JEEP WRANGLER UNLIMITED RUBICON vs MERCEDES BENZ G550 vs. TOYOTA LAND CRUISER: Test drive
Three SUVs, Mercedes, Jeep, Toyota, who will be able to survive Armageddon
If the Apocalypse is coming soon, what SUV can hope or how to survive the end of the world comfortably?
In difficult years, in any times, people began to rush to extremes. The occult, magic, pseudoscience or questionable teachings and faith. It is natural, people are desperate, they want to see the light at the end of the tunnel at any cost. And even if there were irreparable, and all or part of mankind will cease to exist, still people want to cling to a straw of hope, to believe that even after the Apocalypse they will survive, but not only remain intact, but not to part with the familiar and favorite things. For example, cars.
Yes, today we would like to talk about one of these hypothetical endings of civilization Apocalypse. Beaten along and across the masters of the Hollywood theme.
Perhaps that is because the “factory of Dreams” with such frequency and vigor reminds that the world is finite, the Americans, become one of those who are really obsessed with the possibility of the arrival of doomsday. Definitely in the near future and of course one of Hollywood scripts. The zombies should attack the hordes, the Advice to come from the past and to enslave or… there are dozens of scenarios. Auto journalists from the United States, like ordinary people, is not immune to these thoughts.
The main question I obsessed car people is: which SUV to choose, so he was able to survive hard times? What the car needs after an unimaginable catastrophe, to go conquer the wasteland? What is this car like this should be the easiest, most sapolsky, roomy (should be able to take a trip the whole family) and very safe?
The answer to these questions can give only the match. Let us do it.
The title of the most notorious post-apocalyptic SUV will compete: Jeep Wrangler, Mercedes-Benz G-Class, and Toyota Land Cruiser. May the best man win!
They have much more in common than you think.
In addition to the fact that all three SUV retains in its body frame, they also are real transfer case, locking differentials and real axles, all three military roots, and one of the trio still pulls military strap. Their military background promises a real opportunity to go anywhere and in any conditions, on-road and off-road course, regardless of the condition of the site.
From our three strongest in 2016, Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon Hard Rock the least departed from ancestors, spirit, and content that is visible to the naked eye, the top of the roof – cloth (hardcopy version is able to protect from radioactive fallout – option), at the bottom of the car is on the Dana axles. Jeep is powered by the original tested the 3.6-liter engine Pentastar V6, which develops 285 HP and 352 Nm of torque, is paired with an optional five-speed automatic transmission.
The “chips” that allows you to go anywhere consist of a Rock-Trac two-speed transfer box for challenging off-road conditions, Dana 44 axles, and electronic locking differentials at both ends. Jeep is also equipped with a switchable electronic stabilizer bar for added off-road capability.
For even more confident of overcoming the wild terrain, an optional Rubicon Hard Rock package adds additional protection in the form of steel front (with removable end caps) and rear bumpers and sills Mopar power.
The creators would hardly have known a modern version of his brainchild, the 200-th series Land Cruiser 2016. Now it has a refrigerator, and the salon can accommodate up to eight people, the original Land Cruiser was not even the roof or the doors. Land Cruiser is powered by 5.7-liter V8 that makes 381 HP and 543 Nm of torque. The engine is combined in tandem with the new for 2016 eight-speed automatic transmission. Toyota has set for the Land Cruiser present a permanent four-wheel drive system with a ratio of 40/60 by default, the ratio of power to front and rear axles and limited-slip center differential Torsen sends torque to the axle and gives more effective grip in the soil.
Land Cruiser is the only one of the three models, with a front mounted independent suspension.
The low range enables a new set of tools for off-road Land Cruiser, including Multi-Terrain Select, designed to help Toyota to better resist mud, stones or sand; Crawl Control, which helps to dose rate, when healthy Land Cruiser climbs up and slides down the steep obstacles; and Off-Road Turn Assist, which helps to feel more confident long Toyota on narrow roads, blocking the inside rear wheel when turning, allows the SUV to rotate around the axis of the tire, like a tank.
