Proof Harry is one of the premier motoring journalists in the world.

Harry's garage is a fabulous channel but the road trips are what I enjoy the most!!

Harry is so cool and is so concise with the information he relays to us viewers. I could listen to him all day. Well done! 👍

I did the same trip recently in my ten year old Volvo XC70, worth about £7k. Fantastic comfort, 40mpg, same tyres as you. Very efficient way to make these type of road trips. Plus you can't beat Volvo armchairs for comfort

I’m delivery driver covering a lot of Scotland (and particularly rural areas) When I got my new Merc Sprinter LWB I actually had crosswind/windshear detection & protection system . I thought that was quite a cool feature.

this made me wanna do a winter road trip tbh ❄ ✨

Another very professional review. I must say, Harry, you set the bar very high for making the most of life.

Thank you Harry, you've confirmed what I've been thinking for a while, the new defender is the Discovery 4 replacement the disco 5 should have been. Great design, incredibly practical and utilitarian. I've been toying with the D5 or the new defender and I'm now swayed towards the Defender because of this video. Great work thank you.

We've got a D300 Defender, our first Land Rover, and it's absolutely epic. Easily one of the best cars on the market. Go for it Harry!

Your tag will work on all gates. Not just the t ones. The t ones simply mean that you must have a tag and cannot pay using a card. I verified this yesterday driving back from skiing

Not surprised it uses more fuel. It's a very well engineered brick.

regarding the drag coefficient: its actually probably worse! Because the frontal area of the Defender is probably a good bit bigger than the RR sport. To get the true value, its Cd x Frontal Area. So even if two cars report the same Cd, if one is larger its still draggier. IMO it would be much better for the industry if they were to report the full Cd*A value. Because as it stands, manufacturers are able to make claims if very slippery cars due to low Cd values, but cars are typically a lot bigger than before, so its not as good as they make it sound!

Nice for Charlie to spend time with his Dad…my Dad died when I was 8 so I never got to do much Dad/Son stuff….which I miss. Great video

When it’s anything to do with cars Harry’s the man he’s so knowledgeable and enthusiastic thanks Harry

These videos are always very reliable. A top quality video once a week on a Sunday. Top quality. I used to collect Evo magazine in the 1990's.

A Sunday evening with a Harry’s Garage upload…just perfect.👌 Your road trips are some of my favourites and this was no exception, loved the spec, the journey and the father and son banter! (New Rolex Harry?😁)

Always like your road trips Harry. You can’t beat a good diesel.

For anyone with distance to cover Diesel is the obvious choice, Very appealing vehicle that 130 👍

Great road trip test. Love a real world experience. Thanks H for sharing your journey. Channel is the best on YT. Looking forward to more great content in ‘24. 🏆🥇

I think that having the solid side panel at the rear makes it look considerably better than the weird half window panel I’ve seen on most defenders. Great video as always Harry.

I do love your road trips, my favourite videos.

Love a harrys road trip 😊 hope there are more planned for 2024 👌

I've watched a lot of Harry's videos but I think this is one of the best.

Hi Harry, really enjoyed that review! Especially as I’m picking up a new D300 x-Dynamic HSE 110 tomorrow. Keep up the good work.

Great stuff as usual! I was driving behind one of these on Friday, and I thought it looked really good - I liked the light clusters, but that's quite a chunk of change :) Size is relative... we did a great a road trip about 4 years ago, around various US National Parks, and it made me smile in the car parks, when I saw Range Rovers made to look small beside various pick-ups!

