Land Rover Defender – Review

Land Rover Defender is popular in Sri Lanka as an off-road vehicle, which is usually used in VIP squads. There are multiple generations of this vehicle, but the one that came out in 1983 is the most popular one among Sri Lankans. Before Defender, two different variations of the same vehicle came out to the market as Land Rover 90 and Land Rover 110. The biggest difference in between these two variations is the wheelbase, whereas Land Rover 90 had a shorter wheel base with just two doors. Let’s deep dive and learn more on what this vehicle is all about.

The Defender came out with different types of engines. The very first variations were TD200 and TD300. In 2007, a new engine variant named Puma came out to the market. This was a 2.2-litre turbo Diesel engine. Even though this vehicle is seen in Sri Lanka as a one that drives in super-high speeds, it is not actually supposed to do it. Instead, you can call this as a vehicle designed mainly for off-road capabilities. Due to the same reason, you will not be able to find too many options within the vehicle as well.

The 2.2-litre engine offers a 122 horsepower power output and 360Nm torque. The top speed of this vehicle is around 140 kmph. You will be provided with countless options to do performance modifications of the vehicle. Hence, you can improve the power and performance output of it based on your preferences.

The fuel consumption of Defender varies depending on how you drive it. If you are driving in the city, you can get a fuel efficiency of 7-8 kmpl and you can get 9-10 kmpl efficiency when you drive outstations. This is an all-wheel four wheel drive vehicle. It comes with five-speed manual transmission. In the Khan version vehicles, you can get an automatic gearbox.

There are halogen lights along with hazard lights and a parking light on the front of the Defender. It is also possible to install a Bosch horn and few other lights based on preferences. One of the very first things you will notice about Defender is the excellent ground clearance. That’s mainly because the vehicle has been designed for off-road driving. Some vehicles come along with a Snorkel and few other after-market features.

The boxy shape of Defender is visible on the side appearance of Defender. It is not so easy to drive a Defender. That’s because the turning radius of the vehicle is pretty big, which is around 13.5 meters. Regardless of where you go, you can make sure that your wheel rims will not get damaged. It comes with 16-inch wheels. There are some lights available on the Fender. The side-mirrors are pretty much similar to the ones that you can see in a lorry, but it is not a power mirror. You will not be able to open the door as in a traditional vehicle. You will have to push the knob and then open the door. It comes with a quite heavy door.

There are two glasses on the top part of the Defender. This enhances the off-road driving experience for rear passengers by providing a better view.

The beasty and classy look of Land Rover Defender is visible on the rear side of it as well. You can open the rear door of the vehicle. Third row passengers will need to get into the vehicle through this door. There are some brake and reverse lamps on the rear panel. You can find a footrest, which you can use to get into the Defender from rear door. Spare wheel is mounted to the rear door. It is a spacious seven seater vehicle. However, the rear seats are elevated when compared to the front seats. A taller person might find it as a challenging task to go in the third row.

Getting into the driving seat of Defender would make anyone feel good. This is a British manufactured vehicle. However, there are lots of analog features available in it. The seat is closely located to the door. Due to the same reason, it might be quite difficult to drive. Due to the same reason, it is often possible to see how some people roll down the front shutter and keep their arms. It is quite difficult to handle and maneuver the vehicle. There is no horn available in the steering wheel, but there is a lever available down the steering wheel. You can even find analog levers to turn on and off the lights.

The dashboard is an analog one. You can see three meters in the dashboard. There are power windows available only to the front. There aren’t any storage areas on the doors. However, there is a small storage space available under the steering wheel. The center control area offers decent storage as well. The side mirror is quite small. There are no AC vents on the two sides. They are available only on the center. It is also important to keep in mind that this is not the safest vehicle available on the road.

Second row offers decent leg space and head space. However, leg space and head space on the third row are quite limited.

Driving a Defender is quite a different experience from driving another vehicle. The interior cabin is bit noisy. It is not usually possible to get a better view of the front. The driving experience is outstanding, and anyone can take this vehicle for off-road without keeping any doubts or second thoughts in mind. However, it is important to be mindful about the massive turning radius of the vehicle. The overall driving experience of Land Rover Defender is pleasurable. Hence, anyone who is looking forward to get a best to drive on the road can go for it.