Round this time final yr, I used to be all set to fly to England for the primary drive of the 2020 Land Rover Defender. I had a airplane ticket and even purchased a pair of English Wellies, anticipating a muddy good time. Then the pandemic occurred, I returned the boots, and by some merciless twist of a destiny I am now the final particular person on employees to expertise Land Rover’s newest Defender, a car that is been on the high of my must-drive listing since 2018. All I can say at this level is “lastly.”
Rugged, good-looking, succesful, questionably dependable, often disagreeable, and costly. These are all honest descriptions of the brand new Defender. However regardless of the random wart, this SUV’s character – what it represents and the way it makes the driving force really feel – is impeccable. I did not need to wait three years to drive the Defender, however had I identified it might be this rattling lovable, I might do it yet again.
Execs
I get that the Defender may not be everybody’s cup of tea, however the firm confronted a Herculean process in modernizing such an old-school design, and to my eyes, Land Rover design chief Gerry McGovern and his group nailed it. The Defender seems spectacular from each angle. However what’s actually nice is how properly the designers transitioned iconic Defender traits to a contemporary form. Particularly, the taillights and their plastic housings are a wonderfully impressed translation of yesteryear’s look.
The cabin, too, is a beautiful place. Materials high quality is each excessive and extremely sturdy, with loads of actual steel and solid-feeling plastic. All of it contrasts neatly with touches of wooden and ample leather-based. Whether or not you are inside or out, I am going to hear no arguments that the Defender is something however a stunner.
With off-road parks closed for the season right here in Michigan, most of my alternatives to get the Defender soiled meant bombing down dust trails and wooded paths. It laughed at these paltry challenges. However whereas I tapped into simply an inkling of the Defender’s talents, that was sufficient to get a fantastic thought of how succesful this factor actually is.
Land Rover’s Terrain Response system is arguably the perfect, most impactful set of drive modes in the marketplace. Nevertheless it’s additionally geared for novices – the Auto mode manages the whole lot easily, adapting the automobile primarily based on the situations. Customers that want extra direct management of issues like experience top, throttle response, and the standing of the lively differential can choose particular person modes. That mentioned, I dislike that Land Rover hides the controls within the two dials that sit beneath the touchscreen.
Past the precise mechanical capabilities, the Defender goes out of its strategy to preserve the driving force apprised of the situations. The great suite of off-road instruments within the Pivi Professional infotainment system relays each iota of element a driver may presumably ask for.
Say what you’ll concerning the Grand Tour trio (and there is a lot you may say), however they do often provide you with some good arguments. And Richard Hammond was spot on when he mentioned the brand new Defender is the perfect Discovery ever. When it comes to being an SUV, the Defender excels. The experience is comfy on paved roads, the cabin is quiet and simple on the eyes, and you’ll seat 5 folks in consolation (or as much as seven in… much less consolation).
Specifically, the second row is one thing of a revelation – there’s an enormous quantity of legroom and the tall home windows present wonderful visibility to passengers. On the identical time, the cargo maintain is expansive, and because of the swing gate, is handy to entry. It is easy to get wrapped up within the Defender’s off-road credentials, however even if you happen to by no means put a wheel into the dust, you will discover an excellent SUV right here.
Cons
British vehicles have a well-earned popularity for mechanical points, however electrical woes marred my time with the Defender. On half a dozen events, I acquired a warning within the instrument cluster concerning the lively security techniques being unavailable. A restart would resolve the problem, just for the warning to reappear a number of miles down the highway.
In all however one case, the errors popped up after I wasn’t utilizing the adaptive cruise management or lane-keeping help – the one time they appeared whereas I had the techniques engaged, the automobile gave me ample warning to take management of the automobile. I alerted Land Rover to this irritating and recurring subject and was informed a number of weeks after my mortgage that my tester’s Driver Help Area Controller wanted an replace.
The Defender’s turbocharged 3.0-liter straight-six and the accompanying delicate hybrid system are a dynamic and thrilling pairing, offering loads of energy. However until you are taking part in across the engine’s redline, the setup sounds prefer it runs on diesel gasoline. It is a coarse and unpleasant-sounding engine at something south of 4,000 rpm, which is the place most drivers will spend their time. So whereas the efficiency is ample, we’re desirous to see if the Defender’s base four-cylinder will sound higher.
I am going to entertain $50,000 Defenders all day lengthy. I might even contemplate a $60,000 or $65,000 mannequin, as a result of that is not far more than a really high-end Jeep Wrangler. However this four-door X trim begins at $80,900, and as-tested, the worth sits at $85,750. I am keen on the Defender, however you are a lunatic if you happen to’re dropping that type of coin on this factor.
I consider Land Rover goes this route as a result of the Mercedes-Benz G-Class begins at $131,000. By providing a higher-end Defender, Land Rover can enchantment to those that need a rugged, boxy luxurious SUV with however cannot pony up the coin for a G-Wagen, of which there are in all probability many. However people, there are higher methods to spend your cash. A Defender SE will wow you in all the identical methods as this X, and for about $20,000 much less.
