Land Rover’s 2024 Defender X-Dynamic SE 110 P400 Is A Brute in a Savile Row Suit

Four years into its current life cycle, Land Rover’s 2020 redesign of its legendary Defender model still holds up. A 21st century reinterpretation of the original 1948 Land Rover Series 1—the model upon which Land Rover built its rep—the 2024 Land Rover Defender deftly blends ruggedness and style to create a vehicle the likes of which is seldom seen these days. In an age in which SUVs have become mainstream transportation, with more emphasis on image than capability, the Land Rover Defender proves it’s still possible to do dirt with an air of sophistication.

Available in three sizes, small (Defender 90), medium (Defender 110), and large (Defender 130), the Land Rover can be had with two doors or four doors. The Defender is also available with three rows of seating or two. The 2024 Land Rover Defender X-Dynamic SE 110 P400 reviewed here has a base price of $72,000. The price as tested is $85,990.

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2024 Land Rover Defender X-Dynamic SE 110 P400 First Impressions

The truly remarkable thing about the Defender is the way class and capability are so deftly blended. The handsome exterior design belies a number of details that make it more capable in off-road situations. For example, the Land Rover’s extremely shallow overhangs—front and rear—afford the compact SUV an approach angle of up to 38° and a departure angle of some 40°.

For the uninitiated, approach and departure angles are measures of the steepness of an incline a vehicle can negotiate. Higher numbers = greater steepness. In that regard, the Defender’s specs are close to those of the Jeep Wrangler Sport. Known specifically for its ability to traverse just about any type of terrain, Wrangler Sport boasts 41.4° of approach and 36.1° of departure.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, Cadillac’s XT4 —designed specifically for the street—has approach and departure angles of 20° and 11° respectively. What all of this means is you can take a Defender pretty much anywhere you’d go in a Wrangler, with far more creature comforts. Meanwhile, the Defender looks just as posh as the Cadillac—if not more so—when you’re driving around town.

Exterior Dimensions

Driving Impressions And Performance

Tuned to produce 395 horsepower at 5,500 RPM and 406 pound-feet of torque at 2,000 rpm, the Defender X-Dynamic SE 110 P400’s 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine teams a 48-volt hybrid system with an electric supercharger and an intercooled turbocharger. An eight-speed automatic transmission feeds all four wheels. A terrain management system allows you to tailor the drivetrain’s response to the situation at hand (or “underfoot,” as it were).

The Defender 110 rides on an air suspension system, which gives it the ability to increase its ride height to help clear obstacles. But it also gives the Defender respectable handling. I anticipated a certain “roly-poly-ness” but was pleasantly surprised to find the Land Rover stays flat in corners and rides comfortably on the highway. The brakes and steering delivered accuracy and predictability.

The Defender Produces Great Off The Line Torque

With nearly 400 horsepower on tap and a good 400-plus pounds of torque served up at just 2,000 RPM, the Defender ain’t no slouch when it comes to getting off the line. I was pleasantly surprised at the adroitness with which the citadel-looking SUV would git to gittin’. Of course, with a turbo, an electric motor AND a blower working for it, the Defender couldn’t help but be quick. I saw zero to 60 times of just under six seconds—which might not sound like a lot, but it felt plenty quick in a vehicle like this.

All in all, the Defender X-Dynamic SE 110 P400 served up a pleasant driving experience on pavement. The Land Rover also handily lived up to its pedigree off road, crawling, fording and scrabbling over and through everything at which I pointed it. Of course, we are talking about a vehicle with nearly 12 inches of ground clearance and the ability to wade streams up to three feet deep.

And yes, I know most people will seldom even get it dusty—let alone muddy. Still, it’s good to know the Defender is solidly on task when the pavement runs out and trails become formidable. By the way, those ground clearance and fording numbers actually best Jeep’s Wrangler Sport.

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Performance Specifications

2024 Land Rover Defender X-Dynamic SE 110 P400 Fuel Economy

Of course, nothing’s perfect and this section brings us to the Defender’s Achilles heel. Keep in mind though; we’re talking about a 395-horsepower four-wheel drive powertrain, installed in a vehicle with a curb weight of 5,035 pounds. Viewed through that filter, 20 MPG combined, 18 in the city and 23 on the highway doesn’t sound terrible. However, it isn’t exceptional either. On the other hand, the 23.8-gallon fuel tank affords the Defender 110 P400 a theoretical range of 547 miles on the highway. That said, given the average price of a gallon of premium as of this writing is $4.31 per gallon, you’ll be looking at roughly $102.58 to replenish an empty tank.

Interior Design And Comfort

Of the many things Land Rover does well, interior design is certainly numbered among them. The look of the passenger compartment struck me as being upscale and utilitarian—all at once. Which brings us back to the idea of a brute in a Savile Row suit. The design is classy, while details like those exposed rivets remind you of the Defender’s rugged nature.

Moreover, that recess in the dash, upon which the Defender nameplate is emblazoned, provides a handy place for maps. Yes, there still exist anachronistic individuals (okay, maybe it’s just me) who insist upon having paper renderings of their surroundings when venturing into untamed landscapes. Anyway, an upholstered magnesium beam, running the width of the dash, creates that recess and provides added structural rigidity.

Just below the infotainment screen is a “plateau” containing the shift lever, on/off switch, climate controls and drive mode buttons. This frees up the center console to provide cupholders, secondary storage and an inductive charging pad for telephones. The configuration also makes all of those controls easy to locate and operate. Judicious applications of rough-cut walnut veneer add a tasteful visual accent.

