The Defender four-wheel drive is the original ‘do anything’ utility vehicle. A product of the Special Vehicles Division at Land Rover over 1.9 million vehicles have been produced over the last 60 years and 75% of those are still on the go today.
I took the new Defender for a serious off road test at one of Land Rover's main proving grounds in the UK, and boy, the old girl is still phenomenal. Effortless best describes how the permanent four-wheel-drive ‘Landy’ tackled the tough terrain. I took the new machine through rivers, over hills and up and down slopes I wouldn’t climb with a rope let alone take a car and all this was done on road tyres!
Outside the new Defender looks very much like the old one and the reason for this is the design philosophy at Land Rover that states there should only be change where necessary. The only visual clues to the new Defender’s identity can be seen at the front where there is now a Land Rover badge instead of one saying Defender, plus the grille is pushed out and the bonnet features a prominent bulge to accommodate the new 2.4 litre turbo-diesel engine taken from the Ford Transit. The bonnet is the only panel change!
The interior gets a significant change with a one-piece modular dashboard replacing the truly antique one. The old fresh air flaps are a thing of the past and here’s a shocker for die-hard ‘Landy’ owners - ‘air-con’ is now an option. The dials feature a four gauge, three dial cluster that is no longer off set and there is even a CD stereo with dash mounted Tweeters, an optional ipod connector and cup holders!
While every effort has been made to free up more interior space for the front seat occupants the driver still has a running battle with the door for shoulder room. The station wagon version (110 wheelbase) has a seven-seat option with the rear two seats folding out from the side to now face forward. With the last two seats up there is capacity to carry white goods e.g. a washing machine in the boot, this was a specific design criteria.
There are over 700 changes under the skin but the most significant is the new ‘Euro-4 emissions’ compliant engine. It is a terrific unit that is powerful and next to impossible to stall. The Ford engine produces 222bhp and 360nm of torque; in fact 90% of the engine's power is delivered over 60% of the rev range.
With a new six-speed gearbox the new Defender will easily lose you your licence on the motorway, although you may want to wear ear muffs in the commercial panel versions as sound insulation is still a little wanting despite a noise reduction of 33% over the outgoing model. Off-road enthusiasts will be pleased to note the alternator and compressor have been moved high in the engine bay to aid wading. The towing capacity is class leading at 3.5 tonnes. Other improvements include a much quicker warm up and high temperature heater. Traction control is an option also.
A true workhorse Defender is much loved by people who need a working tool. It’s a reassuringly rough diamond.
Michael Sheridan
