Pick of the bunch! We at NamWheels have been fortunate enough to test quite a few new Defender models from Land Rover and it quickly turned out that this 110 D300 is the one you want; for the following reasons…
Body size
While the Defender 90 looks more chubby and purposeful, its enormous doors and smaller cargo area are really just suited to singles or dinks. Oh, how I’d love to be single or dinks. But I digress. This 110 has sufficient doors for the whole family while still offering space for Fido, luggage or some leisure equipment.
The only downsides, when compared to the shorter Defender 90, is that these enormous beasts are tricky enough to park with just two doors… this longer 110 version can be sweat-inducing in tight parking areas. Read between the lines here: get every single available parking assistant, camera or peeper you can!
Fire power
I am a certified petrol-head. Would you like to hear my credentials? I currently own six cars, five of which are V8 petrol powered. Hence, if you’re a crazy car person like me, I have to implore you to test-drive (and buy) the glorious P400 in-line six-cylinder turbo-petrol we tested earlier this year. It’s brutal but creamy, brawny but thirsty. It’s divine.
However. If you live in the real world, with real fuel prices and real distances to cover, any sane person will want to opt for this turbo-diesel straight six. Sure, you can save some extra cash (and fill-ups) by going for the fairly potent four-pot TD models, but this six-shooter has the best of both worlds. Nice power, good sound, decent consumption.
Bang for your buck
Where the P400 (294kW/550Nm turbo-petrol straight-six) managed our 0-100km/h in a scorching 6.97 seconds, this D300 (221kW/650Nm turbo-diesel straight-six) did it in 7.21 seconds. I’m sorry, that is a simply negligible difference on a fairly substantial power/torque deficit… never mind a price difference of about R265,000.
Now add in the claimed average fuel consumption figures of 9.9 vs 7.6L/100km and this turbo-diesel becomes the no-brainer I’m currently trying to convince you of. And while you probably won’t achieve those numbers in the real world, I can tell you with a high degree of experience that the diesel will get closer than its rabid petrol equivalent.
Specifications
OK, this is probably an objective choice and we were heavily influenced by the goodies fitted to our various press demonstrators. The launch-colour metallic-green P400 First Edition was loaded with so much kit that it seemed like someone had ticked every single available box on the “optional extras” list.
Of course that is a wonderful thing to behold but I’d like to caution you against fancy toys or strange gadgets that will impress your friends once; and then be left alone forever. This Defender 110 D300 X wore sensible silver paint and 20-inch alloy wheels (both are no-cost options) with off-roady Good-Year Wrangler rubber.
Other freebie extras on this car include the black roof and panoramic glass roof, black roof rails and Matrix LED headlights. Yes, free-of-charge! Making up a measly total of R14,000 fitted to this particular vehicle are an electrically deployed towbar (R5,400), privacy glass (R6,000) plus a sticker-and-storage pack (R2,700).
Very sensible, hey?
So there you have it. If you want lots of revs, plenty of toys and that extra degree of speed, knock yourself out with that crazy P400 Landy. If fuel consumption and purchase price are major concerns, the smaller diesels should be just fine but… but… if you want to pick of the bunch, it just has to be this 110 with a D300 engine.
i love this new one