2021 Land Rover Defender in-depth review - NEW engines already!? | What Car? 

A great, comprehensive and LIVE review. One I didn't fall asleep half way in it. Why don't we see more of this reviewer?

I find a bit tedious when everyone always bangs on about “these cars never get used off-road, the closes they’ll get to a field of the summer fete, etc” yes, but when does a Ferrari get a chance to do 200mph. Does it ever get on a track? No, it cruises around the shitty roads of England like every other car. Just review the car.

We bought one recently, 2021 model. We've owned Mercs, Audis etc - and this blows them away, even from an on-road perspective. Off-road it's extremely capable, which we use every few days venturing into the wilderness of New Mexico (mud, rock, sand, snow). We'll see about reliability over time, but it feels very well built. And, at least in the States, they're holding value and attract a lot of interest.

I saw the wellies, and got instantly excited ;*

its the best looking box I've seen

I'm reading of misfire issues, and cylinder imbalance codes....almost always caused by compression difference between cylinders. Maybe ring or valve seat problems. I'm thinking issues with the "low tension" piston rings to help fuel mileage

Cobham - Twinned with Henley-on-Thames. I should know, I've lived in both.

Amazing review. Thank you.

We have had the situation for more than 30 years now where Japanese brands like Toyota have been the benchmark for quality of components and assembly. The question that begs then is why st least for the last decade have Euro and American brands not been able to produce more reliable products. As good as this Defender seems, I doubt you will see many in outback Australia where Toyota and Nissan rule the tracks. In some areas, the Land Rover and Jeep products will be over 1000km away from the nearest authorised dealer and maybe weeks waiting for a part to arrive from Sydney, Melbourne or overseas. Just imagine a 110 with the same reliability as a Landcruiser. What a vehicle that would be.

Great no nonsense video and will be watching more as they are posted. Thank you. (Range Rover Sport driver)

Great for Tesco & generally getting in the way...

tested the car and decided to stay with my 2009 discovery 3, wich has 220k kilometers: 7 seats, much roomier, adequately big doors, air suspention, more then adequate for the offroading i do at the farm and a perfect towcar for my 3.5 ton 4 horse trailer.

Did you drive same defender on the off road course? The one you are showing in this video does NOT have the optional rear locking differential. That will make a big difference in going up those steep wet grades. The p400 engine is amazing. Turns the Defender into a proper road car with the air suspension. As far as off road going SUV’s it’s in a class of it’s’ own. The only word to describe a Wranglers on road performance is adequate. Off road it’s a beast, but if you have one car in your stable, the Defender is a superior all rounder...

Great review. What a pity that we don't see you driving this Land Rover wearing the rubberboots as shown on the photo!

Such a wonderfully designed and beautiful car but not once in 9 different RR’s have we ever kept for even a full year - pity really the Wranglers and Land cruisers were around 3-4 years.

"hard plastics on a lot of the dashboard" *touches the magnesium alloy cross beam*

Good review, bar one silly point. I used to have a Mitsubishi Delica. That had a large vertical opening tailgate. The first thing you know to do in vehicles like that, is how to park in car parks if you need need to open the tailgate. You'd never park if someone could park right up behind you and prevent you getting into the rear.

You should ask horsey people like me in Gloucestershire.. we need more Utility space to chuck in dogs and saddles. Also need the 3 tonne tow spec. These mod cons are much better for towing - old Defenders- I have a swanky 2015 110- make everything so difficult with towing reverse lock, back door banging on your trailer etc. So that’s what all the horsey lot want a review to include.

Yes , but does it have the same legendary durability and reliability that all other previous Land Rover and known for ? Special L R anti corrosion. ( pisses oil from every gasket. ) Special L R gas saving module. ( won’t start when rains ) Will it be an electrical nightmare. (. Keeps the L R technicians employed ) 80 or so computer modules (. What could go wrong ? ).

Can you please clarify more trunk space than a Jeep wrangler? You must be referring to a 2 door and not the 4 door Unlimited

Thanks for this video. I'm about to buy my p300 on Tuesday. Trading in my jeep wrangler Rubicon. Can't wait for the snow. From North of Toronto, Canada. Cheers

At the back quarter side profile it looks like a Nissan Cube or mini estate

Does 3rd row have Aircon vents?

Vancouver is a heavy Landrover product place.

A proper stormtrooper.

I wish these reviews also reported on all ‘glitches’ (read problems) that these cars have already given some of its owners and what LR dealers have (or have not...) done to fix those problems...until then I’ll remain with a sense of not having being told the whole story. The presentation itself is very likeable on its own, thank you.

I am looking to buy P400e but I am concerned about 2.0L engine. At dealership they told me to stay away from 2.0L engine in Defender because its too heavy and 2.0L engine struggles too much. What is your opinion?

Great review. Good reminder to not reverse in; in most vehicles, not just the Defender.

What are the main issues or problems of owning this expensive off road vehicle, the defender? Please share your experiences.

Can we expect mini landrover 1.5 phev?

