The Defender 110 D300 is the upgrade for which I’d have traded in my Discovery 4—which was a fully kitted out, superbly comfortable grand tourer that hauled a heavy off-road van without complaint or problem on the big lap ten years ago. 

This kitted out model showcased the available bull bar, roof-rack, raised air intake and ladder options. I figure that designing an airbag compliant, attractive bull bar that doesn’t drag the squared off nose dirt-side is a challenge—and it’s one that hasn’t quite been conquered just yet.

But the big-flat roof rack is an up-top storage dream …

…. albeit generating rather more wind noise at freeway speed than is ideal especially given how quiet the big D’s cabin is on a long drive.  

For dust-free storage the inside of the Defender wagon is more than capacious … it’s downright cavernous.

And it all folds perfectly flat with a couple of easy seat flips that require no more strength and energy than the laziest of teenagers could muster. But its more than just cargo or groceries in the back. There are dap spots for phones, keys, glasses, and drink bottles You’ll also be pleased by the absences of whining and squabbling from the rear, as everyone gets to ride in comfort, whilst powering their mobile devices with eyes glued to the latest social media updates and muso pumped into their headphones or ear buds, voiding the cabin of disruptive human conversation, allowing you to enjoy the acoustic excellence of the 11 speaker Meridian sound system, bliss! 

Externally the Defender doesn’t bother with trivial matters of titivation or flamboyant contours.

This thing looks big and butch, as if chiselled from a block of granite.

You could be forgiven for thinking that it might handle as well as a boulder in a mud slide, but nothing could be further from the truth. When driving around suburbia it feels light and nimble, far better than logic suggests it has a right to be.

Of course, let’s try the traffic light getaway… who doesn’t like impersonating Mario Andretti or Lewis Hamilton in a near two and half tonne behemoth by planting the throttle as the light turns green in a legal sprint to 100 klicks on the freeway entry ramp. The childish giggle factor was far more rewarding than recording times, which is why we didn’t bother. Enough to say that the Defender delivers the goods when needed, with more boogie than woogie, allowing you to promptly get up to speed and safely merge with fast moving traffic. There’s no need for drivers to slow behind you, praying you’ll get a move on before that 18-wheeler way back in the distance closes the gap.

A Range Rover Sport it isn’t, but it’s sure footed and confident for a large 4WD SUV. And that’s made possible by the silky smooth Ingenium diesel, which is a modest 3L capacity, but forcefully encouraged by not one but two turbos to pitch the big D’s hefty kerb weight of nearly 2400kgs down the road with the determination and resolve of a pitcher’s pickoff move to third base.  

Sync up this wagon’s get-go, can-do attitude, to its smooth and responsive 8-speed auto and the Defender puts that rich torque curve to effective use, creating a confident response to driver demands both on and off road. You’ll be rewarded with smooth predictable power that can be easily metered out as needed, making it ideal for long haul towing purposes with a herculean 650Nms at only 1500rpm. Did I mention this was only a 3L? Factor in an 89L tank capacity and we averaged 8.8L/100ks for a combination of suburban and highway running, which theoretically will take you around 1,000ks. Of course, hitch up a van and consumption will increase relative to the size of your van.