Model tested: 2024 Land Rover Defender 110 S
Engine: 3-liter turbocharged inline 6-cylinder
Transmission: 8-speed automatic, all-wheel drive
Horsepower: 395
Torque: 406 lb.-ft.
EPA ratings (mpg): 17/city, 20/highway, 18/combined
Base price: $67,900
As tested: $81,103
Overview: Land Rover Defender is an SUV often associated with safaris and trips to exotic foreign lands where few roads exist. Serious is a word that describes the Land Rover Defender image, but now there is a more civilized Defender in the form of the 2024 model that honors the vehicle’s history and ultra-rugged reputation while pampering occupants in comfort and modern technology.
Walkaround: The 2024 Land Rover Defender follows the basic SUV box-on-wheels design. Our County trim level was mostly white, with gray and blue accents. The rather prominent nose with slotted grille, dark headlight covers and bold “DEFENDER” letters across the hood reminded us of a Star Wars Storm Trooper helmet. White steel, 20-inch wheels looked kind of cheap, but they were a $1,200 option. The full-size, rear-door-mounted spare was heavy and blocked some visibility. The rear door was right-hinged, which would impede most curbside loading and unloading unless you were in England.
Interior: The interior was where old school was left behind and stylish modern comfort was the theme. Front-seat room and comfort were excellent, as was the heated steering wheel with power tilt and telescopic adjustments. Many features were accessed on the large touchscreen, which took some adjustment time. A big, panoramic sunroof lightened the interior, as did the small “vista dome” style windows over the cargo area. Interior small-item storage areas were great, as was headroom. Cargo space behind the second-row seats was 34 cubic feet. The Meridian sound system was excellent.
Behind the wheel: We were impressed by the Defender’s refined driving characteristics. For all the SUV’s off-road prowess, the city and freeway driving experience was very comfortable, if not even slightly soft. We mean soft in a good way, as control and responsiveness were excellent, especially for an SUV that can handle very challenging off-road conditions. Even the big tires were quiet, and the Defender fit ever-narrower freeway lanes just fine. The turbocharged six-cylinder engine felt more like a V8 when merging with traffic. We exceeded EPA economy ratings with a highway best of 23.4 mpg.
Bottom line: The 2024 Land Rover Defender surprised us. It defied preconceived notions of possibly too much ruggedness at the expense of city commuting comfort. The Land Rover Defender is a very comfortable, no-fuss daily driver with a wide array of unique capabilities when and if needed. We even came to accept some of its unique British quirks.
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