Land Rover Defender 2021 review: 110 P400 SE

It's a sizeable car on the road and while it's very different to the last version of the Defender, it still keeps some of that heritage with a square-ish shape that has added a few modern curves.

It definitely looks more luxe than it used to. You can just tell it's a solid car with quality finishings and it has nailed the right mix of old school nostalgia with a fresh feel.

It wears it's hardware on its sleeve which looks very raw and authentic, and keeps the Defender's hardcore off-road reputation alive.

So, things like the tyre on the outside of the boot was never going to disappear, there's a textured patch on the bonnet plus a big matte 110 print, exposed air vents on the side, plus all-black door handles, and a load of exposed giant bolts.

Inside is superb. You don't often get inside a car that's so clearly built to be driving through creeks and up mountains, that still looks this luxurious.

From the power adjustable, heated leather seats (which cost an extra $806), to the leather steering wheel and the digital dash in front of the steering wheel, it all looks great.

You don’t often get inside a car that’s so clearly built to be driving through creeks and up mountains, that still looks this luxurious. (image: Dean McCartney)

Land Rover has again blended old with new and landed on a design that feels fresh and very premium, with a reassuring familiarity and nod to its roots. It's clever styling and will win a lot of fans. The panoramic glass sliding roof will set you back an extra $4370

The centre console is well designed with a matte black finish, keeping the tone of the car to fit its rugged reputation. It's got large air con controls which also looks good and it's all neatly packaged and streamlined. It feels fantastic to sit in on the road.

There's a 10-inch touchscreen which is not huge compared to other luxury SUVs but for a serious off roader, the size and the high resolution of the screen is fantastic.

There's Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity so you can navigate using your maps system and have a handsfree multimedia experience.

It's enormous. I feel like I'm in a comfortable lounge seat that's super high off the road and has loads of leg and head space for every size passenger.

My kids, aged seven and nine, fit so easily in the back, though they did mention there is no helpful step to help them get up, just another design feature that reiterates the Land Rover Defender is tough and expects you to be, too.

Space in the back is huge, I could comfortably sit back there for days without getting cramped and taller adults and children won't have any issues, either. You can easily fit a third child seat in the middle, too. I did it with two boosters and a baby capsule.

The boot is extra large. The Defender also comes with two seats in the boot to make it a seven-seater, but I'm testing the five-seater model so the boot is big (972 litres).

I could easily fit in a double pram or three suitcases and it will be great to take away on a long road trip, too.

Driving in the Defender is really smooth and so quiet because it's a petrol engine - there are diesel versions as well if that's what you're after.

Land Rover has managed to make a large car handle like a much smaller car, with things like the turning circle and the precision of the handling.

You can still feel the bulky width of the car so it never feels small. It is a wide car and you feel that on the road, especially if you're living in a suburb with narrow streets.

All Defender models are four-wheel drive so you have extra traction on loose or wet surfaces. (image: Dean McCartney)

This is the P400 model so it has a 3.0L, six-cylinder engine, and it's got lots of power from the second you press your foot on the accelerator - there's barely any heavy lag.

It whizzes up hills and cruises along highways beautifully. If anything, you have to worry about it going too fast, too easily.

All Defender models are four-wheel drive so you have extra traction on loose or wet surfaces like gravel, dirt and snow. It's got a number of different driving modes so you can adjust when you change surfaces.

This is the P400 model so it has a 3.0L, six-cylinder engine. (image: Dean McCartney)

Fuel consumption is a claimed 9.9L/100km and I averaged 12.5 this week, driving mostly in suburbia, but also on some highways.

Parking is a bit tricky, purely because of the size, but the car handles so well and the steering turns easily and is very precise, which you especially notice while reverse parking.

It actually does what you think it's going to, where a lot of large cars feel very large to park and don't handle as well, but the Defender slides into place swiftly with precision. It's also thanks to the hi-res reverse parking camera with parking guides and it has a 360-degree view as well.

Land Rover has managed to make a large car handle like a much smaller car. (image: Dean McCartney)

The Landrover Defender 110 P400 SE costs $102,736 before on road costs and extras. Extras on this particular test car included things like the sunroof ($4370) and three row climate control ($2405) and came to $20,450 so the total cost of the car is $123,186.

Fuel consumption is a claimed 9.9L/100km and I averaged 12.5 this week, driving mostly in suburbia, but also on some highways.

It's covered by  a five-year / unlimited kilometre warranty, and five-year service plan ($1950 for diesel engines; $2650 for petrols), which includes five years roadside assist.

While it’s very different to the last version of the Defender, it still keeps some of that heritage with a square-ish shape that has added a few modern curves. (image: Dean McCartney)