance and has approximately the same design as 30 years ago: a rigid frame, hardy bridges, large wheels under separate fenders, a hood with external locks … At the doors and windshield, as before, the hinges are also outside. In case of need, the doors can be removed, and the glass can be folded back onto the hood. The roof is also removable, and under it there is a ridge of thick safety arcs. With the proper diligence of a couple of people, the Wrangler easily transforms into a beach buggy! Not a bad constructor worth a little more than 4 million rubles?

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Four-wheel drive and lowering with inter-axle locking are here by default, but the rest of the set depends on the configuration. In two basic Wrangler it is equipped no better than the Russian "Niva", although, unlike it, it can constantly drive rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, and for a surcharge, such a car is equipped with a rear self-blocking unit. But the ultimate (and more expensive) Wrangler Rubicon, in addition to a more powerful lowering, will already have mechanical locks (central, rear and even front), as well as a detachable front stabilizer - a set with which you can conquer steep walls. Electronic assistants? Give it up! ESP, of course, is able to simulate brake locks, but when the lowered row is turned on, it is cut off so as not to interfere with the mechanisms. In a beautiful men's box, from the sight of which all boys from four to eighty years old are delighted, this approach seems absolutely justified.

But before it was exactly the same and Land rover defender! But even the British, who value their traditions, could not endlessly produce the iconic iron box, so we first saw the fundamentally new "Def" on the modernized chassis of the fifth Discovery at the end of 2019, at the last European auto show of the dock era. We saw and felt sad: very stylish, but a little toy-like appearance, no frame, independent suspension of all wheels, electronic transmission control … And the price - from four million rubles to seven, and this does not include additional equipment.

In general, at the sight of the modern "Def" a former fan of the model may well have a mean man's tear …

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There are no design questions. Looks very stylish. But the matte body with non-slip pads, as well as the optional ladder together with a drawer hanging on the side, seem to professionals to be unnecessary jewelry. Is it still an SUV or is it just a stylized crossover?

Facts in favor of an SUV: The new LR Defender has the most rigid body of any Land Rover model; transmission - with lowering and center blocking, and for an additional charge, the car will be equipped with a rear blocking. Plus the air suspension, which in extreme modes is capable of raising the car by more than 30 centimeters above the road! Not bad?

But all this economy is controlled by smart electronics, and not by the driver, who can only choose the height of the ground clearance and the algorithm of the control electronics. There seems to be a way to take everything into our own hands, but this will have to be done with the help of commands from the same electronics through a beautiful touch screen. And for the legendary "Def" this is a fundamentally new approach: instead of an archaic piece of iron, Defender is now a high-tech design with a bunch of computers, which many fans of the model were skeptical about.

Against the background of Defender ToyotLand Cruiser Prado simple as a chest of drawers from Ikea. He does not fit into handsome men, does not cause nostalgia, but captivates with the deliberate rudeness of angular forms and a tall landing. This car looks like a newcomer from the nineties - for love this is definitely not bought, but the function is primary here. A continuous rear axle, a lowering and two locks, and in the older trim levels, hydraulic suspension and smart electronics are added - an analogue of the Terrain Response Land Rover system called Multi-Terrain Select. It has a set of modes for different types of coverage, but the locks and electronics modes are controlled by the driver himself. Finally, this is Toyota, which (hypothetically) can be bought for less than three million rubles.

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However, a well-equipped Prado will cost four to five million, and even for this money, one should not expect luxury-style finishes in it: in older trim levels with leather and plastic wood, the Prado salon will still be cut down with an ax and generously studded with plastic buttons. The nineties have not gone away from here even after the recent update, but there are generally few annoying moments here. And many little things, on the contrary, are thought out. Take at least the "shock absorber" of the luggage door, which can be fixed in one movement so that the "gate" is not slammed by the wind.

