DIRTY DEEDS

COMPARISON | Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon vs. Land Rover Discovery vs. Lexus LX 570 vs. Mercedes-Benz G 550

Born and raised among the skyscrapers of New York City and now living in sprawling Los Angeles, I’m used to city life. I’m inured to creeping rush-hour traffic, to stepping over sidewalk trash, to the ever-present light pollution; they’re sacrifices we make to live in the places we love. But city life wears on you, a realization that can hit in an instant. A knowing glance or diverted gaze during a chance encounter with one of the millions of others beaten down by the daily grind could be all it takes to make you want to get away.

But I—perhaps like you—have life to deal with. I work during the week and spend my weekends playing catch-up. Memories of my first sleepaway camp and seeing the Milky Way pop from the inky, unadulterated night sky, remains an escapist dream.

Breaking free ain’t easy.

For those who must reconnect with nature, these four SUVs make it easier to stay alive during the week and live on the weekends.

For our comparison test, we wanted SUVs that were comfortable on a daily commute or road trip but also able to venture well off the beaten path for a night of primitive camping to escape our fellow man. That meant we needed the everyday comfort of a crossover, the features and technology of a modern sedan, and the off-road capability of a ZVM-2901. (YouTube it. You’re welcome.)

Because American roads aren’t quite ready for screw-driven off-roaders, we assembled four legendary and street-legal nameplates: Jeep Wrangler, Land Rover Discovery, Lexus LX, and Mercedes-Benz G-Class. This group will get you out of town—and then some.

Our test would have us driving north from Los Angeles along the eastern portion of the Sierra Nevada to Bishop, California, where the following day we’d tackle the trail to Coyote Flat, about 10,000 feet above sea level. Then we’d camp. It’s not Moab, but this 20-odd-mile trail includes deep sand, rocks, cliff faces, and multiple water crossings.

We wanted something that the average Joe or Jane could take off-road with confidence after a tough week crushing soybean futures. To cast as wide a net as possible, price is ignored. The winner would be the vehicle that best balances off-road performance with on-pavement drivability.

The Field

The 2018 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon is the latest evolution