[It’s the wrong engine .... discuss ...]

Build decisions aside I can't think of any common rail engine that has injectors that can reliably drink African diesel. Including the 2.5 tdci Pumas. ( Though the ca. 2000 tddi pumas will fit in a defender and work quite well.)

I have a couple of rebuilt 300tdis for that exact reason.

So it is another 'suv' that dies in the Sahara.