When planning an epic escape to the rugged, dramatic landscapes of the Lake District, your choice of vehicle can make or break the entire experience. You need a machine that can eat up hundreds of motorway miles in absolute comfort, but still possess the raw capability to dominate treacherous, winding mountain passes once you arrive.
We recently put this exact scenario to the test, and the results were nothing short of spectacular. Enter the Urban Automotive Widetrack Land Rover Defender 110.
Without a shadow of a doubt, this is the best vehicle we’ve driven to date, delivering stunning luxury coupled with unbeatable performance.
Motorway Cruising to Mountain Carving
The true test of any adventure rig is its versatility. Setting off on our road trip, the journey began with a long, high-speed stint up the M6. The Urban Defender handled the motorway miles with an effortless, refined grace.
Powered by a formidable 3.0L, inline 6-cylinder engine boasting dual overhead camshafts (DOHC), it packs a serious punch. Capable of hitting 0-62mph in a blistering 6.1 seconds with a top speed of 119mph, it completely defies its massive footprint.
However, the real magic happened when we exited the motorway and hit the twisting, unpredictable tarmac of the Lake District.
Tackling the steep, winding mountain roads of passes like Hardknott and Wrynose can rattle lesser SUVs, but the Urban Widetrack felt incredibly planted and agile.
The widened stance gave us immense confidence through tight corners, proving it is just as adept at carving up mountain roads as it is cruising on the highway.
A Masterclass in Aggressive Styling
Visually, this customized 110 is an absolute showstopper. Urban Automotive has taken the legendary Defender silhouette and injected it with a heavy dose of aggressive, modern attitude.
The signature Widetrack Extended Wheel Arch Set gives the vehicle a muscular, imposing presence that looked phenomenal set against the dramatic, rocky backdrops of the Lakes.
Every single detail has been meticulously curated. The front end is transformed by lower canards with functioning daytime running lights and premium Urban bonnet branding, while the “Best of British” closed bonnet and side vents add a touch of bespoke heritage.
A sleek Black Styling Pack to the OEM bumpers and grille perfectly complements the Black Shadow side steps and the rear upper roof spoiler.
When the sun dipped below the fells, the High-Power LED Roof Light Bar became can become an essential addition for illuminating camping pitches and off-road terrains.
Commercial Utility Meets Windsor Leather Luxury
What makes this specific build so incredibly compelling is its underlying practicality. Because it is based on the Defender Hard Top commercial vehicle, it offers all the brilliant tax efficiencies of a commercial classification. Yet, stepping inside reveals an environment of uncompromised, stunning luxury.
To make our road trip possible for the whole crew, this model featured the optional Urban Premium Rear Seat Conversion. This ingenious upgrade transforms the rear cab by reinstating fixed rear windows and installing a remarkably comfortable luxury leather passenger bench.
Trimmed in genuine Windsor Leather to perfectly match the OEM interior, it includes proper over-shoulder seatbelts and ISOFIX points.
Best of all, the bench folds up to create a half-height bulkhead, providing the exact same cavernous boot capacity as the factory configuration—meaning we had more than enough room for all our hiking gear, camera equipment, and supplies.
Delivering a respectable 32.6mpg combined fuel economy, the Urban Automotive Widetrack Land Rover Defender 110 is an absolute triumph of automotive engineering and bespoke design.
It made our Lake District road trip an unforgettable experience, setting a new, impossibly high benchmark for every adventure vehicle that follows.