I have had a Defender 110 for some years now, and love it to bits. It is such a competent jack-of-all-trades. It is equally at home on the motorway, on Swiss mountain roads, or driving across horse-meadows to work on the fences. When towing, horse-trailers are hardly noticeable. Thanks to its square-cut shape and excellent cameras parking is a breeze in daylight. The only thing that really bugs me is the fuel consumption that you highlight well. I have not yet taken my Defender on the Chunnel, but you having to go on the extra-height wagons brought back memories. Many, many years ago I was working in Arnheim in Holland (yes where the infamous bridges are). One Thursday evening, leaving the customer site, I was faced with the option. turn right for back to home in Switzerland, or left for a surprise visit to my parents in the UK. It was a wonderful evening, and I was sitting in a bright yellow Caterham Super Seven, so naturally I turned left for the UK. At the French end of the Channel Tunnel they took one look at my Super Seven, and told me that I needed to go into the extra-height wagons! The reason: It was in the middle of a foot-and-mouth scare; all cars needed to drive through a disinfectant "foot bath". Apparently the bath on the route to the normal wagons was so deep that it would flood my Super Seven, while that of the extra-height wagons was shallower.. My Seven was so low that I managed to drive past the cabin of the French customs without them noticing until I was well past. After strenuous calls of "Arrett, Arrret Par bleu!" I had to reverse back ...

Enjoyed that! Thanks. My Q7 50tdi was bought for similar situations - 4 up and long trips and that shows c.700 miles on a full tank and it eats up the miles. It does 40-45mpg depending on load, wind direction and pace. Great type of car for long family trips. Seeing this video and the comments made me think to get another set of wheels with winter tyres on

Excellent review video, Harry, with the bonus of some wonderful scenery. I've had my D200 110 for over 3 years now and it's still brilliant. When I bought mine during lockdown, they were still pretty new (and a rare sight on the road) and the range of engines wasn't like it is now. The additional load space of the 130 would be useful on our family holidays but otherwise difficult for me to justify the extra cost. The 500+ mile range I find great for family trips - unlike my Discovery Sport which had a woefully small tank. Oh, and unlike my old Defender, it keeps the oil in and the rain out. 😊

The red on the range rover looks surprisingly good

Harry single handedly propping up JLR.Nice scenery...thanks.

harry is brilliant, jsut really really really brilliant at giving us information, interesting bloke, no nonsense, right to the point. love it

Had my 130 for 6 months now, love it to bits. two dogs and double buggy. Ticks all the boxes. With the 3 row seating even managed airport run, 4 adults and 2 babies plus all luggage

I grew up in diesel Volvo's. With the extended tank option, you would only need a single fuel stop on 'relatively long' journeys

Great video! 130 is a serious family battle bus isn’t it! The V8 isn’t that bad on fuel - you’d be surprised! I get ~380 miles per tank or about ~20/21 mpg on a motorway run, even with BFG KO2s. Better than the p400e I had!

Best reviewer today in any format. Thank you Harry.

Had my Discovery 4 out in the snow today thanks to this video! North of Ireland getting it rough at the moment

Real situations… real unbiased review!! I had a disco 3 for years. Was reliable until the last year when it started costing however it had done 140k on the original clutch 😳. It did everything a family car should and even helped start my business by acting as a van for the 1st 18 month. Family holidays in UK and France. Hauled everything everywhere with bike racks and roof boxes… A new defender would be on my list but £££££££. Superb film as always etc..

I loved it when Charlie pointed out the empty flask😅

Happy for you; enjoy the week with the family.

Followed your advice on the emovis tag a couple of years back - well worth it - life changing for tolls in France :)

My Defender 110 D250 gets an easy 35 mpg in the same conditions. In the summer I got better than 40 mpg. The 130 is a bit heavier but the cd will be about the same so I’m surprised there’s such a difference. The mpg is noticeably influenced by headwinds though. We like the 110 so much we’ve just ordered a RR Sport D300 as well, in fact a near identical spec to yours, so pleased to hear you’re enjoying that.

Had that D300 engine in a Velar, absolutely fantastic power unit and in the Velar I was regularly getting in excess of 50mpg, given the performance I thought that was incredible.

Harry is so good at this I can watch him for hours.

Cheers Harry enjoyed coming along

That rant over your sons' skis sounds so familiar. As as snowboarder with multiple boards and a son and a father, you are making these videos so real. Great job, Harry!

