1948 Willys Jeep vs Mahindra Roxor – Off-Road Test

Mahindra & Mahindra is known for building some of the most rugged vehicles in India, like the Scorpio, XUV500, and the Thar. Even in the international markets, the Indian carmaker has managed to earn a name for itself. Even in the US, Mahindra Roxor is quite a well-known name among off-road enthusiasts.

Mahindra Roxor is a recreational vehicle sold by the company in the United States of America. It is based on the iconic Thar. The Roxor is known for being a fun, affordable, and extremely capable 4x4 off-roader. It is not a road-legal vehicle though, and as such is limited exclusively to trail driving and dune bashing. That said, there are plenty of other options in the US car market that are not only extremely capable but have an impressive pedigree as well. One such vehicle is the Willys CJ-2A. Here, see the legendary Willys Jeep competing against the Mahindra Roxor in an off-road challenge.

Off-Road Comparison: Mahindra Roxor Vs. 1948 Willys CJ-2A Jeep | Jalopnik

The off-road comparison has been performed by Jalopnik and posted on their YouTube channel. The first test is the RTI (Ramp Travel Index) test, where the vehicles are compared based on their articulation. The further a vehicle can drive a single front wheel up a steep ramp without lifting any one of the rear wheels off the ground. Although the Roxor performed quite well, the Willys Jeep manages to win easily. The second test is a hill climb test, which both the vehicles clear without the slightest hitch, resulting in a tie.

For the third test, both the cars were driven through mud and slush. As they were fitted with all-terrain tyres, finding grip in the slush was quite difficult. Still, both the Jeep and the Mahindra performed decently well here. Next, we have the breakover angle test. The Willys manages to sail past through without any issue. The Mahindra, however, suffers due to its slightly longer wheelbase (16-inch longer) and gets caught over the concrete, thus making Jeep the winner here.

The tests ended soon though after the Jeep was first damaged while driving over some boulders and later after it got hydro-locked in a pond. As the Roxor was a press vehicle, it wasn’t subjected to these damaging tests. Overall, the Mahindra was a great off-roader, more comfortable than the Jeep and easier to drive as well, but as the Willy CJ-2A managed to outperform it in the tests, it was declared the winner of this comparison.