Land Rover Defender D300 SE 2022 Review

Land Rover Defender is a large 4WD that pays styling homage to the past models but thankfully is nothing like them in dynamics and ergonomics.

 The latest Defender is as much at home on the freeway as it is on a slippery forest trail.

While the design is a little polarising I happen to like the stylish exterior that looks smaller and sleeker than it actually is.

TO LISTEN TO THE DEFENDER RADIO REVIEW CLICK BELOW

Inside its all class with exceptionally comfortable heated and ventilated seats, plenty of room and well laid out dash area. The driver immediately feels connected to the vehicle in a way that doesn’t happen often.

The overall ambiance is of space and luxury.

While there is a wide choice of engines, we drove the D300 which is an inline six cylinder twin turbo diesel engine that provides plenty of low down grunt for off road driving or towing along with relaxed freeway cruising. It’s also economical as we used 8.5l/100k on our test over a number of different conditions.

Driving the Defender is like driving a luxury SUV that just happens to have awesome true 4WD capability.

The D300 SE is priced from a bit over $100,000 plus the usual costs and options.

This is a Motoring Minute

Im Rob Fraser

Also Look At

• Nissan Patrol
• Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series
• Land Rover Discovery
• Toyota LandCruiser Prado

Some other Land Rover Defender Articles

• 1- Land Rover Defender 90 4WD 2022 review
• 2 – Land Rover Defender 110 X P400 2021 Review
• 3 -Land Rover Defender 110 D250 4WD 2021 Review
• 4 -Land Rover Defender crowned Supreme Winner Women’s World Car of the Year 2021  
• 5 – Land Rover Defender 110 P400 S 2021 Radio Review
• 6 – 2020 Land Rover Defender Video Review
• 7 – Land Rover Defender 110 4WD is launched
• 8 – Land Rover 2020 Defender Launch Review
• 9 – OzRoamer 2022 COTY Award Winners Motoring Minute
• 10 – OzRoamer’s Car of the Year Award winners Announced

*MLP Includes GST and LCT but excluding statutory charges, dealer costs and dealer delivery. See your dealer for RDAP. Does not include price of options. Some features mentioned in the article are options. RDAP means Recommended Drive Away Price (without options but including all other charges)

*Towing and AWD Capability is compared to other similar vehicles in the same class.

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Defender D300 SE Specific Details

Options:

• Folding Fabric Roof $4,810,
• Three-zone Climate Control with Rear Cooling Assist $2,410,
• Black contrast roof $2,170,
• Tow hitch receiver $1,430,
• ClearSight interior rear-view mirror $1,270,
• 20-inch Style 5098, 5 spoke, Satin Dark Grey $1,210,
• OFF-ROAD PACK – Torque Vectoring by Braking – Domestic plug socket $1,020,
• Privacy glass $1,000,
• Activity Key $910,
• 12-way heated, electric memory front seats with 2-way manual headrests $810,
• Cabin Air Ionisation with PM2.5 filter $610,
• Wi-Fi Enabled with Data Plan $600,
• Rough-cut Walnut veneer $600,
• Black contrast Signature Graphic (with interior storage) $340,
• 4″ Touchscreen $210,
• Air Quality Sensor $190,
• AIR SUSPENSION PACK – Electronic Air Suspension – Adaptive Dynamics NCO,
• Gondwana Stone Metallic Paint / Ebony grained leather seat facings with Ebony interior NCO
• Price-As-Tested: $121,540

Defender D300 SE Additional Thoughts

Defender has been a stunning success since its relaunch, winning multiple awards around the globe, including OzRoamer large 4WD over $80,000 in 2022

We have detailed in other articles a full review so we will limit this article to some additional thoughts about the Defender on this latest drive.

• Defender is class leading in so many ways.
• This particular car looks great. I love the colour combination and 20 inch alloys.
• Can take or leave the cloth roof, but others love it
• Defender looks smaller than it actually is. Surprisingly it’s actually larger than the new 300 series LandCruiser, but looks smaller.
• Class leading ride, handling and on road dynamics.
• It feels tight, smooth and quiet on road.
• Inside the Defender fits me perfectly. Everything just fits. I can’t say more than that.
• Driver ergonomics are excellent with the driver’s instruments and central screen.
• The amount of information that can be conveyed to the driver is almost mind boggling.
• Surround camera for off road, on road and towing is excellent
• Sound system is awesome with crisp audio
• Wireless Apple CarPlay removes cords.
• Front seats are best in class for comfort and support.
• There is heaps of storage inside for the driver and front passenger. Storage trays, door bins, other bins and centre console bin. Class leading
• Clever design sees USB ports everywhere and in convenient spaces
• Rear seats are comfortable, even for those like me that are larger than the average bear, with plenty of headroom, knee and leg room.
• They also fold forward to provide a reasonably practical and large rear luggage space.
• I like the fact that it’s a five seat version only.
• The clearview rear mirror option is worthwhile as the spare tyre does impede the view
• Other safety features are not intrusive.
• Couple of little niggles
  • Have to turn on the A/C recirc function every time you start the car
  • Not a big fan of the windscreen washer system where the water comes out of the wiper arms
  • No HUD is puzzling as is no auto high beam.
  • The response time to input from steering wheel controls is a little slow
  • For serious off road work I would like smaller rims and higher profile tyres than the 20 inch ones but these are great on road though.
• Lighting is spot on, interior and puddle lights. Low beam and fog lights are excellent and the high beam gives a deep and wide spread. Turning lights are s also convenient

