Used Car Face-Off: Rugged European SUVs

"Amoore100" (amoore100)
08/05/2016 at 22:21 • Filed to: Used Car Face-Off, Land Rover, Iveco, Mercedes

America seems to be credited with inventing the off-roader. Most truly off-road capable SUVs, from the venerable Land Cruiser and Land Rover to the lesser-known Suzuki Jimny, have been inspired by the original American Jeeps which were an icon for the triumph of WWII, especially in Europe. Inspired by the Jeep’s success in defeating the Germans, today we see who followed their legacy best, whether it be the British, the Germans themselves, or the Italians through the Spanish from the British. Here are the options:

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This Land Rover is an agricultural beast but looks pretty awesome and is definitely ready for the European countryside. Is the 113 hp petrol motor enough with the stick shift, or would you be embarrassed to pilot this tractor through the center of town?

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Now a symbol of wealth and affluence, this G-wagen is much more utilitarian that today’s although it still has a rather fetching black leather and wood grain interior. A 185 hp diesel auto might be anemic, though you’ll look stylish (to any uneducated American) while going slowly.

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This is basically a license-built Defender from Santana in Spain, sold by Iveco of Italy. It’s the newest here but also seems to be the least well equipped. Is its 178 hp Italian diesel mated to a stick shift a sweet spot, or do you turn your nose up at this SUV from another mother?

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DISCUSSION (12)

Ferdinand Adlersflügel > Amoore100
08/05/2016 at 22:32

I came here to say that the G-Wagen is in no way big and that is coming from someone shorter than your average 12-year-old.

shop-teacher > Amoore100
08/05/2016 at 22:34

If I have to pick one, I’ve gotta pick the original. If we do a DD, trail, burn though, that goes like this:

DD: G-wagon

Trail: Landy

Burn: The imposter

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > Amoore100
08/05/2016 at 22:37

This is not even a contest especially considering that the Defender is both a 110 and has the reliable 2.5L

RT > Amoore100
08/05/2016 at 23:16

In this spec it can’t resist the Deffy. It’s got the right engine and transmission. So the Defender is my choice.

I love the G-Wagen’s leather though, I might have chosen it over the Deffy if it wasn’t for the auto box.

As for the Iveco - it’s just a slightly worse version of the Deffy imo. Random fact: Iveco vans are pretty common throughout Europe, so you could say I see an Iveco Daily ‘Daily’ (though it’s more likely that I would see them weekly - maybe monthly).

Amoore100 > Ferdinand Adlersflügel
08/05/2016 at 23:30

Well, it used to be big. Now that everything’s gotten bigger, it isn’t. Granted, rugged is likely a better title than big; I’m going to change the title. Anyways, nice prof pic by the way ;)

Amoore100 > RT
08/05/2016 at 23:42

I had no idea a petrol four with only 115 was so desirable in a two ton truck! I guess only Americans need an off-roader that gets from 0-60 in under 8 seconds...

The G-Wagen would be great for just cruising along, although with proper 4x4 you should be off the road anyways so the auto box is somewhat antithetical to its image.

Well, the Iveco is somewhat refreshed at least, and it has a more powerful, torquey diesel than the Landy. That must count for something? Pity about the looks though. It’s striking but can’t come close to the Rover in terms of handsomeness.

Amoore100 > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet
08/05/2016 at 23:44

I guess I accidentally found a crowd favorite with the Landy!

Amoore100 > shop-teacher
08/05/2016 at 23:44

Fair enough. That’s probably what my list would look like too, although I wouldn’t feel right driving the G-Wagen entirely on asphalt. Perhaps if I had a gravel drive it would be more appropriate ;)

Spridget > Amoore100
08/06/2016 at 00:27

The Iveco. Sure, it’s a knock off of a British designed built in Spain and redesigned by the Italians. The only possible way that combination could be worse were if the Russians and the French were somehow involved. However, it’s just so different than the other options- the G-Wagen looks like a luxobarge G to me, not the original, and the four door doesn’t look as good as the two door. The Defender, while like the Iveco’s better made cousin and cheaper (and it’s somehow British!), is just so boring. Sure, it’s a Land Rover, sure they never sold them here in huge numbers, but if I’m going to drop close to $20k on a car, it damn well better be interesting, and the Iveco is.

RallyWrench > Amoore100
08/06/2016 at 00:29

I’m going with the Landy, but the Iveco is intriguing. Proper G’s like that one are neat and very durable, but they can’t beat the look of a Series. The G wagen feels like a tarted up truck trying to fit in, and the Rover just gives zero fucks and gets on with it. Based on the few G’s I’ve had in the shop, should something go awry, the Rover is also much more likely than they are to let you fix it trailside and get home.

Amoore100 > RallyWrench
08/06/2016 at 01:05

I agree, the Landy is obviously best but the Iveco is an interesting curiosity since it takes something well-known and puts a new twist on it. Yeah, this was the era when Benz decided the G-wagen should start becoming a bit more fancy and IMO they suffered for it; it should have stayed a mini-Unimog and maybe been marketed under their truck brand, but then what would Hollywood drive now that Hummer’s been discontinued?

RT > Amoore100
08/06/2016 at 13:38

Yep, I know what you mean there.

In theory the Iveco should have the better powerplant - but as down on power the Deffy is, it has a super dependable engine. So it’s going to be slower, but it would be a lot tougher and reliable (plus it sounds a bit better too imo).