British luxury SUVs aren’t really my thing. Land Rovers never had the mystique for me that they have for many of my colleagues. I wasn’t averse to it, but I was perhaps the least overwhelmed of the Autoblog staff when the Land Rover Defender nameplate made its comeback. That said, this thing really won me over. It’s comfortable, luxurious, powerful, and undeniably eye-catching.
When the Land Rover Defender 2023 V8 landed in my driveway, I still wasn’t exactly thrilled. It was going to be a good week of driving, sure, and I was looking forward to getting to know the car better. But that started to change with my kids’ growing enthusiasm as I put them in the Defender for school dropoff. They were intrigued by this big box on wheels and immediately started exploring and pointing things out. Yep, they were right… this thing is pretty cool.
It has its obvious good qualities, which are reflected in its six-figure price. It also has its flaws. And there really is is something intangible that makes it cool. Here are a few things I noticed after spending some quality time with the Defender V8.
1. It looks a bit funny
There are a lot of odd things to notice about the Defender. There’s the unique rear light. There’s the weird body panels that float on the rear quarter windows. There are different patterns and the weird inserts on the bonnet seem particularly odd to me.
2. Strange maybe, but it looks cool
It’s long and blocky, with a tough stance. The 22-inch shiny rims that match the painted accents on the car are a nice touch, and the spare tire prominently displayed on the back gives a big off-road feel.
3. It sounds great
It sounds pretty good inside, but when you hear some of that exhaust noise from outside the vehicle, you almost want to pull a face. I didn’t complain when the kids wanted to roll down the windows. JLR has some excellent sounding V8-powered vehicles, and it’s great that this suburban commando SUV can sound as emotional as a slinky Jaguar coupe.
4. The back door is a bit annoying… half the time
The tailgate only swings open in one direction: the one that is convenient in Britain, and not for people who drive (and park) on the right side of the road. It wasn’t great in my driveway either. If I drive into my driveway with my house on the driver’s side, it’s great. If I drive the other way, I have to push the door in with arms full of shopping on every trip. It’s not a bad way to practice your footwork, though. The door itself is also quite heavy, thanks in no small part to that large 22-inch spare hanging off it. Editor-in-chief James Riswick also thought that large A spare tire can make it more difficult to mount a bike on the tow bar.
5. It has a very clever panoramic roof
It’s especially clever because it automatically closes when you turn the vehicle off. I tend to leave these things closed, especially in the summer when the sun can bake the interior while I’m parked. But when it automatically opened when I turned on the ignition, I didn’t mind the sunlight casting a shadow. I was just grateful that the cabin stayed cooler thanks to the auto-close feature and that its placement didn’t really allow the sun to shine on my head. Fine, I decided, it’s earned the right to keep the top up while I’m driving.
6. The small skylights are cool too
These little guys in the background reminded me a little of the VW Samba bus. That’s good enough for me. I spent my entire time in the driver’s seat, so I don’t know if these little windows actually provide any benefit to rear passengers — they’re mostly over the luggage compartment — but they’re nice.
Look, I hate an icy or foggy windshield as much as the next guy, but when visibility is even slightly impaired on the best of days, it’s maddening. That’s exactly what the thin heating elements in the windshield do. I’d be driving and wonder if that was a strange cloud formation or rain in the sky in the distance? Nope, it’s just that thing right in front of my face playing tricks on me. Maddening, I tell you. Don’t check that box.
The Defender’s few shortcomings—yes, even its squiggly windshield—are all made up for by its cupholders. It’s a tight fit, but the cupholders in the center console can each hold a 32-ounce Nalgene water bottle. The door pockets and rear armrest cupholders don’t have room for them, but you can put your drink where it matters most, helping you stay mega-hydrated while staying mega-Defended.