Fun trip Harry, as you have done previously with the FF and Bentayga! You might be a fan of of these Pirelli non-3PMSF all-season tyres, but the rules are changing in France from the 1st November 2024 - and only dedicated winter tyres (3PMSF) or winter rated all-seasons with 3 PMSF or chains will be accepted in mountainous areas. The standard M+S all-season tyres without 3PMSF as you have on this Defender, will no longer be accepted, no matter how highly you rate them - unless you are carrying a set of chains. I’d always still have a set of proper winters in the Alps, especially on a £90k car!

We own a new Defender 300d in the mountains. It is just soooo good! As an owner you absolutely adore this 'toy'. Nice review Harry, compliments.

Enjoyed that. Similarly we drove 2400km trip from Dublin to Courchevel 1850 and back last winter in a BEV @ -10ºC, easy peasy. One night on the Ferry to Cherbourg and one night half way across France. 20 stall Ionity every 20km on the French auto routes made it easy. We only charged when we stopped for restroom and coffee breaks, typically 15mins on CCS. Normally I'd take the diesel, but my inner nerd just wanted to try the EV, so took a VW GTX. No EVSE in Courchevel, so climbed 6000ft from Moutiers up to resort with enough juice to get up and back down again to collect family from the Geneva train. Pleasantly surprised how easy and convienient it was. Excellent professional videos on this channel.

Great review. Its hard to get over all the terrible JLR reports regarding theft, parts shortages, unreliability and insurance issues. It would be really useful to here your take on this.

Great video as ever. I must say I think the economy isn’t too bad for a car of that performance, size and shape. I used to tool around in a ‘99 Range Rover 4.6V8 which had no real performance and did 16 to 20mpg on a good day. It also had terrifying handling and high speed stability. There still a strong argument for diesel cars, my current daily is a Mercedes C220d which I bought new 3 years ago. It gives 60 to 70 mpg on my rural driving routes which equates to a 900 mile range. I only need to fill it up once a month which is just so convenient. Last year I got hold of a Bentayga hybrid for an 800 mile road trip which was a great way to travel but we never actually found anywhere where we could charge it up (chargers in use, temperamental domestic circuit breakers, didn’t have the right app, no 4g to load apps) so did the whole trip on petrol at 23mpg…..

Thanks for sharing your Land Rover Defender trip experience.

Please please keep doing these videos Harry, they are simply superb for us petrol (and Diesel heads) I run a 2024 RR Sport with the D300 engine, and like you am so impressed with the refinement and economy. Love the handling too as mine is a Dynamic SE model. I think you are the best motoring journalist by a country mile. Mark Jones (Lancashire)

Looks like a lovely car for the London school run

Thanks Harry for another excellent video. Now on my 4th Land Rover and currently have a P300 Defender 90, non-MHEV. Now retired so a diesel to "nip" to the shops was probably going to present issues. LR reckon that its overall fuel consumption is 25.2 MPG however I get 27-28 MPG just on local runs. However, when I've covered a longer trip (300 miles) the consumption has improved to 36-37 MPG but you do need to keep your speed to 60MPH and not use the cruise control. Looking at your trip the high fuel consumption might also be attributed to the cold weather where the Wabasto water heater to keep the engine at optimum temperature was probably running all the time and using more diesel, my Disco 3 in the winter did the same thing and also dropped to 27MPG from 32MPG in the summer. Just a thought?

Another superb road trip and review of the Land Rover Defender

Love these road trips. Thanks for sharing.

I’m looking to do a similar trip in my BMW iX - would just need 4 charging stops for the 1100 miles, and I’ve also bought some rubber mats 👍🏻

First - I like your reviews. For the type of trip you did - I agree the 130 looks like the tool for the job. I have had a Discovery 2 and 3 and now a Discovery 5 (with rubber mats). Have done plenty of European driving in each and would be equally complimentary about the current Disco. Last trip to Spain (D300 engine) got 35mpg. Admittedly its not a 130 and we were 2-up (plus a dog) not 4. Its got all the cabin/door storage nooks and crannies of the Defender - but most are enclosed so more secure and neater in my opinion. The drop down inner tail-gate is also great for picnic/coffee stops etc. I think there is still a place for the Discovery 5 in the line-up - it's just not for everyone. Keep up the good work

