Land Rover Defender - TopCarNews

Land Rover Defender (2020 – present) | Expert Rating [hide]

Summary

The Land Rover Defender is a large SUV that is inspired by, but completely unrelated to, the long-serving Defender model that could trace its lineage back to the first Land Rover in 1948. The new model shares a lot of its architecture and components with other models in the Jaguar Land Rover family, and carries over nothing from the old Defender.

The new Defender was launched in late 2019 and went on sale in the UK in early 2020. Initially it was only available in long-wheelbase (110) form, with the short-wheelbase (90) version arriving in the second half of 2020. A plug-in hybrid version also reached showrooms in late 2020. Unlike most models in the Land Rover range, which are built in Britain, the Defender is built alongside the Land Rover Discovery at a factory in Slovakia (so it doesn’t get our “Best of British” badge).

As of December 2021, the Land Rover Defender has an outstanding Expert Rating of 83% based on 38 reviews from UK media sources. That puts it in the top 5% of more than 280 cars we have analysed to date. The new Defender receiving high praise for its combination of off-road an on-road abilities, practicality and vastly improved infotainement system compared to other Land Rover models. The main criticisms are directed at fairly poor fuel economy and the car’s high price – with a long list of expensive options that can see a Defender 110 reach £100k.

Defender highlights

Talented performer on and off the road
Spacious and luxurious interior
Impressive infotainment
Slow value depreciation
Excellent safety features

Defender lowlights

Hefty pricing for top models
Poor fuel economy
’90’ models have a small boot
Brand has poor reliability track record
Slightly sluggish handling

Key specifications

Body style: Large SUVEngines: petrol, diesel, plug-in hybrid
Price: From £44,895 on-road

Launched: Autumn 2019Last updated: Autumn 2020
Next update due: TBA

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Media reviews

Reviews, road test and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.

The Car Expert

Model reviewed: 3.0-litre petrol automatic Defender 90 X P400“The Land Rover Defender 90 is fantastically comfortable on the road and ridiculously capable off road. It’s a little less practical than the 110, but if you’re not always popping kids in the back seats the extra charm of the three-door’s styling could make it a winner.”
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Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel automatic 110 D240 S“Despite appearing to have an impossible task on its hands, the new Land Rover Defender 110 has succeeded beyond expectations.”
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Auto Express

Model reviewed: Land Rover Defender 90 D250 2021Score: 8 / 10“There’s no denying the Defender 90 packs masses of personality, and with Land Rover’s new mild-hybrid D250 six-cylinder diesel engine, the powertrain is torquey, smooth and refined, even if it’s not all that quick.”
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Model reviewed: 2.0-litre petrol automatic Defender 90 P300 SE“We still need to try the Defender’s simplest mechanical spec on road, but any fears that this version might lack the trail-conquering prowess of the rest of the range are unfounded. The ability to go pretty much anywhere is still here, present and correct. And, it must be said, at a usefully lower price.”
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Model reviewed: 3.0-litre petrol automatic Defender 90 P400 XScore: 8 / 10“Mild-hybrid power comes with a hefty price premium in the Land Rover Defender 90. The shorter Defender feels every bit as special as its 110 stablemate – and that middle front-row seat should help to make it practical enough for many buyers.”
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Model reviewed: Defender 110 rangeScore: 9 / 10“The Land Rover Defender is superbly designed, exceptionally well-engineered and still retains its famous go-anywhere ability.”
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Model reviewed: 3.0-litre petrol automatic 110 P400 SEScore: 9 / 10“The new Land Rover Defender P400 is the fastest Defender on sale and it’s a lot of fun, but the cheaper diesel models make more sense.”
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Auto Trader

Model reviewed: 110 rangeScore: 9 / 10“The new Land Rover Defender has huge boots to fill and a vast range of expectation to satisfy, from traditional 4×4 fans to modern SUV buyers craving the latest tech. Its distinctive looks, undoubted off-road credibility and arch combination of style and practicality are a promising start.”
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Autocar

