2008 Land Rover Defender 110 review
8 Jul, 2008
31 Comments 
If towing is your thing, the Defender has that base covered also. With a braked trailer, the Defender is capable of pulling up to 3500kg. I loaded a trailer with a motorbike onto the Defender and the extra weight was obvious, so I’m not sure how tractable the motor would be with 3500kg worth of load attached.
655mm of axle articulation permits the Defender to push through massive ruts, while 500mm of wading depth is very impressive to say the least.
I mentioned earlier that the Defender could be operated driverless. Let me explain. Engage low range and grab first gear. There is enough torque in the first gear to pull the Defender up any hill, it’s truly astounding. Where a regular car would stall without throttle input, the Defender keeps pulling. It’s quite a spectacular sight, click here to check out our Facebook page to see the Defender in action.
Under the bonnet, a 2.4-litre, 4-cylinder turbo-diesel motor hauls the Defender’s 2-tonne mass. It produces 90kW and 360Nm of torque and is Euro4 compliant. Power is sent through a 6-speed manual gearbox. Reverse is located right next to first gear and it’s easy to accidentally grab reverse instead of first when sitting in neutral at the traffic lights – an awkward situation to say the least!
Interior room is pretty impressive for such a rugged bush-trawler. Front and rear passenger leg room is pretty good, but I wouldn’t want to sit in the optional 3rd row of seats for too long. They are suitable for short-term adult transport though.
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(6 votes, average: 4.83 out of 5)
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July 8th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
Gheeezzz… and I thought Toyota had recycled the 70 series too many times!
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July 8th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
BUSH BASHING!!
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July 8th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
VW_Freak, why fix something thats not broken? The only thing this need is the old 2.5L 5 cylinder back. I know someone with a newish defender with he 5 cylinder, and it has ample power and torque. Certainly the best 4×4 on the market for off road ability.
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July 8th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
I love this car. Just to look at it gives me the same fuzzy feeling that I get when I look at an old Jaguar. Hey Paul, if you don’t think that people are buying them for fashion then come to London! They are impossible to drive in town but that doesn’t stop people.
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July 8th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
The thought of towing 3500kg with this wheezy old converted transit engine fills me with dread. This vehicle stops with a mild headwind while unladen.
314mm ground clearance is not really much, and 500mm water fording with a snorkel is downright pathetic.
The Toureg has 500mm fording depth and 237mm ground clearance, which means the water can safely go 500-237 = 263mm up the bodywork.
The Defender has 500mm fording depth and 314mm ground clearance , which means the water can only go safely over the bodywork by 500-314 = 186mm. that’s weird.
The snorkel must be for dust, not water.
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July 8th, 2008 at 6:28 pm
acfsambo
“Certainly the best 4×4 on the market for off road ability.”
Not really, Doesn’t even come with factory fitted diff locks, such as the Jeep Rubicon and LC76.
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July 8th, 2008 at 6:38 pm
Yeah the 500mm water fording is pretty ordinary. Reckless1, the V10 TDI Toureg can actually go up to 580mm, but the others are 500mm as you said correctly. The 200 Series Landcruiser can go 700mm!!! Couldn’t find the 70 series depth unfortunately.
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July 8th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
Looks like Anglesea or maybe Genbrook?
“POWERED BY FORD” lol Tansit motor under the bonnet!
Cheers
F-0
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July 8th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
Rather a V8 Diesel Landcruiser.
Looks like Anglsea or Gembrook state forest?
“POWERED BY FORD” lol, you forgot to mention is out of a Transit, good engine too, but injectors go off and it gets smokey, together with telephone-number sized parts prices.
Pass
Get the Toyota, or a Jeep Wrangler
Cheers
F-0
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July 8th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
Reckless1 Thats what snorkels are for….MAN I LOVE LAND ROVERS
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July 8th, 2008 at 7:52 pm
was a great car, now well and truly past it’s used by date. Best off roader on the market? Not really, the new jeep wranger does a much better job when fitted with its factory diff locks and sway bar disconectors. Even if your after an “old school” 4WD the 78 series landcruiser still does a better job with its MUCH better drivetrain and again also comes with optional factory fitted diff locks.
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July 8th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
The Defender leaves anything else in the MUD!
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July 8th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
G MAN - learn to read G! 500mm fording depth it WITH a snorkel!
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July 8th, 2008 at 8:10 pm
oh and by the way car advice, anyone in the market for a “serious” offroader like a defender of a 78 series cruiser would actually PREFER manual locking hubs..
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July 8th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
Even though the Defender & Landcruiser are based on dated designs, I still like the look of both & think they are excellent off-road vehicles.
Cheers !
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July 8th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
This thing should be sent to where it belongs, a museum.
