Land Rover Defender 2021 In-Depth Review - Best Off-Roader?

The new-era Land Rover Defender brings the design of this legendary Solihull model bang up to date. Despite the modern tech, it remains as solid and uncompromising as it's always been, with off road ability to worry a Challenger tank. Approach it as an alternative to modern luxury SUVs and you've missed the point. Buy a Discovery for that. Here instead, is the hardest wearing, most capable and most cost effective proper off-roader that sensible money can buy.

Background

You may have forgotten what a real Land Rover is - and what it looks like. These days, we associate the Solihull maker with lifestyle SUVs and Range Rover products. Rather than the kind of farm working 4x4 that Maurice Wilks developed for agricultural use back in the Forties. There are still some people who feel that this is exactly what a true off-roader should be. It shouldn't feel like a car on stilts. It needs to be rugged, practical and offer a number of field-serviceable parts.

Is that what we have here? Everything has been changed to differentiate this modern era Defender from the Land Rover original - but ultimately, nothing is really very different. Thank goodness for that.

Driving Experience

Engine-wise, the range is fundamentally built around an in-line six cylinder Ingenium MHEV mild hybrid diesel engine. It's offered in three forms - the D200 (with 200PS and 500Nm of torque), the D250 (with 249PS and 570Nm of torque) and the D300 (with 300PS and 650Nm of torque). The D300 powers to 62mph in 6.3s. If you want efficiency but don't want to fuel from the black pump, there's also a P400e Plug-in Hybrid option with the longer 110 body style. This PHEV variant uses a 2.0-litre four cylinder petrol engine with 300PS mated to a 105kW electric motor powered by a 19.2kWh battery, this combination producing a combined 404PS output and offering an all-electric driving range of 27 miles. There are also two conventional petrol options, the 300PS P300 and the 400PS P400 variant. 8-speed auto transmission is mandatory across the range.

Land Rover insists that this new-era Defender is even more capable than its predecessor, despite the fact that, unlike that previous model, there's no hard core separate chassis or rigid axles. Instead, the architecture is fundamentally the same as that which features on the current Discovery, Range Rover Sport and range Rover modes. But it rides on reinforced suspension with greater travel and there's more ground clearance too. Both coil springs and air suspension are available. As you'd expect, there's permanent 4WD, along with a Terrain Response system allowing you to set the car up for various driving conditions (or you can simply select an automatic setting and let the Defender handle everything for you). Both body shapes have impressive mud plugging stats; an approach angle of 38-degrees and a departure angle of 40-degrees. It can climb a 45-degree slope and descent a 47-degree one. And it'll wade through water up to 900mm deep. Try doing that in your lifestyle SUV.

Design and Build

You'd recognise this as a Defender - there are lots of design cues ensuring that, including squared-off wheelarches, super-short front and rear overhangs and so-called 'Alpine light' narrow windows set into the roof. Like the old Defender, it's possible to buy both three and five-door body shapes and, to keep some historical continuity, as before these are badged '90' and '110' respectively. Modern touches include full-LED headlights and a square body-coloured panel in the rear side glass (which is optional on the '90' and standard on the '110').

Inside, the exposed metal on the doors and the minimalist dashboard give an appropriately Defender-style feel but this time round, the cabin's wider, so you won't be bashing your wrists on the doors every time you twirl the wheel round.

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[cleverchristopher]

I have watched ever Defender video on YouTube... This puts them all to shame.... best all around vehicle summary I have ever seen.

[simonatkins]

What an incredible vehicle, and the level of detail in this review is even more astonishing. Fantastic presentation, extremely clear and totally professional.

[sanatandharma]

I am amazed you can remember all of the information supplied with this vehicle! P200, P300, trim levels, etc. You have done a great job sir! Thank you!

[lembit]

Best automotive review I’ve ever seen.

[Chopperbob]

The absolute most informative and well done review I’ve seen. Well done Sir. I’ve just turned 21, 000 miles on my P400 and it’s been absolutely Wonderful. Oh one thing, the rear seats do fold all the way down . There is a strap in the fold between the upper and lower sections. Pull that strap up and the lower section can be folded forward allowing room for the upper back to fold all the way down and seat evenly with the rest of the rear floor. Cheers

[alanprior]

Really comprehensive thank you - I have the 90 MHEV First Edition D250 and I still learned a great deal more about it from your video than I ever did before.

[duncandorris]

The seats on the 110 do, indeed, fold completely flat. You just need to flip the seat bottom forward before folding down the rears.

[wisemanndodanombewu]

Very informative, and to the finest of detail 👌

[irenedp]

I changed a Cherokee of 15 years for a Disco 5 in 2017 and a Sport in early 21. They latter are not obviously the Defender but they are just as capable, with low range, wading, diffs., etc. As long as you don’t worry too much about the paint and you use off-road tires. I might consider the Defender next.

[TheVickersDoorter]

13:40 I've had my trouble-free P300 for a year now and have used it several times for pulling my 2 tonne boat on my 1.3 tonne trailer. My longest single towing trip of 400 miles took me exactly 8 hours, including two brief stops. With the obvious exception of MPG, I could barely feel I was towing 3.3 tonnes and the P300 engine is blissfully quiet and smooth. What more pulling power does one need?

[stephenlane]

Great presenting again. Love the detail and informative insights 👌

[rickcooper]

The scripting of these car reviews sets an epic stage; it's like I'm watching a great adventure movie! Brilliant, informative review, thanks very much!

[jaypea]

Always such an amazing, real-world, and in-depth review. Well done!!

[northerncaliforniahomes]

Amazing review, standard deviations above the rest. Gentleman presenting is superb.

[MrSammcauley]

How you remember all this info I’ll never understand. Best reviews in the business. I was expecting to hate this new version but I take my hat off to land rover they thought of everything and if it proves reliable then it’s the perfect replacement and I’d love one even over the original...and that’s something I never thought I’d never say.

[paulp]

An excellent review, and i've watched them all. Watched every minute too. I'm really impressed by the sustained detailed commentary - without the any apparent use of an autocue:) One slight challenge though - all other reviews and documentation i've seen, including the build website options, say the optional raised Air intake does not extend the max wading depth of 900mm, where you indicated otherwise? Lastly, no one ever seems to mention what the silver enclosures are for in the rear load space? I've often seen a big silver enclosure on the left, and a smaller one on the right. (and i don't mean the optional compressor option..). Thanks for a great review, superbly & eloquently executed.

[jessietreverton]

One of the best and most comprehensive reviews of an awesome vehicle I have seen. Love my 75th Edition!

[trimley]

Who watches all 1:20 + and doesn’t skip a second 🤔

[northrovers]

The Defender continues to be a unique vehicle. It's tough to see the divide between people who like the older models versus those who like the newer one. At the end of the day, this vehicle is a beast. And the customization factor is out of this world. Glad to see the Defender reincarnated for another generation. -North44Rovers

[pauljane]

In the market for a newish but used 110. Was undecided until viewing this review. Now know exactly what model and engine i want. Brilliant review, definitely the best I've ever seen