You can't really chuck the 5,000-pound SUV around as you would a sports car, but it behaves brilliantly when asked, with excellent feedback through the steering, although the touchy brake pedal took some getting used to. Traction is also superb thanks to its full-time 4x4 system and torque vectoring. On the twisty 60-mph B-roads and later at Gaydon's proving grounds made up of 34 miles of roads and tracks, where we took the 90 X to its 120-mph top speed on the high-speed loop, entering and exiting corners at speed was surprisingly easy. There's even a Sport mode that sharpens the transmission and optimizes the powerplant if you want to really have some fun.
Taking the 90 X off-road revealed an entirely different skillset. Traversing Gaydon's broken surfaces, adverse cambers and rallycross was a doddle for the Defender, which is why Land Rover invited us to Eastnor to tackle the harshest of terrain in a 90 SE 300P. Over 66 miles of managed trails in the grounds of Eastnor Castle is where every Defender's off-road credentials have been tested for decades. We spent two hours clambering over rocks and mud, wading through deep water, and tackling steep slippery inclines.
The configurable Terrain Response 2 boasts a selection of off-road programs accessible via the Pivi Pro touchscreen, including 'Mud & Ruts' and 'Grass, Gravel, Snow,' setting the Defender up perfectly for the conditions faced. Auto-locking center and rear differentials, over 11 inches of ground clearance, and all-terrain Goodyear rubber made light work of terrain that would beat most cars. The Defender is so easy to maneuver too. Visibility is superb, and when you are challenged, external cameras can be set to 'off-road', which shows close-ups of the front wheels as you move through tight spots. Easily the most capable off-road car we've ever tested, we can only imagine how the turbocharged and supercharged inline-six would have fared off the beaten track.
P300
▪ Engine – 2.0-litre (1,997 cc), 4-cylinder in-line, turbo petrol
▪ Max output – 300 PS (221 kW) at 5,500 rpm
▪ Max torque – 400 Nm at 1,500-4,000 rpm
▪ Transmission – 8-speed automatic, AWD
▪ 0-100 km/h – 7.1 seconds
▪ Top speed – 191 km/h
▪ Fuel consumption – 11.5-12.5 l/100km combined
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