This pairing of 4x4s for sale at a local used car dealership caught my eye – a 1978 Land Rover flanked by two more recent GMCs. Each is a vastly different interpretation of the 4×4 species.
The Land Rover is an ancestor of all current off-roaders, even if it was already considered a relic when it was built. To its left, the 2007 GMC Sierra is what a no-frills 4×4 looked like three decades later – it’s a Work Truck version, though calling this truck spartan in the company of the Land Rover seems sarcastic. On the Land Rover’s other side is a 2013 Yukon XL Denali, with luxury appointments that made these vehicles the darlings of suburbia.
If I were to choose between these three 4x4s, I’d pick the Sierra – low-level trim packages these days hold a lot of appeal to me. On the other hand, I can certainly see the appeal of all of them.
Which one would you choose?
Photographed in Fairfax, Virginia in October 2021.
The lingering remains of youth still floating around say Rover, but the Sierra is the one
I would take home in the real, adult world.
+1
Denali is right out, I live in suburbia but not THAT sort of suburbia. We’re more of a Grand Caravan / RAV4 sort of neighborhood.
+1 on Jon
It may not look it with all the aftermarket chrome bits, but that really is a Sierra Work Truck, or at most an SL. The gray plastic grille surround and bumper are the giveaways
It might be post-Halloween candy-induced madness, but I’d go for the Land Rover. Completely impractical for daily use, but it’s got charm.
The base Sierra with PepBoys bling (a few decades ago I would have referenced JC Whitney) just annoys me. If I didn’t have to spend my own money, on the purchase or fuel, I’d take the Yukon and strip off the chrome steps, put on some decent tires, and use it as a winter desert camping vehicle with a sleeping platform inside. That of course assumes it’s a true 4WD, not 2WD or AWD. The Rover? Not really realistic. And being a 1983 RHD import, possibly not able to be registered in my state. Though if it’s a diesel that may be easier.
Since my transportation needs are all set for the northeast climate, my choice is the Land Rover, just because it is unique.
We already have a 4Runner to provide reliable use in the mountains of CO, so I’d take the Rover, ummm… just because!
Not much of a 4X4, SUV, or Truck fan, but to my eyes, the black Yukon Denali is the best looking of the bunch, so that’s my pick. YMMV (If I picked that, my mileage would be terrible 😂).
Tough question. The minimalist in me likes the old one, but the practical minimalist might prefer the pickup. If I required spousal permission to bring one home the answer gets easier – the black Yukon. 🙂
The 2000’s Sierra is the better quality vehicle of the bunch, but age and mileage would probably make the newer Denali more practical. They are probably for sale for $10K and $15K.
The Sierra is the bargain of the bunch here, advertised at $13,900 (the low 72,000 mi. likely accounts for something here). The Land Rover is advertised at $15,900, and the Yukon’s price isn’t listed, but my guess is that it’s around $20,000, based on what others are selling for. Used cars aren’t cheap these days.
Land Rover every time only one that you can fix with baling wire and a hammer and you will be fixing it when you’re 20 miles from nowhere
Sierra or Yukon if I could remove the blingy parts.
Land Rover if I can add some blingy parts.
See Saabseller’s comment below about the shiny checker plate that’s already on the rear fender. So, you’re bling’s already there!
I’d take the Landrover Series III since I’ve wanted one for years ,have no interest in a Denali, and have a perfectly serviceable two wheel drive pickup.
Landy for me – it’s the only one with the steering wheel on the correct side 😉
Although to be honest I wouldn’t really want any of them for a daily driver. I don’t find either GMC particularly attractive inside or out, but comfort-wise they’d probably both be fine versus the Landy. In the 1980s I often travelled in Dad’s ’73 SWB Land Rover 90 work vehicle, and comfort was clearly not on Land Rover’s minds when designing it. I’m sure they’d have had square tyres if they could. Having said that though, the Landy’s exterior, especially with the Safari roof, is one of my favourite pieces of design. So all things considered, as long as I didn’t have to drive it further than town and back (14km return), I’d take the Landy.
As my daily driver in the summer is a Citroën 2CV I have to chose the Land Rover for its simple minimalist design. That is if I can’t find a Mehari.
The LR would fit in quite well on our Port Orford property. It’s getting slippery there with all this rain, and it would be perfect for driving out in the nearby boonies and such.
Landie 88 of course, but need to take that dreadful checker plate off the rear guard.
Yes I agree — the checker plate is odd there. More irritating to me than the Pep Boys add-ons on the Sierra. It’s only on the driver’s side; below is a photo from the dealer’s website.
Checking on the UK registration (visible on the front), it seems this Land Rover was last registered in the UK 15 years ago, so I wonder if the checker plate was added there, or in the US?
Is it there as a “repair” for corrosion or accident damage perhaps?
Landrover it has real off road capability and simple mechanicals Ive spent a lot of wheel time in a 73 series 3 SWB hard top like that.
You are not only comparing apples to oranges (hopefully a common phrase), you are comparing them both to bananas, too. Each has a different use.
Sierra looks so useful that I’d almost like to go back to work so I could use it. I hope I wouldn’t have to plug many screw-holes when I threw all that garbage away, though, it defeats the whole idea.
Love the Rover, there’s one in our neighborhood like this, but I’m a child of the 80s and am used to more comfort, more power, more reliability. I have a crusty old mechanic uncle who’d love the Rover. But I’ll take the Denali. Then I’d lift it ever so slightly and put all terrains on it.
Hands down, the Rover.
I’m at the stage of life where I don’t have a need for the others.
Properly maintained, the Rover will have a better return on investment.
The others will drop like a rock in resale value. Not to mention the care and feeding of them along the way.
Land Rover is not the ancestor of all current off roaders, it is merely England’s first copy off the Jeep. Just as the Bronco is Ford’s first copy of the Jeep
Ford was one of the manufacturers of Jeeps during WWII. Mostly early I believe, but I have seen one, many years ago now.
I would take the Yukon, but I could live with the Sierra fine, if need be. I rode in a Rover of similar vintage a few times and drove one once. No thanks.
I would love to have the Land Rover, but really I’d just drive it to the local hardware store once a month. I could use it on vacation, but only for day trips not to get 1,000 miles away. On the other hand, with my near visceral hatred of GM products I’m not sure which one I’d take if offered my choice.