Highs
Real off-road capability, comfortable to drive on pavement, spacious cabin that's perfect for adventures.
Lows
Six-cylinder could be more responsive, coolest-looking accessories are expensive, touchy brakes.
Verdict
Some may say it's England's answer to America's Jeep, but the 2020 Land Rover Defender offers its own sense of style and functionality.


Overview

Land Rover reopens the book on one of its most iconic nameplates with the all-new 2020 Defender. It's boxy shape and retro details recall the 1950's original and combine with Land Rover's modern design language to create an appearance that's both sophisticated and nostalgic. While the 2020 Defender looks like an ordinary crossover, it has serious off-road capabilities and rugged components that help it live up to its go-anywhere heritage. The Defender boasts durable cabin furnishings, but also upscale materials and numerous luxury features.

What's New for 2020?

The Defender is all-new for 2020 and, unlike the previous generation, this rig will be available to Americans. The 2020 Defender is offered in both two-door (90 model) and four-door (110 model) body styles, which are built on two different wheelbases and have different amounts of interior space. A smaller Defender 80 model is expected to join the lineup, but that compact SUV is still a couple years away from production.


Pricing and Which One to Buy

110: $50,925
110 S: $54,375
110 SE: $63,275
90 First Edition: $66,125
110 HSE: $69,375
110 First Edition: $70,385
110 X: $82,635

As much as we like the look of the two-door 90 model (available initially only in First Edition trim), the four-door 110 is more practical for most buyers. The base P300 powertrain—a 296-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder—seems peppy enough for day-to-day driving, so we'd stick with that; those who plan to tackle serious off-road trails may find the optional P400 engine—a turbocharged-and-supercharged 395-hp inline-six with 48-volt hybrid assistance—to be a better choice. We'd suggest the SE trim level as it adds a number of desirable features to the Defender's spec sheet, including 19-inch aluminum wheels, automatic high-beam headlamps, 12-way power-adjustable front seats, and a digital gauge display. Land Rover offers four accessory packages—Explorer Pack, Adventure Pack, Country Pack, and Urban Pack—each of which outfit the Defender with specific features. There's also a bevy of personalization options available, but we'll leave the customization to you.


Engine, Transmission, and Performance

The 2020 Defender is powered by a standard turbocharged four-cylinder engine mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Of course, every model features all-wheel drive and locking differentials for navigating treacherous terrain. The Defender will also be available with Jaguar Land Rover's new 3.0-liter inline-six-cylinder engine. Along with turbocharging, the upgraded engine utilizes an electric supercharger and 48-volt hybrid system. The next-generation Defender, unlike its predecessor, will have a unibody construction versus a body-on-frame setup, and it replaces the old solid axles with a fully independent suspension. The latter comes standard with coil springs, but it can be upgraded with an air suspension that allows adjustable ride height. The Defender also has 11.5 inches of ground clearance and the ability to ford through 35.4 inches of water, which exceeds both the Jeep Wrangler's maximum clearance and its wading ability.


Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

The EPA's fuel economy ratings for the various Defender models are fairly similar regardless of what's under the hood. The 90 model with the four-cylinder receives ratings of 18 mpg city, 21 mpg highway, and 19 mpg combined. Step up to the six-cylinder engine and the 90's city rating drops to 17 mpg but the highway rating goes up to 22. The 110 model with the six-cylinder is actually more efficient than it is with the four, but only by a hair. When we get the chance, we'll put the new Defender through our 200-mile highway fuel economy test and report the results here.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

The Defender's cabin walks the line between premium and utilitarian, with just enough design cues from the rest of the Land Rover lineup to make those familiar with the brand feel right at home. Exposed rivets in the door panels add a particularly rugged appearance, and a magnesium beam that runs the full width of the dashboard isn't entirely cosmetic—it's also structural. Under the infotainment display, a trapezoidal extension of the dashboard provides a place for buttons and switches for the climate-control system and driving mode.
Read More https://www.caranddriver.com/land-rover/defender



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