Land Rover Defender 110 S D250: King of versatility

When it comes to vehicles like the Land Rover Defender, its nameplate alone evokes the age-old image of a nearly indestructible utility vehicle borne out of war to eventually become an all-around “go anywhere” ride for adventurers, farmers, and even families.

As of the new current version, which has been sold globally since 2019, the Coventry-headquartered marque has since evolved the Defender nameplate into a technological and engineering marvel. Sure, it is still specced as a potent off-roader, but nowadays, the Defender has become a relatively plush ride that’s brimming with creature comforts. 

So, how does the Land Rover Defender fare in its modern form? How does it drive, and did its evolution really water down the rough and tough quality it nurtured in ages past? 

Zigwheels Philippines found out firsthand when we rode and drove the Land Rover Defender 110 S D250 on the roads and shallow river beds of Tarlac. 

Exterior

As expected from a modern off-road-capable sports utility vehicle (SUV), the Defender 110 commands an imposing appearance. 

But before we do a deep dive into how the Land Rover model looks, here’s a table showing its dimensions: 

Model	Land Rover Defender 110 S D260
Dimensions (L x W x H, in mm)	5,018 x 1,996 x 1,967
Wheelbase (mm)	3,022
Ground clearance (mm)	280 or 291 (high setting)

Up front, it boasts a pair of sizable square-shaped LED headlamp clusters, which flank a hefty-looking grille. The aforementioned tops off the model’s silver-colored vent covers and a beefy front bumper. 

From the side, one can get a clearer view of the model’s square-shaped silhouette - a callback to the Defender versions of old. The new version9. 

The rear of the vehicle is likewise as square as its body. Pleasantly enough, it features a very tall and wide side-opening trunk door, which ensures easy access to the trunk. Likewise, its array of square-shaped LED taillight elements is guaranteed to make the vehicle stand out further. 

Appearance-wise, the Defender is, to put it simply, on point. It is a thoroughly impressive-looking ride, with a generous amount of road presence, but also with some graceful details to show just how luxurious it is. As such, it comes with no surprise that many other brands have tried to somewhat emulate the look of the modern-day Defender with varying degrees of success. 

Apart from its notable appearance, the Defender 110 we used also came with a load of exterior bits that will make driving a lot easier. It is equipped with rain-sensing wipers, roof rails, automatic headlamps, and front fog lamps.  

Interior

Inside, the Defender 110 received a cabin that was designed to balance comfort and rugged utility. 

The aforementioned can be easily seen from its dashboard and interior door panels, which combine sturdy plastic or rubber surfaces with an ample amount of soft touch points. Of course, the interior of the off-road Defender also has plenty of grab handles, which are more physically substantial compared to the run-of-the-mill mid-size SUV. 

Notably, the Land Rover off-road rig’s control surfaces are centrally located on the center console just below its infotainment screen. It comes in the form of an easy-to-reach panel, which holds all the necessary vehicle controls ranging from the suspension height adjuster, the drive mode selector, and the dual-zone automatic climate control system. 

Do note, however, that the said control panel is unlike anything we’ve seen on other SUVs. As such, fiddling around with the controls, especially for a new user, will take a bit of practice. 

On the other hand, the leather-clad seats themselves are really nice and wide, even for the writer’s considerable girth. Finding one’s driving position is also made easy thanks to a tilt and telescopic steering column. The driver’s seat itself has manual sliding and height adjustability, but we found it easy to use regardless. 

Legroom is likewise quite abundant for the front and rear cabins. The rear seat, in particular, is quite spacious and is bristling with features such as multiple air-conditioning vents, a set of USB charging ports, additional grab handles, and a 40:20:40 split-folding functionality. 

Other notable creature comforts found inside the vehicle include, but are not limited to, the following: 

• Wireless device charging
• Heads-up display
• Treadplates
• Rear cabin center armrest
• Auto-dimming rearview mirror
• Electronic parking brake
• Drive mode selector

If there’s anything to complain about, the unit we drove came with a white and blue interior color scheme. It looks good, but the white can get dirty through frequent use. It will also likely see some stains, especially when younger passengers are involved. 

