2020 Land Rover Defender - A Legend Reborn
After years of development, months of testing and hundreds of spyshots, Land Rover has finally unveiled the next iteration of their iconic Land Rover Defender. After 1,200,000-kilometers of rigorous testing in some of the toughest environments of the world, the new Defender seeks to live up to the legacy set by its predecessor.
Land Rover has kept the square, boxy overall shape of the Defender, along with the flat bonnet. The overall stance is more upright, and the side-hinged rear tailgate with the mounted spare wheel from the original Defender makes its way into the new model. The new LED head and taillights give the new Defender a revolutionary modern appearance. "We have created the new Defender to ensure it is ready for anything, with a design that has been inspired by the past, not constrained by it," said Gerry McGovern, Chief Design Officer at Land Rover. "It’s elemental grille, sophisticated surfacing and commanding stance give the entire family a modernity and confidence that set it apart, while simultaneously retaining the essential elements that make a Defender so recognizable."
The Defender looks very compact in photos, but the dimensions couldn’t be further from that. The Land Rover Defender 110 boasts a length of 5,02-meters with the spare wheel, a height of 1,97-meters, a width of 2,1-meters wide and a wheelbase of 3,02-meters. A more compact model called the Defender 90 will also be available, and it boasts a length of 4,58-meters with the spare wheel, a height of 1,97-meters, a width of 2,1-meters wide and a wheelbase of 2,59-meters.
Land Rover says that the architecture of the new Defender is 95% new, and features a lightweight aluminium monocoque setup. The result is a stiffer, more rigid body structure that also offers support for either air or coil suspensions along with support for an electric powertrain. This will allow Land Rover Defender customers to tailor their vehicles to suit their urban or off-road needs. Speaking of off-roading, the new Defender offers 29,2cm of ground clearance and a maximum wading depth of 90,4cm. It also features a maximum towing capacity of 3720-kilograms.
There are currently two engines available on the new Land Rover Defender. The Defender 110 P300 is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder petrol engine that produces 221kW of power and 400Nm of torque. The P300 will do 0-100km/h in 7,7-seconds before reaching its top speed of 192km/h. A more powerful P400 model will feature a 3.0-litre turbocharged 6-cylinder engine, supplemented by a mild hybrid electric boost system to produce 295kW of power and 550Nm, accelerating from 0-100km/h in 5,8-seconds. The Defender 90 will also employ the P400 powertrain, but will accelerate to 100km/h in 5,7-seconds before reaching its top speed of 208km/h. An 8-speed automatic transmission is standard across the range.
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FAQ
Q: What does the 2020 Land Rover Defender cost in South Africa?
The 2020 Land Rover Defender starts from around R1,200,000 for the base Defender 90 model, while the larger Defender 110 kicks off at approximately R1,350,000, making it a serious investment for those wanting the ultimate off-road luxury experience.
Q: Is the 2020 Land Rover Defender worth buying?
The 2020 Defender is absolutely worth buying if you need genuine off-road capability wrapped in modern luxury, but only if you can stomach the hefty price tag and don't mind the fuel bills that come with proper 4x4 performance.
Q: How reliable is the new Land Rover Defender compared to the old one?
The new Defender should be significantly more reliable than its predecessor thanks to modern engineering and quality control, though it's still too early to judge long-term reliability since it's only been on the market since 2020.
Q: What's the difference between the Defender 90 and Defender 110?
The Defender 90 is the shorter two-door version at 4.58 metres long with a 2.59-metre wheelbase, while the Defender 110 is the longer four-door family version at 5.02 metres with a 3.02-metre wheelbase, offering more passenger and cargo space.
Q: Can the 2020 Land Rover Defender handle serious off-roading?
Absolutely, the new Defender maintains its legendary off-road DNA with advanced terrain response systems, adjustable air suspension, and proper 4x4 hardware that'll tackle anything from Gauteng's dirt roads to the Drakensberg passes.
Should You Buy It?
The 2020 Land Rover Defender is a brilliant buy if you're after the ultimate blend of off-road capability and modern luxury, but it's not for everyone's wallet. Starting at around R1,200,000 for the Defender 90 and R1,350,000 for the 110, this is serious money that puts it in premium territory alongside the Mercedes G-Class and BMW X7. If you genuinely need a vehicle that can handle Cape Town traffic on Monday and tackle the Kalahari on the weekend while keeping your family comfortable, the Defender delivers in spades. However, if you're just looking for a capable SUV for weekend adventures and don't need the ultimate off-road credentials, you'll get better value from a Toyota Prado or Ford Everest. The Defender is for those who want the best off-road vehicle money can buy and are willing to pay handsomely for that privilege.
