Off-Road Challenge: Mercedes-AMG G63 Vs Jeep Wrangler Vs Suzuki Jimny
Giancarlo Perlas October 26, 2019Which is the superior off-roader among the Mercedes-AMG G63, Jeep Wrangler and Suzuki Jimny? To answer this question, Mat Watson pitted all three sport utility vehicles against each other under different off-road conditions.
Tale of the Tape
The Mercedes-AMG G63 has the most powerful engine among the three and the most output. It has a 4.0-liter biturbo V8 with 585 hp and 850 Nm of torque distributed via a nine-speed automatic transmission system. The iconic Mercedes has three differential locks and low range mode for rough terrains.
The Suzuki Jimny pales in comparison to its rivals with its 1.5-liter naturally-aspirated four-cylinder engine producing a mere 101 hp and 130 Nm of torque managed by a five-speed manual gearbox. The vehicle does not have diff locks but it does offer a low range mode for its four-wheel-drive system.
The Jeep Wrangler has the most rugged design compared to its competitors, which makes it the most likely candidate to win the off-road challenge. It is fitted with a 2.0-liter turbo giving off 272 hp and 400 Nm of torque distributed through an eight-speed automatic transmission. The SUV boasts two diff locks with an ability to decouple its anti-roll bars. Among the three, this is the only one equipped with off-road tires.
Results (Spoiler Alert)
During the uphill battle, the AMG G63 made a quick work of its challengers, thanks to its strong engine. Surprisingly, the Jimny bested the Wrangler for the second place, which was possibly due to its lighter body.
The second was an axial twist battle where the Jeep overshadowed the others. Meanwhile, the Suzuki experienced traction issues along the way. The Mercedes came in second in the scoring because Watson was more careful with it due to the positioning of its exhaust pipes.
The third puts the banking potentials of the autos to the test. Again, the Wrangler was found to have the best articulation in its axle. The AMG G63 was second and the Jimny had the most struggle in this part.
The fourth was a maneuverability challenge wherein the differential locks of the Jeep and Mercedes were disabled. The obstacle course was completed by the Suzuki the quickest at 30 seconds because of the compact design that made it the most nimble among the three. The Wrangler did it in 44 seconds while the AMG G-Class spent the longest time at 56 seconds because its driver had a hard time making past a tight U-turn due to its long wheelbase.
The fifth was a downhill contest to check the descent control of each SUV. The last to pass the finish line was the Jeep, followed by the Mercedes and the quickest was the Suzuki.
Wrapping up the race is a steep incline climb. The AMG G63 smoothly conquered the terrain despite its heavy weight because of its tremendous output. The Jimny was also successful because of its light frame. It came as a surprise that the Wrangler failed to even finish the challenge.
Overall, based on the scoring of Watson, wherein the winner of each challenge gets 3 points, the second receives 2 points, the third garners a point and the one that fails to finish gets no point at all, the result was a tie. All three got a total of 12 points each.
