Land Rover Defender Trophy Edition Review: Adventure Ready

There are few cars with the sheer variety of powertrains as the Land Rover Defender. From a four-pot to a choice of V8s, there is seemingly something for everyone. One stands out, though – the D350 3.0-litre inline-six twin-turbocharged diesel. More power than the base petrol, more torque than the 5.0 V8, with the frugality of a diesel. It’s the only motor the Trophy Edition comes with, so is this engine the sweet spot in the range?

Land Rover Defender Trophy Edition exterior design and engineering – 9/10

The Defender’s design hasn’t changed since it launched in 2020, but it certainly isn’t wanting for a facelift. It still looks fresh and modern with subtle nods to the original, without resorting to an overtly retro aesthetic. The Trophy Edition brings a choice of Deep Sandglow Yellow or Keswick Green – the former being the signature finish of the iconic Camel Trophy cars – with gloss black on the roof, bonnet, cladding and lower bumper for contrast. To go with the rugged look, it rides on all-terrain rubber shod 20-inch wheels that mimic steelies but are actually alloys. Additionally, there is Trophy branding on the bonnet, C-pillar and tailgate.

This particular example is also equipped with the optional Rs 5.35 Lakh Trophy Pack, which brings a roof rack, with a ladder to reach it on one side and an external storage box on the other. There’s big flexible mud flaps and a raised air intake – though it doesn’t raise the already lofty 900mm water wading ability, but helps with keeping sand out during dune bashing. All of this kit can be optioned on the regular Defender too, but here it ties in rather well with the whole Amazonian adventurer theme.

Land Rover Defender Trophy Edition interior space and comfort – 7/10

Inside, it is standard Defender fare apart from some body-coloured trim on the dash, while the rest is finished in black. Comfort up front is excellent, with a lofty driving position that has you towering over conventionally large SUVs. The seat itself is wide and comfortable, with electrical adjustment as well as ventilation. The dashboard and centre console offer plenty of utility and storage spaces, while the quality of materials and finish elevates the premium quotient.

For those who prefer to be chauffeured, the rear compartment is very comfortable and gets its own climate zone. There is plenty of room all around, and the bench is wide and supportive. It is, however, a task climbing into the Defender, even with the air suspension at its lowest position. Cargo room is also vast, with 786-litres of space with the second row up, expandable to 1875-litres with it stowed.

Land Rover Defender Trophy Edition features and safety – 8/10

Based on the X-Dynamic HSE, the Trophy Edition is also very well equipped, with highlights including a sharp 13.1-inch infotainment system, Meridian sound system and a panoramic sunroof. However, some of the serious off-road kit from the X trim, like air suspension, the Electronic Active Differential and Terrain Response 2, are optional extras.

Safety is also well taken care of, with 6 airbags, Dynamic Stability Control, Roll Stability Control and Hill Descent Control. A sharp 360-degree parking camera helps when guiding this big SUV through tight spaces, and while adaptive cruise control is offered, other ADAS features like lane keep assist and autonomous emergency braking are not available in India.

Land Rover Defender Trophy Edition performance and refinement – 9/10

Under the hood is the 3.0-litre inline-six twin-turbo diesel from the Ingenium family, which makes 350hp and a whopping 700Nm – only the Octa beats it on torque, and that too by just 50Nm. Sending power to all four wheels is a slick 8-speed auto, which at times feels like too many cogs. At highway speeds, most overtakes are completed without the need for a downshift, and at city speeds merely tickling the throttle is enough to keep up with traffic. Push the right pedal harder, though, and it quickly drops a cog, the bonnet rises, and it accelerates as hard as you’d ever really need to in something this big.

A quick Vbox test confirmed a 0-100kph time of 6.79sec – slightly slower than the claimed time of 6.4sec. 20-80kph is dispatched in an equally rapid 4.19sec, while 40-100kph takes 4.98sec. Refinement is good too, and not just for a diesel. Outside the vehicle, the diesel clatter is very muted at idle, while inside, most passengers won’t be able to tell they’re in an oil burner. As revs rise, so do the decibels, but it sounds muscular and rather pleasant for a diesel. One gripe is at highway speeds, there is noticeable wind noise from the bolted-on accessories.

Land Rover Defender Trophy Edition range and efficiency – 7/10

While we didn’t get a chance to put it through our real-world fuel-efficiency run, the diesel is comfortably the most frugal of all the available Defender powertrains. On a steady highway run, it will regularly deliver double-digit fuel economy, which means the 89-litre tank will take you pretty far between fill-ups.

Land Rover Defender Trophy Edition ride comfort and handling – 8/10

Our test car was equipped with air suspension, which is an option well worth ticking. Not only does it bring the ability to raise the car to clear obstacles or lower it to make getting in and out easier, but the ride is also superb. It feels very absorbent even on the roughest patches, and keeps the body quite flat and the cabin nicely isolated.

While it certainly has no sporting pretensions, it feels surprisingly fluid through corners too. There is no escaping the body roll, but it feels well controlled, surefooted and rather enjoyable to hustle. Also noteworthy is the steering; the large-diameter wheel feels great to hold and steer with, and the effort is perfectly weighted to boot.

Off-road ability is a strength, but what’s impressive is the ease with which it conquers the rough stuff. Terrain Response offers presets for different surfaces, and advanced users can even configure individual settings, but generally leaving it in Auto works well enough for most scenarios. Low range will only ever need to be engaged to clear the sort of challenges that used to be thrown at Camel Trophy participants. Its size is intimidating off-road, but the array of cameras, including a transparent bonnet function, does help maneuverability.

Land Rover Defender Trophy Edition price and verdict – 8/10

At Rs 1.30 crore, the Trophy Edition is just over a lakh more than the X-Dynamic HSE. While that isn’t a lot of extra outlay in this context, what it buys you is essentially a unique paint scheme. If the history of the Camel Trophy, the exclusivity and the aesthetics appeal to you, this might seem like a bargain, but to others, that money would be better spent on the off-road packs.

But if getting muddy isn’t your thing, the standard Defender is still charming enough to seduce most. With the 6-cylinder petrol discontinued, this D350 diesel is now the default recommendation – much more performance than the 2.0-litre four-pot and way more frugal than the 5.0-litre V8. Sure the V8 has a greater sense of occasion, but the diesel feels like a more natural fit for the Defender’s use case – ergo, the sweet spot.

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