Land Rover Defender
Wheels Australia Magazine|October 2020
New Dog, Old Tricks
Tim Robson
Land Rover Defender

Model Land Rover Defender P400 SE

Engine 2996cc 6cyl, dohc, 24v, turbo Max power 294kW @ 5500rpm

Max torque 550Nm @ 2000-5000rpm

Transmission 8-speed automatic

Weight 2418kg (seven-seat)

0-100km/h 6.1sec (claimed)

Economy 9.9L/100km

Price $102,736

IF THERE’S a gene that predisposes a person to like the original Land Rover Defender, I’m afraid I don’t have it. I appreciate that people are sentimental about these things, but really, the previous Defender was – and still is – the worst car I’d ever reviewed on a public road.

The third-generation Defender – code-named L663 – thankfully comes from different stock, and is tasked with the hardest job of all; placating the cynical faithful while attracting an entirely new audience.

We’ve already sampled the Defender’s bush-bashing chops (Wheels, April) so let’s concentrate on the terrain where most Aussie Defenders will spend their lives: on the tarmac.

Long-wheelbase 110 and short wheelbase 90 variants will make up the Australian mix, with two diesels and one petrol engine across four grades.

This story is from the October 2020 edition of Wheels Australia Magazine.

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This story is from the October 2020 edition of Wheels Australia Magazine.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

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