The newest thing in the Prado cabin is a media system with an 8-inch screen. The rest of the toolkit has not changed and looks almost as simple as 18 years ago. However, someone likes to look for something masculine in this …

Simple-shaped chairs are upholstered in unpretentious leather - practical, but not too cozy. But there is ventilation, electric drives and even the function of a comfortable fit - when, when the ignition is turned off, the seats and the steering wheel slightly disperse

Few adjustments, but finding a comfortable fit is easy

The steering wheel buttons are also massive - you won't miss

The display between the scales has become colored and now contains more information, but the graphics are still far from modern. The abundance of details makes the devices slightly overloaded

The media system is an inch bigger, but it's still a Toyota combine - with simple graphics, low-resolution cameras and meager feature set. But after the update, support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto appeared

Lever, buttons, cupholders - the usual set, which is simply arranged here in geometric order. Design? Next time…

I wonder how old these twists of heating and ventilation of seats are? It seems that they can be used blindly, but in reality every now and then you miss the zero position

Some of Toyot's auxiliary buttons are traditionally hidden in the blind spot under the steering column

In the normal configuration, Prado is well charged with warm options, which is especially important when buying a car with a diesel engine

Buttons and selectors for off-road functions, including the Multi-Terrain Select mode washer, are collected in one block, which is great. MTS is only activated when the lowering is engaged, and the center and rear differential locks can be activated in any mode. The Crawl key turns on the "creeping" cruise control, and the mysterious 2nd Start button activates the start mode in second gear - useful on slippery or loose surfaces

Huge box between the seats - refrigerated

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The landing is expectedly high, the armchairs-sofas are spacious, and there is a lot of space - something like that should be a car in which you have to drive not on the road, but over it. And in the back there is a clearing: it will not be easy to reach with your knees to the front seat, with your head to the ceiling or shoulder to your neighbor. Jumping inside is not a problem - the main thing is not to be afraid to step on the outer threshold and grab one of the rough, but very appropriate handles on the body pillars in time.

The flat rear sofa Prado slides in parts and allows you to change the angle of the backrests. There is little comfort here, but three will sit down without difficulty

A separate air conditioning system for rear passengers is installed on all versions of Prado, except for the very initial "Classic"

I would like to call such a primitive pocket a magazine rack. Well, or a holder for paper cards. Unless, of course, someone else uses them …

Trunk volume - from 621 to 1934 liters, but for transportation of oversized this is not the best option - take a look at the step when folding the sofa. Seven seats? There is also such an option, but only in the most expensive configuration

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Have Defender handles are only on the B-pillars, and the driver and front passenger will have to grab onto … the front panel projections, which are made specifically for this. It is original and very similar to the concept of a classic interior, although it is made, of course, at a completely different level of style and decoration. Inside, the Defender looks simple and expensive at the same time: there is almost nothing but the displays of devices and a media system, and the shelf panel is upholstered with non-marking plastic - and there is no reason to call these materials cheap. Rough - yes, but this is the requirement of the genre: carpets underfoot should be easy to wash, plastic upholstery should not be afraid of accidental contact with a rough sole, and a dirty cable, shovel and boots from the swamp can calmly roll around in the center of the trunk. Which is specially upholstered for this with corrugated material at the same time as the back surface of the back sofa.

Stylish, fashionable and even a little youthful. Visual simplicity should evoke nostalgic associations, and the deliberate roughness of the finish hints at the ease of cleaning - they say, this salon is not afraid of dirt and does not require gentle handling. But throwing dirty gloves on the panel is still a pity

The high seating position and not too wide seats are unlikely to appeal to large drivers, but there are other seats on the list of options. Defender can even be six-seater - one more seat appears instead of a box between the front seats

To understand what exactly the rotary knob is about to do, you have to look at the center display

The functions of the buttons on the steering wheel change depending on the selected menu section. This system cannot be understood on the fly

A beautiful and sensible media system is almost a breakthrough for Land Rover. It is logically organized, has a lot of functions, two Internet access channels and clearly informs about what is happening with the machine now. The graphics from the all-round cameras were especially successful, where the electronics very carefully inscribe the silhouettes of the car

The so-called transparent hood mode is the ability to look under the wheels without leaving the car. A useful thing with a small nuance: it transmits an image with a slight delay, which it honestly warns about in advance. A stump there, of course, will not suddenly appear, but an animal may well

There are few physical buttons in the cabin, and they are all piled up around the climate control knobs, which are also responsible for heating and ventilation of the seats, fan speed or the choice of off-road driving modes. We have to closely follow the indication on the washers themselves

True pluralism: standard USB, a new-fashioned Type-C socket and a classic 12-volt socket - in case the owner decides to connect an old-format walkie-talkie

