A Dirty 4x4 Game of Tug of War

In this test, we put two of the most capable off-road vehicles on the market to the ultimate challenge: tug of war. The Land Rover Discovery HSE and the Toyota Land Cruiser were chosen for their impressive four-wheel-drive capabilities, but which one would emerge victorious? The Discovery's extra cylinders and more torque gave it an initial advantage, but our presenter was happy to take the Toyota, if only because the United Nations wouldn't dream of crossing a battlefield in anything else.

The first test was a tug-of-war across the center line. Both vehicles were equipped with three-liter diesel engines, but the Discovery's intelligent differential control system gave it an edge. The Land Rover's diff control allowed it to adapt to changing conditions and make the wheels turn at the same speed, providing more traction and grip. However, the Toyota's traditional open-differential setup proved effective in this test, with the Land Cruiser losing out by a hair.

But what really sets these vehicles apart is their grunt and towing capacity. The Discovery has an impressive 140 pounds foot of torque, compared to the Land Cruiser's 120 pounds foot. This extra power and ability to tow half a ton more than the Toyota give it a significant advantage in this test.

4x4 Pull Rescue

Next up was the 4x4 pull rescue challenge, where our presenter had to use the claw system to rescue an inflatable "mate" named Brian from a muddy pit. The Discovery's clever design and braking technology gave it an initial advantage, but our presenter's unorthodox approach – using some braking on the bonnet and leaning out of the window to grab Brian – ultimately proved successful in just 31.3 seconds. Meanwhile, the Land Cruiser took a more traditional approach, but still managed to pull Brian to safety in 19.7 seconds.

The difference between these two approaches was stark. The Discovery's use of advanced technology and clever design made it significantly faster in this test. But what really stood out was our presenter's unorthodox methods – using the car's body as a makeshift tow bar, for example – which ultimately proved effective in rescuing Brian. It's clear that when it comes to off-road rescue missions, a more aggressive approach can be the key to success.

Suspension Slawting Obstacle Course

Finally, both vehicles were timed on an obstacle course featuring suspension-slawting boulders. Our presenter drove the Discovery first, with its smooth and refined ride giving it an initial advantage. The Land Cruiser's utilitarian design and ruggedness proved less effective in this test, with the Toyota taking a significant amount of time to complete the course.

But what really stood out was the difference in handling between the two vehicles. The Discovery's advanced technology and precise suspension gave it an edge in terms of control and stability, making it feel like a luxury limousine compared to the Land Cruiser's more rugged and agricultural nature. It wasn't just that the Land Cruiser felt less refined – it actually struggled with the obstacles, whereas the Discovery made it look easy.

