The 2020 Land Rover Defender – Consistently High Performance on Any Terrain, Safety and Uniquely Rugged Beauty

Unveiled in Europe in September, 2019, at the Frankfurt Auto Show and a couple of months later in North America, at the LA Auto Show, the new Land Rover Defender is the all-new, updated version of a classic car: the original, universally-known Land Rover Defender launched in 1983 and it makes the most of the auto maker’s 70 years of experience in creating innovative and durable vehicles. This newcomer to the extremely competitive luxury SUV is versatile and strong, elegant in a robust way and it also displays a go-anywhere attitude. Here are some more details about this exceptional new edition.

Trims, Versions and Powertrains that Make Give the Land Rover Defender its Rugged Charm

The 2020 Land Rover Defender seems simple at first, but the interested buyers who look at available options will surely see the complexity of the offer. The all-new SUV will come in one body version and two great, unibody models, designated, like before, based on the length of the wheelbase: the two-door Defender 90 First Edition (mounted on a 90-inch wheelbase) and the four-door Defender 110 (on a 110-inch wheelbase, of course), the latter being offered in three sub-trims, the Defender, the First Edition and Defender X. Buyers of the Defender 110 can choose from among two engine variations: the Ingenium 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder, turbocharged gas engine, capable of 296 engine and accelerating to 60 mph in less than 8 seconds; the Ingenium 3.0-liter, 6-cylinder gas engine that puts out 395 mph and jumps to 60 mph in less than 6 seconds.

Trim versions of the Land Rover Defender are further differentiated with the accessory packs available with each model to allow for even more customization options, tailored for specific terrain conditions.

Superior Performance on Any Terrain with Innovative Engineering

All variants use an eight-speed automatic transmission from ZF, designed to provide high torque at low speeds and to allow the Defender to move gracefully and safely on any terrain. All versions of the Land Rover Defender are mounted on the D7x aluminum chassis that provides superior torsional rigidity and are fitted with a two-speed center differential.

All new Defenders are fitted with independent multilink suspension in the front and in the rear, with steel spring on the base models in either trims and with height-adjustable air springs on the higher trims. The versions that use the steel springs come with an 8.5-inch ground clearance, while the air-suspension version’s clearance is 11.5 inches.

The Defender’s off-road performance is ensured not only by the combination of the sturdy underbody and the reliable suspension. All models and variants come with permanent all-wheel drive enhanced with a Terrain Response system. The upgraded version of the system, the configural Terrain Response, is also offered as optional for buyers looking for precise settings.

The Defender is the best companion on any terrain – its 38-degree approach angle, 40-degree departure angle and the ability to climb a 45-degree slope guarantee that. It can also go through water that is 35.4 inches deep (the Defender knows when it is out of the water, too and it dries the brakes to get ready for the next challenge in the dust or on the hills).

The Interior of the Land Rover Defender

While the Defender 90 is very spacious, the unibody construction makes sure that the extra length of the 110-inch wheelbase increases the interior space, allowing the auto maker to offer the trim in two- and three-row versions, the latter having comfortable seating for seven.

The cabin is superbly styled and very comfortable, too. The 12-way, heated seats in the front feature electric memory functionality and are fitted with two-way manual headrests, while the rear seats split 40:20:40. The steering wheel is also heated and the thermal comfort of the passengers is ensured by the two-zone climate control with mist and solar sensing.

Consistent style and quality are what defines the entire interior. The powder-coated dash is elegant and accommodates a 12.3-inch display screen with 3D mapping, while the infotainment screen is also sleek and intuitive. The infotainment interface from JLR is capable of 4G as well as of 5G and it is also fitted with voice activation. Cross-platform smartphone integration is also provided, with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

Driving Assistance and Safety on the Land Rover Defender

Driving the new Defender is as easy as falling in love with it, thanks to the complex driving assistance features. Emergency braking, blind spot assist, a 3D surround camera, cruise control and a speed limiter, a driver condition monitor that detects when the driver is starting to be exhausted, lane keep assist, an all-around parking monitor and wade sensing that uses multiple sensors to detect water depth and to warn the driver when the permitted depth is approached are all components that guarantee superior driving experience and safety with the Land Rover Defender. Children are also safe in the Defender – thanks to the power-operated child locks.

The 2020 Land Rover Defender will be available in the Rhode Island area at Jake Kaplan’s Land Rover Warwick.