Great stuff, I done a 2000 mile trip before Xmas in my 110 p300. France, Luxembourg, Germany and the Swiss alps, most comfortable trip I’ve ever done in a car, no fatigue whatsoever, even on an 8 hour stint. I managed 25mpg for the whole trip. As long as stay at around 70mph that is, and I have the roof rack and ladder as I use the defender for work. Car was packed to the roof in the back, the clear sight mirror came into its own (rarely use it in uk) was getting around 420 mike range to a tank. Not too bad, spent a lot less on petrol than I thought, so more money for beer!

Charlie is a lad after my own heart! I was a ski hoarder, I kept my first pair of skis for skiing on when the snow was a bit threadbare plus they were great doing tight turns being 190 cams. I then brought a lovely pair of skis that were longer at two metres and they were so good for skiing fast on piste. Then my shorter parabolic skis that were great on and off piste but twitchy as if really tankin* it as they took so little effort to turn. Fortunately I didn’t travel with all three, I don’t think my dad would have let me. My dadand Ileft our second sets in the resort we owned a flat in, then used a big box on roof. I just realised, you were staying in the neighbouring resort to where I skied for many years in flaine. Where you were driving down to the hairpin I; one of the shots as you spoke about your journey home, in the summer, you can drive up the slope off road from th3 outside of the hairpin lower down, past that hairpin to the one above it in a land river with low box in the summer! The diesel just saunters up in low box diff lock, and saunters back down, saving about 3 minute# if you’ve got coaches etc. we even put chains on one year as the run was closed! Great to see you’ve got a Range Rover sport. I love the look of the defender 130 and 110. I guess the mpg differs because you’re comparing a breeze block to a pebble.

Have you tried putting the drive mode in dynamic on the motorway to combat the cross winds? The ride is still comfortable but it might make it more stable

Another excellent video full of practical information, thank you Harry and Happy New Year.

Why I just found this channel and I fall in love wit it? :)

Christ! Almost a 100 grand. Thanks for, yet again, a great review though.

Sunday evening is complete…

Love the comment about Charlie’s ski poles being bent and knackered typical dad thinking 👍🏻🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Harry is the BEST! I love my 110!

If I were a farmer / large real estate owner plus frequent long trips with 4 people, I'd love this. Looks cool, nice ride. However in the more urban environment, I'd choose a van / combi, maybe 4x4. The Transits, VW T6.7 , the Renault Traffic, Stellantis vans carry more people and more stuff and usually consume less. You probably wouldn't even need to option the long versions for the same amount of gear, rather go for 5m or shorter ones. I know, once you choose the luxury ones like V-Class & co, they cost nearly as much as the 130 in top spec. But they world be still more practical for most of us.

Man of the people! I always struggle knowing what to do with my several pairs of skis when off to the alps, I usually get one of the staff to drive them over in one of the other cars.

I like the amount of lighting in the interior, especially in the back.

Love the analysis and inspiration. Keep making these Euro road trip videos! One to Champagne please!

Another excellent piece. Re: mileage, I’ve found cruise control, almost regardless of vehicle, yields better MPG vs manual input. Have you found the same? You nailed the difference early on, and in the summary: the 130 is ‘chunky’ (I own a similar type, which I really like) vs the Sport and it shows up in handling and MPG. There are always trade-offs!

Another fantastic video Harry! Having just done the same journey to the alps in my 2023 Hilux I was also pleasantly surprised at how easily it ate up the miles, whilst being full to the brim with luggage. Average MPG was however pretty poor at 25mpg.

Like you said Harry it ticks all boxes. Supermarket. Adventure holidays, country estate shoots . Does not look out of place rolling up outside the Dorchester or some small market town . Class in all area's . Well done Land Rover.