Although the original formula Geländewagen (which translates from German as “Rover”) has not changed in 37 years, it has progressed in step with the times. Anemic four – and five-cylinder diesel engines have long since disappeared from the menu G class. In their place, well settled pair of engines V8 and V12. As if we didn’t want to put on the role of the vehicle to the survival of the 621 HP V12 Mercedes-AMG G65, but the updated 2016 Mercedes-Benz G550 is a more sensible choice. Under its hood is a new 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 makes 416 horsepower and 610 Nm of torque paired with a seven-speed automatic transmission and permanent AWD system.
Like Jeep, off-road hardware of the G550 is pretty simple: plug electron low gear and locking center, front and rear differentials. The G-Wagen gets bonus points for his true service in some military units of the world. If I go to the bullets, and nuclear Apocalypse you will survive.
The highway to freedom
More than half of Americans live on the West coast, where frequent earthquakes on the East coast, where storms often serious hurricanes. Therefore, it is not so difficult to imagine a scenario in which people living in coastal areas should avoid flooding, escaping from him in a mountainous area. And these major cities? A perfect target for the attacks of the villain and future breeding grounds of plague. Solved problems need to escape in the mountains of the Central United States, Colorado is the best option.
To simulate the situation in extremely three journalists moved on, experience yourself and your four-wheel drive trio “Armageddon”.
Hundreds of miles through the mountains will allow you to determine what car is best prepared to live in difficult conditions, which one has the most considered balance of performance, fuel economy and comfort on the road.
For a quick escape from the coastal cities it is difficult to overtake G550. A flying “Brick” does 100 km/h in 5,9 seconds and passing the quarter mile time is 14.4 seconds with an output maximum speed of 154 km/h. Press the accelerator pedal to the floor and regardless of the speed you get quieter and very responsive car. Lightning adventure automatic transmission, both down and up several stairs, double turbine provide an absolute wall of torque. This factor really helps the G-Class to create killer acceleration, even at the height of the mountains, the lack of power and torque you will have.
The only negative for this speed – fuel consumption. G550 in real conditions spends 13.8/ 15,6/ 14.7 liters per 100 km in city/ highway/ and combined cycle.
Remove two turbines, two cylinders and two gears for Mercedes-Benz, get a Rubicon, which accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 8,2 seconds and it takes 16.3 seconds to complete the quarter mile. The maximum speed is 132 km/h. the combination of the V6 and five-speed auto box is good in Los Angeles, but this is absolutely insufficient for normal drive at high altitudes. Compared with their high-power opponents Wrangler looks a little pale. The passage of the pass for Jeep becomes a serious challenge, requiring the driver of patience and calculation.
The real fuel consumption during operation of the Jeep Wrangler have shown that this SUV is not very efficient: 16.8 / 13.8 / 15,6 liters. Such profligacy can backfire in a world where every litre of fuel counts.
Land Cruiser is a cross between G-Class and the Wrangler. The Toyota acceleration takes 6.8 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h 15.2 seconds to complete the race at the quarter-mile with an output speed at the finish – 146 km/h. Land Cruiser Rides softly, the cabin is quiet. However, there is something to improve: brakes are too sensitive, the box always in a hurry to throw early transmission for increased fuel economy, it’s annoying. Annoyed would switch less if the efficiency of the Land Cruiser was truly palpable, but the consumption of shows during your stay in 19.6/ 12.3 / 16.8 liters can not be called economical. Even a 111 litre tank with the high flow rate is not enough, had to refuel every 500 km.
By the way, it is worth noting that the Australian specification Land Cruiser come standard with a 54 litre additional tank can safely reach an additional 250 km.
Nuclear winter is coming
What’s good about the mountains? In the mountains there is snow. And the snow we need for the next test. On controllability, maneuverability in the snow and frost. Reach the top there we met a school of extreme driving Bridgestone. The guys from the snowy Kingdom pereobuli Jeep and Toyota in winter tires Blizzak. For G550 in connection with the increase in diameter of the rims, winter tires, was not found. After a day of acclimatization began figuring out who would be the best in the snow.
The best way to figure out which car is worthy of wearing the title of the most passable in the snow, as we thought then, it was one competition, the high-speed transmission, manoeuvring on the strip of snowy obstacles. Compacted snow, rugged terrain, consisting of drifts, UPS and downs with counter gradients, loose snow and slush, this was the track.
