While many SUVs boast a host of features and off-road prowess, Land Rover’s Defender is truly a luxury SUV with serious off-road chops.
Defender is offered in three body styles of base Defender 90S, 90 X-Dynamic SE, 90 V8, 90 Carpathian Edition, 110 S, 100 X-Dynamic SE, X, SE, V8, 110 Carpathian Edition, 130 S, 130 Dynamic SE, 130 Outbound, 130 X, and 130 V8. Whew! That’s an exhausting choice but each are customizable with options and features galore.
Of these, the Defender 90 is a 2-door, 110 is a mid-size 4-door and the 130 we tested had 3-row seating.
We were privileged to test the Defender 130 X-Dynamic SE, a nicely loaded and truly capable SUV with 11.4 inches of ground clearance while possessing excellent on-road manners.
There’s no mistaken a Defender from other SUVs with its boxy styling lines that give it a rugged, yet modern look. And like all Land Rovers/Range Rovers, they’re fit for a king, of England of course where they are the vehicle of choice.
The one styling feature that stands out is that the Defender maintains a spare tire mounted on the swing-out tailgate. The problem with this is that it blocks rear visibility somewhat. But it’s not unique since Jeep Wranglers have the same mounting position.
Defender’s interior is also a bit unique with screw heads (representing tough, ruggedness) on interior trim. But the dash and vertical stack is pleasingly classy and easy on the eyes with its simple lines. A 11.4-inch infotainment display is vivid and serves Apple CarPlay, Android Auto connectivity, XM satellite radio, navigation, rearview camera w/overhead view, HVAC selections and drive modes. Our only complaint here is that certain selections for drive mode, for example, only stays on for three seconds. It should stay on longer. Ingress/egress into the cabin is an easy 20 inches or 23 when the optional and adjustable air suspension is at its highest position.
Below it is a neatly arranged pod of sorts with a dog-leg shaped gear selector for the slick shifting 8-speed automatic transmission. Next to it are the large and easy to operate and see HVAC controls.
The digital gauge cluster also displays the various drive modes including off-road modes plus a driver information display for features, functions and alerts.
As for the multiple drive modes, there’s a wading mode where the Defender can negotiate up to two foot, 11 inches of water. Few competitors, other than the Jeep Wrangler, can handle that water depth. Defender also has a center-lock differential that helps when the going gets tough or stuck. There’s also an optional rear wheel lock as well. Again, few offer those traction features in addition to several off-road modes.
Defender’s front seats are amply padded with decent lateral support for keeping the torso snug during bumpy off-roads. The center console houses a wireless phone charger and a small ice-box to keep perishables or drinks cool. The console’s lower half offers a large bin to stow a purse even a small backpack. It’s a practical use of normally wasted space of SUVs with enclosed console sides.
Second row seats are nicely padded and have good leg and head room. They’re heated and slide fore and aft to access the third row that has about the same amount of leg room as the second row. Actually, three small statured adults can fit back there, a rarity among three-row SUVs.
As for the cargo area and with the third-row seats upright, there’s a mere 15.3 cubic feet of loading space that measures 14 inches deep, 38 wide and 35 high. Flip the third row and capacity expands to 35.8 cubic feet and loading depth increases to 48 inches. And when folding the second row as well, space increases to 47.24 cubic feet for 80 inches of loading depth. A full six feet.
While Defender’s can be had with a choice of five different powerplants, our tester came with a hot 3.0-liter turbocharged/supercharged V8 that produced 395-hp and 406 lb/ft of torque for EPA mileage estimates of 17 city, 20-highway mpg with auto start/stop engine technology and when coupled to the quick shifting 8-speed automatic transmission. Defender has a tow rating of an impressive 8,200 pounds.
The powertrain moved this 5,620-pound hunk with ease. In fact, it felt more like a V8 under the hood. There’s certainly no want for power either from a standing stop or during highway passing maneuvers. And if you think that’s not enough grunt, there’s the optional 5.0-liter supercharged V8 with 518-hp and 461 lb/ft of torque. That has to be an awesome ride.
As for ride and handling on tall 22-inch Continental tires, Defender is planted both on and off-road and its balance is near perfect. Its heft can be felt when negotiating sharp turns, but there’s virtually no body lean and the ride is smooth and exceptionally quiet. Defender gives a confident and assuring ride under all driving conditions. And that can’t be said for a lot of other comparable SUVs. It’s as solid as a tank. I know the comparison having ridden in one when I was in the Army at Fort Knox Ky, the home at the time of the Army’s Armor Division.
Now all this ruggedness and luxury doesn’t come inexpensively. The Defender carried a base price of $81,300 nicely equipped and with a long list of safety features such as blind spot assist, rear traffic monitor, lane keep assist, driver condition monitor, adaptive speed limiter and more.
The options list is also exhaustive and adds to the base price. Optional items included comfort/convenience package ($1,000), premium interior package ($1,400), 22-inch gloss-black wheels ($2,200), exterior black exterior package ($1,310), head-up display ($1,000), Sanforini Black paint ($950), Ebony leather ($750), Premium Interior ($700), Clear Sight rearview mirror ($570), Wheel Protection locks ($570), Four-Zone climate control ($400), full size spare wheel ($200), Handover Pack ($28) and delivery ($1,475) that took the bottom line to $93,853. If you can do without some of the aforementioned item, this price can be shaved somewhat.
Defender comes with a 4 year/50K mile bumper-bumper warranty.
Defender is a luxurious off-roader that if you can afford one, it’s the consummate family friendly SUV that’s fit for a king and queen.
