These 4 Wheeler SUVs Are Racing the Longest US Off-Road Rally. Here’s What We Think of Them
The field of competitors at the Rebelle Rally is quite amazing: 65 teams of polished, accomplished women, 70 in all, driving and navigating through the wilds of California and Nevada, searching for elusive check points to earn points toward a poduim in this competition. The third competitor on each team, though? The 4 wheeler SUV (or pickup truck or crossover) they are driving.
For 2024 it’s an impressive field of SUVs: Most are new or relatively new, many are the pinnacle of the brand, and many have a price approaching $100,000—a price tag alone that would keep most people from driving it off the pavement. But these women are not most people.
Here are the 4 wheeler SUVs they’re driving in the Rebelle Rally and what we think of them, since we’ve driven them too (we’ll cover crossovers and trucks in another story).
This story is 100% human researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks. No AI was used.
Jeep Wrangler, the Classic 4Wheeler SUV and Most Popular Teammate
The Jeep Wrangler is the quintessential SUV: Tall, agile and capable on any terrain. However, there are trims and models that can make it even more capable: Rubicon, which is named for the famous Rubicon Trail, arrives off the dealership floor ready to roll and is probably the most capable. The 392 Rubicon, which carries a 470- hp producing V8 engine are at the top of the range roars with power.
The Wrangler 4Xe gives competitors the advantage of better MPG and holding your electric power until you want to use it, so you can sneak up to a check point unnoticed by other competitors.
In all, 12 teams are competing in a Jeep Wrangler or Gladiator. With more than a quarter of the field in Jeeps, chances are, it’ll make a podium appearance.
Ford Bronco: This Newbie 4 Wheeler SUV Wins Second Most Popular
When the Rebelle Rally got its start there was one lowly Ford Bronco in the pack: A vintage Bronco that had been carefully cared for so it could compete. Fast forward to 2024 and the field is heavy with Broncos, the second most popular vehicle choice in the Rally: 12 teams will compete in Broncos.
Which Broncos do teams choose? There are 3 Raptor versions, a Badlands, a Wildtrak and a custom King of the Hammers edition. All are capable, though the Raptor edition might be the one to beat. Our Sara Lacey drove the Bronco Raptor twice and found it really boosted her confidence, in all things, which may be the advantage these drivers need to win the rally.
Land Rover LR4/Discovery, Unsung Land Rover Heroines
We’ve long loved the Land Rover Discovery, and it’s predecessor, the LR4, for a sensible approach to both luxury and capability. And while this sweet SUV isn’t as prominent as its siblings, clearly the ladies competing in the Rebelle Rally know something most don’t. There are three teams competing in an LR4 or Discovery, but only two are competing in a Land Rover Defender.
Land Rover Defender: A Modern Influencer in Off-Road Capability
When Land Rover brought back the Defender we knew something was up. Little did we know that the entire industry —yes, across the board— would take note and produce models inspired by this boxy, heritage inflected SUV.
Writer Jaclyn Trop called it a “mountain goat of an SUV,” that “with a ride height to rival a truck or tractor, the Defender reigned supreme over jagged landscapes worldwide.” There is only one team competing in a Land Rover Defender in the 2024 Rebelle Rally; if it’s the secret to taking the tile, this team will have the clear advantage.
Toyota 4Runner Continues to Be a Fan Favorite
We can’t get enough of the Toyota 4Runner 4 wheeler SUV and we are not alone: It’s rugged and designed to take a beating. Still, it looks great and its looks hold up over time. Inside, it’s got you covered with just enough comforts and all the capabilty you’ll need for anywhere you’ll go.
Writer Chastity Velasquez said the 4Runner is the “perfect car to help you feel like you’re ready for an adventure no matter where you are.” And for the four teams competing in a Toyota 4Runner, they’re in just the right place and the right SUV.
Ineos Grenadier, the Newest Yet OG-est 4 Wheeler SUV In the Field
This one should leave you feeling like royalty: it’s inspired by the heritage Land Rover Defender, but outfitted with all the newest gear, technology and features to assist getting across any landscape.
We love the Ineos Grenadier for its sensible approach to putting a new car on the road; the company went to established car and parts makers such as BMW, ZF and Recaro to create the ultimate SUV. And, it’s filled with rigor. Despite an $80,000+ price tag, it has an actual key and manually-adjusting seats. Less to sustain damage when you have to drive through 3 feet of water.
Toyota Land Cruiser: Another Fan Fave, Both Vintage and New
This one never surprises us when we see it on or off the pavement, racking up hundreds of thousands of miles through the life of each model built, and that’s part of its magic: it’s durability.
This year in the 2024 Rebelle Rally there are 3 teams competing in Toyota Land Cruisers: two in redesigned 2024 models and one in a vintage 2001 model. The teams competing in modern models may have an advantage when it comes to tech like crawl control multi-terrain drive modes and for stowing accessories; but the team in the vintage 2001 model may just have the advantage of space, age and wisdom in an SUV that’s not a newbie to this rally.
The Short-Lived, Much Loved Nissan XTerra 4 Wheeler SUV
Of all the entrants, this is the only one we haven’t driven, largely because it went out of production shortly after we started A Girls Guide to Cars. We never got the chance. And that’s a shame; you’ll still see the Xterra out on the road and on the trail, driven by people who value its lasting ruggedness and capability. If there’s one Nissan we hope makes its return from the vault, it’s this one.
Another Old-School Favorite: Lexus GX 460
We were sort of surprised to not see a single team driving the new Lexus GX, but perhaps no one is inspired enough (yet) to take this shinning new baby, which was just completely redesigned, out on the rally trail for a week. It’ll happen, eventually.
But we were not surprised at all to see at least one team in the last generation model of the Lexus GX, the 460. This is one of the sturdiest, yet fun and easy to handle full-size SUVs on the road. We drove a similar model over the summer, summiting 12,000 feet and climbing moderate rock trails in the process, and it ate it up like a champ. We can see why this SUV is so darn popular among off-roaders.
The Return of the Wildly Popular Toyota Sequoia
We can’t get enough of this 4 wheeler SUV, even if we are critical of its interior for a limited seating configuration. The redesign of the Toyota Sequoia a couple of years ago resulted a powerful, fun and easy to drive full-size SUV with all the space and tech to get you where you want and need to go. We’ve had a chance to drive it many times—five of our writers have weighed in on this one and all agree: It’s power is your power, and it feels awesome.
Feeling great behind the wheel—capable, able and in control—is where competing in the Rebelle Rally starts, and it’s what the third teammate, the 4 wheeler SUV, brings. We can’t wait to see how these SUVs fare, and if they can outpace the pickup trucks and best the crossover competitors also competing in the 2024 Rebelle Rally. More on that soon.
Categorized:Car Culture
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