How the 2024 Land Rover Defender conquers and defends nature
Defender.
A name that is as iconic in the automotive world as 911 and Mustang. But unlike those long-running sports cars, you can count on Land Rover’s sports utility vehicle (SUV) to climb every mountain, ford every stream and follow every rainbow.
Born in 1948 as the British equivalent of the Willys Jeep, the Defender nameplate was officially used in 1989 following extensive updates to the Series III six years prior. It came in three body styles – the three-door 90, the five-door 110 and the extended-length, five-door 130.
The original Defender stopped production in 2016 following an amazing 33-year run. It was reincarnated in 2020, now featuring a unibody chassis, a new generation of engines and the latest off-road tech.
Land Rover Philippines invited some members of the media to drive the Defender 90, Defender 110, Defender 110 plug-in hybrid and Defender 130 on a special mission to help some four-legged friends in Capas, Tarlac.
Well-mannered on-road
Taking off from the Jaguar-Land Rover showroom on EDSA, we had the privilege of being driven by IC Land Automotive Inc. vice president, Chris Ward, who is also a certified Jaguar-Land Rover driving instructor.
In between regaling us with his stories about driving in the Philippines, I took note of how well the Defender 130 D300 rode through EDSA’s battle-scarred pavement. As the largest of the Defender lineup, this eight-seat behemoth comes standard with electronic air suspension that keeps the body level even over the biggest bumps.
Following the stopover on the North Luzon Expressway, I got behind the wheel of the Defender 130, where I immediately noticed how smooth and punchy its 3.0-liter inline-6 turbodiesel engine is. It could give BMW a run for its money with its 296 horsepower and 650 Newton-meters of torque, mated to an 8-speed automatic gearbox.
And even when my Business World colleague, Dylan Afuang, took the saddle, I fell asleep in the back, thanks to the hardy yet comfortable Avantec upholstery and four-zone climate control with vents in the center console and roof.
Electrification for all seasons
Next, I took the Defender 110 plug-in hybrid through its paces at our shooting location – the Colonel Ernesto Rabina Air Base in Tarlac.
Formerly known as the Crow Valley Gunnery Range, the 17,800-hectare facility had served as the main bombing range of the U.S. Air Force before it left the Philippines in 1991. It is located around 20 kilometers away from Clark Air Base in Pampanga.
Although it remains in use by the Armed Forces of the Philippines, many of its old facilities were decimated after the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in 1991. It was renamed in September 2016 after Philippine Air Force Colonel Ernesto Rabina, who earned a Distinguished Conduct Star for his work in siege in Sulu in 1974.
The range’s rolling hills provided a stunning backdrop, while the lahar-lined riverbeds offered a fun if treacherous drive for our convoy. This Defender P400e combines a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4 gasoline engine with an electric motor and a 19.2-kWh battery pack.
Total output is a stout 398 horsepower and 640 Newton-meters of torque, coursed through an 8-speed automatic transmission. And despite riding on huge 22-inch wheels with all-terrain tires, this electrified Defender overcame whatever this military installation threw at it, thanks to Land Rover’s brilliant terrain response system.
Effortless off-road
We also got the chance to drive through the riverbeds again, this time behind the wheel of the Defender 110 D250.
This variant has the same inline-6 turbodiesel engine and 8-speed automatic as the Defender 130, but detuned to 246 horsepower and 540 Newton-meters of torque. Also equipped with air suspension and the terrain response system, this SUV simply sailed through the mucky and wet sand that would leave most stock SUVs stuck.
Indeed, you can hear and feel the terrain response system at work by controlling the throttle input and constantly moving the power to the wheel with the most grip. And the ClearSight ground view camera shows exactly where your front wheels are through the 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system, helping you navigate the narrowest of ruts.
My media friend sitting in the back described it best – “Parang nasa semento” or “It’s like we’re riding on cement.”
Heading out of the Colonel Ernesto Rabina Air Base, I took charge of the Defender 90 D250. It shares the turbodiesel powerplant of the Defender 110 D250, but you get two fewer doors and no air suspension.
Despite more noticeable pitch movements when you move the vehicle’s weight around, the three-door felt like a rocketship because of its lighter body and shorter wheelbase. From the air base’s gravel access roads to the paved highways heading to our lunch spot, the Defender 90 felt nimble and easy to control.
Sanctuary for the broken
Following our sumptuous meal, we headed to our last destination of the day – the Animal Kingdom Foundation in Capas, Tarlac.
The non-profit organization was founded in 2000 by British national Charles Warternberg to put an end to the country’s rampant dog-meat trade, which is illegal under Republic Act 8485 or “The Animal Welfare Act of 1998.” The group has frequently coordinated with law-enforcement agencies to conduct raids and rescues.
Land Rover Philippines made a donation to the foundation to help in its fight against animal cruelty – its two-hectare sanctuary, the largest of its kind in the country, cares for dogs and cats who are victims of abuse, abandonment and neglect. The group said the animals are rehabilitated and trained for up to three months before they are put up for adoption.
Ward, a dog lover himself, mentioned how Land Rover follows the philosophy of “Tread Lightly.” This means they use technology, techniques and initiatives to maximize the adventures that nature offers, while keeping it intact for others to enjoy.
Given that the old Defender and its predecessors helped uphold the rights of people in war-torn countries, it’s great to see that over 75 years of this tradition of preservation has carried on with the latest Defender.
Bravo, Land Rover!
