The Star Wars universe consists of planets that feature stunning terrain. From the sand-blasted Jakku, with its Star Destroyer graveyard and promising scavenger Rey, to the foreboding jungle of Dagobah, hidden retreat for Master Yoda, the conditions on each world vary greatly.
In the real world, terrain also varies greatly – from the Sahara desert to the Siberian wilderness or Arctic plains. Like in Star Wars, humans have invented a range of vehicles to contend with the wild and rugged planet Earth. While we may not have X-Wings or Sandcrawlers, the range of vehicles we do have can tackle anything.
But how well could they tackle Star Wars planets?
Join Motorparks as we look through some of the most prominent planets in the Star Wars universe to see which vehicle could contend with a galaxy far, far away…
Tatooine
Tatooine, an arid, sparsely-populated planet, is covered in sand and posed little interest to the galaxy at large until two rebel droids crash landed on it. It’s also the planet from which Anakin Skywalker and Luke Skywalker hail from.
Most possess landspeeders to skip over the rocky, sandy terrain in the blink of an eye….but in real life, we’ve yet to master that. Instead, we’ve got off-road vehicles that tackle the sand.
Seen in: Star Wars Episode I, II, III, IV & VI
Native Species: Jawa, Tusken Raider
A vehicle that is reliable, modifiable and rugged as they come, the Jeep Wrangler would be suited to Tatooine thanks to its off-road performance and, in the scrapyard style planet, relatively affordable price.
- Heavy duty off-road performance.
- Removable canopy – an essential for the heat of Tatooine.
- 280bhp engine that does 0-62mph in 10.6s.
- Top speed of 107mph/172.2kph – would take 60 hours to drive the diameter of the planet.
Hoth
Hoth is one of the most famous planets from the original trilogy; a sprawling ice world that hides the Rebel Alliance. Alliance snowspeeders and Imperial AT-AT walkers have clashed on this inhospitable world.
For the heroes of the franchise, the world was traversed with Tauntauns that need to be out of the cold before night hits. In the real world, you’d need a car that can withstand severe cold to handle this daunting planet.
Seen in: Star Wars Episode V
Native Species: Wampa, Tauntaun
Used in McMurdo Station, a U.S research station in the Antarctic, modified Ford E-Series vans are a stalwart of sub-zero travel. They are rugged vehicles which can drive long distances across desolate environments. However, the line is now being replaced by the Ford Transit.
The winter-taming E-series vans that are used in the Antarctic are six-wheel, 7.3-litre turbo variants with GPS communications and 20-speed transmission – no stranded nights sleeping in a Tauntaun necessary.
Jakku
Like Tatooine, the sandy world of Jakku is a desert planet that houses a special individual. Rey, the star of Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens, spends her days scavenging in the ruins left behind by the Galactic Civil War.
Similar to Tatooine, but favouring smaller vehicles that can outpace other scavengers and also navigate through the spaceship graveyard left behind on the planet, you’ll need something durable and nippy like Rey’s speeder bike to stake your claim as Jakku’s best scavenger.
Seen in: Star Wars Episode VII
Native Species: Jawa, Tusken Raider
Smaller than other Land Rovers, the Discovery Sport is a great choice to outlast other scavengers competing for scrap on Jakku thanks to a fast acceleration and great off-road performance without the size.
Coruscant
The seat of the Galactic Republic, Coruscant is an enormous city world that is full of flying vehicles and a sprawling urban environment populated with all manner of different species. Unfortunately, only airspeeders will suffice here as the lower levels of the planet are cut off by toxic fumes…
However, the cars and vehicles shown zipping through Coruscant are shiny and extravagant looking compared to the more weathered vehicles on other planets. The air taxis that travel the planet accelerate to 118mph/191kph – so you’ll need something sleek and speedy to keep up.
Seen in: Star Wars Episode I, II, III & VI
Native Species: Mikkian, Patrolian, Balosar, Gran, Bith
Sleek and fast? There’s only one choice. The Aston Martin Vanquish has everything it needs to suit the Coruscant scene (except the ability to fly!). It’s a premium vehicle you could imagine driving around Galactic councillors and senators.
The V12 Black Edition far outstrips the speed of the Coruscant taxis and would be an admirable choice of vehicle for any Star Wars denizen.
- Sleek, stylish and futuristic.
- 568bhp that does 0-62 in 4 seconds.
- Top speed of 197mph/317.04kph – easily able to outpace air taxis in case of pursuit, but might struggle against proper starships. Would take 38.6 hours to lap the whole, enormous planet.
Naboo
A planet of two halves, Naboo is a bountiful planet that has rolling terrain of hills, plains and cities – but also hosts the amphibian Gungans in underwater cities. A planet of incredible beauty, anything driven there should match the aesthetic beauty of Naboo’s starfighters and royal starship.
- Seen in: Star Wars Episode I, II, III, & VI
- Native Species: Gungan, The Naboo (Humans)
For driving through Naboo’s cities, you’ll need something sleek and sophisticated to compete with the luxury Starfighters. The Jaguar F Pace takes the stylings of luxury brand Jaguar, but offers a more rugged performance so you can ride across Naboo’s rolling hills and valleys.
Like Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui Gon Jinn, you might need to take a shortcut. In Naboo, this is done via an underwater trip through the planet’s core. The Rinspeed sQuba is the world’s first car that can be driven underwater; a concept car based on the chassis of the Lotus Elise.
Forest Moon of Endor
The forest moon of Endor is the site of one of the most pivotal battles in Star Wars’ history, as the Rebel Alliance raced to destroy a shield generator to take down the second Death Star. Full of difficult-to-navigate forests, grasslands and mountains, the most common form of transport was the speeder bike.
Seen in: Star Wars Episode VI
Native Species: Ewoks
Small, nippy and able to handle off-road conditions, the Fiat Panda is available as a 4×4 hatchback car that is only a little wider than speeder bikes but could handle the forest terrain of Endor in a way larger vehicles may struggle with.
It’s also fairly cheap to buy – so you won’t be too upset if it gets blown up by an AT-AT or angry Ewok…
May the 4th be with you!