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September 14, 2021
Great news for 110 fans—a test drive of the diesel model of the new Defender 110 | Land Rover
Land Rover Defender 110 D300 | LAND ROVER DEFENDER 110 D300
Test Drive of the New Defender 110 Diesel Model
The Land Rover "Defender," which debuted at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show. We test-drove the long-wheelbase "110" model's highly anticipated diesel variant, the "D300."
Text by FUMIO Ogawa | Photographs by KAWANO Atsuki
The nearly 5-meter long body glides forward with surprising agility.
The Land Rover Defender is so popular that there's a long waiting list for delivery. The four-door "110" (pronounced one-ten), which also offers a seven-seat configuration, has seen its popularity surge with the arrival of the diesel engine model in Japan in the summer of 2021. Indeed, its excellent performance is readily apparent once you drive it.
The diesel model, named "D300," features a 3-liter, inline-six engine. While a 2-liter, four-cylinder diesel has been fitted to models like the Range Rover Evoque and sold in Japan, the driving experience of this 3-liter diesel is overwhelmingly superior.
To elaborate, the initial acceleration is remarkably smooth. You'd be surprised how the nearly 5-meter long vehicle glides forward with such lightness, as if unburdened by its weight, with just a gentle press of the accelerator.
The secret lies in the small electric motor integrated into the engine. This mild-hybrid technology is a global trend, effective in preventing fuel consumption from increasing due to accelerator input during startup.
Once the vehicle is moving and the engine revs rise, the motor rests. In the case of the Defender D300, with its substantial torque of 650 Nm, once the engine speed exceeds 1000 rpm, you can fully enjoy wonderfully satisfying acceleration.
Despite being a diesel engine, it responds well to the accelerator pedal even beyond 4000 rpm, creating a strong sense of unity between the car and the driver. I believe this is another merit of the D300.
Given that the conventional 2-liter, four-cylinder engine felt somewhat underpowered for this vehicle, I believe the new 3-liter diesel is truly great news for Defender 110 fans.