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The Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 2door (4door lacks a bit in the breakover angle aspect) gets my vote. With BF Goodrich mud tires, a 4:1 low gear ratio, great approach, departure and breakover angles, locking front and rear differentials, brake lock "differentials" (traction control), front sway bar disconnect, etc. (The only weak point is the engine, a V6 delivering 237 lb ft of torque at 4,000 rpm.) This vehicle has purpose dictating design.
I am a two time Land Rover owner and love the strength of the frame, solid front and rear axles, fairly good suspension geometry/axle articulation, and a V8 delivering 300 ft lb at 2,600 rpm. My current is also a 2003 model. On the downside; these vehicles are overpriced, departure angles are quite poor (on all LR models except Defender), repairs are very costly and Land Rover mechanicals are prone to frequent failures. In terms of reliability for all Land Rover vehicles from about the year 2000 to 2008 Consumer Reports rates them with tons of "solid black circles" (worst score) and phrases such as "much worse than average". JD Power & Associates 2008 Vehicle Dependability Study ranks LR as the least reliable manufacturer with 344 problems per 100 vehicles, no other major auto manufacturer ranks nearly as bad (it's not just 2008, they have been at the bottom or very close to it since at least 2002). The post 2004 era has city slicker curb appeal dictating design.
For the most authentic vehicle out there for genuine off-road use I think the Wrangler Rubicon 2dr beats the Land Rovers hands down in terms of capability, reliability, owner satisfaction and value.
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