The instrument display is an expensive option that allows you to completely abandon traditional scales in favor of a navigator or an almost empty picture with lonely speed numbers. In any case, the graphics will be calm, but the amount of information in some modes is simply off scale

And in the mirror there is a picture from a panoramic rear-view camera, which can also be adjusted. Previously, only Cadillac dabbled in this, but this function has not yet become widespread - it is not very convenient to use it on the road, but it can be useful off-road due to the wide angle of view

There are many containers and shelves in the Def salon, as well as sockets scattered throughout these secluded places

There is a large niche with a ribbed bottom under the high center console - so that objects do not slip there

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In terms of space for passengers, "Def" is slightly inferior to Prado, but there is still a lot of space here. The driver, unlike a classic car, no longer sits pressed against the door, the seats have a hint of relief, and the landing is more characteristic of a crossover than an SUV. But the feeling of some constriction remains - and all because in our configuration, a hefty box organizer was installed between the seats. This is an option instead of a luxurious passage to the back row or … one more full-fledged chair. Yes, the current Defender can be six-seater!

There are no questions for the second row of Defender in terms of space, convenience and geometry of landing, but it must be borne in mind that the sofa is fixed rigidly - do not move, do not play with the angle of inclination of the backs

At the back there is a separate dual-zone climate control with air distribution, as well as a whole battery of charging outlets

A couple more USB connectors are hidden in the backs of the front seats behind small sliding curtains. Bigger curtains cover the place of attachment of branded accessories

If you fold the pillows forward, then the folded backs of the sofa form a single flat surface with the boot floor, completely covered with washable corrugated plastic

However, it is not necessary to fold the pillows - but the backrests in this case will lie at an angle. Behind the trunk door - from 857 to 1946 liters of volume, but it was not possible to fit the test suitcases lying down: the compartment is short, and the door opening in which the suitcase sticks out is too narrow

The rear section of the body can be lowered from the trunk using the buttons for easier loading

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And here Jeep wrangler can hardly accommodate even five. No, the front space is okay, and the chairs seem quite familiar if you get used to the excessive stiffness of the padding. But the back is already cramped, and the middle seat looks inhospitable. Moreover: the doorway in the back is narrow, and you have to literally jump into the cabin - there are no steps here. At the same time, the Wrangler from the doorway disappoints with a completely plastic interior, but immediately conquers with style and an abundance of small details - from traditional Easter eggs with the image of Jeep Willys to cute lock toggle switches and grasping selectors for the box and handouts. Beautiful displays of multimedia and devices fit into the retro interior well - they do not destroy the style, but they also do not allow to forget about the existence of the Internet.

Looking at the picture, you might think that this bright interior is made of flimsy plastic, but live it looks solid and solid. And very stylish! Even though references to the old Wranglers of the nineties are hardly read here

The set of mechanical adjustments is not enough for everyone (you cannot move far from the steering wheel), but you will have to get used to the location and purpose of the controls. Try to understand right away that the backrest tilt changes with a protruding strap! And also there is no platform for the left leg - there is nothing to put your foot on on a long journey

A simple and grippy rudder bagel lies nicely in your hands. There are enough keys, although it will not be easy to understand what the buttons on the left side do on the fly

Jeep devices look stylish and clearly show the transmission mode, but the main thing here is the central screen, on which you can display a lot of information, up to the temperature of the gearbox

The highlight of a pretty media (there is a simpler system in the database) is in the Offroad Pages section, which clearly shows what is happening with the car on the off-road. Roughly the same information can be displayed on the tidy. In any case, colorful graphics and the presence of mobile interfaces distinguish it favorably from Toyota

The hand stretches to adjust the temperature using the side twists, but they are responsible for the music

It is pleasant to grasp the solid short-stroke transmission levers, but if there are no problems with the automatic transmission selector, then the transfer handle requires a fair amount of effort. And the transfer case does not have any servos: connect the front axle, activate the center differential lock and also have to manually reduce the gear, and there is something primitive in this process

But the locks of the front and rear differentials are activated with the help of servo drives, and instead of the trivial keys, there is a rubberized rocker that works with a pleasant effort. The window regulator keys are made in about the same way, and even the toggle switch for deactivating the rear windows moves with a verified click. The key, however, is also there - with its help you can open and close back the front stabilizer

