The commercial Defender Hard Top showcased its capability off-road at an event hosted by Land Rover Ireland at the 800-acre historic Killruddery Estate.
The event saw media, including this writer, driving in convoy in a fleet of Defender Commercials to the summit of the Little Sugar Loaf Mountain in County Wicklow.
The Defender Hard Top combines incredible off-road ability with commercial capability and loadspaceDefender Commercial load space & towing
The Defender Commercial is available in two bodystyles: the 90 Hard Top and 110 Hard Top. Both come with a fixed full-height partition to separate passengers from the load area.
The 90 Hard Top has a load capacity of 1,355 litres, while the 110 Hard Top can accomodate up to 2,059 litres including lockable storage areas under the floor at the rear of both the 90 and 110.
An additional underfloor area is fitted to the 110 Hard Top, where the footwells of the Defender passenger model would normally be found.
The Defender 110 Hard Top can fit a standard Euro pallet thanks to its size and wide-opening tailgate. The maximum load length measures up to 1,472mm in the 110 and lashing points ensure large loads can be safely secured in place.
Depending on engine and specification, the 90 has a payload of up to 670kg, while the 110 can manage between 778-800kg.
Both have a maximum towing capacity up to 3.5 tonnes. The Defender also has many tools available to help hitch, drive and reverse safely while pulling a trailer. The Advanced Tow Assist system takes the stress out of difficult reversing manoeuvres by letting drivers steer trailers with their fingertips using a rotary controller on the centre console.
The Defender Commercial has useful tools for hitching and reversing a trailerDefender Hard Top’s legendary capability
Both the 90 and 110 Hard Top models are equipped with independent coil-sprung suspension, with advanced air suspension available on the 110.
It provides ground clearance of 291mm, and the same approach, breakover and departure angles as the passenger models.
The wading depth is an incredible 900mm deep, assisted by the Wade programme in the Terrain Response 2 system that ensures drivers can cross flooded roads or tracks with confidence.
Defender’s Intelligent All-Wheel Drive system uses sensor data from driver inputs and vehicle surroundings to continually vary axle torque and deliver it to where it’s needed. This torque distribution arrangement optimises the vehicle not only for traction and on-road dynamics, but it also contributes to driveline efficiency with lower CO2 emissions and improved fuel economy, without sacrificing any of the off-road capability.
The Defender Hard Top has a towing capacity of 3.5 tonnesDefender Hard Top specification for Ireland
The Defender Hard Top comes exclusively in Defender specification with black fabric seats and rubber flooring throughout. The 110 Hard Top adds side steps as standard.
A Jump Seat between the driver and passenger is also available as an option.
All vehicles come with the brand’s ‘Pivi Pro’ touchscreen, including smartphone integration using Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Other standard features include a suite of advanced driver assistance systems and an excellent 3D surround camera system that provides an all-round view of the vehicle on the central touchscreen.
Defender’s ‘ClearSight’ rear view camera provides an uninterrupted view out the rear of the vehicle at the flick of a switch on the bottom of the rear-view mirror.
There’s also a smartphone app, which allows businesses to keep track of the location, fuel level and journey history of the vehicle remotely.
Power for the Defender Hard Top comes from the Ingenium D250 3.0-litre, six-cylinder diesel engine with mild hybrid technology, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission with twin-speed transfer box and the option of air suspension. The D250 is very smooth and refined to drive on- and off-road, delivering 249PS and 570Nm of torque.
The 90 Hard Top is available from €55,000 (excluding VAT & VRT), and the Defender 110 Hard Top from €68,829 (excluding VAT & VRT).
Eddie Kavanagh, Managing Director of Jaguar Land Rover Ireland, said:
“Defender Hard Top is an integral part of the Defender family in Ireland. Both 90 and 110 models bring unrivalled levels of practicality, versatility and premium levels of comfort to the commercial sector, demonstrating the vehicle’s hard-working DNA.”
The Defender reaches the summit of Little Sugar Loaf, Co. Wicklow