In their latest YouTube episode, the CarWOW team sets up a tug-of-war contest between an old Land Rover Defender and its modern counterpart.
The vanilla Def relies on a 2.2-liter turbo diesel good for 122 PS (120 hp / 90 kW) and 360 Nm (267 lb-ft) to propel it forward. It packs a six-speed manual transmission, a frame, a reduction gear and mechanical diff locks.
This year’s model is much more powerful (240 PS / 237 hp / 176 kW) and has superior torque potential (430 Nm / 317 lb-ft). An eight-speed ZF box sends the torque to all four wheels, and the body is integral. Locking the differentials can be done via a touchscreen display, and the torque gets distributed among the wheels automatically, and the suspension is air-cushioned. On the downside, the new Def weighs around 350 kg (770 lbs) more, has arguably inferior off-road tires, and costs about 67% more than the old model.
Several tests were performed in the video, but the winner was clear in the end.