Test drive Land Rover Defender 110 3.0 AWD 400 CV First Edition, a sublime reinterpretation of a 4x4

When a brand decides to update a classic or iconic model, it is always a critical point that can turn out well or end up with a model that has nothing to do with its predecessor.

We have taken the wheel of the new Land Rover Defender, an off-roader that arrives with an exterior look that changes little from the concept, with very eye-catching and avant-garde lines, and at the same time keeps the essence of its predecessor, the classic. The version we tested is the Defender 110 with the 3.0 petrol engine, with six cylinders in line and 400 CV of power, in the First Edition trim.

Design: from concept to the street, without losing the Defender essence

As I mentioned at the beginning of this article, updating a classic model is complex; it can go very well or very badly. In the world of motoring there are examples of both situations, with legendary model names that got worse in their reissue, and others that improved. This new Land Rover Defender is, without a doubt, a success story, since the designers of the British brand have managed to combine the traditional image of the Defender with a avant-garde, novel and robust design.

The image is robust, thanks to its straight shapes, its enormous dimensions and its height, but at the same time it is endowed with design elements that give it an avant-garde touch (details such as the LED rear lights, very simple yet eye-catching, or its black roof in contrast with the body, which retains the small windows of the classic model).

Of course, the spare wheel at the rear is not missing, with a tailgate that opens sideways, but it needs space if we open it fully when parking in line near other cars. In fact, seeing a spare wheel of that size on a new car in 2020 is a rare bird. The tyres are M+S types mounted on 20-inch rims, with a generous profile for off-road use.

When we move on to the interior of the Defender, we find a very spacious cabin with access that is somewhat complicated due to its height (we can always lower the car’s height thanks to the air suspension so that older people or those with reduced mobility can get in more easily). The dashboard design is modern and classic in equal parts, with rugged details such as exposed screws and modern ones, such as the fully digital instrumentation or the floating central screen.

The driving position is elevated, giving the feeling of driving a large vehicle due to its height and seating position, but it is comfortable. That said, lateral support could be improved. As a practical detail, besides the various storage spaces spread across the central console, there is also a huge glovebox in the central tunnel, which is refrigerated (it cools strongly).

The rear seats are enormous, with more than enough legroom and width for three adults, plus four sockets for charging our devices (USB and 12V sockets).

The interior feeling is one of space and comfort, it is clear that they have paid special attention to the detail of the storage spaces spread throughout the cabin and the USB and 12V charging sockets. As a point to consider, the height, which may make getting inside difficult.

The boot has a capacity of up to 1,075 litres, with five seats. A boot that also allows you to adjust the suspension height, to have a lower loading lip, and even includes a 220 V (conventional) power socket to plug in a low-power device.

Engine and performance: powerful 400 CV petrol

The mechanical range of the new Land Rover Defender consists of two engines, one petrol and one diesel. In the case of the petrol, the British have not messed about and have gone straight for a three-litre, six-cylinder in-line engine with 400 CV of power.

The feel of the engine is outstanding, smooth, with a strong and linear push, stretching the revs up to 6,500 rpm. You could say it has a sporty character, were it not for the fact that the body doesn’t match it, being typically off-road.

Overtaking is no problem, since it accelerates strongly, especially once we pass 4,000 rpm, always smoothly and with an exterior sound that wins you over; it feels like we are at the wheel of a sporty version of the Defender.

Among its performance figures, the 550 Nm of torque from just 2,000 rpm and the 0 to 100 km/h acceleration in just 6.1 seconds stand out. We must not forget that, besides its enormous size, its weight exceeds two tonnes (2,343 kg).

Paired with the engine is an eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox, a classic in the brand’s vehicles. The gearbox is reasonably quick in shifting, maintains smoothness in line with the engine, and has a retention capacity greater than usual in other automatic gearboxes, something that is welcome in an off-roader of this size and weight.

Road and motorway behaviour: comfortable, smooth and performant

Another achievement of the British firm with this new Defender is its surprisingly good behaviour on tarmac. This is not easy at all, as many pure off-roaders have dynamic behaviour as their logical weak point. The Defender surprises with its comfort, it stands out for its sublime interior soundproofing (more typical of a premium saloon) and excels in its composure on the road.