The rattling plastic box of the Jeep has no cooling, but contains a USB socket

The rigidity of the body is not provided by the roof, but by the tubular frame on which the fiberglass roof panels hang. Its front parts can be removed without difficulty, but the large rear is much more difficult

Media connectors are collected under a closable lid, which should protect them from dirt

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From the inside, the archaic Wranger is not perceived as an old truck, it has a normal fit and decent visibility. And maneuvering on it in cramped yards is no more difficult than on some short-wheelbase passenger van: the steering wheel is not heavy, the dimensions of the body are perfectly visible, there is a parking sensor and a camera. The SUV is also easily removed from the seat, although the gas pedal seems to be heavily damped.

It is clear that the Wrangler is not designed to work in a taxi, but against the background of competitors, we simply have to complain about the cramped rear sofa. The short cushions are low, and the middle seat is best used exactly as in the photo - as an armrest. Adjustments? Why are they here?

But the folding mechanism is good: you pull the strap - the pillow moves forward and down, and the back falls on it, at the same time folding the protruding headrest. And it all fits flush with the boot floor. Well, almost on a par …

Wrangler's list of options includes a special power package for connecting demanding electrical equipment and a trailer. So one more USB charger and a 220-volt outlet in the secondary back row does not seem to be a whim at all

Another magazine rack, but this time - with additional hooks on the sides. And why are the elastic bands threaded through the ribs of the chair upholstery, we still do not understand. Any ideas?

The tailgate opens in two steps: first, the lower gate opens, then the glass rises. The compartment is relatively small (548 liters), but it is easier to fit suitcases here than in Defender. With the sofa folded down, it turns out 1059 liters, so this car will hardly help to transport oversized

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And this is no accident - the character of a gasoline turbo engine is peculiar. Calm in creeping modes, it explodes sharply with thrust, it is worth pushing the pedal two-thirds of the way, easily picks up the frame structure and carries it forward with the frenzy of a hungry predator. It is also surprising that a car on bridges and with brick aerodynamics does not drive at all like an uncontrollable projectile. At speeds up to 100 km / h, the Wrangler is understandable and adequate, and in all-wheel drive mode it is also almost unshakable on slippery roads and snowy sweeps. True, there is a minimum of information on the steering wheel, and the rolls are large, but if you do not try to drastically change the trajectory, then the result will also be decent for such a car.

But there is a problem with noises: huge wheels are wailing, bridges are shaking and thumping, the wind licks all the corners of the square body, and the removable roof generally seems to be a formality. Even the stove is noisy! But behind the wheel you experience an indescribable sensation: this is a real mechanism, almost not covered from the driver by servos and polite electronics.

Comfort here is generally conditional, because the suspension does not diligently filter out irregularities and "goats" on bumps, but it is impossible to break through this chassis, it seems, even with a stone boulder. In general, for fun pokatushek everything is high, but you don't want to go to the other end of the world - you will get tired of the noise and vibrations.

ToyotPrado - like a room for psychological relief after a stressful day. Spacious, imposing and rather lazy, but against the background of the Jeep - a very comfortable car. The soft and pliable Prado does not notice small irregularities at all, gently shakes on larger bumps and is able to fly through even an open road hatch without disturbing the passengers. In cramped courtyards, the large and wobbly Prado seems somewhat inappropriate and requires a prudent ride, but in the open space it feels good.

True, even with a modernized 200 hp diesel engine. Prado is very phlegmatic, although this motor can not be denied in elasticity, and the six-speed "automatic" - in agility. In addition, the new diesel engine runs smoother and quieter than its predecessor. On the move, aerodynamic noise prevails, and even the tires are mumbling softly somewhere below, but that's all. Even on a very bumpy road, the suspension does not bother passengers at all. But the driver may be uncomfortable: an uninformative steering wheel with a delay reacts to commands, and Prado enters corners slowly and with noticeable rolls.

It seems that a large and heavy Land Rover in theory could drive worse than its competitors, but modern engineering works wonders!

