Enjoy your popcorn as you witness the carnage unfold.
Although it doesn’t prove one vehicle is superior, car tug-of-war battles are quite an interesting internet phenomenon. While there are many factors that can help you win a tug-of-war competition, weight and traction will be the most important. You’re likely to be rudely surprised if you can’t get traction or put your power down to the ground. The carwow team decided it was time for Land Rover Defender to face off against the old truck in a tug-of-war to see if the new Land Rover Defender is truly better than the old.
The analog Land Rover Defender is our first contender. The Defender’s turbodiesel engine produces 122 horsepower (90kW) as well as 265 lb-ft (356nm) of torque. This classic engine is mated with a manual transmission and manual high range mode. It harkens back the fun days of off-roading long before computers arrived. The Defender comes with very aggressive offroad tires that are great for gaining traction on slippery terrain such as grassy fields.
You can compare the old Defender to the new truck to see how far we have come. The Defender now has an 8-speed auto transmission, mated with a 2.0-liter turbodiesel engine that produces 240 horsepower (187kW), and 317 lbft (430nm), of torque. The new school defender uses computer intervention to control traction and provide drivers with the best performance on difficult off-road terrain. The new Defender, like all modern vehicles, is heavier than the older truck due to safety standards and modern amenities.
This tug-of-war is very clear. The new Defender has an automatic transmission and is stronger. It is much more difficult for the Defender of yesteryear, which has a manual transmission and is lighter, to keep up. Both of these vehicles, regardless of their respective results, are amazing in their own ways.