Introduction
Boxing has changed over recent years. It used to be all about naked aggression and a rugged exterior; now it's tangled up in media manipulation and money. In a similar way 4x4s have changed from purposeful workhorses to fashion accessories. So in these modern times is there any place for the world's best known 4x4: the Land Rover Defender? Nowadays this iconic old-school bruiser is up against more comfortable, and cheaper machines - we were intrigued to see how it would shape up.
Available in nine body styles including crew-cab, pickup and station wagon, and three wheelbases, the Defender's evolution has been a slow one with the exterior remaining pretty much intact. Behind the scenes, selectable four-wheel drive is now permanent, still with low and high ratios; many components have been improved or replaced. But all in all, it's business as usual with no excuses offered for its lack of new-world development.
Product Profile
There's only one engine in the range, diesel of course; a 2.5-litre turbo unit codenamed Td5. It produces 122hp at 4,200rpm and 300Nm of torque at 1,950rpm. Land Rover has attempted to drag its trusty steed into the 21st century with the introduction of the XS pack for fashion conscious off-roaders. While not exactly the Ritz, the XS model is certainly an improvement on previous Land Rovers in terms of 'extras'. Back then seats were considered a bit of a luxury and you were lucky if it had doors, or so people claim. It's like listening to your Granddad’s war stories when the older generation recount their experiences with Land Rovers back in 1856, such is the nostalgia for this evergreen outhouse.
The latest incarnation of this all-terrain workhorse runs to alloy wheels, part leather seats, CD/radio, ABS, air-con, electric front windows, side runners and body coloured wheel arches.§ Our test model also boasted the Cold Climate Pack: heated front seats and windscreen. Including the XS upgrade and Cold Climate Pack, the Defender we drove will set you back a hefty £28,390 (ex-VAT).
Productivity
With common-rail diesel technology under the bonnet there can't be any excuses when it comes to fuel consumption. But with a GVW of three tonnes the Defender cannot be considered a twinkletoes and this was reflected in the 27.3mpg recorded for a laden run around our Kent test route. This was some way behind the Nissan Terrano's 32.9mpg, but ahead of the Iveco-powered Santana's 25.8mpg. Things improved slightly to 29.7mpg for the unladen run, but again, the Defender was well down on the Terrano's 35.6mpg.
If you’re after load volume you might be better off looking elsewhere, as 1.4m3 is all the Land Rover can swallow. This is offset by a 995kg payload that eclipses most of its rivals, but getting your load in is not the easiest task in the world due to the restricted rear door that has the handle partly obscured by the spare wheel and is narrower than its rivals - a telling sign of its age.
Our example came with four fold-down seats that extend passenger capacity to eight. They fold up without taking too much space so if you need to move that many people they ought to be on your spec list. Servicing is called for every 12,000 miles, and although it's not usually seen as a long-distance mile eater, the Defender gets a three-year/unlimited-distance warranty.
