Land Rover Defender: Hovers above it all
When Land Rover replaced the original Defender, it looked like it would be a niche model. But the recently redesigned Defender is a bestseller. After testing it, we can see why.
Yikes! We almost get a fright when starting the Land Rover Defender: there's actually a diesel engine humming away in the distance. In times when electric news dominates everyday testing, this is a rare occurrence. And a pleasure: boosted to 257 kW/350 hp (i.e., 50 hp) for its fifth Defender year, the three-liter six-cylinder mild hybrid D350 hums discreetly and comfortably, only to raise its beautifully sonorous voice at full throttle after a moment's pause and push forward with incredible power.
It's great that this still exists. It's also great that the test result of 9.9 (manufacturer's specification 9.3) l/100 km for 700 Nm, which pushes the 2.7 tons to 100 km/h in 6.8 seconds, is nothing to complain about. Especially since it can be significantly lower (around eight and a half liters) on leisurely journeys.
Modernized and still charismatic
The newly revamped exterior (including new headlights, taillights, and paint colors) remains charismatic: in the 130 variant we drove, the Defender is surprisingly easy to maneuver thanks to its straight edges. It is 1.97 meters high and, including the spare wheel at the rear, 5.36 meters long. In comparison, luxury SUVs look like small toys. Speaking of playfulness: the touchscreen inside is now larger, but there are still plenty of buttons and no mysteries in the digital menu.
From up here, the hustle and bustle of traffic is far away, and the vault-like doors shut out everyday life. A wellness area that counteracts the hectic pace of everyday life and keeps you calm even in traffic jams. Only on the highway does the wind occasionally whisper around the edges; otherwise, silence reigns. Pomp is foreign to the Defender: it is more like a dignified chalet, but one of perfection. There is space galore: the seven-seater version can still accommodate luggage when fully occupied, and if the rear seats were folded down, we could move a one-room apartment.
Hard to beat off-road
On the road, speed bumps just make a «fump-fump» sound, and that's all we feel: rarely have we floated so smoothly. What's more, there are so many off-road modes that frozen rivers would be no obstacle. What amazes us even more is that it handles well, almost sportily, even on narrow roads. There's no question about it: this model covers all applications. Provided you can afford it: even the short Defender 90 costs from 89,700 Swiss francs, while the 130, the longest of the three variants, costs from 126,800 Swiss francs in the «X-Dynamic HSE» trim level tested as the top diesel model. Customers who are enthusiastic buyers don't seem to mind, given the value they get in return.
Expert opinion: Land Rover Defender 130 «X-Dynamic HSE» D350 MHEV
The newly redesigned Defender remains an icon, pampering us with comfort and space and transporting us away from the hustle and bustle of everyday traffic.
Advantages
+ outstanding comfort
+ outstanding off-road performance
+ Almost endless space
Disadvantages
– enormous dimensions
– very steep price
