2020 Land Rover Defender Makes a Rugged Resurrection

It’s been nearly two and a half centuries since the United States told our grumpy tea-swilling British landlords that we weren’t gonna be renewing our colonial lease for another year. And once the initial revolutionary dust settled, we thought they took it pretty well. They’ve even given us some of our most valuable social imports in recent years. The Beatles. Harry Potter. Royal Wedding mania.

But when the Land Rover Defender packed up all stateside operations in 1997, we thought it was something we said. And then things got even more serious… The Defender retired in 2016 without a model to replace it. The gap in the market was noticeable.

So, when the covers came off the all-new 2020 Land Rover Defender at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show back in September, it’s safe to say that people were excited. Not only will this model be a return to life for the vehicle that put the Land Rover badge on the map, but it will be available for purchase in the American market for the first time since, well, before the turn of the millennium.

A return of a British icon of this magnitude may not be seen again for the foreseeable future.

21st Century Styling

All new, and with the earliest orders ready for delivery shortly after the new year, the 2020 Land Rover Defender has the entire industry buzzing over the return of a true off-road legend. And, just like its prior incarnation, the new model will be available in two sizes. Although still referred to as the “Defender 110” (the longer wheelbased, 4-door version) and the “Defender 90” (the short, 2-door Wrangler-ey iteration that won’t roll out until late 2020), the numbers are now a bit of a misnomer. Once referring to the vehicles’ specific wheelbase length in inches, they’re now just for decoration and to pay homage to the past. This time around, both wheelbases have been lengthened by nearly a foot, improving all ground clearance numbers.

More throwbacks to the rich Defender history are visible throughout the vehicle’s styling. From the very first glance, the new off-roader manages to look both ancient and futuristic at the same time.

Its height and trademark boxy physique (with some new, slightly rounded edges) will be familiar to all fans of the Defender. Familiar, but certainly not identical. The largely aluminum construction of the 2020 Defender now boasts a new monocoque chassis, retiring the architecture of the older body-on-frame models for a stronger-than-ever foundation.

Gone, too, are the solid axles of the old models, replaced by front-end struts and a fully independent rear suspension. (Optional air springs are available, like the ones on the Defender’s fancy-pants Range Rover siblings.) Additionally, a more streamlined windshield angle helps differentiate this new era of discovery, while ushering in some better aerodynamic properties at the same time.

Next-Gen Capability

For a power source, the 2020 Land Rover Defender has a few to choose from, all mounted longitudinally. The lead option is a 3.0 liter inline six-cylinder turbo, putting out 395 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque. There is also a 2.0 liter inline four-cylinder turbo, making 296 horsepower and 295 lb-ft. European buyers get two diesel variants too, with the ultimate goal being to eventually bring one into the American market.

Land Rover claims that the six-cylinder will have twice as much output as any other Defender engine, ever, and take the off-roader from 0-60 in 5.8 seconds—an unheard-of number for this British behemoth. All models will come standard with an eight-speed ZF transmission.

Permanent all-wheel drive is now included, along with a two-speed transfer box to help when going off pavement or hauling a load. (Towing capacity is over 8,200 pounds.)

These features, combined with a reasonable price tag and successful test runs on some of Jeep’s most challenging home trails (in the neighborhood of Moab, Utah), suggest that the 2020 Land Rover Defender may just crowd the trail-going market that Wranglers have run roughshod over, virtually unchallenged, for so many years.

Modern Appointments

Inside the Defender, old fans and newcomers alike have plenty to look forward to. The interior may still appear spartan in its appointments (a minimalist center console with a smaller gear-changing lever, plenty of exposed metal, etc…), especially when compared to the opulence of the Range Rover side of the family. But there are still plenty of comforts and technological goodies to fuss over.

Jaguar’s Land Rover InControl Touch infotainment system anchors the controls, and is alleged to be improved upon even further since its recent roll out across the brand’s fleet. Steering wheel controls and USB ports keep the Defender in time with modernity, while classic touches like bountiful grab handles and extra storage compartments continually remind drivers that this is a machine born of a utilitarian lineage.

All Kinds of Options

There are multiple trim options available for the new 2020 Land Rover Defender. Six, to be exact. Pair that with the choice of size between the 90 and 110 models, and the fact that the 110 is available with third row seating, and the number of configurations are quite bountiful.

The Standard (base) and the S trim come equipped with the four-cylinder engine option. The SE, HSE, and the loaded First Edition and X models all feature the six-cylinder.

Customization was a major point of emphasis in the return of the 2020 Land Rover Defender. Therefore, there are an overwhelming amount of ways to make a Defender your very own. Several accessory packs will be available for the U.S. market, as well as à la carte individual upgrades.

Wheels from 18 to 22 inches, ready-to-fit snorkels, roof rack/ladder combos, mudflaps, skid plates, extra cargo pods… The list goes on. Even superficial choices, like stainless bumpers or gloss/matte paint options, make it so that practically every Defender can be a one-of-one, straight off the lot.

Pricing

Just as the customization choices for the 2020 Land Rover Defender can vary widely, so too can the price range. A standard 110 will start out at $49,900. The 110 X models will fetch $80,900, with plenty of price points in between. As previously stated, the Defender 90 won’t be an American reality until the end of 2020. However, hopeful buyers can likely expect a starting price that’s just a skosh below those of its big brother 110 models.

What do you think of the new Land Rover Defender? Is it an updated classic or over-engineered dud? Tell us in the comments!