Quick test | Land Rover Defender, keeper of tradition

Land Rover relaunched its legendary Defender with great fanfare five years ago. Heir to the Series 1, which, nothing more, nothing less, gave birth to the illustrious English brand in 1948, this pure SUV continues its magnificent epic in a niche where competition is rare.

Never mind, this contemporary vintage from the overseas explorer remains just as irresistible as it is inimitable. Its cubic presentation, which takes its roots in a clever neo-retro mix, plays a big role here. There's an obvious balance, especially in the 110 version – the standard wheelbase – which makes sure to smooth out its ends to better negotiate obstacles.

Status-worthy refinement

Despite this obvious grip far from the marked trails, it is above all this velvet hand that impresses. The Defender navigates with ease on expressways with surprising course stability despite its atypical shape. Of course, wind noise is inevitable, but the soundproofing of the running gear allows you to hold a conversation without having to raise your voice.

The optional air springs also cushion bumps nicely while preventing excessive release. That said, the temperament of this Defender is defined by an obvious impression of weight and high center of gravity. You have to lift your foot when turning, but the SUV has very homogeneous body movements for its size.

The 3.0L turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine is undoubtedly the most balanced engine of the lot. With a power of 395 hp, it assists the Defender with good tone, particularly at mid-range. However, its sound and smoothness cannot compete with German engine manufacturers. In terms of consumption, the test week ended with an average of 12 L/100 km.

An exceptional interior

The great attention to detail put into crafting the interior is palpable. Relying on a very high roof roof and an abundant glazed surface, it is made of multiple materials that are pleasant to the touch and robust. The infotainment system is well designed and proved very stable during the test. Storage spaces are also numerous and cleverly placed. In addition, we are surprised to be seated comfortably everywhere, regardless of the size of the front passengers.

A very good exercise for this Defender, if you accept the somewhat high bill associated with the most decorated liveries as well as its reliability which remains to be proven.