Change is an unnecessary evil. Imagine if things stayed the same, the human race would have been stuck in time. The funny thing about change is that it is not always easy to embrace.
You must be wondering what on earth I’m rambling about, well I am talking about the Land Rover Defender. I know a few die-hard Land Rover Defender fanatics, I am talking about the types who would have preferred the Defender to have stayed the same from the 60’s.
The Defender nameplate is one of the most legendary in the world. It is in the same league as the Toyota Land Cruiser and Mercedes-Benz G-wagon but like many things it had to evolve.
This brings me to my stint with the new generation Land Rover Defender. Today’s Defender is nothing like the one many of us were accustomed to while growing up. Although it is nothing like the old metal that laid the foundation, the new Defender is not a sissy either, it has taken the reigns from its ancestor to new heights. The joys of doing what I do which is writing about cars is that I get to experience some of the finest machines created by man. Yes I know, it is a privilege.
Back to the Defender, after months of waiting for my turn to spend time behind the wheel of this legend in its new form, I was just about giving up when the Fleet Manager gave me a call to say the Defender was available for a test. The scheduling was swift and within two days, I laid my eyes on this beautiful piece of silver metal with black contrast roof and bonnet. It immediately took my breath away, I looked at it and for a few moments I couldn’t take my eyes off. As it is the norm, after the hand-over formalities with the Land Rover SA official delivering it, I jumped in to get acquainted with it.
Needless to say, this is worlds apart from the Defender I know from back in the day when I was a young motoring journo. The interior is polished, I mean it is what the streets would refer to as “went to private school”. The cluster represents modern Land Rovers such the Range Rover and Discovery. Every knob and button is where it is supposed to be and there is plenty of storage compartments for all your gadgets and other important personal items.
What took my breath away was not only the technological advancement but the design, remember my test vehicle was the Defender 110 D300 X, this is like the big mama of them all. One look at this model you can’t help but appreciate the work that went into executing this master piece.
Driven by Land Rover’s new straight-six turbocharged diesel engine, the Defender D300 releases decent sprints both on tar and off-road. You immediately feel the perky 221kW and 650Nm under your right foot pushing the massive tons of metal forward with ease.
The Defender X is the boy he says he is, well at least until the V8 arrives sometime soon. There are five specification packs including the X, which is the top of the line (for now). One look at it one is greeted by the black contrast roof and bonnet, Starlight Satin Chrome accents, orange brake calipers, rear recovery eyes. The interior spots a dream sound system in the form of a 700W Meridian with subwoofer, Head-up Display, 14-way Windsor Leather with Steelcut Premium Textile and Configurable Terrain Response 2.
There is an overwhelming model range to choose from. Bear in mind that there is also the Defender 90 which I did touch on this article, you are essentially spoilt for choice.
Go on and choose your Defender.
Model & Pricing
- D300 X-Dynamic SE – R1 350 700
- D240 S – R1 143 900
- D300 S – R1 235 900
- P300 S – R1 143 900
- P400 S – R1 265 000
- P400e S – R1 519 100
- D240 X-Dynamic SE – R1 269 100
- P300 X-Dynamic SE – R1 269 100
- P400 X-Dynamic SE – R1 390 200
- P400e X-Dynamic SE – R1 610 700
- D240 X-Dynamic HSE – R1 333 800
- D300 X-Dynamic HSE – R1 415 400
- P300 X-Dynamic HSE – R1 333 800
- P400 X-Dynamic HSE – R1 454 900
- P400e X-Dynamic HSE – R1 675 500
- D240 First Edition – R1 281 000
- P400 First Edition – R1 397 500
- D300 X – R1 596 300
- P400 X – R1 640 600
- P400e X – R1 726 600
