Introduction
Land Rover Defender is the British SUV maker's most iconic nameplate in the realm of spartan, capable workhorse vehicles.
Originally introduced as "Land Rover One Ten" in 1983, the Defender was axed in 2016, only to come back in an all-new avatar for 2020. Land Rover has been consistently well-received in the UAE, and the Defender should have no problem finding takers. The British SUV will take on Jeep Wrangler, Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon, Toyota 4Runner, and Nissan Pathfinder.
Exterior
Land Rover managed to usher the iconic Defender to the modern era, retaining the signature traits that identified the SUV. Available in three-door (90) and five-door (110) guise, the boxy SUV brings with it segment-busting capabilities that justify the 'Defender' moniker. High ground clearance, rugged bodywork, modern lighting, and versatile luggage mounting solutions - the Defender is as adventure-ready as you can get.
Land Rover offers a variety of accessories in four distinct packages that allow customers to prepare their Defender for specific tasks like overland expeditions, urban piloting, venturing into new territories, or simply getting down and dirty
Interior
More than luxury, the British carmaker has given the SUV infinite versatility and modular design on the inside. The interior has been designed keeping in mind the various roles that people will be expecting the Defender to fulfil. The trim and upholstery, whilst not too shabby, has been chosen focusing on ease of use and maintenance.
A dash-mounted gear knob sits next to rotary controls for air-conditioning. The centre console has been omitted in favour of an optional camping seat between the front seats. It neatly folds into form and out of the way, adding to the SUV's versatile appeal.
A touchscreen infotainment system also doubles up as your hub for accessing important vehicle functionality controls. The instrument cluster is digital yet sober, and the steering wheels has buttons for audio control and telephony.
Drivetrain
The 2020 Land Rover Defender is available with two petrol engines mated to a ZF 8-speed automatic gearbox. A 2-speed transfer case is there to take the SUV across tough terrain. The P300 trim is powered by a 296-hp, turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol motor, part of the Ingenium family of engines.
Further up the hierarchy is a six-cylinder turbocharged mild-hybrid petrol engine producing 395hp. Both engines are available on both the 90 and 110 trims, along with the luxurious Range Rove Defender 130 trim.
Verdict
Land Rover has yet to disclose pricing on the new Defender. However, we can expect it to sit below the Land Rover Discovery Sport which retails for AED 185,235 in the UAE.
Land Rover and Range Rover cars are exclusively imported and distributed throughout the UAE by Al Tayer Motors. The Defender can be experienced in person at any of the Al Tayer Motors Land Rover showrooms across the country.
