A quick backstory
I’m Kayla, and I live on the north side of Indy. I needed a bigger, safe SUV for weekend trips and winter slush. I thought I wanted a Range Rover Sport. Then the Defender 110 winked at me from across the showroom. You know what? I changed my mind in a day.
I’d actually done a little homework beforehand via this no-fluff first-person review of the same dealership, which primed me on what to watch for.
First visit: smooth coffee, slower paperwork
I went to Land Rover Indianapolis on a gray Saturday in March. It was that weird Indy cold—wet and windy. The showroom felt warm though. The front desk had cappuccino, water, and a bowl of mints. I grabbed two mints because nerves. Sales rep was Jason—calm voice, no hard push. He asked what roads I drive most. School runs. I-465. Snow days. I liked that he listened before giving me the pitch.
Paperwork later took longer than I hoped. Almost two hours. Not awful, but I did that little leg bounce. They tried to add a $995 “appearance package.” I said no, and they took it off. No drama, just a sigh and a reprint.
Two test drives, two moods
We took two loops I actually use, which I loved. Real roads, not a pretend track.
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Loop 1: Defender 110 S (2021, mild hybrid). We went east on 96th, then hit I-465 for a bit, then back through Meridian St. The air suspension felt like a big, calm couch. The ride was steady over the bumpy bridge seam. The steering was light but not floaty. On a tight left into a parking lot, the cameras saved me from kissing a curb. The boxy view made me feel brave. Funny how that works.
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Loop 2: Range Rover Sport P400. Quicker off the line and quieter at 70 mph. The Meridian sound system made Taylor Swift feel like she paid rent in the car. But the rear seat felt a touch snug for my dad’s long legs. Also, the Sport’s hood line sits higher. I’m 5'5". I had to lean more at four-way stops.
For a broader pulse check, the Kelley Blue Book community offers plenty of real-owner feedback on the 2021 Defender 110 in its consumer reviews; reading those comments gave me extra confidence that my first-drive impressions weren’t a fluke.
Both had Pivi Pro. It booted slow on the first try, then sped up the next time. Wireless CarPlay stuttered once, then settled. I asked about updates. They said over-the-air updates were rolling out. More on that soon. (Side note: MotorTrend lived with a 2021 Defender 110 for a whole year and their long-term verdict echoed the same software hiccups—and fixes—I’m seeing.)
What I bought (and the numbers)
I picked a Certified Pre-Owned 2021 Defender 110 S in Gondwana Stone with black wheels. Big smile. It had 24,300 miles.
- Purchase price: $62,800
- Trade-in: $18,500 for my 2016 Lexus RX 350 (88k miles, small bumper scuff)
- Taxes and fees: about $2,700
- Rate: 5.9% APR for 60 months through Jaguar Land Rover financing
- Down payment: $6,000
They offered wheel and tire coverage. I passed. With Indy potholes, I was tempted, but I set a rainy-day fund instead.
Delivery day details that mattered
They did a nice handoff. Jason showed me Terrain Response. We clicked through Snow, Mud, and Auto. He set my key profile, paired my phone, and set my heated steering wheel. Small thing, big joy. My fingertips were blocks of ice that day.
They filled the tank and gave me all-weather mats with the CPO. The mats aren’t fancy, but they catch salt and dog hair. I noticed a faint scuff on the rear door trim. They noted it and promised to order the piece. That mattered to me.
Two months later: first service and a loaner story
Check engine light came on after a Costco run. My heart dropped. It’s always the light, right? Service advisor, Amanda, got me in the next day. They gave me a Discovery Sport loaner with 3/4 a tank and CarPlay. The fix? A loose gas cap and a software update for Pivi Pro. Classic. They washed my Defender and vacuumed the front mats. No charge under CPO.
The promised trim piece took 10 days. Backorder. That part was annoying, but Amanda texted updates every few days. Once the piece came in, the swap took 40 minutes. I finished a latte. That’s a win.
Winter notes: snow, slush, and sanity
We had one messy snow. Not huge, but slick. The Defender was steady on 86th Street with all-season tires. I used Snow mode and kept it light on the throttle. I won’t say it made me fearless. It didn’t. But I felt planted. The heated windshield lines look odd at first. Then you notice the ice melts fast. I’m sold.
What I loved
- Real roads for test drives, not some quiet back lot
- Sales team listened and didn’t talk over me
- Clear numbers; they removed add-ons when I asked
- Pivi Pro update fixed the CarPlay stutter
- Good loaner and clean wash at service
- Text updates that felt human, not robotic
What bugged me
- Paperwork took too long; bring a snack or patience
- That “appearance package” pitch felt tired
- Trim piece delay (10 days) wasn’t fun
- The coffee machine was out of hot chocolate packets—tiny gripe, sure
A few tips if you’re going
- Brush up on Indiana’s car-buying consumer rights; the guide from ALCO is short, clear, and free.
- Ask for the I-465 loop on your test drive. It shows road noise and passing power.
- Bring your car seat or golf bag to test space. It changes everything.
- Say no to add-ons you don’t want. They’ll take them off.
- Set up your phone profile before you leave the lot. Check CarPlay and voice text.
- In winter, Snow mode plus smooth feet. Don’t stab the gas. The car will help, but you still drive.
- Driving in from out of town? Scope one of these four boutique Indy hotels ; they’re all within a quick Lyft of the dealership.
- Hungry after your test drive? I used this rapid-fire Indy food sprint to zero in on lunch just down Keystone Avenue.
Do I recommend Land Rover Indianapolis?
Yes. Not perfect, but fair and kind. I felt heard, not hustled. My Defender fits our life—school lines, weekend Target runs, muddy soccer fields, and a random drive to Brown County when the leaves turned. I wanted a fancy Sport at first. Then the Defender made me feel steady and a little bold. Funny how a boxy truck can do that.
Would I go back for service? I already have. Would I buy there again? If they keep this up—yep.
Quick side note: picking up the Defender turned into an entire evening downtown for us. I pulled ideas from this grown-up night guide for dinner, leaned on these real-life date-night experiments for second-stop inspiration, and even bookmarked this take on “Wicked” at the Murat in case we wanted to add a show to the itinerary. If you’re still hunting for someone fun to ride shotgun on those spontaneous drives, you might check out PlanCulFacile, a quick-match platform that connects nearby singles looking for low-pressure hangouts—perfect when you’ve got a roomy SUV and an open weekend ahead. While you’re browsing options, you could also explore this Doublelist Leesburg board for a location-specific stream of casual personals; it updates constantly, so you can line up a coffee meet-up or co-pilot before your next road trip even leaves the driveway.
If you’ve got questions about real-world stuff—cargo, car seats, or how the windshield lines look at night—ask me. I’ve used this thing in the messy middle of normal life. And honestly, that’s where a car proves itself.