The Defender can go almost anywhere, and features impressive acceleration and a comfortable ride.

By Keith Griffin

A seven-passenger SUV with a V8 engine normally wouldn’t be at the top of my list when gas is at $4.50 a gallon. There’s just something about a 2026 Land Rover Defender 110 that takes all your cares away.

Its primary appeal is almost illogical. The Defender 110 is a luxury SUV that can go almost anywhere it wants. There is nothing dainty about the Defender when it comes to capabilities or curbside appeal. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, of course, but the Defender received a lot of compliments for its looks.

Land Rover Defender 110. Courtesy photo

Defender 110 Performance

Its performance is what is most appealing, though. The Defender 110 has a V8 engine that produces 508 horsepower. This SUV is simply a blast when it comes to long highway on-ramps (the secret garden for automotive reviewers who like to test acceleration). For an off-road vehicle, it delivers a comfortable ride. Some question its handling, which seems odd because the Defender 110 is a boxy truck after all. It’s not supposed to handle like a Porsche or even its siblings, the Range Rover lineup.

One place the Defender 110 can be cantankerous is parking lots. The accelerator requires just enough oomph that there’s a delay at low speeds that can make the Defender spurt forward. That’s most likely the result of its off-road DNA. Rock climbing can be disastrous if the gas pedal makes a car jump instead of rolling over obstacles. The Defender has a four-wheel-drive system that comes standard, as does a two-speed transfer case and electronic traction management systems (Terrain Response and Terrain Response 2).

Land Rover Defender 110. Courtesy photo

Speaking of off-road, the Defender 110 should be able to get you anywhere in suburbia. It has up to 11.5 inches of ground clearance and 35 inches of water fording ability. OK, maybe it can’t tackle Avon Mountain (the parts not on Route 44), but you shouldn’t get stranded in most Greater Hartford locales.

There’s some criticism for the quality of the Defender’s interior that tilts more towards hard plastic than buttery leather surfaces. It’s off the mark because hard plastic is easier to maintain, thanks to the conditions one might encounter.

Land Rover Defender 110. Courtesy photo

Defender 110 Entry

The Defender can be a challenge when entering. Fortunately, there is a well-placed grab handle on the side of the driver’s dashboard. Most grab handles are placed higher, which adds to the challenge for shorter people.

Of course, the Defender 110 with the V8 engine comes with a hefty MSRP of $118,300. You could save money both at the pumps and the dealership with the X-Dynamic SE that gets you a 395-horsepower inline-six-cylinder turbo and costs $75,200. The V8 version has an EPA rating of 14 mpg city and 18 mpg highway, compared to the inline-six model at 18 mpg city and 22 mpg highway.

Keith Griffin, a  West Hartford resident, is a longtime automotive journalist and past president of the New England Motor Press Association.

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