Land Rover Defender Review | Part Three

The Land Rover Defender's off-road capability is undisputed and our road test was just that - an on-road review with a few rough tracks and a mountain road thrown in for good measure. During our time with the Defender we only touched the surface of its off-road prowess.

Permanent four-wheel drive ensures power is sent to all four wheels continuously and although the ride is good it is a little ponderous at speed. The Defender has excellent levels of grip and once you get used to driving it you find yourself throwing it into bends with confidence as it corners remarkably well. Having said that too much speed can be regrettable as the Defender as with any 4x4 is not as forgiving as a car nor does it have the same handling characteristics.

The power-assisted steering is well-weighted making the Defender surprisingly easy to drive but the turning circle is not the tightest and takes some getting used to.

All-round disc brakes with 4 channel ABS (anti-lock braking system) are standard on the Defender 90 XS Station Wagon and ensure that it brakes reassuringly well on all surfaces.

ETC (electronic traction control) is standard on the XS model and applies a braking force to any wheel found to be accelerating more quickly than the others. Power is therefore redistributed to the wheels with most traction, resulting in improved grip.

Off-road driving is where the Defender excels and its supreme traction, excellent ground clearance and agility is renowned. Its robust suspension allows extreme wheel articulation and It can climb and descend the steepest of slopes even in reverse gear. The handbrake locks the entire transmission which is ideal for hauling or winching.

The gearing allows you to power up a hill or crawl at extreme angles and with an approach angle of up to 50 degrees, a departure angle of 53 degrees, a ramp break-over of up to 155 degrees and a wading depth of 500mm (20") the Defender certainly feels unstoppable.

Under more extreme off-road driving conditions the dual-range transfer box gives you more control with the flexibility of ten forward and two reverse gears. The locking centre differential prevents differential action forcing the power to be split equally between each axle which results in ultimate traction over loose ground, mud, ice or snow.