2021 Land Rover Defender 110

 

The iconic Land Rover Defender is all-new for the 2021 model year, and it makes its highly anticipated return to the U.S. market. For those of you who didn't know, Land Rover previously offered the Defender in the U.S. between 1994 and 1997 and continued to sell it overseas during the 2000s and 2010s. Like the previous Defender models, the new Defender comes in two-door 90 and four-door 110 models, with the four-door 110 expected to make up the majority of Defender sales. The 2021 Defender is available with either a P300 2.0-liter turbo-four with 296 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque or a P400 3.0-liter turbo inline-six with 395 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque. The optional six-cylinder also has a hybrid assist feature. Both engines are mated to an eight-speed automatic. The new Defender can launch from zero to 60 mph in as quick as 5.7 seconds and reach a top speed as high as 129 mph. The 4-door 110 model can seat anywhere from five to seven passengers. Each Defender model has all-wheel drive and a completely independent suspension on a unibody platform. This is a significant change from the previous Defenders as the old models were body-on-frame and had solid axles. Coil springs are standard, while adjustable air suspension is optional. The new Defender has greater ground clearance and wading ability than the Jeep Wrangler, with 11.5 and 35.4 inches respectively. 

The new Land Rover Defender's interior combines luxury and spartan elements while remaining true to the Land Rover brand. It has a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system with a new interface known as Pivi Pro. The door panels contain exposed rivets, and a magnesium crossbar extending the length of the dashboard for structural support. Right below the infotainment screen is a center stack holding the gearbox as well as the climate control and drive mode buttons and switches. Motor Trend was so impressed by the new Defender that the publication named it its 2021 Sport Utility of the Year. Pricing for the new Land Rover Defender starts at $47,000 for the two-door 90 and $50,925 for the four-door 110. In all, the new Land Rover Defender is a spectacular off-road SUV and one of the coolest off-road SUVs available. I'm very thankful the Defender has been modernized and made its long-awaited return to the North American market.