In the end, the results were clear: both vehicles excelled in their respective areas of testing. But when it came down to it, our presenter preferred the Discovery's refined approach and advanced technology. The Land Rover may not have had the same level of off-road capability as the Toyota, but its overall package made it a more appealing choice for everyday driving.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enthe Toyota Landcruiser and Land Rover Discovery have been off-road rivals through decades of war zones Outbacks jungles now there's two fresh versions available so we're here to decide which one you'd rather spend your own money on this Land Cruiser is top spec the LC 5 and it costs 47,000 pounds and this flagship spec Discovery HSE is 53,000 quid first up a dirty 4x4 game of tug of war to test talk grip and general hardness I'm going to take the discovery because it has two more cylinders and more torque which should mean it tugs harder than the Land Cruiser but I'm happy taking the Toyota if only because the United Nations wouldn't dream of crossing a battlefield in anything else first across the center line loses because this has got an intelligent diff control what that means is Land Rover will decide whether or not it thinks it needs to lock its disk a lot differential is useful when conditions are slippy it makes the wheels turn at the same speed and gives you more traction it's telling me I've lost grip unaware of that with an extra of 140 pounds foot of tour and a smarter differential sending it to the wheels that discovery edged ahead both of these vehicles may use a three liter diesel but this test illustrates very neatly that their discovery has more grunt a lot more power and the ability to tow half a ton more than the Toyota the second test is 4x4 pull rescue while we've got to save my mate inflatable Brian in the fastest time possible all face down I'm going to use the claw system and I'm going to put it on a medium core so I can take my feet off all the pedals lean out the window and grab him and the car just crawls along it's a cunning plan okay Johnny boy I am ready three two one off you go that's the cool system well she's using some some braking technology over the bonnet quite significantly and we don't have snorkels on here so we don't want to drown the engine down again soon is fast lane the exhaust is under the water keep the revs up big she's done it I've never heard a man in quite such a fashion you actually saved brian in 31.3 seconds excellent behavior that's not bad I'm sure you'd pull brakes quicker on your marks get set go okay I don't know how fast to actually go into the water quite a big foul age as well as the all grain in the body I've got to make sure I get in before the better wave does I think he's pushing briar too far away I cannot believe how fast you you went I was gunning baby Osgood 19.7 seconds more than ten seconds quicker so the moral of the story is when it comes to off-road a gung-ho approach will often get the job done quicker than the line on two fantastic technology and so to the final challenge each car will be timed as it takes on a suspension slaughtering obstacle course I will drive both cars to keep it consistent which means Johnnie's in charge of the stopwatch three two one starts to race I think I've ever had but you mustn't rush not on these big boulders no it definitely knows great thing about the Land Rover is you don't have to be like an off-road warrior to know all the lingo you literally know why you're traveling turn the knob over there's rocks swivel lots of rocks the ride mines up if you think it's gonna get really rough you rock it's so incredibly easy to use okay yeah 20 miles an hour 25 miles an hour the rest actually went to 3,000 the NGS is it better than the landcruiser very refined actually and it's not amazing stop the clock two minutes 53 that's not bad that was a piece of cake it hasn't even broken a sweat nor the review that's an important point totally it's very very refined right Landcruiser three two one thick dope okay okay now I put it in rock mode okay yeah and I'm also Jack the suspension up but you can only jack it up at the rear but I'm definitely sleeping lots of them yeah it's definitely kissing the rocks didn't perfectly definitely it feels a bit straining a lot more and I think it's only because if that engine is noisy it makes you think that it's working harder yeah yeah it's definitely a little bit more agricultural yeah does it make you feel special no I still can't get out but it's only a four cylinder turn to the side okay try it's 31 two minutes 31 stone the crows which is 22 seconds quicker I put the toyota's Big Willie margin down to one simple fact the Land Cruisers utilitarian field means you're much happier hurling is it obstacles than the discovery which feels more like a luxury limousine in comparison there's not much between there off-road skills but we prefer the discoveries refined approach youthe Toyota Landcruiser and Land Rover Discovery have been off-road rivals through decades of war zones Outbacks jungles now there's two fresh versions available so we're here to decide which one you'd rather spend your own money on this Land Cruiser is top spec the LC 5 and it costs 47,000 pounds and this flagship spec Discovery HSE is 53,000 quid first up a dirty 4x4 game of tug of war to test talk grip and general hardness I'm going to take the discovery because it has two more cylinders and more torque which should mean it tugs harder than the Land Cruiser but I'm happy taking the Toyota if only because the United Nations wouldn't dream of crossing a battlefield in anything else first across the center line loses because this has got an intelligent diff control what that means is Land Rover will decide whether or not it thinks it needs to lock its disk a lot differential is useful when conditions are slippy it makes the wheels turn at the same speed and gives you more traction it's telling me I've lost grip unaware of that with an extra of 140 pounds foot of tour and a smarter differential sending it to the wheels that discovery edged ahead both of these vehicles may use a three liter diesel but this test illustrates very neatly that their discovery has more grunt a lot more power and the ability to tow half a ton more than the Toyota the second test is 4x4 pull rescue while we've got to save my mate inflatable Brian in the fastest time possible all face down I'm going to use the claw system and I'm going to put it on a medium core so I can take my feet off all the pedals lean out the window and grab him and the car just crawls along it's a cunning plan okay Johnny boy I am ready three two one off you go that's the cool system well she's using some some braking technology over the bonnet quite significantly and we don't have snorkels on here so we don't want to drown the engine down again soon is fast lane the exhaust is under the water keep the revs up big she's done it I've never heard a man in quite such a fashion you actually saved brian in 31.3 seconds excellent behavior that's not bad I'm sure you'd pull brakes quicker on your marks get set go okay I don't know how fast to actually go into the water quite a big foul age as well as the all grain in the body I've got to make sure I get in before the better wave does I think he's pushing briar too far away I cannot believe how fast you you went I was gunning baby Osgood 19.7 seconds more than ten seconds quicker so the moral of the story is when it comes to off-road a gung-ho approach will often get the job done quicker than the line on two fantastic technology and so to the final challenge each car will be timed as it takes on a suspension slaughtering obstacle course I will drive both cars to keep it consistent which means Johnnie's in charge of the stopwatch three two one starts to race I think I've ever had but you mustn't rush not on these big boulders no it definitely knows great thing about the Land Rover is you don't have to be like an off-road warrior to know all the lingo you literally know why you're traveling turn the knob over there's rocks swivel lots of rocks the ride mines up if you think it's gonna get really rough you rock it's so incredibly easy to use okay yeah 20 miles an hour 25 miles an hour the rest actually went to 3,000 the NGS is it better than the landcruiser very refined actually and it's not amazing stop the clock two minutes 53 that's not bad that was a piece of cake it hasn't even broken a sweat nor the review that's an important point totally it's very very refined right Landcruiser three two one thick dope okay okay now I put it in rock mode okay yeah and I'm also Jack the suspension up but you can only jack it up at the rear but I'm definitely sleeping lots of them yeah it's definitely kissing the rocks didn't perfectly definitely it feels a bit straining a lot more and I think it's only because if that engine is noisy it makes you think that it's working harder yeah yeah it's definitely a little bit more agricultural yeah does it make you feel special no I still can't get out but it's only a four cylinder turn to the side okay try it's 31 two minutes 31 stone the crows which is 22 seconds quicker I put the toyota's Big Willie margin down to one simple fact the Land Cruisers utilitarian field means you're much happier hurling is it obstacles than the discovery which feels more like a luxury limousine in comparison there's not much between there off-road skills but we prefer the discoveries refined approach you\n"