RIDE-CT – Classic Cars Celebrating Classic Cars in Connecticut
EAST HADDAM, CT – For me, getting in the 2025 Land Rover Defender was the equivalent of putting my hand in a fine leather glove. It immediately fit just right, felt just right, and provided a view of the world around which was also just right.
Like the Jeep which preceded it, the legendary Land Rover began life (in 1948) as a rudimentary workhorse that earned its keep as one of the world’s leading all-terrain vehicles.
The tough and intrepid British brand would go on to bob and weave around the ups and downs of the English automobile industry. After being taken down by a failed British Leyland combine (MG, Triumph, etc.), the company was bought by BMW and then Ford. The royal Rover is now under the umbrella of India’s Tata Motors.
But that hasn’t impacted or diminished the capable off-roader’s credo to follow the road less traveled. Land Rover realized over time, though, that its true grit is in the special combination of proper rugged refinement in pursuit of the upscale (and very profitable) High Street.
Which brings us to the most recent Defender. Having first appeared on these shores in 1993, the little Land Rover then disappeared in 1997, although it was still sold overseas. Totally redesigned in 2020, the compact utility vehicle returned here to impressive accolades. Such as “Motor Trend” magazine’s 2021 SUV of the Year.
Fast forward to 2024.
I applaud Land Rover for designing what is truly a distinctive Defender. Styling has been described by the company as “visually compelling, with a go-anywhere-do-anything attitude.” To me, it’s somewhat quirky, which I like, thanks to such styling cues as “floating bollards” (short, thick posts), roof-mounted “Alpine” light windows, “characterful taillights” and a side-opening tailgate.
The 2025 Land Rover Defender example that I drove was a four-door 110 model, which fits between a shorter, two-door 90 and a longer 130 four-door. All use lightweight, aluminum Unibody construction means that there’s no separate frame (like a Jeep). That adds to its refinement and roadability. Land Rover claims that it offers three times the torsional rigidity of a body-on-frame alternative. The Defender is the stiffest Land Rover ever made.
Intelligent all-wheel drive automatically controls torque distribution between front and rear axles, and a one touch two-speed transfer case provides low-range for the most challenging conditions. An electronic air suspension can alter the ride height from 1.6-inches below normal and up to 5.8-inches above for extreme off-road ability.
The interior is adorned with exposed structural surfaces and elements – down to stylized screw heads – as a celebration of functional design. A 12.3-inch Interactive Driver Display spans the center of the instrument panel to keep you informed and entertained with full connectivity, a Meridian surround sound system and Navigation.
Power is provided by a sweet, inline, six-cylinder engine which develops 395-horsepower as a result of twin-scroll turbocharging and a 48-volt electric supercharger. It’s also a Mild Hybrid, which means that it harvests energy on deceleration. An 8-speed ZF automatic transmission is specified.
The good news is that it will do 0-60 mph in 5.8 seconds. The bad is that it gets 17 mpg City/22 mpg Hwy. Maximum towing capacity is 8,200 pounds.
One tough little bulldog, the Defender is actually more comfortable and compliant than you might imagine. Even with its tall, stubby silhouette, fully independent suspension allows the Land Rover to take to the twisty two-lanes with confidence. Smooth and quiet, it will simultaneously cut to the chase when the road runs out and turns to dirt.
Special attention has been paid to what the company calls “Next Generation Braking,” which includes supplementary actuator control for improved performance and precision. Dynamic and Roll Stability Control, Emergency Brake Assist, Blind Spot and Lane Keeping Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, along with Pre-Collison, Rear Traffic and Clear Exit monitoring, helps buyers digitally defend themselves from the harsh reality of the everyday experience.
The iconic, entry-level British Land Rover is truly a citizen on the world with ownership in India and assembly in Slovakia (with a German transmission). Base prices start at $56,900 for the Defender 90, and climb to $60,800 for the Defender 110 and $69,700 for the Defender 130. The six-cylinder 110 X-Dynamic that I tested retails at $72,100.
This little Land Rover has been totally “reimagined for the 21st century” and remains loaded with Defender DNA. Fortunately.
(Photos courtesy of Land Rover unless otherwise noted.)
