If there’s anything you’ll come to learn about me dear reader, it is that I am obsessed with SUVs. Even as I stand at 1.56m, I love me a big car. So when the Land Rover Defender 110 D300 X-Dynamic landed in my garage, I was very happy. Although I must admit, when Land Rover gave us the new generation Defender a few years back, it took me a bit of time to warm to her, until I took her offloading and fell in love.
The defender is an off-road enthusiast’s wet dream. Capable and comfortable. Powered by a 3.0-litre, 6 cylinder turbo diesel engine that delivers 221kW of power and 650Nm of torque, the drive is rather comfortable. Although when it comes to ride comfort, it’s important to remember that the Defender is, at its core, a highly capable off-road vehicle. This means that it can feel a bit stiff and bouncy at times
Inside, the Defender D300 offers a plush and sleek cabin that’s well-insulated from road and wind noise. The high-quality materials and advanced technologies create a premium feel, in line with Land Rover’s tradition of luxury. One of the little quirks that I fell in love with in the interior, are the exposed bolts on the doors. Just adds to that thing that says, I’m at home both in the city and out in the bundus.
I like that because the car is so wide, the passenger has their own charge port as opposed to having to lean over to the centre to try charge their phone. There’s also Isofix child seat mounts which always come in handy for parents, as well as Voice Control, which is like the best thing in these cars these days. No one wants to fiddle with a screen while dodging potholes.
And I could fit my 2 litre bottle of water in the bottle holder, without worrying where to keep it from spilling all day as I run my errands. Super nifty. The D300 is a 5-seater that can be converted into a 7-seater, although this conversion means you compromise on boot space. So you can either have plenty boot space and seat 5, or have minimal boot space and seat 7. Your choice between having 389 litres or 1 329 litres of boot space.
With the tyre on the rear door you don’t have to worry about your visibility being obstructed because the Clear Sight rear view mirror uses the camera to give you a live feed of what’s happening behind you. This gave me an idea of what it’s like driving a truck in that some people get so close behind you, they literally disappear. Until you take off and realise they’re there.
For those who care about these things – and most Defender buyers should – the D300 has 290mm of ground clearance and 900mm wading depth for water crossing and a 750kg towing capacity.
If you’re willing to invest in a vehicle that combines luxury with ruggedness, the Defender D300 X-Dynamic is worth considering.
QUICK STATS
LAND ROVER DEFENDER 110 D300 X-DYNAMIC
ENGINE: 3.0-litre, straight 6-cylinder, turbo diesel
POWER: 221kW at 4 000rpm
TORQUE: 650Nm at 1 500rpm
GEARBOX: 8-speed automatic
DRIVE: 4×4
0 – 100KM/H: 7.1 seconds
TOP SPEED: 191km/h
AVERAGE FUEL CONSUMPTION: 11.7 litres per 100km
FUEL TANK SIZE: 89 litres
COMBINED RANGE: 760km
CO2 e: 209 g/km
LENGTH: 4.8m
WIDTH: 2.0m
HEIGHT: 1.9m
WHEELBASE: 3.0m
AIRBAGS: 6
LANE KEEP ASSIST: Yes
NATURAL RIVALS: Mercedes-Benz G400d, Toyota LC300 3.3D, Volkswagen Touareg V6 TDI
PRICE RIVALS: Alfa Romeo Giulia QV, BMW X6 xDrive40i, Mercedes-Benz V300d, Porsche 718 Cayman GTS man, Porsche Macan GTS
MAINTENANCE PLAN: 5-year/100 000km, Roadside Assistance
WARRANTY: 5-year/100 000km
BADDIE INDEX: 5/5
PRICE STANDARD: R1 812 400