Unleashing the Beast: How a Dakar Rally Tribute Ride in a Land Rover Defender Revealed Its Hidden Gems
Riding Comfort in the 2025 Land Rover Defender
Rally Ready: An Adventure in Saudi Arabia
As the 2025 Dakar Rally gets underway, Land Rover has confirmed its presence in the grueling competition, fielding not one, but two Defender SUVs in the World Rally Championship. In a rare opportunity, I had the chance to pilot one of these rugged support vehicles, courtesy of Land Rover’s Saudi Arabia operation, during the Dakar Rally’s initial rounds. And let me tell you, the Defender did not disappoint.
Unfiltered Ride Quality
My initial ride in the Defender was in the backseat, sans hands on the wheel, a sensation I found unsettlingly unfamiliar. Sitting in the back accentuated the bumps, jolts, and lurches that I normally wouldn’t experience. As the terrain grew increasingly rugged, my expectations plummeted, fearing a bone-rattling experience. To my surprise, the Defender handled these bumps and jumps with remarkable composure. While I couldn’t directly influence the car’s handling, the mid-spec Defender we used handled rough terrain impressively.
Credit Where Credit’s Due
Give credit where credit is due: Land Rover’s designers, engineers, and technicians deserve recognition for creating a ride so surprisingly comfortable. Their aluminum construction might not result in the lightest of vehicles (our 110-spec Defender weighed in at approximately 5,000 pounds), but they’ve cleverly engineered the powertrain, differentials, and axles to produce an exceptional balance of stability and agility.
Defender in Dakar: What I Learned
What I gleaned from my Dakar experience: while I’d have loved more distinct personality, the Defender proves itself a capable and surprisingly comfortable companion on Saudi Arabia’s rugged terrain. It’s undeniable that a certain character, some ‘wow factor’ was missing – yet the Defender proved an admirable and trustworthy sidekick, more than up to the task.
Stay tuned for a comprehensive account of my experience at the 2025 Dakar Rally. If you’ve any opinions on the Defender’s place in the adventure SUV spectrum (e.g., versus Jeep Wrangler, Lexus GX, Toyota 4Runner, or Ford Bronco), please share in the comments or reach out to the author at [email protected].
