1.
Rugged yet classy design

An iconic vehicle with a long history, the Land Rover Defender comes in three sizes (90, 110 and 130), with the 90 being a two-door, shorter model, and the 110 and 130 featuring four doors.

The overall design is what I would call a tank-style look, but with unique Land Rover flair. It’s bold and in your face on one hand, but also a classier look compared to other off-road options.

Wheels range from 18 to 22 inches in size, and the Defender sits up high due to its elevated ground clearance.

One thing to note is that the rear hatch of the Defender opens to the side, instead of opening vertically. It’s also quite heavy to open and close, and in fact all doors on the Defender are somewhat heavier than other vehicles.

Exterior features include LED headlamps, a panoramic roof, rain-sensing front wipers, a rear wiper and rear privacy glass.

Moving inside, the Defender will seat between 5 and 8 passengers, depending on the size and setup you choose. In the Defender 130, you can even get second-row Captain’s Chairs as an option to improve comfort level.

I drove the two door Defender 90 model, and both rows were comfy and roomy with plenty of legroom. But the only concern is accessibility. Getting into the back row will be a tight fit for adults, even with the front seats all the way forward. It’s best to get a 110 or 130 with four doors if you have regular back seat passengers.

Sitting inside the Defender, you definitely feel a luxury vibe that other off-roaders do not deliver. Features include leather upholstery, 40/20/40-split folding rear seats, heated and cooled front seats, interior ambient lighting, and multi-zone automatic climate control. And the large, attractive infotainment screen helps deliver the luxury atmosphere.

The boxy design of the Defender leads to a tall roof and tons of head room for all passengers.

In terms of cargo space, you should avoid the Defender 90 if you want significant space, as it only offers 15.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row and 58.3 cubic feet with rear seats folded. Moving up to the Defender 110 will get you 78.8 cubic feet of cargo space with rear seats down, and that number grows to 89 cubic feet on the Defender 130.

2.
Plenty of off-road chops

While there are no doubt many suburban buyers who will never see an off-road trail, the reality is that this bad boy is made for hitting the trails and more rugged terrain.

For starters, when you opt for the height-adjustable adaptive air suspension feature, maximum ground clearance climbs to an impressive 11.5 inches, among the best you’ll find on any off-roader. The lowest clearance available on the Defender is 8.6 inches.

The Defender features a large variety of drive modes offered to tackle all terrains, including: Eco (maximizes fuel economy), Comfort (for everyday driving), Grass Gravel and Snow (optimizes traction), Mud Ruts (increased grip), Sand, Rock Crawl, and Wade. And large, off-road tires provide ample grip and improve the Defender’s performance in all situations.

All-wheel drive is standard, while a Twin-Speed Transfer Box allows for a variety of gear ranges to match road conditions. Mud flaps and scuff plates are also offered, along with a side-mounted gear carrier.

If you’re going to cross water, the maximum wading depth of the Defender is an impressive 35.4 inches.

Towing numbers cap out at a respectable 8,201 pounds on the Defender, which is dominant compared to key rivals.

3.
Multiple engine options

If you like variety in terms of what engine to put in your off-roader, the Land Rover Defender has you covered with a handful of options with a variety of horsepower.

The base engine is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder offering that delivers 296 horsepower (and 295 pound-feet of torque). Next up is a 3.0-liter six-cylinder mild-hybrid offering that jumps up to 395 horsepower (406 pound-feet). There are a pair of 5.0-liter supercharged V8 offerings, featuring 493 and 518 horsepower (450 and 461 pound-feet). And last but not least, the new Octa engine offering, which is a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 offering 626 horsepower and 553 pound-feet.

The availability of each of these engines will vary depending on which model/trim level you choose.

My test vehicle featured the 3.0-liter V6, which paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission.

The Defender is a big, heavy vehicle, but it still maneuvers itself well in a variety of conditions. It’s fast when you want it to be, and quite fun to drive. It also sits up so high that you'll be looking down on most of the traffic around you.

The 0-to-60 speed will depend on the engine you choose, but will range from around 4 seconds in the Octa, to over 7 seconds in the slowest engine offering.

And regardless of the engine you choose, one of the biggest successes of the Defender is that it delivers a high-quality ride both on city streets and on rockier, off-road terrain — as well or better than most off-road rivals.

4.
Solid tech chops

Even in an off-road focused ride, having a strong tech setup is still important to many buyers.

The Defender features Land Rover’s Pivi Pro infotainment system, which impresses with its highly customizable 11.4-inch touchscreen and a high-quality Meridian sound system.

The Defender also offers smartphone compatibility, allowing you to connect to the vehicle via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and for maneuvering parking situations you’ll benefit from its 3D Surround Camera.

Plenty of ports are included throughout the vehicle, wireless phone charging is included, the Defender responded well to my voice commands, and the touchscreen controls are pretty straightforward and easy to master.

My only real complaint is related to the physical controls for climate in the Defender. The design puts multiple functions into several individual controls, which can be a bit confusing to operate, especially while driving. These multipurpose controls are one feature I would suggest adjusting on future models.

Plenty of safety tech is included as well, including: Tire Pressure Monitoring System, Emergency Braking, Adaptive Cruise Control, Blind Spot Assist, Rear Traffic Monitor, Lane Keep Assist, Traffic Sign Recognition and Head-up Display.

5.
Variety of pricing options

Many vehicles have a wide range of price options, but the Land Rover Defender has one of the biggest ranges I’ve seen so far.

The base model of the shorter Defender 90 starts around $58K, whereas the top level Defender offering can climb as high as $169K. And there are plenty of options in between, depending on the trim level chosen and the options selected. My test vehicle was priced just under $84K.

At the lower pricing levels, the Defender slots in close in price to its in-the-family Land Rover Discovery offering, and well below the larger and more upscale full-size Range Rover (which starts in the six-figure range).

In terms of rivals, there are not many luxury rides that truly compete in the off-road sector. The Mercedes G-Class is technically a rival, but its starting price is beyond ridiculously high that most people won’t be able consider it.

Moving in the more affordable direction, the real competitors for the Land Rover Defender are non-luxury offerings in the off-road category — such as the Jeep Wrangler and Ford Bronco. These vehicles offer lower entry points, but also have some higher-priced models that reach the Defender’s price range.

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