If movies are to be believed, the Queen herself is in love with the Defender. Despite Charle’s insistence in buying newer rovers, she is quite at peace in driving her trusty military green colored Defender 101 when in her Balmoral estate.

She even assessed the damaged it sustained after she went rather too quickly over a stream joking that she was a trained mechanic during the war. This is contrast on what we have in mind when it comes to royal driving. I personally think that a stately Rolls-Royce is better fit for a queen.

But this is in the movie and the lines where delivered by actress Helen Mirren. On the other hand, the debate of Defender vs. Freelander must have been an on-going one for members of the royal household, who is known to own a fleet of Land Rover vehicles.

The Defender

The Land Rover Defender is a legendary Land Rover which was first introduced in 1948. By then, it was only known as the Land Rover. With the introduction of the different Land Rover SUVs and pick – ups in the 80s and 90s, it acquired the name the Defender to differentiate this utility vehicle from the “lifestyle” 4 wheel drives that the company also introduced.

It can then be considered the original Land rover and has been used for decades as a utility vehicle for many purposes. The Defender is a familiar fixture in many African safari movies as the ultra dependable all terrain vehicle for an expedition.

In real life, it is indeed the top choice for expeditions. It also has a wide variety of uses in agriculture, industry and the military. Some models and special editions can be used as fire engines. If your business is about inclement weathers, unforgiving terrain and have to hurdle ever changing conditions and situations, then the Defender is the right one for you.

And if you have an estate as vast as of that of the Queen, then for sure, you will come to love the Defender as a multi-purpose vehicle. So in a battle between the Freelander vs. Defender, you cannot fault the Queen if she so chooses the Defender.

The Freelander

The Land Rover Freelander is a consumer mini-SUV aimed at competing with the Toyota RAV 4 and the Honda CRV. It was introduced in 1997 in the UK and in 2001 in North America. It does depart from many Land Rover traditions. It has monocoque body, unlike the Defender, and is the same as many modern cars produced today.

It also spots a modern look that is rather consumerist than utilitarian. It is said to be not a “proper” Land Rover but simply a car. But it retains many of Land Rover’s outstanding features such the Hill Descent Control (HDC), the all wheel drive ability and its vulnerable component lifted way high out of harm’s way.

For sure, in a debate on Freelander vs. Defender, the young Royals would likely choose the better looking urban smart Freelander.

To know more about Land Rover Freelander visit: independent.co.uk