The Swiss army knife for every modern day farmer, good for the daily graft and a trip to france in the winter, but if only we had got out our finger and done this when it was British owned, I was so anti Land Rover when the 90 came out but it is developing in to a bit of a game changer. Great review as always, good to see Charley on another episode 👌

Great review. Still considering a used Defender 110 but 130 would be a good option if it wasn’t so expensive.

1) Harry slowly integrating Charlie into the HG and HF franchises, true family business succession planning, implemented right before your eyes! Wisdom personified… 2) Here in the USofA, the big supercharged V8 is still available across the LR/RR lineup, but as a former fan/owner of a RR Autobiography 5.0V8 SC model, I was surprised to find out that, based upon my own informal research of various USofA vehicle resale websites, at least 50% of RR pre-owned models available are equipped w/ the V6-SC power train 3) on the price difference btwn the 110 and the 130, in the USofA, the large truck platform based 4WD SUVs (Escalade, Suburban, etc), the basic 5 seat/length version and the extended 9 seat/long wheelbase versions are about $5k up-charge price difference, so the $10k LR price difference is maybe a bit much

Another cracking review Harry 👌perfect start to the year.

Jolly good review Harry and the young lad 👍🏻 A proper test and review as always old chum.. keep it up fellas 🙏🏻

Got a 110 had the canal boat for two weeks. Bloody awful and an absolute pain in the backside to park, especially in the euro car park spaces.

I've always thought that there's something about the new Defender which sends out all the wrong messages.

Superb upload again. Love the exterior shots.

Great to have a bit of a feature from Charlie!

Hi Harry Will the insurance be a factor in your choice? Also you have not mentioned the PHEV variants, and given your praise of the BMW X5, I would have thought that was a contender. Love the videos, and education.

The Outbound comes with the blacked out rear windows standard, I’m not sure why you’d want a 3rd row where you can’t see out of it

Great video! Love the flask - my kind of trip in that vehicle!

Absolutely cracking video, really nice review and journey for the 130... very enjoyable to watch! Just one thing... Can we have more of Charlie on camera please? 😍

Well, there's a good example on why cars that are intended to go mostly on motorways and such should be shaped like high speed trains and not like bricks... Not at all surprised by the bigger fuel consumption, to be honest.

It does astound me that with 26 years of tech advancements the new 130 gets 1 mpg more than my original 130 with 35 inch mud terrains. (Granted I can’t do 70mph though 😂)

Thanks Harry, brilliant report as usual 😇

Harry could do a trip in a clapped out rust bucket across some god forsaken bog and I’d still enjoy it. Lovely guy & great company. Thank you, Harry. Have a great 2024.

Would the mpg be impact by the fact you had 4 people + luggage, compared to what you were doing with the RR Sport?

Absolutely love Land Rover /Range Rover it’s a pity they can’t make them reliable and easy to repair !

Loved this video, pure escapism, ta. Now back to my 19-year-old rusty van...

This is a man who knows cars. No frills practical advice.

Just driven from UK to Portugal in a G400d and got 20mpg. That Defender seems pretty frugal to me!

Over the course of 6 years, leased two range rover sports... 3 years each. First was the old body style and the second was the new body style which is still in production. Honestly, I don't know why they get so much critique... I found both of them to have a solid ride, super quiet, and the seating position was phenomenal. Doors weren't huge or heavy, getting in and out was a breeze, perfect height for me (6' 1"). Also had a BMW x5, but that ride was terrible, could feel every gear change which was like a thump, took it to the dealer several times said its normal. During idle could feel vibration in floor of car from engine... even today, my father has a brand new BMW 7 series and you can feel the engine vibration in the floor when stopped/idle. If you have the money, nothing like a range rover. Only my Tesla gives a more smooth ride... but that's a different animal. I love how these Defenders look, but I'll wait for the new RR Sport body, and probably lease a new one. Love these cars.

Buttons and a normal sized screen🎉🎉. Super review! Roof box for skies will keep them safe 😉

The road trip videos are my favourites.

Harry Metcalfe, only person alive to be amazed that a +5 meter car offers some space.