One Ten. Two syllables uttered in circles that like to load up and get away from the rat race. The type that chases red-dirt, not red Louboutin’s. It denotes a 110-inch wheelbase, an extension that allows for the two extra doors over the Defender 90.
The truth is, at initial glance it’s challenging to imagine the shape before us doing anything other than schlepping around the Eastern Suburbs. Driven by the type who wouldn’t know a wheelbase if they found it at the bottom of their Louis Vuitton Grand Palais.
In Woolstone Green with a Gloss Black roof, it’s quite the looker, carrying more balanced proportions than its smaller stablemate. In this 2026 guise, it too takes on a range of aesthetic adjustments to the exterior.
That includes piano black trims across the bonnet and adjustments to the grille. You’d be hard pressed to notice them as a divergence from the predecessor, but that’s not really a bad thing. The HSE is the range topper.
Our example had the whole house thrown at it in options, including a Towing and Off Road package. The former adds a hitch receiver, along with a range of electronics to best facilitate the process on the road, and in the dirt.
It includes Goodyear Wrangler A/T rubber on Satin Dark Grey 20-inch wheels, an active e-diff and wade sensing (but more on that later). The Ebony Windsor leather interior is a delightful place to spend any time.
Breaking up the cigar-lounge-like darkness are Woolstone Green highlights on the doors, a nostalgic touch which adds so much character. Both front seats offer 14-way electric adjustability, along with heating and ventilation.
The driver peers at an instrument screen through a leather wrapped heated steering wheel. It’s supplemented by an excellent optional head-up display to help ensure your focus is on the road, or dirt, ahead.
A sliding panoramic roof breaks up an Ebony Morzine headlining, allowing stacks of light in. An 11.4-inch infotainment screen, one of the most significant updates for this year, takes pride of place atop the centre console.
It provides access to a range of functions including wired and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android auto. Tunes are courtesy of a 15-speaker Meridien sound system. Rear seat passengers get optional privacy glass.
And there’s outboard heating and ventilation, as well as their own air-conditioning zone. It’s interesting comparing this model to the Defender 90, as the basic cabin space is almost exactly the same.
Obviously ingress and egress is much improved owing to the rear doors, but a lack of a side step was noticeable at times. Devices are kept topped up by a couple of USB ports. The most obvious difference between it and the 90 though, is the cargo space.
It’s accessed by a rather heavy swinging rear gate. Its damped and holds itself in place but will be cumbersome for some. The reason is the spare wheel mounted on the outside. It’s a preference for off-roaders, but does have its drawbacks.
Out on the open road, the in-cabin serenity is a real highlight. Between the air suspension soaking up bumps, obvious insulation efforts, and that silky twin-turbo inline-6, it was truly an enjoyable space to mow down the kays.
Far from the chaos of the P425’s supercharged V8, the 6-pot in this D350 provides more than adequate poke, while being largely undiscernible once on a roll. In fact, the only real disturbance at highway speed was wind noise owing to the large mirrors.
They prove that life is often about compromise, because they afforded a level of rearward visibility that was an asset on and off road. The 2026 Land Rover Defender 110 is just as good on dirt as it is the tarmac too.
It’s no small car; measuring in at just over 5m long, with a 3m wheelbase and spanning 2.1m in width, but it’s no cumbersome brute either. Between the cameras and its huge glasshouse; the level of visibility is confidence inspiring.
When you combine that with easy and responsive controls, it is truly an easy car to get around town in. The truth is, it all seems too nice to get dirty, and I suspect the great majority sold in Australia simply wont.
With a horribly rainy forecast that wouldn’t let up, I went against my better judgement and headed an hour north to give the big brit a go off road. Nothing about the test track is too difficult, and I’ve never been one to really push off road.
That’s especially so in the rain and never when I’m out there alone. Ultimately an hour or two in these conditions cultivated a completely new level of appreciation for the Defender. With “mud and ruts” selected, the suspension lifts and awakens electronic wizardry.
Thanks to its trick diffs, aside from a little slip here and there, it was light work. Locking diffs were available if things got harder. The vinyl floors came into their own here too, with a damp rag and vacuum removing all traces of the fun that was had.
I never thought I’d enjoy the Defender 110 as much as I did. It’s supremely comfortable and spacious, with all of the amenity and mod-cons one would expect of a top-of-the-line European vehicle.
Poised manners on road and tremendous capability on dirt were the icing on the cake for a car that ultimately ticks many boxes. It’s a hefty entry fee though, at a whisker under $147,000 (plus on-roads) as tested.
You can find out more on the Land Rover Australia website, or by talking to your local dealership. To get a low rate finance quote, talk to Australia’s best reviewed car finance broker; Credit One. To see a great range of vehicles for sale, check out OnlyCars.com.au.
Our test vehicle was provided by Jaguar Land Rover Australia for independent review purposes. Exhaust Notes Australia has not been paid to review this vehicle.