The chain of three cars we started to roll around, competing with each other not so much in speed how many in the opportunity to continue uninterrupted movement. And here we got a nasty overlay, we never guessed immediately. The competition was doomed to fail as it was conducted was not fair, one participant was a wrong rubber. Yes it was a G550. He actually showed the worst result. Twice stuck in the snow, several times having lost control in the fast lane, “the Box” was eliminated from the winter competition, Pirelli Scorpion Zero are unable to sustain may be significant clutch.
Second place from the end was rewarded with the Jeep. The presence of winter tires has not become for him a significant advantage. Handling due to the longer base turned out to be a bit blunt, response to the taxi came immediately. Yes, Wrangler is well felt on high speed sections of the groomed trails but in the snow and on technical areas lost to Toyota in many ways.
The Land Cruiser was almost sports rally car in snow compared to the two other participants in racing. Toyota easily worked his way into deep slush, overcame the icy sludge that was the only car of the three that escaped from the departure routes. In contrast, Toyota was a car, stuck vytaskivanii colleagues. As if mocking the weakness of the opponents Land Cruiser eased into the drift, and in General behaved provocatively. First place!
Hot madness
Kings Of The Hills. If you really need to run away from danger and hide in the wilderness, these three will lead you further from danger than any other car.
Americans are very afraid of war with the Soviet Union. The construction of individual family shelters, distribution maps with the most likely targets for nuclear strikes. Panic still sitting in the shower almost every ordinary American. Because of this, the next test was to check the hot canyons of Utah, where the trio have been tested to come to such a wilderness, where not pass virtually none of the standard car in the world. It is only away from civilization it is possible to hide from a nuclear attack.
Enchanting sandy and rocky landscape. Around like the Wild West. In natural scenery the winner was predetermined before the start of the competition, which was to assault a pair of rocky hills, descending in one shallow ravine and drive the burning sand.
Of course the unconditional victory was won Wrangler Rubicon. He was bred for just such conditions, and once again proved its leadership in these natural conditions.
It has become a benchmark, if Jeep could never conquer an obstacle, chances G550 and Toyota was not even more so. The main work in these conditions did suspension, tires and accessibility. Opportunities to climb craggy rocks, the Wrangler is simply amazing. The pictures speak for themselves.
Mercedes didn’t want to give up without a fight. Yes it is expensive and a luxury car, Yes its dynamic performance is close to those of Ferrari in the mid 90-ies, but the German drove almost everywhere, the place visited by Wrangler. The only thing that really lacked Gelendwagen in such conditions – geometric cross. In some places, was a serious danger to not only tear off the bumper, and damage to intercoolers, which for some strange reason was located very close to the earth.
The rest of the G-Class remains an SUV. Will travel almost anywhere, the main thing is to get the right tires. And yet he gets the third place in the test.
And finally, Toyota. This controversial Land Cruiser. Don’t know why, but many noted that, while driving “Kruzak”, standing in front of the obstacle, was the same feeling that the Japanese will not be able to overcome it. Each time he refuted those thoughts.
Big Japanese guy was able to pass each section, that overcame two other vehicles. Just turn on the Crawl Control and Turn Assist. Second place.
Only the strong survive
It’s time calculations. Several long days full of adventure came to an end. Checkmark the participants.
And so, on the highway it is best to rush to the Mercedes-Benz G-Class acceleration as a hurricane, no tsunami or earthquake to catch up with the rapid German is simply unable. Payback for the speed – fuel consumption and aerodynamic body kit, which sometimes will hinder off-road.
Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon Hard Rock behaves well on the challenging rocky surfaces. This is his element. The rest is quite grey and nondescript car. Best to hide from the consequences of major industrial disasters. Wrangler can take you away from civilization.
And finally Toyota Land Cruiser, the Jack of all trades. And in the snow and on the highway, and on rocky terrain showed everyone what it means to Japanese quality and engineering thought.
Third place: Mercedes-Benz G550
The legendary G-Wagen is a competent and capable SUV. A little extra protection and maybe one of the diesel engines offered in Europe could change the course of events. Unfortunately only third place.
Second place: Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon Hard Rock
Little Jeep bravely fought for the top spot on the podium, but the strength is not enough. In the truest sense of the expression. Main complaint – not enough power, mediocre transmission. The rest of the Wrangler earned the second place.
First place: Toyota Land Cruiser
At first we were skeptical about its size. But Toyota proved otherwise, it can rely on in the hardest moments, in the most impassable places.