BMW-Powered Range Rover Duels Defender V8 Showdown

BMW’s whole SUV “X” lineup comprises unibody designs, so the company doesn’t produce any off-roader. However, you can get a ladder-frame adventurous vehicle with an engine of Bavarian roots. The latest-generation Range Rover boasts the ubiquitous twin-turbo 4.4-litre V8, notably the N63 variant. This British programme has 530 hp and 750 Nm of torque.

Carwow has released a video where the Range Rover’s fifth-generation takes on the Defender V8 in an off-road showdown. The boxy vehicle is not powered by a BMW engine but rather a supercharged 5.0-litre V8 from Jaguar Land Rover producing 525 hp and 625 Nm (461 lb-ft). Although the Defender is slower and heavier than its competitors, its exceptional off-road capabilities should compensate for these shortcomings.

In the first confrontation, the huge Range Rover climbs the slope somewhat quicker than the Defender by putting the power on the road more efficiently. The second round in this sibling rivalry was odd – the slowest down the hill wins. Both had the Hill Descent Control system and low-range mode turned, and the Defender seemed more ready to go through the cones. Because of this, the Range Rover scored yet another victory.

A more relevant comparison followed as the two body-on-frame SUVs had to navigate a tight curve on a rough surface. The Defender looked to complete the course more smoothly, thereby winning that test. Carwow’s Mat Watson scratched one of the Range Rover’s side skirts, but it should buff out. Both students scored nine after all test rounds. The new Ineos Grenadier also offers BMW’s B57 and B58 inline-six engines.