An SUV Shootout, especially one comprising a several capable 4x4s, each of which we introduced in SUV Shootout Part 1: Meet the competitors, is not complete without gravel segments. Although the on-road driving manners of vehicles of this ilk are important (this is the environment where they’ll be driven most frequently, no less), an off-road SUV must be able to perform admirably when it’s taken off the beaten track, whether it’s on stretches of unpaved roads leading to a weekend destination or the those that are seldomly travelled and lead to the most desolate of environments.
Related: SUV SHOOTOUT PART 1: MEET THE COMPETITORS
SUV Shootout Route Day 1 — Cape Town to Tankwa Tented Camp (305 km)
The starting point: Cape Town. The destination: Tankwa Tented Camp. The first leg of the route comprised travelling both on the N1 and, then, following a stop at Ceres, the R355, which, at 250 km long, is South Africa’s longest stretch of uninterrupted gravel road, before we turned off towards the evening’s accommodation. Although the drive is around 300 km, with the R355 being as gruelling and, if you’re not cautious, dangerous as it is, it’s best to take it slow. Without making a pit stop, it can take up to five hours to get there. However, there is no rush. The Tankwa Karoo scenery is magnificent.
SUV Shootout Route Day 2 — Tankwa Tented Camp to Sutherland (187 km)
The second leg of the trip included challenging (and, sometimes, frightening) off-road driving. Bar the short stretch of tarmac that would finally lead us into the quaint Karoo town, where we stayed at the Sutherland Hotel, most of the day’s (187 km) driving were done on gravel, with the most testing (and impressive) road coming in the shape of the Ouberg Pass. However, traversing this pass is worth every second, especially when stopping at the summit. The view from 1 402 m is awe-inspiring.
SUV Shootout Route Day 3 — Sutherland to Cape Town (345 km)
The final leg of SUV Shootout was straight-forward: Sutherland to Cape Town via the national road (again, the N1).
Related: THE DEFENDER EXPERIENCE: DIRT TRACKING AND STARGAZING