Independent suspensions radically change the feeling of an SUV: it is so clear and easy to drive that it handles like a regular passenger crossover. We got a car from the first lots with a two-liter diesel engine with a capacity of 240 hp, and even it quickly responds to the accelerator and confidently accelerates the car at any speed. Now the D240 version has been replaced by the D250 modification with a new three-liter diesel engine with a capacity of 250 horsepower, and it should be even more elastic, but the old one is good in all modes. Except that it hums a little at idle, and this is slightly discordant with very decent noise isolation in general. Otherwise, only the rustle of the wind is noticeable at speed, but the angular body is forgivable.

The driver of the new LR Defender will even be able to speculate about pleasure on the asphalt: modest rolls and adequate steering response allow you to go fast and even recklessly. Not least thanks to the smart air suspension, which works out small joints a little harshly, but turns out to be very energy-intensive and comfortable on irregularities of any other caliber. Along the tracks of timber trucks Defender it can go in motion and almost without swinging, and only for the aluminum suspension arms in such conditions it becomes a little scary.

However, in a difficult situation, you can always raise the body by 286 mm on the road, and if the Defender touches the bottom of the ground, it will increase the ground clearance up to a record 327 mm among serial cars! From the outside, it seems that the wheels are no longer connected to the body, but the driver still perceives the car as solid and very obedient, and the impacts from the suspension, which has chosen the entire rebound stroke, if they penetrate into the cabin, then in a rather soft form.

The second secret of Defender's cross-country ability is the smart Terrain Response electronics, which itself controls the degree of locking of the center and rear differentials, depending on the selected algorithm and the road situation. If you display a picture of the off-road mode during the pokatushek, you can watch in real time what happens to the wheels, suspension struts and differentials. In motion, Terrain Response constantly plays with the degree of locking, sending the optimal amount of traction to each of the wheels, and the driver can only turn the steering wheel and control the traction.

The best program for virgin snow turned out to be mud, but for trouble-free driving across the field, it was necessary to forcibly disable the stabilization system - otherwise the Defender from time to time remained without traction and dangerously slowed down in deep snowdrifts. With ESP turned off, the SUV drives confidently through the fields, even on the top row of the transmission. The lowering row can be activated with a separate button, but it makes sense to do this only on terrain with difficult terrain. In all other cases, a 240-horsepower diesel engine does an excellent job and so.

The Land Rover Defender chassis is more than just a set of drives and gearboxes. The work of all-wheel drive here is controlled by the electronics of the Terrain Response system, well known from the fifth Discovery. She herself chooses the degree of differential locks and the algorithms for the operation of the auxiliary electronics, depending on the mode specified by the driver and the current situation. For example, this screen shows that the center and rear differential locks are completely removed

And by the time this picture was taken, the electronics managed to partially (by a third) block both differentials. In motion, the degree of blocking changes constantly, and this applies even to ordinary driving on asphalt: when starting off, you can briefly see a complete blockage

You can force one or both locks through the custom Terrain Response mode. It is also convenient to set the response of the power unit here - especially if you have to often overcome the same section or the driver just likes specific settings

Terrain Response, in addition to the familiar modes "grass / gravel / snow", "mud-rut", "sand" and "stones", Defender has a new ford point, in which the car can dive 90 centimeters (Jeep Wrangler declares not more than 75 centimeters). In this mode, the suspension will be at its highest position and the air conditioner fan will run at high speed to prevent fogging

In the standard position of the air suspension, the Defender has a ground clearance of 218 mm - 3 mm more than that of the ToyotLand Cruiser Prado. Using the buttons on the console, it can be lowered by 50 mm for loading, or raised in front of a difficult area to a height of 291 mm. But as soon as the bottom touches the ground, the car rises even higher - up to the limit of 327 millimeters. Manually pulling up the body will not work

Unlike Toyota, which can gently move from second gear on very slippery surfaces, Defender has a more complex and demanding system for this purpose. But if all the conditions are met, magic turns on: Def will neatly crawl even on an icy slope - the main thing is that the tires have at least some kind of hook

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But the realization of the fact that the owner of Defender will have to live in a new digital universe is still somewhat unusual. And if Discovery has a Terrain Response washer always at hand, then Defender does not have this either - you have to change modes either through the media system screen, or through the left climate control knob, which takes over the functions of a transmission washer, if you press the corresponding button. But why such difficulties? After all, if you want to lock the differentials the most, you will have to go into the menu and set up your own "custom" mode.

