Could this be the ultimate adventure tent set up? Land Rover Defender and Autohome roof tent review

Introduction: The Land Rover Defender 110 + Autohome roof tent

With more than 70 years of heritage and a vast army of devotees to keep happy, the new Land Rover Defender has a lot to live up to. But it's fair to say the designers have come up with something that is more than worthy of the famous name.

The new Defender is as tough and practical as its iconic predecessor and they share the same distinctive, boxy shape. But it doesn't take long to discover that this is a smart and refined 4x4 that's worlds apart from the no-frills original when it comes to everyday driving. It's just as comfortable on the school run or the daily commute as it is tackling steep, off-road tracks and rocky trails.

The old Defender, on the other hand, was primarily a workhorse, a utilitarian tool rather than the sort of vehicle you would use on a day-to-day basis. But don't let the smooth driving and luxury interiors of the new Defender fool you into thinking it's just another boring SUV. It's designed for action - and combining it with a roof tent opens up a whole new world of adventure.

For around £2,500, you can create what might just be the ultimate explorer's dwelling. Adding a roof tent to the Defender turns this 4x4 into a mobile basecamp, giving you the freedom to go wherever you want and set up camp in minutes.

For most of us that would mean spending a couple of nights on a campsite or a remote, off-grid spot in the hills. It's the perfect shelter to prepare for - and recover from - a day hiking in the Lakes, wild swimming in Wales or surfing in Cornwall.

But if you are planning something more ambitious, the new Defender is the perfect vehicle for a lengthy overland expedition.

The new Defender v the old Defender

For all its frills, Land Rover is keen to point out how functional, practical and durable the new Defender is. Some fans of the old-school Defender remain to be convinced.

On the flip side, not everyone wants suspension that makes your teeth rattle when you go over a pothole. Some of us quite like heated leather seats, sat-nav and Bluetooth connectivity and most drivers are fully in favour of power steering.

And that's before we get onto the technological jiggery-pokery that enhances the Defender's off-road capabilities.

What's the new Land Rover Defender like to drive?

To put the Defender and tent combo through its paces, we took it to England's adventure and camping capital, the Lake District, heading north to Keswick from Camping mag's Lincolnshire HQ on a drizzly Friday morning.

When we did eventually get beyond the tailbacks onto the open road, even I could tell that it drove beautifully. And when we reached the Lakes, it was a joy to cruise along those winding country roads with the hills and mountains as a spectacular backdrop.

How does the Land Rover Defender perform off-road?

Before reaching Cumbria, we grabbed the chance to put the Defender's off-road capabilities to the test at the Land Rover Experience facility, near Skipton. And that's when the fun really started.

With the help of the various off-road modes, we were soon deep in the North Yorkshire woods, zipping up and down steep inclines, bumping over railway sleepers and fording a river like something out of a Hollywood blockbuster.

Or at least that's how I imagined it. In reality it was probably more like Simon and Lindsey in The Fast Show ('Let's off-road!') than Vin Diesel in Fast & Furious, but the Defender makes this sort of thing so easy that you can see yourself as quite the expert.

This is where the vehicle's amazing technology comes into its own - switching to Wade mode, for example, lets you drive through water up to 900mm deep without fear of waterlogging the engine.

And when you're going up a steep slope, a virtual image of the hidden area ahead of the front wheels is projected onto the infotainment screen so you can see what's over the brow of the hill.

What's the Land Rover Defender's roof tent like?

The premium-quality roof tent has been specially designed for the Defender by Italian specialist, Autohome. When you're on the move, it's hidden away inside a rugged fibreglass roofbox, stowed flat to maximise aerodynamic efficiency.

When it's fully open, the tent measures 2.3m long, 1.3m wide and 1.5m high and that means there's plenty of space inside for two adults, with enough headroom to sit upright and move around. A nifty LED striplight provides plenty of interior illumination.

The beauty of carrying your tent on the roof is that it frees up the boot for all the rest of your camping gear, such as chairs, tables, stoves, etc. But there are also net storage pockets inside the tent for any smaller items you want to keep handy.

The Land Rover Defender's room with a view

Apart from the convenience of the quick set-up, possibly the best thing about a roof tent is the views you get from your elevated position. So to take advantage of that, it makes sense to try to find an overnight stopping place with a spectacular panorama.

The PVC front window on the Autohome tent means you can soak in the magnificent vista as soon as you rise. And if you really want to make the most of the view, you can completely open up the front.

One top tip - and this applies to all roof tents - is try to get your vehicle as level as possible so you don't find yourself gradually slipping downhill during the night.

How much does the Land Rover Defender cost?

Of course all this comes at a price - the Defender starts at around £46,000 with the most expensive model coming in at an eye-watering £106,000.

In addition you have the option of buying one of four accessory packs designed to give the vehicle a distinct character. There are actually 170 individual accessories available for the Defender. With so many options to consider, you need to spend a considerable amount of time thinking about exactly what you'd like and what you simply couldn't live without.

The model we took to Keswick (the Defender 110 D250 S) was £52,985 on the road, with the assorted optional extras taking it up to over £66,000.

Add another £2,500 for the tent and £1,200 for the roof bars and you'll obviously need deep pockets to buy into the new Landie lifestyle.

But is it worth it? Well, if you can afford it, the answer has to be a resounding yes.

The Defender lets you go anywhere - over rocky terrain, up precipitous tracks, through deep water - to the most remote, stunning off-road locations imaginable.

It's just as comfortable gliding its way along quiet country roads, winding through sleepy villages or whizzing along busy motorways as it is wading through deep water or scrambling up a steep hill.

Our verdict

Land Rover Defender fact file

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