Hey, I'm a typical land rover owner and I take mine off road all the time! It's been off the road since last month actually waiting for a part in the garage.

Realistic review 👍

Love all my Landrovers I have had over the years. Yes they get muddy (horsey and camp) but you don’t take the pee out of sport/supercar owners, cars that you cannot drive to their true potential on public roads. Yes most owners can’t park a mini let alone a defender, and just have it as a status symbol which is sad. At the end of the day it’s the new discovery (not that horrific thing that currently wears that badge)

Despite its potential flaws, it looks amazing 😃

SORRY BUT THE BRONCO AND THE UPCOMING GRENADIER HAS SENT THE NEW DEFENDER (REALLY A DISCOVERY) TO THE SOCCER MOM CATEGORY!!!

I doubt owners of that would take it onto a muddy field tbh. It might mess their shiny wheels up. Probably taking it up a kerb outside a school is the most offroading it would do.

These are growing on me, car makers pander to dreams and aspirations. The car I "need" and the car I want are two different things though....

It needs the optional wheelarch mouldings plus short mud guards

I came here to watch the excellent review but having some good friends that live in Cobham and who drive a ... Discovery , the first minute amused me highly! Could extend to Esher, Thames Ditton, Molesey and Oxshot and it would be no different. Who remembers the viral video of the cyclist berating the Disco driver for eating her cornflakes that was just down the road here.

I literally had to sue Landrover bc of un reliability issues. They fought me the entire way. I won. Cost them over $130k including all my legal fees. Bty, the unreliability issue was the entire vehicle would literally shutdown while driving. I've never been so scared in my life. Two near misses was enough for a lawsuit. Good looking car on the outside but the inside is a bucket of bolts.

Well done LR. Seems an excellent car.

You sir, are a very good reviewer.

I was going to rant about this car, about how it has nothing to do with the original Defender and how it uses independent wheel braking to mimic lockable diffs just like a city 4X4, but who cares?

can some explain why costs much more than a discovery?

I wonder what the is the fastest this car can go specially it is not petrol?

Lemme spend a 85K Dollars on Land Cruiser I dont care if they are expensive. Worth every penny

You wouldn't want to nudge a field gate open with that like the old defender....

Horrid wobble on the side-hinged tailgate at 4.43.

Reliability see what it's like in 12 or 24 months

Last interaction I had with an owner was a woman in a range rover who could not reverse 30 feet and turn around when my hgv was blocking the road.

May I know what is that white square thing after the C pillar for ? 4:20

I enjoyed watching the Video Review. One of the best British SUVs

Check out TFL channel. They bought one and got few issues dy. Returned to dealer twice. Lets see d update

All my life I wanted the money to buy high-end cars. And now that I'm here, they all look so ridiculous. I'm going to buy older cars and trucks and put them in perfect condition.

Amazed you found one running.

Buying one of these purely for overlanding / off roading as soon as the waiting list for diesels clears in Australia.

best review ever

All fine and dandy, but it's still a Land Rover

Give me the original any day! At least we DO take those off road.

The thing with this car or even the country is you can't really take these places it supposed to do daily, all lands are owned and most of it is tarmac now. You need to be in the Australian outback or Africa for the daily naughty off-road... So the reason for having normal(ish) tyres on it rather than huge 35" tyres is probably for that reason and to keep it more efficient on the roads. In the UK using 35" isn't worth it in the long run.

Like hell it will hold its value...Land Cruiser holds that title...You are full off it!

I take mine offorad inthe bush all the time.

A funny quote from the TFL channel: "There is no break in period for Land Rovers, they just break, period". Also, this car is too complex/electronic/digital to be a Defender.

I expected quite a bit of bias coming from a British review of a British vehicle. Instead I got an honest, real world & succinct overview. Great work lads! Keep it up!!

Have they replaced teh diesel engines because lots of new owners were having issues with the 4cyl engines? Are they redesigning the 4 pot?

How easily does it load onto a flatbed? I need to know, as it will spend half its life rolling on and off one on the way to the repair center.

Are these reliable?

Hold it’s value? Would not hold my breath on that one ......

The old Defender terrible to drive on the road? That’s such a bloody cliche, I have a 2010 one, 2.4 engine, 6 gears, it’s fine on the road, and on motorways. I like the new one, but it’s silly money.

Where is the defender with a good plain ordinary diesel engine minus any of these silly "modules" that seemingly run everything in the new Defender. Simple diff locks front and rear and a locking centre differential. Simple dash giving the necessary information. All yours for under £28k. New Defender start price £44k up to £80k. Who would buy the £28k one, me.

