2021 Land Rover Defender 110: All-Conquering Icon Reborn

James Tagle

Jul 25, 2021

It has a modern cool design, comes with some neat tech and is spacious too. So it can do everything those posh lifestyle SUVs can do, with the added reassurance of awesome off-road and towing ability. It’s like discovering that David Beckham is actually really good at farming, too. It’s so good, in fact, it won World Car Design of The Year 2021!

Land Rover fully redesigned the Defender last year for the first time in decades. There aren't many SUVs that are as capable as the Defender, and they mostly come from Land Rover’s line up. Some may consider the Jeep Wrangler a cheaper alternative, but the Defender has it beat when it comes to on-road refinement and available luxury appointments.

Exterior:

You can clearly see the original Land Rover in the design of the new Defender. This is especially the case at the rear, with its flat back end, complete with spare wheel and side-hinged rear door that opens outwards, with those 3D hologram style rear lamps.

The front’s looks aren’t quite so classic. The roundish headlights look a bit like those on the original Defender, but the bluff front grille gives the Defender a much more modern look.

Entry-level cars come with a body-coloured roof, white-painted, 18-inch steel wheels and LED headlights, while top-spec cars get big alloy wheels and contrasting paintwork. But even the steel wheels in the basic models look cool and don’t make the Defender seem cheap.

Interior:

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.

The Defender's dashboard sports a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system that runs a new interface for Land Rover called Pivi Pro; a larger 11.4-inch display is optional. Compared to the rest of the Land Rover lineup's Touch Pro Duo interface, the Defender's system relies on a single touchscreen instead of two, offers quicker response times, and can handle software updates via wifi for future upgrades. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both standard, as is an in-dash navigation system, a six-speaker stereo, and an onboard Wi-Fi hotspot. Both 10- and 14-speaker Meridian stereo systems are optional features and buyers of higher-end Defenders receive a digital gauge cluster and a head-up display.

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. The shift lever and ignition switch are also mounted on this center stack rather than the center console.

Engine and Performance:

The Defender is powered by a 2.0 litre turbocharged diesel engine mated to an 8-speed DCT. It produces 240 HP and 430Nm of torque and of course, every model features four-wheel drive and locking differentials for navigating treacherous terrain.

With a more advanced powertrain, the new Defender has a far broader set of talents. Its advanced adaptive four-wheel drive and air suspension ensures it's still capable of traversing the world's most inhospitable terrain. Just as impressive as its on-paper statistics, there's the fact it's simply fun to drive as well.

Many have questioned whether the new Defender would tread on the toes of the Discovery, but from behind the wheel it instantly has a character of its own. The steering is more alert and faster to react, while the Defender's air suspension is firmer and there's more feedback flowing back through your fingertips and the seat as you drive. I do have to say it’s more comfortable off-road.

Safety and Practicality:

All Defenders include a standard collection of driver-assist active safety features. Automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, a 360-degree camera system, lane keep assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and traffic sign recognition are all standard. Automatic high beams and adaptive cruise control are optionally available on all trims.

The Defender is brilliantly practical, including basics like the useful central storage bin and deep door pockets, as well as more advanced features like the standard 3D surround camera. There’s also the usual generous supply of cup-holders, power outlets and air vents around the cabin. Overall refinement is good and the front seats have plenty of adjustability, so you can easily find the most comfortable position.

All models include 39.1 inches of legroom up front, but behind the first row is where things get interesting. The Defender 90 provides 36.6 inches of rear legroom, two-row 110s offer 39.1 inches, and three-row 110s have 38.4 inches. If you opt for the three-row, those relegated to the way-back are forced to make do with just 20.5 inches of legroom.

The 110’s boot space is the most practical. There’s 231 litres with all three rows of seats in place, 916 litres with two rows in the upright position and a van-rivalling 2,233 litres with all but the front seats stowed in the floor.

Verdict:

Since the Defender launched last year, I have been anticipating to get behind the wheel. Seeing the first photos of it left me in awe and when I went and picked it up, I was astounded. The presence of the Defender was just incredible!

Land Rover has silenced the doubters and produced a Defender worthy of the famous name. It’s clearly a more modern and luxurious car than before, but the Defender has lost none of its ability to tackle whatever conditions are thrown its way.

Customers can be reassured that, alongside the Defender’s core attributes, there’s a level of refinement that will make tackling the urban jungle just as effortless as the steepest of slopes or the muddiest of fields. A perfect example of what’s achievable when you set out to design and build a car fit for the purpose it’s meant for, rather than crudely adapting what you have in the parts store and pretending it’s something that it clearly isn’t. Rivals could learn a great deal from this approach.

But of-course you’ll have to pay handsomely for the privilege and there are all kinds of other rivals to consider - none though possess that unique sense of cool and personality that comes with a Defender. Land Rover must be congratulated for retaining the Defender’s work ethic, in spite of its new appeal to the leisured classes.

The boxy shape, rugged construction and go-anywhere capability of the latest Defender ensures it has plenty of appeal for commercial applications as well as drivers looking for the latest and most fashionable SUV. It’s a car we wholeheartedly recommend- and I’m ready to give a leg and an arm for it. #GiveJamesADefender

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