Both rows of seating provided good comfort. There was also enough second-row legroom for me to sit “behind myself” when the driver’s seat was adjusted to suit my 6’1” frame. Firm and supportive, the seats remained comfortable, even over long drives.

Interior Dimensions

Technology And Ease Of Use

Logic rules the controls—both in layout and function. With everything pretty much where I expected it to be, no hunting was required to find the specific switch I needed for a given circumstance. Everything fell readily to hand.

The Defender’s head-up display, providing plenty of information at a glance, was complemented by digital instrumentation behind the steering wheel and a 10.1-inch touchscreen for infotainment functions. The touchscreen provides the user interface for Land Rover’s “Pivi Pro” operating system, which I found to be more responsive than the “Touch Pro” operating system it replaced. Pivi Pro accepts over-the-air updates too.

“My” Defender 110 also featured a Wi-Fi hotspot, smart cruise control with stop and go functionality, as well as a 3D surround camera and a 360° parking aid. Blind spot assist, lane-keep assist and Land Rover’s driver condition monitor were also fitted. Traffic sign recognition, an adaptive speed limiter, a
rear traffic monitor, Android compatibility and CarPlay were featured—along with Meridian’s 700-watt surround audio system.

Cargo And Storage Space

Carrying capacity behind the second row is cited by Land Rover to be 36.2 cubic feet. Folding the second row got me a quoted 69.4 cubic feet of interior carrying capacity. The roof is said to support up to 200 pounds with the rack in place. The maximum towing capacity is 8,201 pounds. Maximum payload is 1,543 pounds.

2024 Land Rover Defender X-Dynamic SE 110 P400 Vs. Its Competitors

Cross shopping the Land Rover Defender in search of something with commensurate off road capability and amenities? This quest will likely lead you to a Lexus GX550 or a Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk. Both will serve as luxurious transportation in the city, and deal with pretty much anything you’ll encounter in the boonies.

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2024 Land Rover Defender X-Dynamic SE 110 P400 vs Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk 4xe PHEV

• 	2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk 4xe PHEV	2024 Land Rover Defender X-Dynamic SE 110 P400
  Trim	Trailhawk 4xe PHEV	X-Dynamic SE 110 P400
  Model	Grand Cherokee	Defender
  Horsepower	375 @ 5,250 RPM	395 @ 5,500 RPM
  Torque	470 @ 3,000 RPM	406 LB-FT @ 2,000 RPM
  Drivetrain	Front Engine, Electric Motor, 4WD	Front Engine. 4WD
  Transmission	8-Speed Automatic	8-Speed Automatic
  0-60 MPH	6.4 Seconds	$85,990
  Towing Capacity	6,000 Pounds	8,201 Pounds
  Engine/Motor	2.0L Hybrid Turbo I-4	3.0L Mild Hybrid Turbo/Supercharged I-6

Possessing what is easily one of the most handsome interior treatments applied to an American SUV, the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk can be outfitted to be downright plush. Power comes from a 2.0-liter turbocharged four, paired with an electric motor. An eight-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel drive round out the powertrain. The total system output is 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque.

Like the Defender, the Grand Cherokee Trailhawk offers an air suspension system, as well as several different driving modes tailored to various types of terrain. Combined city/highway fuel economy is quoted at 23 MPG for the hybrid system, which bests the Land Rover by three miles per gallon. Base price is $66,780.

2024 Land Rover Defender X-Dynamic SE 110 P400 vs Lexus GX 550 Overtrail+

• 	2024 Lexus GX 550 Overtrail+	2024 Land Rover Defender X-Dynamic SE 110 P400
  Trim	Overtrail+	X-Dynamic SE 110 P400
  Model	GX 550	Defender
  Horsepower	349 @ 4,800 RPM	395 @ 5,500 RPM
  Torque	479 LB-FT @ 2,000 RPM	406 LB-FT @ 2,000 RPM
  Drivetrain	Front Engine, 4WD	Front Engine. 4WD
  Transmission	10-Speed Automatic	8-Speed Automatic
  MSRP	$77,250	$72,000
  0-60 MPH	6.3 Seconds	$85,990
  Towing Capacity	9,063 Pounds	8,201 Pounds

Redesigned for the 2024 model year, the Lexus GX sits on an all-new platform, with an updated powertrain and all sorts of contemporary luxury and technological features. While the angular styling might be somewhat polarizing, it does say the Overtrail+ Lexus will serve those whose hunting and gathering favors the north woods over Whole Foods.

Power comes from a twin turbocharged 4.4-liter V-6, tuned to produce 349 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque. A 10-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel drive complete the powertrain. Fuel economy is predictably meager, given the lack of electric assistance*. The EPA says you can expect to see 17 MPG combined. Base price is $77,250.

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Our Recommendation For Which Model You Should Buy

Money no object, I’d be inclined to go for the Defender here. It’s better looking than both the Jeep and the Lexus to my eye. Plus, if we’re talking pedigree, the Land Rover has it in spades. Elizabeth, the Queen of England, favored Land Rover Defenders—okay?

On the other hand, the Lexus does have a better rep than the Land Rover in terms of reliability. However, it also gulps premium fuel like a house full of frat boys draining kegs on spring break. Plus, that styling will take some getting used to for some people.

Meanwhile, the Grand Cherokee Overland+ easily matches the Land Rover and the Lexus in terms of sheer capability, while offering many of the same luxury accouterments. The Jeep also delivers better fuel economy and costs roughly $10,000 less. In other words, for those to whom practicality matters most, the Grand Cherokee is likely to be a serious draw.