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July 8th, 2008 at 10:33 pm
THE DEFENDER IS THE DEFINITION OF SERIOUS OFFROADER. 500mm IS WITHOUT THE SNORKEL. PEOPLE WHO KNOCK DEFENDERS HAVE NEVER TAKEN 1 OFFROAD, NOTHING COMES CLOSE.
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July 8th, 2008 at 10:55 pm
Big Jim,
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July 8th, 2008 at 11:00 pm
Big Jim,
Thats true “NOTHING COMES CLOSE”, That because The Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, LC70 family, along with their Factory fitted diff locks get further!!
The Rubicon with it’s 4:1 transfer case, and automatic sway bar disconects gets much further!! Even H3 with it’s 4:1 transfere case and a single diff lock in the back beats it!!
Jim mate, don’t kid your self, just because it rides rough, is relatively underpowered and looks dated, doesn’t mean it good offroad!!
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July 8th, 2008 at 11:04 pm
Big Jim, My Prado LC120, 100/200 series landcruiser, Nissan Patrol,Discover3, have a snorkless Fording depth of 700mm!!
Even the Jeep Grand cherokee has a fording depth of 508mm!!
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July 8th, 2008 at 11:04 pm
I notice most spitfires are in a museum too.
Landies are great a good basic vehicle. Mercedes stopped producing their G-wagon, a good competitor. I believe production was going to restart a few years ago, so theres is demand for a basic off road who-gives-a-toss-whether-you-dent it vehicle.
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July 9th, 2008 at 11:21 am
“The Defender also uses auto-locking hubs, opposed to the Landcruiser’s manual locking hubs.”
Since when did a CONSTANT 4WD have auto locking hubs?? Better check that press kit again.
The 500mm wading depth is a strange one, Freelander 2 has a 500 mm wading depth, RRS, FFRR and Discovery 3 all have a 700mm wading depth. I’m guessing 500mm is the floor height, you can’t expect those doors to keep out any water! hahaha I love this car but I think the advertising slogan should be, “Defender, still hand built by the same lazy poms after all these years.”
Also, don’t be put off by the lack of cross axle diff locks, the traction control is a very near equal in this case.
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July 9th, 2008 at 11:22 am
NoName, pretty sure they still make the G-Wagon. Just doesn’t come to Aus.
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July 9th, 2008 at 11:50 am
CAMPAGNOLA 4×4 by FIAT = Best std. off-road 4×4 on the planet!
No oil leaks like Pommy POS!!
Cheers
F-O
Magic! anti-spam word is FIAT!
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July 9th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
Waterboy, traction control isn’t as good Diff locks, but better then nothing i guess!!
The Australian Army has just order the G-wagons!!!
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July 10th, 2008 at 8:11 am
Traction control might be great in the rocks but put it in sand (where most people end up in their 4wds) and they stop very quickly. The traction control just keeps cutting engine power killing all momentum.
If you want a traditional style off-roader. This aint it.
Buy a Patrol or a 70 series.
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August 31st, 2008 at 3:45 pm
You can’t get much more traditional than a Defender. The new engine and gearbox combo is great. LR has made minor interior improvements to make the interior a little bit more livable but it is still a DEFENDER! awesome machines.
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September 18th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
UPDATE -
NEW Campagnola, is go!
Made by IVECO [well badged anyway] out of the Masiff, WILL KILL a defender off-road, a MUCH superior off-road vehicle and worthy of the Campagnola badge.
Only bad thing is its Euro$29k which is as silly as rovers prices.
Cheers
F-0
PS/ Google IVECO CAMPAGNOLA and you can find it
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September 19th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
500mm of water…lol
You know you have to fit a “wading plug” to the timing case every time you want to cross water, and then of course remove it…
Is it no wonder people by Japanese 4×4’s in record #’s??
Cheers
F-0
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September 23rd, 2008 at 2:36 pm
does anybbody actually have a 2008 defender and if so can you please tell us if you had any problem yet?
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October 1st, 2008 at 1:45 pm
Hello - I’m a Geoscientist and recently had the opportunity to drive one of these trucks across the Simpson desert and beyond. Having previously used Patrols and Cruisers for such work, I must say I was impressed by this new Defender. Some observations 1) No problems sand driving - crossed the French and QAA line and the tc was superb. 2) Vehicle does have centre diff lock - fabulous traction when engaged. 3) This vehicle has over 1 ton payload. No other 4X4 that I’ve come across comes close to that so you can carry plenty of gear and samples. 4) Wading depth is in practice much deeper - I drove it through a river which went over the bonnet - it was at least 1m deep - got wet feet but it didn’t stop it. 5) It was in fact very comfortable to drive. 6) I got about 10l/100km fully laden so very frugal on diesel. If Land Rover had some dealers in rural areas this vehicle would be one to buy.
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