Land Rover DEFENDER RANGE
Todays
Land Rover Defender Is Very Different To The Original Yet Strangely The Same. Which Is Exactly Why So Many People Will Probably Want One, Thinks Jonathan Crouch
It's some time now since the original Land Rover was re-launched as the Defender. Still, however, you find few that use the name. To all of us, this car will remain quite simply the definitive Land Rover: nothing more, nothing less.
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And it's as popular now as it was 50 years ago. Indeed, the Ministry of Defence recently ordered nearly 9,000 of them to keep the armed forces mobile until well into the next century,
Land Rover's largest ever order. As nearly everyone knows, the car was originally developed as an agricultural vehicle out of post-war necessity.
Rover engineering boss Maurice Wilks wanted a 4x4 for his farm. So he built one, using aluminium rather than steel (rationed at the time).
In this way the `Landy` legend was born. In modern times, the vehicle has been continually improved, the big news recently being the addition of Solihulls all-new Td5 five-cylinder direct injection turbo diesel engine, first introduced on the latest Discovery to rave reviews. Better on-road performance and improved refinement will probably not be priorities for existing Defender buyers but theyre vital if the car is to reach out to customers not buying simply on image or longevity. So it is that the 122PS Td5 engine boasts 9 per cent more power and, more significantly for heavy off-road work, 13 per cent more torque than the old Tdi unit.
Its cleaner too (so clean that a catalyst is not even needed) and can now go for 12,000 miles between oil changes twice that of the competition.
"Behind the wheel, you realise just how silly and ineffectual most trendy modern off-roaders are in comparison..."
The five-door County Station Wagon 110 version costs £24,495. Or, if youre thinking utilitarian, theres also a Double Cab pick-up version. Again, you could compare Japanese alternatives but in reality, theyre not really in the same market. A Defender is an honest, tough and completely capable four-wheel drive tool that will never date, will run forever and will probably never let you down.
Not that it isnt as up to date as its Oriental competition. On the contrary, todays models can be specified with an anti-lock braking system that incorporates Land Rovers four-wheel Electronic Traction Control (ETC). Nor is this only to stop you ploughing into backed-up traffic on Sloane Square. The combined ABS/ETC system has many significant off-road benefits.
ABS sensors are used on each wheel to monitor slip. By applying braking to the spinning wheel, the ETC system controls torque loss on that side of the axle, thereby maximising vehicle traction. The whole set-up also includes an Electronic Braking Distribution (EBD) feature which senses the difference between front and rear axle speeds during braking, something particularly likely to happen when the vehicle is fully loaded. If a difference is detected, the system equalises braking pressure.
Having said all of this, your primary reason for buying a Defender wont be EBD, ETC or ABS. Youll buy it either because its as tough as old boots or because its a fashionable thing to have on your driveway. Rather like the
Mini, the Defender has a growing cult reputation. Behind the wheel, you realise just how silly and ineffectual most trendy modern off-roaders are in comparison.
They may look chic around the town but get them out in the country and they flounder. Of course, none of the current improvements can change a Defender into a Discovery; nor are they intended to. The Defender is certainly more tiring to drive over long distances. Its driving position isn't the best, with an upright
seat and scattered switchgear. There's also little elbowroom for the driver, which makes sharp cornering awkward. Still, few 4x4 buyers care about driving thousands of miles and for them, the Defender has much to offer. There's a wide range of body styles; hard top, soft top, station wagon and pick up. If what you need won't fit into any of those categories, Land Rover will create it for you - and they have a long history of doing so. Fire engines, ambulances - even the Pope Mobile; all are products of Solihull's Special Projects work. More than 1.5 million Land Rover vehicles have been produced since the original was launched in 1948 but all stem from the Defender. If you're looking to buy an off-roader for business or pleasure and you aren't considering one, shame on you...
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Land Rover Defender range
PRICES: £18,795-£27,995 on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 9
CO2 EMISSIONS: 282-299g/km
PERFORMANCE: [90 Td5] Max Speed 88mph / 0-60mph 15.4s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [90 Td5] [urban] 23.2mpg / [extra urban] 31.4mpg / [combined] 27.9mpg
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: [90] Length/Width/Height" 153/80/77"
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