About 80 years ago, when the world was still going through and recovering from WWII, the military needed compact vehicles that had no trouble going off-road. The United States was the first to respond with the iconic Jeep, and then other countries around the world started following suit, and that included Land Rover.
The original "Series" Land Rover eventually morphed into the now-famous Defender, which didn't receive all that many changes throughout most of its life, though it was still full of cool features. After a lot of hype and rumors, Land Rover finally brought back the Defender in 2019, now thoroughly modernized and brimming with features, and we really want one.
10 They Nailed The Design
The new Defender was pretty heavily criticized when it was revealed, due to the fact that it was leaning more on the side of revolutionary styling rather than evolutionary, which is what everyone expected. We think that they nailed it though.
Even though the new Defender looks very modern, it hasn't forgotten about its heritage. The headlights, although fully LED, adopt a familiar shape. It's also very boxy, like the original, it has a rear-mounted spare tire, and safari windows for the rear seats, much like the original. Unlike the Jeep Wrangler and the Ford Bronco, Land Rover decided to update the Defender but still keep the original ethos, and the results are excellent.
9 It's Immensely Capable
With all the new innovation and the technology going on in the new Defender, Land Rover certainly hasn't forgotten about the main reason why anyone would buy one of these; the off-road capabilities. All the Defender purists can calm down; the Defender, straight from the factory, can go just about anywhere, and it really has an unmatched can-do attitude.
It has all the off-road-related tech you'd expect from a modern Land Rover, including the terrain response system, the ability to wade through water, and even systems that disconnect the stabilizer bars. All the electronics aboard the Defender are constantly working away during your adventures, and they make minute adjustments to every part of the drivetrain to ensure your trailblazing experience is not disrupted.
8 There's A V8 Version
We knew it was coming, but it's now official; the Defender is available with a V8 engine starting with the 2021 model year. The engine is available on both the short-wheelbase 90 and the long-wheelbase 110, and from the headlines, it sounds like a lot of fun.
It's the familiar Jaguar-Land Rover 5.0-liter supercharged V8, making 518 hp and 460 lb/ft of torque. 0-60 takes around 5 seconds, which is seriously impressive considering the size (yes, it's bigger than it looks) and the weight of the Defender. The top speed is a healthy 149 mph, and being a JLR V8, the exhaust should sound pretty good too.
7 A Historic Name
Although this is true of most of the Defender's direct competition, there's one thing you get bucket loads of when you have one of these; heritage. The Land Rover Defender is one of the most revered and iconic nameplates in the world of SUVs, and also one of the most enduring.
Over the past 80 years, it's been used as farming equipment, as family transportation, as an emergency vehicle, and of course, as an all-conquering off-roader. It has uses in just about every field of life, and with that, it also has a ton of history and a ton of pedigree. In terms of SUVs, the Defender is one of the kings of the hill when it comes to coolness and importance.
6 It's Available With Various Accessories
Land Rover knows their market, and they know that a lot of Defender owners will indeed be taking their SUV off the beaten track. As a response to that, Land Rover offers plenty of factory accessories that are warranty-backed and installed at your dealership.
These can include anything from roof racks to a stepladder (pictured above), to a snorkel intake, which will be useful if you regularly take your Defender fording. It gets even better, as Land Rover also offers an inflatable waterproof awning for campers, and the Side Mounted Gear Carrier, that you can use to store various smaller items.
5 There's A Commercial Version (But Not In North America)
As well as short and long-wheelbase versions, the original Land Rover Defender was also available as an enclosed commercial vehicle. In order to keep the tradition going, Land Rover is offering the latest Defender as a commercial vehicle as well, called the Hard Top. Sadly, they won't be offering it in North America, but it's safe to assume that a conversion won't be too difficult.
The commercial Defender comes standard with those fabulous steel wheels, and it's available in 90 or 110 form. Neither version has rear seats, and the rear cargo area is separate from the passenger compartment, like in all commercial vehicles. As it turns out, Land Rover took the commercial vehicle thing a little bit more seriously, as the commercial version also comes as standard with the front bench seat, like a cargo van or a pickup truck.
4 A Perfect Balance Of Toughness And Luxurious Inside
Even though this is supposed to be the tough and rugged Land Rover model, the automaker hasn't forgotten that they have morphed into a luxury SUV brand. Somehow, they've managed to strike a perfect balance between tough and luxurious with the interior of the Defender.
The dashboard design is surprisingly simple, and the indented part with the giant DEFENDER script is a structural part of the chassis, and you can have it in contrasting colors. Elsewhere, you get Land Rover's Pivi Pro infotainment system, and the gear lever is stuck on the dashboard to clear up the center. It's not a Range Rover, but the toughness mixed with the luxury and how modern everything is undoubtedly a cool combination.
3 Exceptional Road Manners
The old Land Rover Defender felt like farming equipment to drive no matter where you were or what you were doing. Over the years, as Land Rover improved and refined their models, the others became pretty good to drive on the road. It looks as though the Defender was very upset with that reputation, as the new one couldn't be more different.
It's not just eons better than the old Defender on the asphalt, but whoever has gotten their hands on the Defender claims that it's the best driving Land Rover ever made. For such a big and heavy vehicle, it handles amazingly well, and actually leans towards feeling like a car than it does a big SUV. It might just be the first off-road SUV in history to achieve such a feat.
2 It's Loaded With Tech
Okay, maybe you're not convinced that this is a luxury SUV. It still may look like an off-road truck with little to no equipment whatsoever. But that simply isn't the case, as the new Defender, befitting of a modern luxury SUV, is absolutely loaded with technology.
The Defender sits on the Electronic Vehicle Architecture, allowing for over-the-air updates for the infotainment system and 14 different control modules that operate underneath the skin. Mild hybrid tech is standard on the gasoline models (and diesels overseas), as well as stuff like a 3D-capable navigation system, an available Meridian sound system, and the latest safety features left, right, and center.
1 A Front Bench Seat Is Available
When it was first announced, one of the most exciting news about the new Defender was undoubtedly the front bench seat. In the lower trim levels, you could have a foldable middle seat in the front, allowing you to transport six passengers.
When the seat is up, it is surprisingly usable, and of course, it includes its own seatbelts. If you don't need it, it's foldable and houses two cupholders on the rear. Sadly, the fully loaded Defender trim levels (HSE and so on) don't offer the middle seat, which is a shame. Still, it's cool that it's offered at all.