CABIN&ACCOMMODATION
IT might only be the S model in the range, but this low-grade Defender doesn’t leave you wanting anything inside. The seats are a mix of leather and textile materials and offer comfortable seating for six passengers over two rows. Yes, that’s right, this car is fitted with the optional ‘jump seat’ up front which allows three across the front row. This is a $1853 option and choosing it precludes the possibility of equipping the car with a third row of seats. So no, you can’t have an eight-seat Defender because of the payload and GVM.
The centre front backrest folds forward when not in use to provide an armrest with cupholders for the outboard passengers. With the backrest upright, its headrest blocks any vision out the back of the car via the rear-view mirror. This car is fitted wit the ‘Clearsight’ rear-view mirror which projects an image of behind the vehicle from a camera mounted on the roof, but it’s a weird perspective I personally can’t get used to.
You would have to really need the jump seat to order it, but I could see it being more useful in the Hardtop Defender models fitted with only front-row seats.
Another option on this car is the $4810 power-fold canvas opening roof. Sunroofs are something you either love or hate. Personally I like the fresh air and extra light you can get in the cab through an opening roof, or just the clear glass roof of a conventional sunroof.
This canvas roof only offers open or closed options without the in-between of letting the light through a closed glass roof, but it should be lighter than having the weight of a glass panel up there. A sliding panoramic glass sunroof is a $4490 option.
As mentioned, this car has heated front seats, another option I like. Unfortunately, operating the seat heating has fallen into the abyss that so many functions have, in that you need to access the controls through a menu in the dash screen which takes longer than simply hitting a button.
It’s a little annoyance in an interior that is otherwise a functional and pleasant place to ride.