The said issue, however, is a bit nitpicky since the nameplate has access to a load of other interior color combinations. 

Technologies

Handling many of the Defender 110’s in-car functions and on-board entertainment is a 10-inch Pivi Pro touchscreen. 

During the time we had with the vehicle, the said screen returned no lag. We likewise found its interface to be easy to understand. For connectivity, the said screen also has wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which work well together with the ride’s wireless charger. Plus, its six-piece, 180-watt Land Rover sound system outputted high sound quality, which in its default settings provided just the right amount of bass and treble. 

Over towards the driver's side is the brand’s Interactive Driver Display. It effectively shows a wide variety of vehicle parameters, plus it can cast a small version of the navigation software one is currently using. 

For its safety features, the Defender 110, specifically the S trim, comes standard with the following: 

• ISOFIX child seat anchors
• Dual front airbags
• Anti-lock braking
• Perimetric car alarm
• 360-degree view camera
• Hill launch assist
• Hill descent control
• Roll stability control
• Cornering brake control
• Dynamic stability control
• Traction control

Apart from the said features, the model likewise has an advanced driver-assist suite equipped with emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and driver condition monitor. 

The video display of the 360-degree camera is particularly notable for its crispness, even at night. During the drive, we made ample use of the said feature when we tackled harsh terrain and tight roads. It can be turned on to monitor the lower front half and both front tires of the SUV, which is very useful for avoiding obstacles. 

Powertrain, chassis

During the time we had with the Defender 110, we managed to take it through paved provincial roads, a majestic dried (or shallow) river bed in Tarlac, and through the streets of Metro Manila. 

On curvy provincial roads, the 3.0-liter inline-6 diesel was highly compliant with inputs. Despite having a turbo, its 245 horsepower comes in relatively early at 4,000 revolutions per minute (rpm), while its 570 Newton-meters of torque peaks at 2,500 rpm. 

The aforementioned peak torque was particularly palpable when we pushed through the shallow river and dry river bed sections. It had no issues cutting through the soft, mushy lahar and sand caking the majority of the off-road course we took. 

On both curvy paved roads and on slippery stuff, the suspension likewise shined best in keeping the vehicle stable and controllable. For the unaware, the Defender uses an air-suspension system, which provides up to 291-millimeters of ground clearance. Combined with its generous approach and departure angles, the Defender, as we experienced, simply barreled through the sudden drop-offs we encountered. 

On the other hand, the big and burly SUV behaved quite well even through the chaotic traffic on EDSA. The aforementioned is thanks to its good forward visibility and, again, its 360-degree view camera. The said feature we found was quite great at spotting lane-splitting motorcycles. 

Here is a table outlining the mechanical specifications of the Defender 110 S D250: 

Model	Land Rover Defender 110 S D250
Engine	3.0-liter Ingenium inline-6 turbocharged
Fuel type	Diesel
Horsepower	245
Torque	570 Nm
Transmission	Eight-speed automatic
Drivetrain	4x4
Front suspension	Electronic air twin tower links
Rear suspension	Integral link with electronic air
Brakes	Front and rear ventilated discs

Final thoughts

Overall, we can confidently say that the modern locally available Defender has lived up to the persona its ancestors have built over the years. Sure, it has shaped up to be a tech-laden and feature-rich car, but it definitely still goes when the going gets tough. 

The said sentiment, therefore, places the Defender, particularly the 110 we tested, as quite a versatile ride. It can fulfill the needs of buyers who just need a relatively plush ride that can deal with the poorly maintained (and often flood-plagued) roads of Philippine cities. At the same time, it can slot in as a dedicated adventure vehicle for folks who always crave the outdoors. 

For folks who are interested in the Defender 110 and its other stable mates, do contact Land Rover Philippines for its exact pricing. 

Also read:

Land Rover PH to launch Defender Octa, Range Rover Sport SV Edition 2 in 2025

Land Rover PH introduces Range Rover SV