And what if all this electronic miracle turns off? Discovery owners are already familiar with freezing locks and skewed suspension struts … However, if you forget about the fear of electronics, the conclusion is surprisingly simple: computers win. If only because a person is physically unable to control the distribution of traction so finely and choose the tactics of movement depending on the changing coverage. And the Defender, with its tall suspension and well-tuned electronics, is arguably the most passable production SUV. At the same time, it does not require any special experience or special professionalism from the driver …

Jeep wrangler also does not shy away from the help of electronics, but she does not know how the differentials work, and only knows how to slow down the slipping wheels. And in some cases it does it really well, but the pure "hardware" off-road is still better. Instead of ironing out the snow with the electronics turned on, you can turn off the ESP with a single push of a button and lock the center differential with the other. Few? Then lock the rear differential and make everything smoother to maintain acceptable handling. Well, if you also block the front one, then the Wrangler will almost completely stop responding to the steering wheel and will crawl across the track with the grace of a tank until it sits on the bottom. Therefore, it is better to storm the black spots on the move - Jeep, like no one else, knows how to punch its way from acceleration where cars simply will not even stick.

The Americans relied on strong iron and an impressive ground clearance of 246 millimeters. That's a lot, and given the impressive articulation of the suspension, it seems that you can ride the Renga anywhere. In the Rubicon version with a detachable front stabilizer, the suspension becomes almost gutta-percha, but this is useful only when storming rocky trails. On winter off-road, a car with a free stabilizer loses the clarity of reactions, and with it, the driver's confidence. So the perfect set for snow riding is locked center and rear differentials, and no lowering. It will be useful for a two-liter engine where you need to ride vnatyag, but on a snowy field it is of no use.

But in terms of external special effects, Wrangler will give odds to everyone. It is beautiful not only in statics, but also in dynamics - with skewed bridges and large wheels, from under which lumps of snow and mud are flying. Yes, this car is not from the series “pressed the button and drove off” - the driver must understand what and how he needs to do. But emotions over the edge. Maybe that's why people buy SUVs and go to the fields, fight cars and off-road?

However, ToyotPrado does not force you to fight the car on the road and does not please the driver with either visual emotions or graphic special effects. Although there is also enough electronics here. Like the Defender, the Prado has the ability to look under the front wheels using the camera, although it does not look so beautiful and informative. The Multi-Terrain Select system helps to correctly distribute traction between the wheels, and for driving on difficult terrain, the Crawl Control function is useful - an off-road cruise control that allows you to set the speed with an accuracy of a kilometer and not touch the right pedal at all, concentrating on steering. This is useful when driving in a slippery rut, when the uniformity of movement is most important, and on a slippery ascent or descent.

Iron control in the Prado is not hidden behind menu items and is available at any time: the knobs and buttons related to off-roading are collected in a single block on the front console. Locks are activated by keys, lowering by a rotary toggle switch, and assisted electronics by a rotating washer. Moreover, the locks are activated regardless of the selected row of the transfer case, and in a low gear you can safely ride without locks - for example, if you need to storm a very steep slope with a hard surface.

The choice of programs of the MTS system is not less than that of Defender: "large stones", "stones and dirt", "mogul", "crushed stone", as well as universal "dirt and sand". The fundamental difference from Defender's algorithms is that Toyota's MTS only changes the settings of the traction control system and the responses of the power unit, but does not know how to control the differentials. For snow, "mud and sand" is better, but this is just a small superstructure, which in most cases can be dispensed with

In principle, you can not turn on or block anything at all: the Thorsen-type center differential is in the snow and efficiently distributes traction itself. On the other hand, Prado seems to be almost armor-piercing with the lowering and locks. You give the gas - and you calmly crawl in the direction set by the steering wheel. Until the car sits on its belly - the ground clearance here is more modest than that of competitors.

On the other hand, the rough and slightly condos Prado feels so sturdy that it can go straight ahead without slowing down. Therefore, in a forest ravine, we subconsciously let him go first.

In general, all three cars have a lot of abilities, but you will have to pay at least four million rubles for any of them!

