What’s new?
When Land Rover retired the Defender in 2016, it terminated a look and engineering lineage stretching back to 1948.
The new Defender does not seek to restart that lineage. Rather, it reinterprets elements central to the original Land Rover ethos in a thoroughly modern way, focusing on the distinctive looks and rugged, goanywhere capability.
So, while the classic look is referenced in the new machine’s styling, its body is integrated into the underlying platform, rather than attached to a separated ladder frame chassis. And, while the choice of aluminium panelling for the Defender plays true to the original Land Rover, the reasoning for its use has changed — back in cashstrapped postWorld War 2 Britain, warsurplus aluminium panelling was cheap and plentiful — this time round, it is favoured for its weightsaving qualities. Within the cabin, nods to the past mix with much that is new, including a contemporary incar infotainment system.
The fivedoor 110 model is the only Defender available from launch, and Covid19 disruption means even it is in short supply. A mixandmatch choice of four powerplants
(including a mild hybrid) and five equipment specifications (standard, S, SE, First Edition and X) are offered. Additional customisation is provided via four accessory packs and a lengthy array of options.
Orders are already being taken for the shorter Defender 90, too, due here in early 2021. A longer version, the 130, is also in the pipeline. As this is emphatically a Defender for the 21st century, we can expect a full plugin hybrid version in due course.
Looking at the 110 lineup, prices start at $89,990 for the utterly unadorned Defender 110 with a 147kW 2.0 litre engine, and run through to $164,900 for the flagship 294kW P400 Defender X mild hybrid. Power delivery for all versions is to all four wheels via an eightspeed automatic transmission.
The vehicle supplied to Drivesouth for appraisal was the Defender 110 D240 SE. The 240 denotes the 177kW version of the 2.0 litre turbodiesel engine.
Overall: ★★★★★
Design & styling: ★★★★★
Interior: ★★★★★
Performance: ★★★★
Ride & handling: ★★★★+
Safety: ★★★★★
Environmental: ★★★★
SPECIFICATIONS
Price: $114,900
Engine: 2.0litre twin turbo diesel, maximum power 240kW, maximum torque 430Nm
Transmission: Eightspeed automatic, fourwheel drive with low ratio and locking centre and rear differentials
Safety: Fivestar Euro NCAP
Wheels & tyres: Alloy wheels,
255/50 R20 tyres
Fuel & economy: Diesel, 7.6l/100km
on standard cycle, 85 litre capacity
Emissions: 199g CO2/km
Dimensions: Length 4581mm,
width 2008mm, height 1967mm
through choices of the engine, accessory pack, exterior, interior and general options.
As a 110 SE with few extras, the test car was fitted with airsuspension and shod with 255/60 allterrain tyres and 20inch alloy wheels. Its exterior also featured premium LED headlights, LED tail lights and front fog lamps. The seat trims were mixed grained leather and woven textile upholstery, and the front seats were heated and power adjusting. Seat heaters were also provided for the middle and rear seats. Centred on a 10inch touchscreen display, the infotainment package included a 10speaker sound system, satellite navigation and smartphone mirroring.
The active safety package embraced adaptive radar cruise control, lane keeping assist, blind spot assist, rear traffic and rear collision monitoring. Further driver aids included wadesensing, a multimode offroad system and a 360degree parking aid. Its sophisticated camera system included surroundview 3D, with special modes for offroad operation.