At 4 am, I got up and rushed through the rain and snow to catch the 6:20 plane to attend the “Polar Journey, Unstoppable Defender” Land Rover Defender event in Nyingchi. Maybe some people would ask if it’s worth it to rush so early? In fact, I had the same thought at first, but until the moment I left the airport and saw the rows of Land Rover Defenders ready to go, and immersed myself in the beautiful scenery of Nyingchi, I felt that all the effort was worth it.
The Land Rover Defender is a familiar sight to everyone. Since its birth in 1948, its unique square box body shape and rugged appearance have become the brand’s iconic design language, creating its own unique off-road aesthetic. The design of the Defender has been imitated but never surpassed. The constant innovation of ATRS all-terrain technology, aluminum body, electronic air suspension, hill descent control system, and all-terrain feedback adaptation system have not only made this car a synonym for hardcore off-road, but also made more outdoor adventure enthusiasts fall in love with it. And this time, we fully experienced the hardcore charm of this car.
The organizer provided us with various versions of Land Rover Defender, including the Land Rover Defender 90 and Land Rover Defender 110. Our main focus was on the Land Rover Defender 110, which is equipped with the Ingenium 3.0T twin-turbo engine and 48V mild hybrid system. Although it may not look as agile as the Land Rover Defender 90, the 110 version is more suitable for comfortable seating and loading capacity, especially when traveling with a few close friends. Of course, for more extreme scenarios, the Land Rover Defender 130 might be even more suitable.
What should a hardcore off-road vehicle look like? A square body, strong and powerful lines, super powerful performance, and excellent off-road capabilities, you can find all of these in the Land Rover Defender. The Land Rover Defender we see now has many classic elements inherited from the previous models in its exterior design. These classic elements have been rethought by designers and reappeared in the new Land Rover Defender model, combining fashion, luxury, and retro style, it just looks so comfortable.
The current Land Rover Defender inherits the classic features of the old car, with a upright windshield, a towering and full-bodied front end, and a rugged front grille design that is both fashionable and hardcore. The overall front grille also optimizes the airflow direction, giving the front face a tough look. The engine hood restores classic styling features, with blade-shaped trim panels on either side of the hood.
The LED headlights are recessed into the vehicle’s grille, paying tribute to the design of the old Land Rover Defender, but with a more modern and functional look. The taillights also pay homage to the classic design, using eight square shapes that stand out on the flat, upright rear of the vehicle, enhancing visibility and recognition.
The Land Rover Defender 110 has a straight body line without excessive curves, showing its tough and powerful posture. The classic side air vents with the suspended badge at the rear of the body have been retained, and the wheel arches are not made of black plastic, but of the same material as the body, highlighting the luxury. The classic Alpine windows have also been retained. In fact, in the Land Rover lineup, the Land Rover Discovery also has Alpine windows.
The straight rear end not only pays homage to the classics, but also has a very obvious recognition. The external spare tire fully demonstrates the hardcore off-road properties of the vehicle. Many brands now have their off-road models in a boxy shape, but “what you see is what you get” is not common. I think true hardcore off-road vehicles, it’s not just about the tough appearance, the core must also be tough.
The attentive netizens may have noticed that the vehicle we experienced this time looks a little different in appearance. That’s right, this car is equipped with a ladder, a water crossing “small backpack” roof luggage rack, a roof side awning, and a water tank. In fact, this also reflects that the Land Rover Defender is a fun and more customizable vehicle model, with just a little modification it can take you to the poetry and the distance.
The Land Rover Defender not only has a hardcore exterior, but its interior is also impressive. Originally designed as a utility vehicle, the interior was not a priority. However, times have changed, and now the Defender’s interior is moving towards luxury while still preserving its classic design. The use of exquisite exposed rivets in prominent areas is a clear example of this evolution.
The new Land Rover Defender’s cabin retains a lot of practical design, such as the armrest in front of the passenger seat and the central auxiliary dashboard with multiple storage spaces. The entire vehicle is wrapped in soft leather and highlighted with real wood trim to enhance the luxury feel. Various color options are available to satisfy different user preferences.
The front armrest is very spacious and opens at an angle close to 180°. There is also a large storage space reserved under the center console. Although the current Land Rover Defender caters to modern aesthetics, it also retains many traditional elements. Inside the car, you will rarely see touch buttons or integrated buttons, but rather physical buttons with strong tactile feedback and certainty.
The 11.2-inch central touchscreen is equipped with the InControl OS 2.0 smart car system, which provides a variety of entertainment applications tailored for the Chinese market and supports CarPlay mobile projection, unlocking more user scenarios. The operation UI of the system is relatively clear and not difficult to use. This is already very good for a vehicle like the Land Rover Defender.
The highlight of this test drive is of course the cross-country and off-road experience, but this does not seem to be very challenging for the Land Rover Defender. Let’s talk about the hardware part that hardcore off-road should have. First of all, the Land Rover Defender 110 model is equipped with an Ingenium 3.0T twin-turbo engine + 48V mild hybrid system, which can provide a maximum power of 400 horsepower and a maximum torque of 550 Nm. The acceleration time from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour is only 6.1 seconds, which is quite fierce for such a big guy.
Next, the Land Rover Defender is equipped with a central differential lock and rear axle differential lock, as well as a two-speed transfer case, all essential for off-road driving. The second-generation intelligent All-Terrain Response system offers nine modes, including automatic mode, general driving mode, economy mode, dynamic mode, grass/gravel/snow mode, mud/ruts mode, and sand mode, with the addition of a new water wading mode.
On the way, let’s start with an appetizer and climb a steep slope to experience the low-end torque and linear power output of this vehicle. For slopes with not very steep angles, just adjust the all-terrain feedback to the grass/gravel/snow mode to easily pass through. When passing through, remember to go slow and gently press the accelerator pedal. The throttle of the Land Rover Defender feels very good in off-road mode, allowing for delicate control and high fault tolerance.
After the steep slope, we arrived at a single-sided deep pit, which is definitely challenging for low-chassis vehicles. The Defender 110 we drove has an approach angle of 37.5°, a departure angle of 40°, and a longitudinal passing angle of 27.8 degrees. At the same time, when the suspension is raised to the highest point, the ground clearance exceeds 260mm. With the maximum torsional rigidity of the aluminum alloy body reaching 30,000 N·m/degree, it passed smoothly without any problems.
Here’s a seemingly simple but still somewhat technical project: crossing a one-sided bridge. In wilderness crossings, situations like this are actually quite common. It’s really difficult for one person to accurately judge the road conditions around the wheels. In this case, you can open the off-road panoramic image and use the side cameras to judge the position of the wheels, making it easy to pass through.
In this test drive, there is a particularly challenging subject, which is rock climbing, which is rarely seen in other off-road test drives of other brands. Ahead is a slope built of stones, the large angle and irregular shape of the stones increase the difficulty of passing.
Set the vehicle to rock mode and engage low-speed gear to increase torque output. Find the line and gently apply the gas when the tires make contact with the rocks. Just like climbing stairs, take it slow and steady, and avoid high torque output to prevent wheel slippage. With a gentle touch on the gas, you can feel the abundant torque of the vehicle. This task will be easier if you are driving the Defender 90 model.
Summary: Every year, Land Rover Defender holds some hardcore themed events, and this is not my first time participating. But this year’s event location and the variety of vehicle models is the best I have ever experienced. I can fully experience the performance of the vehicles and appreciate the beauty of the Yunnan-Tibet region. This feeling is really great.