You can try to save only on ToyotLand Cruiser Prado, the official prices for which start at 2 801 000 rubles - for a 2.7 petrol engine (163 hp), a 5-speed "mechanics" and a complete set, in which there is nothing but an air conditioner and a transfer case with a lowering and a central differential lock. "Automaton" appears in execution "Standard" per 3 125 000 rubles, with which you can already live in relative comfort (there is a three-zone "climate", parking sensors and simple electric seat drives). A 200-horsepower diesel engine can be ordered only in a complete set "Comfort" per 3,760,000 rubles, where there will also be a color media system, a rear camera, an engine start button, an advanced traction control system, as well as ascent and descent assistants.

To lock the rear differential, you will have to choose the next version Elegance per 4,084,000 rubles, and it can already be taken with a petrol V6 4.0 (249 hp) 27 thousand cheaper. And if you need Multi Terrain Select electronics - look for the version from the dealer "Prestige" cost from 4,841,000 rubles, and get into the load a selector for driving modes on the highway, panoramic cameras, a system for maintaining the level of the body, "crawling" cruise control and another package of different buns. Well, the most expensive Prado in the special version Black Onyx will cost 4,984,000 rubles, and only it will have three rows of seats.

Jeep wrangler there are three- and five-door, and the latter wears the Unlimited prefix and costs 330-350 thousand more. For the initial five-door version Sport ask for a minimum 4,340,000 rubles, which include an 8-speed "automatic", a Command Trac transmission with a plug-in front end, lowering and electronic control of the rise and fall. "Climate", steering wheel and seat heating, as well as the engine start button, are already on, but the rear self-block is offered only for a surcharge. Version number two is called Sahara (4,760,000 rubles) and in addition to the improved trim, it provides a little more media electronics, leather trim and footrests.

But the Wrangler becomes completely uncompromising only in performance Rubicon with Rock Trac transmission, powerful lowering, power sills, mechanical locks of the front and rear axles and a switchable front stabilizer. Such a car costs 5,190,000 rublesbut the addition of a different type of roof, diode optics, a large media system and electronic assistants could increase the price to 5.5 million rubles. But you can even order a separate package for connecting additional electrical equipment!

Land rover defender it can also be three- and five-door - the second, although more expensive, is offered in eight trim levels against four. And if the three-door in the initial configuration can be with a conventional spring suspension, then the Defender 110 in all versions is equipped with a pneumatic one. The base for the five-door is a 200-horsepower diesel car worth 4,240,000 rubles, which already has LED optics, dual-zone climate control, a media system with a navigator and panoramic cameras, heated steering wheel, windshield and front seats, as well as the obligatory Terrain Response transmission control system.

Leather and electric seat drives, together with the display instead of instruments, appear in execution S (from 4 539 000 rubles), which can be taken with a three-liter diesel engine with a capacity of 249 hp. (plus 495,000 rubles), and with a 400-horsepower hybrid installation - it is based on a supercharged gasoline 3.0, and it costs 5,410,000 rubles … Conditionally senior can be considered execution HSE with a panoramic roof, expensive seats, a powerful audio system and improved finishes - and this is the minimum 5 855 000 rubles for a 249-horsepower diesel engine. The same configurations with the attachment X-Dynamic have a brighter finish. There is also a conditionally packaged version of First Edition (minimum 5 836 000 rubles) and top X for 7,222,000 rubles, which is only gasoline. Plus - almost three hundred positions in the list of options, including a dozen types of front seats, the same number of second-row seat options and even a "gallery". Of the off-road options, you can only find an active rear self-block, off-road cruise control and various packages for towing a trailer and accessories - everything else is included in the base.

But to answer the question, which of these SUVs is the best, one field will not be enough. On the other hand, buyers, most likely, will not choose between these particular models.

Stylish from the tip of the bumper to the last door hinge Jeep wrangler able to give the owner the most fun simply by the fact of its existence. And this is perhaps the best option for a second car for occasional forays into very wild places. And it will also serve as an excellent preparation for building something completely furiously cool.

Send on a road trip expensive and incredibly nostalgic Land rover defender the hand, perhaps, will not rise, but it is on it that it will turn out to be very comfortable to go as far from home as possible and already there hack to death on difficult off-road. And then douse the car with a hose, return to the big city and go to the office the next morning.

And it will sell best of all, of course, ToyotPrado. If only because this is the most affordable and proven way to get a real SUV, which, at the same time, does not bother with the dominance of electronics and calmly drives exactly where the driver directs it. And as for the good-looking design … Where an SUV is really needed, it does not raise any questions.