2024 Land Rover Defender 110 S P300 AWD

The Off-Road Icon

The Land Rover Defender is a 4x4 SUV that holds a special place in my heart and in our family.

My grandfather migrated to Mindanao from Manila in 1963 during the agricultural and development boom of the so-called Land of Promise. He eventually settled in Davao City bringing in the business he had put up with his siblings in Quiapo, Manila. Industrial goods and services finally reached the biggest island in the south, where we initially sold industrial bearings, oil seals, and eventually auto parts. Our family became the sole distributor of Land Rover parts in Mindanao.

At that time, logging was also rampant as the region was developing more land. Of course, with the lack of roads to access the forests, the vehicle of choice was a four-wheel-drive - a Land Rover. That explains my grandfather's business choice.

I remember we had a white Land Rover Series IIA model 109 when I was younger. I could even recall the plate number - LAL 557. The Land Rover always had a soft spot in my car guy's heart, as it brings back memories of my grandfather and me, as he would ferry me around the farm.

It was not my first car, nor was it the first vehicle I ever drove, but I was still able to take it for a couple of trips on the farm when my “Tatang” was still alive. The term “brutal” was always the first thing that came to mind when I drove it as it was a workhorse and everything was just very brutish from the clutch to the steering yet there was always a sense of fulfillment and nostalgia when I would drive it. It always felt like the movies, as if I was driving in the Sahara or trailing in the Amazon. The Land Rover always had that appeal.

The Land Rover is one of the most recognizable vehicles on the planet according to JLR Philippines head honcho Chris Ward. I couldn't agree more as I walked over towards the latest Land Rover Defender 110 S P300 with keys in hand.

The feeling this time was full circle. I flashbacked to the history I have with Land Rovers and there was a giddy feeling. I have driven some of their other variants in the Defender line but this one just took the cake because of how it was set up.

Dressed in a very subtle shade of blue and was equipped with the iconic ladder, side-mounted gear carrier, and the expedition roof rack. The 19-inch rims were also wrapped in black and donned Continental Cross Contact 255/65 tires. The color combination immediately deviated me from my black cars’ bias.

I can’t say much about the design as the new series of Defenders have already achieved that iconic status similar to their older brethren. It’s big, boxy, and just screams ready for the path less taken. However here in the Philippines, it has become more of a status symbol rather than something to be used where roads end. The majority of the customers don’t even want to get mud on their rides. Parking it beside several SUVs in the mall, one can feel a sense of pride when driving this. It literally stands out from the rest of the pack, may they be of Japanese or American origin.

Where the road ends, the fun truly begins. One sunny Friday morning, I went up the twisties of Tanay with the goal of reaching the area of Camp Well.

The drive up was very smooth, with not much traffic and there weren’t as many motorcycles going up. The interior of the Defender did not disappoint at all. NVH was very very good, the seats felt very bolstered and comfortable and the combination of cloth and rubber matting was a perfect match. Inside the cockpit is very rugged yet functional. Grab handles and bins all around, it was a perfect plush off-roading interior. I can easily say luxurious since you would easily spot that the materials used are of top-notch quality. The Pivi Pro 10” touch screen was also very easy to use.

The Defender still has several physical buttons but pretty much everything can be controlled from the main screen. Although at times the Apple CarPlay was a bit buggy but probably just a firmware update that could be fixed. The Meridian 6 speaker sound system though is always a treat to play music on while driving. The cameras also are very clear, which for me is a big plus since most cameras in its class are still “1080” as compared to the Defender’s “4K” version. When I experienced Land Rover’s test drive a few months back I was already introduced to the main features of the interior, from all the camera angles and how to manage the vehicle functions so it was also easier to maneuver driving up to Tanay.

Powering my drive up is the 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four gas engine from Jaguar Land Rover's Ingenium family. It churns out 300 PS and 400 Nm of torque, and it’s mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. This Defender is an AWD, but true to its 4x4 prowess it has high and low range - the former for everyday driving, and the other when it's time to go off-road.

There was noticeable lag from the engine as the turbo spools up to carry the Defender's heavy body, but the comfort of the suspension made up for it. Personally, I believe vehicles like this version of the Defender do not need to be super-fast since you will be off-roading most of the time. But if you do wish for more power, a V8 variant is also available; but that of course costs more than double the price of this version I drove.

A new hybrid and plug-in version is also available if you prefer the “greener” kind of Defender, but fuel economy from the P300 was not that bad going up to Tanay and back to Quezon City. I was roughly getting around 9.8 km/L on mixed highway, off-road, and a bit of spirited driving included.

After a few hours of driving, I finally reached the rough roads going to Camp Well in Daraitan, Tanay, and this is indeed where the fun began. Like I said about experiencing the different features of the Defender on a controlled track, this time applying it in real-world situations made it like a walk in the park.

The air suspension was very easy to engage, and the switches to low gear were also very intuitive to apply. With so much tech, this Defender can pretty much drive itself, especially on rough terrain. You really do get your penny’s worth with this vehicle. Although for some they would prefer the more “manual” way of going off-road, if you have the dough, the extra convenience from the Defender's Terrain Response System makes you look like an off-road pro.

The steering, though very light, has quite a long ratio. This means it takes a bit more rotations at the wheel to maneuver the large SUV. But over time, it's something you can easily get used to. It’s just a matter of familiarization with your ride.

Overall, I’m glad I got to bring this Defender to its natural habitat. This version of the Defender is a complete package you can use as a daily and bring to the trails on weekends. The experience of driving on paved roads going up to Tanay and off-roading was the perfect combination to test the vehicle despite the short time I had with it.

When I sent photos of the muddy Defender to the JLR team, they were happy and said it is indeed where it belongs. (I had it washed though before I returned it.) Just to add, the air suspension also passed the “Tita” test I usually do with my mom as she was surprised that it aired down to make her ingress and egress out of the vehicle easier.

Now on to the price, the base model will set you apart by roughly under PHP 6.2M. This P300 trim, however, with all the accessories and wrap is priced at PHP 7.150M. A bit steep compared to other competitors in its class, but it’s not just a vehicle you’re buying, it also comes with the experience and the pride of owning an Icon. If I were to get one, I’d just add a rooftop tent and a portable freezer in the back and I’m good to go. (paging Joel of Overland Kings).

During the recent pandemic, my father located a literal barn find, as the Rover was unearthed in one of the sheds on my grandfather’s farm. He has then made it a point to gradually restore it to its glory with some few leftover parts from my grandfather’s inventory.

Currently, I believe that it’s off to get scraped and painted back to its original color. I might not afford the latest version of the Land Rover like this Defender, but hopefully, as soon as the one in my hometown gets roadworthy then I can still say I’m a proud heir and owner of the best 4X4XFar. I wish my grandfather were still alive so it would be me to ferry him around the farm, then it would have really completed the circle.