2008 Land Rover Defender SVX First Steer
December 14, 2008 by Anthony Crawford
I won’t quote the turning circle, you can get that from our road test of the stock 110 by Paul Maric, but whatever you do, don’t try a u-turn in peak hour traffic as the mob might resort to lynching you.
You can also forget about accurate steering and feedback with the SVX and don’t under any circumstances try and punt this thing into a corner with any kind of pace – at least not until you’re used to the massive amount of play either side of dead centre.
I say that, as although the SVX is just as capable off road as any of its Defender siblings, I suspect any excursions off the tarmac will be few and far between, as it would be such a shame to mess up the paint job.
Apart from the commendable attempt by Land Rover to drag the Defender SVX into the 21st century with the various mod cons mentioned earlier in this piece, the highlight has to be the 2.4-litre, common-rail, diesel engine and the six-speed gearbox that make this vehicle almost acceptable as a daily driver.
All six gear ratios are well spaced and stop/start driving is really not that difficult, at least in short bursts.
It’s on the freeway that the SVX shines brightest, you can shift up to sixth and leave it there all the way from Sydney to Brisbane if you like, such is the torque and relative quiet of the engine at 110km/h.
“When all is said and done, you’re not going to hand over a cheque for an SVX to be used as a weekend workhorse as you would a stock 110, not a chance. You’re buying exclusivity, as one of only eighty-two owners in this vast country of ours, or just 1800 worldwide.”
The Defender is one of the coolest cars in the world, but not this one. It’s a cool car because it just isn’t trying at all, this one is trying very hard indeed and that is why I would stick to a stock Defender. Saying that, I’d much rather a Discovery which is comfortable, quiet, more powerful, better looking and only a tiny bit more expensive.
If only all those great explorers knew of the current reliability issues plaguing current LR’s and RR’s. I suspect they would be turning in their graves.
It no doubt is a very clever idea, but somehow it really makes you wonder they did it in the first place. People who wanted a comfortable, refined but yet still serious off-roader still would’ve gone to a different page in the Land Rover catalogue and selected either a Range Rover or Discovery (price points not withstanding, of course).
Defender buyers have always been just that; Defender buyers. Wasn’t it said somewhere that most of the Defender market have just been return customers?
I too would probably go for a stock Defender (were I in a market for such a thing) and if I ever felt the need to chav it up.. well. Who knows =p
Devil666, the Defender is the only Land Rover left that has reliability issues and those aren’t really there since Land Rover changed the engine over a few years ago. There are not any reliability issues on either Range Rovers, the Discovery 3 or the Freelander. And don’t try and site recalls to me because all cars have recalls, even Toyotas and Hondas. It’s time that stereotype was put to rest as it’s really quite dated.
Alex,
The reliability issues these days are the electrical systems in LR/RR. There are still huge problems with these vehicles. The JD Power review for 2008 lists Land Rover 3rd last, nothing to rave about.
Who cares whats wrong or right with it, its just bloody cool…
I love my landrover svx, as it is a perfect vehicle or north queensland and copes with all the daily problems of the wet season and more………traded in a bmw for the svx…….no regrets.
Am getting my svx 110 monday. Can’t wait!
I think the SVX is awesome (though I don’t like the front) but I a agree that if I were in the market for a gizmo-equipped LR I’d go for a different model.
Gotta hand it to LR though, this is a great marketing coup.