Land Rover Defender X-Tech launch

Land Rover Defender X-Tech

The world’s full of SUVs. Everything from the might Range Rover all the way down to the new MINI Countryman. In between you’ll find endless levels of ability, from shopping trolley soft-roaders to highly competent mud-pluggers.

But there’s only really one SUV to consider if you want to ford a stream or climb a mountain and that’s the iconic Land Rover Defender. Not only does it talk the talk, it can also walk the walk. Any walk. Get stuck and all you do is pull a lever and a man in a stove pipe hat appears and engages huge metal cogs and you move again. Or that’s the expectation the Defender conjures up.

The Defender is from a bygone age and it’s starting to show. But if you want true off-road ability – and off-road credibility – you can do no better. Land Rover are working on a replacement for the Defender – Project Icon – but that’s a year or three away yet. But the Defender is nearly at the end of the line, so maybe now is a good time to buy – before you no longer can.

And if you’re ready to get a Defender, Land Rover has obligingly created a special edition for your consideration – the Land Rover Defender X-Tech. Available as a 90 Hard Top Commercial derivative, the X-Tech comes in Zermatt Silver with Santorini Black finish on the roof and wheel arches. To complete the gritty urban warrior look the X-Tech also gets a set of black 16″ Saw Tooth Alloys.

Power comes from the 2.4 litre common rail diesel offering a decent amount of torque – 265ft/lbs – for enhanced on-road performance and towing. On sale from March starting at £24,995.

Not a lot for an icon.

By Cars UK