Land Rover Defender 110: Rain, Rough Fairways and a Red Defender. Why the D350 Sedona Is Britain’s Perfect All-Weather Companion

The day began much like any other - damp, grey and fairly miserable. But things soon brightened when I spotted the Land Rover Defender sitting on the drive. It’s difficult not to smile at the sight of it because the Defender has that rare, reassuring dependability you’d associate with something 17th-century and timber-framed. Solid. Unfazed. Unmoved by the weather or the world. This latest iteration, the Land Rover Defender 110 D350 Sedona, finished in a deep, rich Sedona Red, carries that same spirit: utterly dependable, supremely capable and perfectly at home in the damp, stubbornly British gloom.

I had it for a week but the plan today was for a friend and I to play 18 holes and be wined and dined at Basingstoke Golf Club, which is perched neatly on the North Hampshire Downs. It occupies a stretch of rolling countryside that’s about as English as a Constable painting. The Defender would serve as our carriage, our cloakroom and later, our escape from the drizzle that inevitably arrives when you try to play golf in December.

The 3.0-litre, six-cylinder twin-turbo diesel under the bonnet produces 350 horsepower and 700Nm of torque, numbers that sound pretty decent until you experience how calmly it moves this two-and-a-half-tonne block of aluminium and leather about. It’s surprisingly fast but there’s a muted surge rather than a roar, the sort of effortless shove you need to overtake tractors or pull yourself up steep chalk tracks but no more.

Inside, it’s precisely what you’d expect of Land Rover. The Ebony Windsor leather seats are both heated and cooled, with winged headrests that cradle you like a good armchair. The 11.4-inch Pivi Pro touchscreen is a relatively new addition to the old Landy but it is fairly intuitive and XXX, while the Meridian Surround Sound System fills the cabin with enough depth even to make my playing partners dubious playlist sound half decent.

But with the Defender, Land Rover still understands that leather and screens is one thing but usability is another. The cabin is full of useful rubberised flooring, exposed hex bolts and clever storage cubbies that make it feel more purposeful than pampered. There’s a refrigerated centre console, perfect for keeping drinks cool and enough room in the back for three growing teenagers or, in my case, two needlessly overpacked golf bags and a couple of bags containing wet weather gear.

As always, the air suspension is the real reason to celebrate all Land Rovers, as it makes the ride feel almost Rolls-Royce-like at low speeds due to the gentle float - even over the most broken country lanes. Yet when you find yourself on a faster stretch, it firms up nicely, keeping you composed and surprisingly precise. Of course, it’s not light - nothing weighing over 2.4 tonnes can be - but it feels steady and self-assured, the steering measured and nicely weighted.

Set in Dynamic mode, the gearbox and adaptive dampers tighten their responses and that diesel-six hums with quiet confidence. It really is a lovely engine; muscular, refined and almost silent once you’re cruising.

Leaving the Dual-Carriageways behind, the road winds through the North Hampshire Downs, a landscape of open fields, beech copses and sudden bursts of elevation that give you wide, panoramic views across the South of England. It’s here that the Defender feels most at home.

Combined the luxurious cabin, the exquisite ride with the superb engine and then add the raised driving position, the broad, square bonnet and the high beltline, this leaves you in no doubt as to what you are driving.

We arrive at the golf course. Even in a car park full of high-end SUVs, the Sedona Red really stands out. It’s not ostentatious - far from it - but the gloss finish, black contrast roof and those enormous 22-inch gloss black wheels catch the light just so, hinting at something more unique than your everyday off-roader. It’s rugged and elegant all at once, like a James Purdey & Son Raglan Tweed.

The round itself was a study in British optimism. Sunshine, then drizzle, then a breeze strong enough to send club covers across fairways. The course has undergone huge investment and it shows. Lush, undulating fairways, firm greens and long views across the Downs that make even a double bogey feel tolerable.

After 18 (scored 103), the Clubhouse beckoned with the promise of warmth, decent food and a glass or two of something red. Lunch was hearty, the sort that pairs perfectly with a tired swing. Through the windows, the green hues of the course contrasted beautifully with the Sedona Red paint, although by this point, its surface was flecked with dried rain and chalk dust. An honest day’s wear I would say.

Afterwards, the Defender served as our mobile locker room, with clubs, trolleys and jackets neatly swallowed by its 1,875 litres of boot. And when called upon, the quick-drying seats turned it from car to sanctuary in seconds. Thankfully, the Defender still remembers its sense of utility.

If I’d wanted to, I could’ve even rinsed my muddy shoes and gear before heading off. The Defender comes with an ingenious portable rinse system - a self-contained shower hose that uses water pressure from a tap or its own hand pump when you’re off-grid. It’ll deliver a couple of minutes of continuous flow, just enough to wash boots, bikes or golf clubs before you load them back in. It’s practical, thoughtfully designed and finished, naturally, with a Land Rover-branded cover and stowage bag.

The drive home retraced our steps through the lanes, the Defender’s Matrix LED headlights slicing cleanly through the dusk. On the motorway, it settled into a quiet, confident lope, the adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist doing their subtle work in the background. It just makes long journeys feel unhurried, serene and entirely unbothered by the world around it.

At around £93,000 as tested, the D350 Sedona Edition is fairly priced. But it’s more than just a premium SUV with a fancy badge. It’s a genuine piece of British engineering that still honours the Defender name. It’s a machine for people who need space, strength and comfort in equal measure.

I’ve driven plenty of cars that promise adventure but feel far too polished to get muddy. This isn’t one of them. The Sedona Edition manages to feel both indulgent and authentic. It’s happy carrying golf bags, dogs, kids or clients. It’s as content meandering through English countryside as it is devouring a motorway slog to Cornwall.

For my money, the Defender isn’t trying to be a lifestyle statement. It simply is a lifestyle. It’s a car that fits around your world rather than demanding that you adapt to it. And for all the flashier, faster things on four wheels, this might just be the most complete companion I’ve driven in years.

Model: Land Rover Defender 110 D350 Sedona Edition

Base Price (As Driven): £79,735 (£93,005)

Propulsion: Ingenium 3.0 litre 6-cylinder

Drivetrain: All Wheel Drive

Output: 350 hp

Torque: 700 Nm

0-69 mph: 6.1 Seconds

Top Speed: 119 mph

Kerb Weight: 2,436 kg

C02 Emissions (from): 230 g/km

Consumption (up to): 32.2 mpg