Standard Features Vehicle: 22MY Land Rover Defender 110 SE D300

Engine Transmission, Suspension & Driving Dynamics

• All Wheel Drive (AWD)
• Twin-speed transfer box (high/low range)
• 8-speed Automatic Transmission
• Terrain Response
• Coil Suspension
• Hill Launch Assist
• Electric Power Assisted Steering (EPAS)
• Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)
• Low traction launch Electronic Traction Control (ETC)
• Roll Stability Control (RSC)
• Cornering Brake Control (CBC)
• Hill Descent Control (HDC)
• Brake Hold Electric Parking Brake (EPB)
• Brake pad wear indicator Emergency Brake Assist Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
• Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD)

Exterior Features 

• Matrix LED Headlights with Signature DRL and LED Taillights
• Automatic Headlight Levelling
• Front fog lights LED taillights
• Signature graphic Design vision C-Pillar graphic, with interior storage
• Heated, electric, power fold door mirrors with approach lights and auto-dimming driver side
• Electric windows with one-touch open/close and anti-trap
• Heated rear window with timer
• Rear wash wiper
• Alpine lights, Puddle lights
• Side-hinged tailgate
• Automatic headlights and rain sensing wipers
• Follow me home lighting
• Rear fog light(s)
• Centre high-mounted stop light
• Black Roof Rails

Wheels and Tyre

• 20″ Style 5094, 5 spoke, Gloss Sparkle Silver
• Off-Road Tyres (Wrangler A/T)
• 20” Full Size Spare Wheel

Interior Features

• 12-way electric memory front seats with 2-way manual headrests
• Two-zone Climate Control
• Electrically Adjustable Steering Column
• 40:20:40 Folding Rear Seats with Centre Armrest
• Durable rubber cabin flooring
• Durable rubber load space flooring
• Sunvisors with illuminated vanity mirrors
• Driver and Passenger Sunvisors
• Footwell lights Front row lights only
• Rear reading lights
• Twin front cupholders
• Overhead stowage for sunglasses
• Glovebox storage with mechanical lock and light.
• Loadspace cover Hook(s) in loadspace
• Assisted tailgate
• Soft Door Close for tailgate (not powered)
• Cross Car Beam in Light Grey Powder Coat Brushed Finish
• Standard Treadplates
• Light Oyster Morzine Headlining
• Standard Leather Steering Wheel
• Premium Cabin Lighting Incl.
  • 10 Colour lighting:
  • Front & Rear Door Signature Lines,
  • Front & Rear Door Bin Illuminations,
  • IP Illumination,
  • Console cubby Illumination,
  • Upper Canopy Illumination.
  • White -Front Downlighter, Front Footwell Illumination
• Centre Console with Armrest

Defender Information, Communication & Entertainment

• Digital Audio Broadcast (DAB) radio
• WIRELESS Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™
• ALEXA Smart Assistant Voice Control
• Online Pack with Data Plan
• Pivi Pro (Connected)
• 10″ Touchscreen Interactive Driver Display
• Meridian™ Sound System Incl.
  • 11 Speakers including Subwoofer,
  • 400W amplifier power
• Remote 12V power socket in loadspace
• Trip computer
• Click and Go integrated base unit

Defender Safety, Security & Driver Assistance

• Trailer Stability Assist (TSA)
• Keyless Entry
• Perimetric alarm
• Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
• Customer Configurable Autolock
• Power operated child locks
• Seat belt reminder
• Rear ISOFIX – Row 2 outboard seats.
• Push Button Start
• Front airbags, with passenger seat occupant detector
• Emergency Braking
• Blind Spot Assist
• 3D Surround Camera Incl.
  • Multi Camera View,
  • 360º View,
  • 180º Rear View.
  • Forward View, Forward Traffic Detection, Forward Vehicle Guidance,
  • Tow Hitch Assist and
  • ClearSight Ground View)
• Clear Exit Monitor
• Adaptive Cruise Control
• Lane Keep Assist
• 360° Parking Aid
• Rear Collision Monitor – Incl.
  • Lane Keeping Aid,
  • Closing Vehicle Sensing,
  • Reverse Traffic Detection,
  • Rear Pre-Crash and
  • Driver Initiated Evasive
• Steering Support
• Rear Traffic Monitor
• Traffic Sign Recognition and
• Adaptive Speed Limiter
• Wade Sensing
• Driver Condition Monitor