The Land Rover Defender is a tough SUV known for its impressive off-road performance and decent handling on regular roads. If that’s the blend of abilities you’re after, it’s effectively in a class of one. The 2023 model is more practical, more refined and more capable off-road than the older models. In this article, we’ll explore the details of the 2023 Land Rover Defender, including its specifications and price in Nigeria.
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Overview of the 2023 Land Rover Defender
The 2023 Land Rover Defender is a top-of-the-line SUV that combines luxury with rugged off-road capabilities. It comes in both two-door and four-door configurations, offering comfortable and practical interiors, modern infotainment, and tech features while maintaining the iconic Defender style. It offers a range of engine options, including a standard turbocharged four-cylinder, with more powerful inline-six and V-eight engines available.
All Defenders come with all-wheel drive and advanced off-roading equipment like locking differentials and adjustable air suspension. The Defender also excels in on-road performance, providing a refined driving experience. New for the 2023 Land Rover Defender is the Defender 130 model, which offers extra seating capacity with a third row, making it ideal for larger families or group outings. It comes with exclusive features and options, including a larger infotainment display. The Defender retains its impressive fuel economy ratings across different engine options. Inside, the cabin balances luxury with practicality, featuring sturdy design elements and convenient storage solutions.
The infotainment system is user-friendly and includes standard features like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and in-dash navigation. Safety features are abundant, including automated emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. Additionally, the Defender offers unique off-roading and towing systems tailored for adventurous drivers.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
The Defender comes with a standard turbocharged four-cylinder engine and eight-speed automatic transmission, with four-wheel drive and locking differentials for tough terrain. You can also choose a 3.0-litre inline-six with an electric supercharger and hybrid system for extra power. The long-wheelbase 130 model can go from 0 to 60 mph in 6.2 seconds with this engine. For even more performance, there’s a 518-hp supercharged V-8 option that can hit 60 mph in just 4.4 seconds. Its construction is now a unibody design with independent suspension, offering a smoother ride and higher ground clearance, with impressive water fording capabilities.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
The different Defender models have similar fuel economy ratings, no matter which engine they have. The 90 model with the four-cylinder engine gets around 18 mpg in the city and 21 mpg on the highway. If you choose the six-cylinder engine, the city mileage drops to 17 mpg, but the highway mileage goes up to 23 mpg. The 110 model with the six-cylinder engine has the same ratings as the six-cylinder 90. The long-wheelbase 130 model gets about 17 mpg in the city and 21 mpg on the highway with the six-cylinder engine. The V-8 versions have lower mileage, with the 110 model getting 14 mpg in the city and 19 mpg on the highway, and the 90 model getting 15 mpg in the city and 19 mpg on the highway. During a test drive at 75 mph, a Defender 110X with the optional six-cylinder engine got 18 mpg, while the 130 model got 19 mpg.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
The Defender’s interior balances between luxury and practicality, featuring design elements just like other Land Rover models. Details like exposed rivets on the door panels give it a rugged feel, while a magnesium beam across the dashboard adds both style and structural support. The dashboard extends to accommodate climate control and driving mode buttons below the infotainment display. Instead of a traditional centre console, some models have a setup where it can be flipped back to create a jump seat. Cargo space in the 90 and 110 models is decent but can be expanded by folding the rear seats. For more space, consider the larger Land Rover Discovery or a rooftop cargo carrier. The 130 model offers extra cargo room with the third row folded, but less with it in use.
Infotainment and Connectivity
The Defender comes with a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system that runs Land Rover’s new Pivi Pro interface, with an optional larger 11.4-inch display available. Unlike other Land Rover models with a dual-screen setup, the Defender’s system uses a single touchscreen, providing faster response times and the ability to receive over-the-air software updates. It includes standard features like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, in-dash navigation, a six-speaker stereo, and onboard Wi-Fi. Optional upgrades include 10- or 14-speaker Meridian stereo systems, and higher-end models come with a digital gauge cluster and a head-up display.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
The Defender offers a range of driver-assistance technologies, including special systems designed for off-roading and towing. Some key safety features include standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, standard lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assistance, and available adaptive cruise control.
Storage
The four-door Defender has lots of room for storing stuff, about 34 cubic feet. But if you go for the shorter 90 model, there’s way less space. Folding the back seats down in the 90s is a pain because you have to take out the bottom seat cushion. If you get the air suspension, you can lower the car to make it easier to load heavy things. The Defender’s tailgate swings out to the side, which might get in the way sometimes. Inside, there are shelves and storage spaces, but none are big enough for a medium-sized bag. Putting car seats in the back is easier in the 110 model than in the 90. With the tow package, the Defender can pull up to 8,200 pounds, but it doesn’t come with a trailer brake controller, which helps with heavy trailers.
2023 Land Rover Defender Price
The 2023 Land Rover Defender has severally been spotted cruising the streets of Ikoyi. Nigeria’s billionaire Tony Elumelu has also been spotted riding in one, which he posted on his Instagram. The 2023 Land Rover Defender is available in Nigeria with a pricing tag of ₦185,000,000 to ₦245,000,000, The Land Rover Defender has a 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, a 4-year/50,000-mile roadside warranty, and a 4-year/50,000-mile powertrain warranty. The Defender has two diesel engines and seven petrol engines. The diesel engines are 2998 cc and 2997 cc, while the petrol engines are 1997 cc, 2998 cc, 1998 cc, 2997 cc, 4997 cc, 5000 cc, and 4998 cc.