Model reviewed: 3.0-litre diesel automatic 110 SE D300Score: 8 / 10“As tested, this Land Rover Defender D300 wanted a gasp-inducing £68,295, which is a fantastic bit of ammo for this revived SUV’s most ardent critics. For sure, that’s a lot of cash. Then add to that the hefty tax bill and not overly impressive running costs and this becomes a car that’s quite hard to objectively recommend over more cleanly propelled variants.”
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Model reviewed: 3.0-litre petrol automatic Defender 90 P400 XScore: 9 / 10“The P400 could most certainly cope if required, and it’s extremely appealing on-road transport, too. Which is to say that the breadth of capability that was built into Land Rovers from the very first has not just been maintained: it has been greatly extended.”
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Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 9 / 10“Draw up a list of the most broadly capable cars in the world and the Land Rover Defender would sit comfortably in the top three. It costs and it’s thirsty, but it’s a triumph.”
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Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel automatic 110 D240 SScore: 9 / 10“This new Defender steps off where the last one bade us farewell: as a premium vehicle ripe for individualisation, rather than where the Land Rover story started, as a basic utility and agricultural vehicle. Where it differs is just what a fine, refined and comfortable car it now is.”
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Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel automatic 110 SScore: 9 / 10“Whatever the terrain, the Land Rover Defender would never be out of my top two or three choices, and proper road, where it’s extremely amenable, is just another surface, not as a relief. Admittedly, there’s a price, but be in no doubt: this is one of the most capable vehicles in the world.”
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Business Car

Model reviewed: Defender 90 D250 SEScore: 8 / 10“As with any three-door car, accessing the rear seats isn’t the most dignified of processes, but leg room is not too bad once you’re there. There is also a noticeably more unsettled quality to the ride on uneven surfaces as a result of its shorter wheelbase.”
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Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel automatic 110 D240 SEScore: 8 / 10“Compare it with its nearest rivals on price and ability – the Toyota Land Cruiser and the Jeep Wrangler – and the Land Rover Defender feels more comfortable and more up to date. But it isn’t missing any real off-road credentials – they’ve merely been modernised. And about time.”
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Car

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 10 / 10“The Defender’s off-road ability is peerless at this price point. Land Rover would never live it down if it were any other way. But most importantly, and for the toughest test of all – working out for the family – it passes with flying colours, offering space, tech and cool appeal to work on so many levels.”
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Carbuyer

Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel automatic 110 D240Score: 10 / 10“The new Land Rover Defender 110 had a big name to live up to and it’s succeeded in all areas. The design, technology and engineering make it one of the most competent cars you can buy today. It’s unexpectedly fun to drive on the road, with all of the off-road ability you’ll ever need.”
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Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 8.8 / 10“The Land Rover Defender has returned with an incredible repertoire of talents but the plug-in hybrid version is desperately needed to add low running costs to the list.”
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Carwow

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 9 / 10“The new Land Rover Defender is a cool-looking, well-equipped and extremely capable off-roader, but top-spec models are quite expensive.”
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Company Car Today

Model reviewed: Defender 90 D250 SE“Big pricing combines with big emissions to make a problematic company car tax equation on a classy, capable and good-to-drive premium off-roader, although boot space is extremely limited in this 90 version.”
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Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel automatic D240S 110“A really very impressive and long overdue all-new Land Rover Defender struggles only in the area of its poor efficiency. A comfortable do-anything off-roader, but drivers paying BiK will be well advised to wait a few months for the PHEV version.”
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Daily Mail

Model reviewed: Defender 90 range“The smaller three-door Defender 90 is set to become a favourite not only among the country casuals, but also with city slickers who can bling-up and customise their ride around town.”
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Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel automatic D240 110“It does what you expect a Defender to do. Sorts it. I felt fully confident. Not once did I feel it wouldn’t cope.”
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Daily Mirror

Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel automatic D240S 110Score: 10 / 10“We’ve waited a long time for the new Defender but it’s been worth it.”
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Eurekar

Model reviewed: Defender 110 range“Land Rover has really pulled it off when it comes to reinventing a motoring icon. It has something of the spirit of the original about it and, while in some ways it’s a world away from its predecessor, it’s an impressively capable and comfortable on-road vehicle that would be very easy to live with every day.”
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Evo

Model reviewed: Defender V8Score: 5 / 10“It feels a little undernourished – a ruse to confidently and consistently sell six-figure Defenders, not to mention one that’ll use up however many AJV8s they have lying around in various storage units across the midlands.”
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Model reviewed: P400 XScore: 8 / 10“Land Rover’s all-new Defender proves to be worth the wait and is now as capable on-road as it is off it. It’s no driver’s car but as a do-everything machine it’s hard to fault and we wouldn’t be embarrassed to have one share garage space with a more traditional evo car.”
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Fleetworld

Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel automatic D240 S 110Score: 9 / 10“Land Rover has pulled off the unthinkable and dragged the Defender badge kicking and screaming into the modern world, while retaining its charm and function. It’s a five-star vehicle in almost every way, and a huge achievement for Land Rover.”
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Honest John

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 8 / 10“The 2020 Land Rover Defender 110 is leagues ahead of its predecessor in almost every way. Not only is it a comfortable SUV, loaded with technology and surprisingly good to drive, it remains immensely practical and unstoppable off-road.”
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Parkers

Model reviewed: 90 short-wheelbase range“Land Rover claims this is the best off-roader it’s ever made – enough said?”
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Model reviewed: 110 long-wheelbase rangeScore: 9.4 / 10“An off-road great, re-imagined for the 21st century”
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The Intercooler

Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel automatic D240 S 110Score: 9 / 10“I’ve spent an entire day in it in the UK, on country roads, motorways and negotiating off-road tracks a billy goat might think twice about tackling. And I can tell you there is nothing remotely similar in concept available for anything near this money that gets close to it.”
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The Sun

Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel automatic 110“The new Defender is finally here — tough, trendy and hi-tech.”
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The Telegraph

Model reviewed: 5.0-litre petrol automatic 110Score: 6 / 10“The Land Rover Defender V8 is costly to run, over-engined and, frankly, pretty silly. Even sillier when you learn the price, which for this long-wheelbase version is £101,105. Unless you’ve got money (and fuel) to burn, I’d look elsewhere in the Defender catalogue.”
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Model reviewed: 2.0-litre petrol automatic 90 P300 SEScore: 10 / 10“Time and Land Rover’s reliability will determine how the Defender 90 goes down with the company’s traditional commercial markets, but on this evidence it should be out there doing the tough jobs for years to come.”
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Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel automatic D240 S 110Score: 10 / 10“The Land Rover Defender is much more expensive than the car it replaces but it’s a much more capable and versatile vehicle. Land Rover’s reliability record isn’t exactly peerless but we’ll have to give this car the benefit of the doubt – and it’s got to be better than its predecessor.”
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Top Gear

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 9 / 10“If you can make use of it, there’s nothing to match it”
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What Car?

Model reviewed: 3.0-litre petrol automatic 110 P400Score: 8 / 10“The Land Rover Defender is far from cheap, but if you want a rugged SUV that fuses amazing off-road ability with accomplished road manners, it’s effectively in a class of one: no small feat.”
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Safety rating

Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

Overall rating: 5 stars
Date tested: December 2020

85%

ADULT OCCUPANT

85%

CHILD OCCUPANT

71%

VULNERABLE ROAD USERS

79%

SAFETY ASSIST

Read full Euro NCAP review

Eco rating

Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

No eco rating

The Land Rover Defender has not been lab tested by Green NCAP. This is a new initiative, launched in 2018 as a sister organisation to Euro NCAP.

As yet, very few new cars have been tested for environmental impact by Green NCAP, and inevitably the testing programme was halted in early 2020 by the coronavirus pandemic before resuming later in the year.

Awards

Trophies, prizes and awards that the Land Rover Defender has received

2021

The Car Expert Awards – Large SUV Class Champion
UK Car of the Year Awards – Best Large Crossover
Auto Express Awards – Best Mid-Size Premium SUV
carwow Awards – Best Large SUV
What Car? Awards – Best Large SUV for Off-Roading
DieselCar and EcoCar Top 50 – Best Luxury SUV
Parkers New Car Awards – Best Off-Roader
News UK Motoring Awards – The Sunday Times Legend Award

2020

Auto Express Awards – Best Mid-Size Premium SUV
News UK Motor Awards – Best Adventure Car + Best Dog-Friendly Car
What Car? Awards – Most anticipated car of 2020
Autocar Britain’s Best Car Awards – Best SUV
Business Car Awards – Driver’s Choice
Northern Group of Motoring Writers – Northern Car of the Year

2019

carwow Awards – Design Award

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Keyword: Land Rover Defender