What a brilliant car. Way better than the cramped and outdated old model but perhaps not as cool looking but way cooler than the washing machines you get from Toyota or the bland pointless unreliable German grey models. The new engines are mild hybrid so emissions down and drivability up. Will hold its value really well and there will be people still driving these in 30 yrs time with light bars big tyres and roof racks. They will also have the enormous back up of the after market spares and servicing that is available all over the world. Tell me if you could picture this with your German brand which will of gone to the recycling centre long before this ever will.

my biggest gripe with this review was the trip down the green lane. I am afraid that it was far too wet and you could see the damage through the mud that you did. responsible green lanes would not have travelled that lane so that it could be used when dry by multiple groups. having said that the reviewer seemed to have an axe to grind about land rover, but I would hate to see a jeep being reviewed by him.

Just wait a year or so, they'll be selling restyled Discovery Sport models as a more compact and affordable 'Defender'.

Nice car

why does it look like a skoda yeti

The emissions saving on-off mechanism is a total farce. Doesn't work at all and uses more fuel than it saves. As soon as the engine stops it starts up again. Now I always turn it off when I start up the car. My Landrover service agent in Auckland can do nothing to fix it.

100$CAD in Canada! crazy you can by 4 jeep wrangler sport or Ford F150 almost range rover sport! no worth all the money is only a car, you can buy a house.

Give me a LandRover Series 2 anyday. Its too high tech, too expensive, too heavy and bloated, not enough ground clearance and made in China. All it will do is steal sales from the Disco and Range Rover. It proves that they don't understand what the Defender stood for. The old Defender was a axe. This is just a fancy pocket knife. Its also a good example of trying to do everything and none of it well. What the market wanted was a Defender with good ergonomics. Just fix the driver comfort and leave the rest alone. The Mercedes G Wagon is a good example of sticking to the knitting. Same with Jeep. Same with the Land Cruiser 76/79 series.

Hi, Why do you apark In the SUPERMARKET like this ? Why you cant do a reversed parking ? Its unprofessional explination about the back door .

Cool looking motor

So Defenders are now being reviewed in Cobham High Street and the leavey lanes of Surrey. Oh dear. I am sorry, someone needs to say it, Land Rover have made one of the biggest howlers in automotive history. The very reason Land Rover exists as a brand is because of the Defender. Remember the Defender used to be called "A Land Rover." And now everything the company was based upon is a re-badged Discovery. Yes it may sell like hot cakes in the first couple of years but it will take sales directly from other Land Rover lines. It has 84 ECU's. Why? It's resale value may be high in the first couple of years but the repair bills are going to damage it's value after that. 18" rims are the smallest you can have. This is a massive design flaw, for which Land Rover should be ashamed of themselves. Air suspension. If one component in that fails, the whole vehicle sits down on it's haunches and will refuse to go anywhere. Not good for a go anywhere vehicle. Do remember that wherever that happens, you will need to get a recovery truck in. Then again, it will probable be Cobham High Street. Independent suspension all round, rather than solid axles. No, just no, if you need to ask why, don't go off road. Electronic traction control. No, a couple of diff locks. Much less to go wrong. I could go on and on but I am boring myself about how wrong this vehicle is now. History won't look back kindly at Land Rover for this. If they even survive after killing the goose that laid the golden egg.

Great video, I am still on the fence about the Defender. I am surprised the fuel economy is soo low? I recently picked up a new X3 (20d) and I am getting 46mpg in mixed driving

I still don't see the point to make an expensive car look like it has a basic rough trim.. and a nice one will cost you like a discovery and not too far from the RRS... here in NL you can buy even a Range Rover for the money of a Defender first edition..

I mean with the trunk door just don't back in and presto problem solved.

I was expecting to see a test drive with wellies/rubberboots.... Pity they weren't in the video....

saw two last week at a hotel in Edinburgh , they looked so cool it was untrue , range rovers and discoverys look very very dated in the same car park , 4wd lambo looked shit by comparison

Good review. However I saw a 110 in the flesh for the first time over the weekend. It looked, bloated, dated, bulbus and naff. I was surprised it looked quite so bad. Ineos aren't up agaisnt much.

When I saw that corel betting shop i stop the video and going to betting... if i get 500 pounds at least i can buy a pundo

4:26 Typically inconsiderate BMW driver. Just bash his grill in!

Not a bad car I kind of miss the original defender look on this that makes me consider a G wagon

I dont think I have ever seen a vehicle with such huge windscreen pillars that you actualy have to look round to spot the approaching cyclist from the left or right . . Absolutely lethal . I am writing to the society of motor manufacturers to complain about why they are so obtrusive to the drivers vision.

Блин шотландский акцент делает мне больно)

My 2011 Defender 90 drives very well. Prefer it to my wife's Evoque.

People have already had to have a new engine.

Your mum called She wants her boots back

It ain't a Defender as people know a Defender. And that is the thing most people say about this vehicle. That and the expected reliability issues that plague all Land Rovers. But you know what? Despite all that and the fact that the end of internal combustion engines is on the horizon, it'll still sell like hot cakes. Go figure.

Reliability is a liability!

Will my golf clubs fit in there without having to turn them sideways?

good information

All you need in this 110 is an 'affordable' PHEV with 30-40 miles of range. even at the cost of some offroad capabilities. and then you can discontinue Discovery.