Car reviews
The new Land Rover Defender is fresh, dynamic and highly efficient
The Land Rover Defender is no ordinary car. Built for the rugged outdoors, the permanent four-wheel drive has been popular among engineers, construction workers, rescue personnel, farmers, miners and, of course, the outdoorsman who needs to travel off the beaten track.
In its 60-year existence, the shape has changed very little, while thankfully, the motor has become efficient.
Since the boxy shape has remained over the years, it is easily recognisable as an unmistakable, global icon.The go anywhere, do anything vehicle was not without its shortcomings, though.
Dogged by unreliability and poor build quality, it was the butt of many motoring jokes and tales. The interior remained a tight fit for all but the smallest of drivers. While things improved as the brand changed hands from Land Rover to Ford, then BMW, then back to Land Rover under the
ownership of Tata Motors of India, it was only after the custodianship of the latter that the fortunes for Land Rover and sister company, Jaguar, began to improve.
As the years marched on, it was long overdue for a replacement. Emissions laws and safety regulations put paid to the never-say-die legend.
But the replacement was not going to have it easy. How do you replace a car that has a world-wide, almost cultlike following?
Fast forward to 2020, and after many artist's impressions and leaked photos later, the design was eventually revealed to a skeptical target market that I think still refuses to accept the newbie as a true Defender.
I was offered a new Land Rover Defender for a day by Abdul Gaffoor, Customer Relationship Manager at Daly Jaguar Land Rover, based in Potchefstroom.To make sure that we did not get carried away and return the vehicle damaged, we were accompanied by Sales Manager Ferdie Joubert, who acted as our babysitter for the day.
Tough and capable
In the flesh, the new share Defender shares few styling cues with the original. It, however, remains bold, fresh, dynamic and highly efficient.
Dubbed as the toughest, most capable offroad vehicle made by Land Rover, the new car comes in two shapes, a five-door (110) and a soon-to-appear threedoor (90) dubbed the shorty. Current engine options include diesel and petrol in both fourand six-cylinder guises
The top of the range is the Defender P400 X, which features a supercharged petrol engine pushing out a barnstorming 294kW and 550Nm.
Our drive for the day was the five-seater Defender 110 D240 SE (First Edition), which is a diesel, four-cylinder unit pushing out 177kW and 430Nm.The car is highly efficient and super responsive, picking up speed effortlessly and smoothly through the eight-speed automatic gearbox.
The view from the ultra-luxurious perch is commanding. Quality of materials and build standards are of superior quality.
The interior captures the essence of modern styling and functional elements. It is truly comfortable, providing all the modern needs of today's demanding driver.
Off-road, the vehicle cushions it occupants with air suspension while the sophisticated Terrain Response is a breeze to operate, turning novice off-roaders into professional explorers offering Mud, Snow/Ice, Gravel and Rock options at the turn of the dial. During our day-long stint in the Defender, we covered tarred surfaces and gravel, but avoided any hectic off-road excursions for fear of damaging the dealership's only demonstration vehicle.
Following fans of the original Land Rover Defender on social media, there appears to be some resistance to the newcomer. Part of the reason could be that traditional Defender owners see this one as too far removed from the essence of the heart and soul of a true Defender, while many see the million rand plus price tag a tad too high in these tough economic times.
Having previously owned the Land Rover Discovery 2, 3 and 4, I cannot help but think that the new Defender should have actually been the Discovery 5.