Comparing 4×4 trucks is a bit like comparing wine. Everyone sees things differently. Based on their own preferences, those that know wine well will often pooh-pooh expert while he or she prattles on about the valley, farm and cork. Those who don’t know much about wine will want to learn something, and maybe adjust their wine choices based on what has been dished up. The long and short of it is: personal experience and taste can alter how a review is received, often from one extreme to the other.
Similarly, those who read or view a 4×4 truck comparison will react in a similar way. They will either learn something they didn’t know; agree outright with the presenter; think the test should have been done another way; disagree with the presenter here and there; or most significantly, reject all negative findings and praise all positive findings based purely on their own brand loyalty. It’s this last audience the presenter has to avoid at all costs. Personal brand loyalty, even in the smallest degree, can render invalid any findings in any vehicle review, and is especially damaging in a comparative test.
The problem
Enter the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon and the Land Rover Defender. In my view, these two stalwarts of the off-road and overland scene needed to be given a thorough, yet balanced review. But there is problem with these two brands: Jeep and Land Rover are arguably the two 4×4 brands that engender more love and passion than any other vehicles. If you like 4x4s, there is a good chance that you will have a strong opinion about one, or both of these brands. So strong, even jingoistic patriotism is often part of the scene when it comes to both these wonderful trucks.
First test
My first 4×4 comparative text was done in 2008. It was the same model Land Rover Defender, used in this current review, and the Toyota Land Cruiser 76 wagon. Like this latest video, YouTube views soared and comments flourished. What became plainly obvious was that my review had no or limited bias.
And I know this by the comments.
A typical comment by a hardened Toyota fan might read, “No wonder he made that comment. He’s British”. Or, “No surprises there, he owns a Land Rover.” Likewise, Land Rover fans might comment, “He prefers the Toyota because he is sponsored by them,” even though I wasn’t. To me, the fact that Rover fans conclude that I am biased toward the Toyota, and Toyota fans conclude that I am biased toward the Rover, proves to me that the review must be pretty well balanced. I like to point out that while its true that I have owed four Land Rovers, my current vehicle is a Land Cruiser, and I’m not Japanese.
Balance
Having a lot of experience with the Land Rover Defender (I owned one for eight years) I was comfortable with pitting it against any 4×4. But I had not much experience with the Wrangler. So I brought in a 4×4 trainer, John Rich, a man that I consider to be one of the best in the business. He is very experienced with the Jeep range, having had them as a sponsor for a while. I thought that with the two of us, we could produce a balanced and thorough review.
The video I made of the review has been the fastest growing in the history of my YouTube channel, with over 100 000 views in its first 10 days. So far, the comments are mostly pleasing and positive. Brand loyalty has reared its head several times, by mostly Jeep owners who don’t understand why I didn’t use the Jeeps lockers. The points they make are not invalid. Maybe I should have. Did they want their beloved Jeep to make total mincemeat of the Land Rover by using its lockers? Was the better off-road performance of the Jeep as demonstrated in the test not enough for them? I have to assume it wasn’t. Brand loyalty knows no bounds. Some seemed to think that I should have done the tests in a different way, and maybe I should have. But if I had done it their way, then the Land Rover fans would have equal rights to come at me waving the unfair flag.
What I tried to do was to compare two similar, yet dissimilar vehicles in a way that would be fair, enlightening and thought provoking. I was not hell-bent on proving one was better than the other, because truthfully, as I went into this test, I had no idea of what the test would reveal. What you see is what happened, with nothing contrived, added or taken away. We had a great day in the sun playing with two great 4x4s. I hope you enjoy the show!
New Land Rover versus Jeep Wrangler video here:
My response to comments. Why I did what I did, and what’s next:
The 2008 Land Rover versus Land Cruiser video is here:
Thanks to Kate White, my daughter, who worked tirelessly in 100° heat to shoot this footage. The vd Westhuisen family and Odendaal family for their support and loan of their vehicles. And John Rich of Stoney Ridge 4×4 Academy in South Africa (www.stoneyridge.co.za) for his time and knowledge.
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