Given its dimensions and size, it has quite a lot of inertia, but the chassis reasonably keeps everything in place when we decide to drive on the motorway or on the road. That said, the behaviour worsens when driving on a winding road or a mountain pass (as is normal in a car of this type, which is not designed for that use). But if we drive calmly it is a very comfortable car, and on the usual Madrid > Vigo > Madrid motorway route, it is a comfortable car that does not show the passing of the kilometres too much.

As a detail, despite its inertia, once we get used to it and anticipate it, thanks to the 400 CV engine (extremely performant) it can be a car with a fun edge, and it is also quite predictable in its behaviour (with the ESP keeping watch, which intervenes at the slightest sign that we dare to defy the laws of physics or get carried away with the sound of the engine).

Off-road behaviour: a true 4×4

When among the specifications of an off-roader we see data such as approach angle, fording depth or departure angle, we can breathe easy, this is not an SUV, we are at the wheel of a true 4×4. And on these figures, the new Land Rover Defender maintains or even improves on the figures of its predecessor. Let’s first look at those figures:

• Approach angle 37.5 degrees
• Departure angle 40 degrees
• Breakover angle 28 degrees
• Ground clearance 291 mm
• Wading depth 900 mm

How does it achieve these figures? Thanks to the all-wheel drive system Terrain Response 2, a novelty in this Defender. The system has several modes (Eco, Normal, Grass/Gravel/Snow, Mud and ruts, Sand and Rock) that optimise traction by engaging the low-range gearing, raising the suspension height, disengaging the stability control and, in short, adapting the Defender to the terrain.

Thanks to the management of the Terrain Response system and the air suspension, everything is possible and, equipped with good tyres, it has no limits: it is a true 4×4.

During the test we drove through firebreaks and difficult areas, where only true 4x4s can come through successfully, and we were surprised by how easily it handled any terrain, how simple it is to use the off-road capability of this Defender. You only have to select the type of terrain and the car does the rest, adapting to the ground almost magically.

Consumption

This petrol Defender with 400 CV has fairly modest consumption for what one might expect from such a powerful combination. On average the figures during the test were 12 litres per 100 km, reaching 16 litres per 100 km in urban driving.

On the motorway on our usual route between Madrid and Galicia, consumption was 12.3 litres per 100 km.

Equipment: rugged outside, technological inside

The design of the Defender, halfway between a concept model and a rugged 4×4, does not get in the way of a very complete and technological equipment list. The whole multimedia system is operated from the touchscreen, with well-designed menus and plenty of information. Although it is not a typical system, it is intuitive and we quickly get used to it, with the graphics standing out in particular.

The sound system is by Meridian, it is an option at a reasonable price, though with a decent quality and nothing more. Its 380 W and 11 speakers sound good but do not have the outstanding sound of other premium SUVs (although, to be fair, with sound systems five times more expensive).

In terms of safety it comes with a range of assistants (blind spot, rear collision, adaptive cruise control…) all in an optional package, again at a reasonable price.

Personal opinion and price

A sublime reinterpretation! I can assure you that this test is not a multi-report funded by the brand, but my most sincere opinion of the new Land Rover Defender. Reinterpreting a classic is not easy, and the temptation to turn it into an SUV was there, lurking, although fortunately the British have managed to create a true off-roader with avant-garde, eye-catching lines that stay very close to the concept.

I also liked the engine, not very rational in today’s times, but if you can afford it, go for petrol rather than diesel, because you will have a lot of fun behind the wheel. It is not an easy car to drive, it has inertia, it is big and has a lot of power, but that is where the fun lies; it won’t leave you indifferent.

Analysing its off-road capabilities, it is on a par with other models on the market such as the Toyota Land Cruiser, with a higher price, but with more than sufficient capabilities off the tarmac (whether the buyer of a Defender will actually take it on an extreme off-road route is another matter).

The starting price of the Land Rover Defender is 61,700 euros for the 90 model, a price that places it away from industrial or work use but makes it an exclusive vehicle in every respect. Our 110 First Edition version has a price that exceeds 90,000 euros, though with everything you could need.

Technical specifications of this car

Off-RoadLand Rover Defender23 versions · from 78,700 €