The 2021 Defender 110 starts at $65,300 in Canada and $50,500 in the United States. Defender 110 is a desirable "insert-explicit-adjective". No matter how you feel, Defender will win you over.
The Land Rover Defender is a member of the Thin Club of Trucks, helping to map out some of the most remote areas on earth. To this day, Land Rover trucks are still used to reach isolated parts because they remain one of the most capable off-road vehicles in the world. Over the past few decades, they have also become extremely luxurious, expanding their appeal. When it comes to appeals, few people can compare with defenders.
The designer's job is difficult and simple. The defender is a sacred animal that cannot be reinvented, it must evolve. As Land Rover says, Defender's reassuringly recognizable silhouette is there, and for most people, it says it all.
Love at first sight
The Defender's form factor, whether it's the 90 or the tested 110, is surprisingly modern and a nod to previous generations. The round DRL in the headlights, the mountain lights or narrow windows on the edge of the roof, and the spare parts at the rear all indicate that the new truck, despite its very modern bodywork, is still a defender.
It's probably the most luxurious defender ever, but there's no doubt that it has the ability to do great things. Enhance and ascend Defender's luxurious tone. Compared to the highly tech-rich new trucks, previous generations, even the most well-equipped form, offered a simple interior. Even so, Defender's layout has a voluntary simplicity that is both practical and classic.
The test cell is coated with Tasma Blue, while the interior features grained leather and Robusstec seat surfaces. With exposed hex bolts and handles built into the dashboard, never before has quality and sturdy accent blended so perfectly into a professional finished product.
Loaded, rugged and silent
As standard, the Defender 110 includes a 10-inch touchscreen display, a 12.3-inch driver display, and plenty of must-have features such as a heated steering wheel, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and more. The SUV also has plenty of room for five (or seven) passengers, as well as plenty of gear and comfortable seats. The boot is rated at 786 liters, but it's much more practical than the numbers suggest.
The cabin is deceptively simple with minimal switchgear. For some, the learning curve can be steep, but once familiar, navigating HVAC and infotainment controls becomes easy – you'll want to learn.
Quiet, fast, powerful, comfortable – everything you need
The real test is to go up and down. Arguably, the 2021 Defender is impressive no matter which surface the tires are on. The P400 moniker indicates that the 110 is powered by a turbocharged 3.0-litre inline 6-cylinder engine with mild hybrid technology. Its output is rated at 395 horsepower and 406 lb-ft. Torque, these numbers surprise you more in real life than on the screen. The Land Rover Defender weighs 5,000 pounds and goes from 100 km/h to 6.1 seconds.
As a result, the Defender P400 is fast. It's also very refined and powerful – both elements can be seen in the logo in the front grille. A premium SUV provides a civilized driving experience with a small amount of AWD capability. However, beyond the cabin trail or slightly muddy and smooth surfaces, they would see them struggling. Land Rover is all that, by all means.
Standard electronic air suspension with adaptive dynamics keeps the SUV close to the sidewalk. Defender glides almost effortlessly over any off-the-beaten-path, steering and braking to complete the mission. Tight parking maneuvers and emergency braking situations don't matter to the truck. The same goes for any off-road trip.
For this review, I stuck to my local suburbs because Defender 110 had nothing to prove. I played in mud, mud, grass, and water in the 90S I measured earlier last summer. Arguably, less than 5% of Defender owners put their SUVs to the test.
Driving a Defender 110 is actually empowering. Hell or high water levels, I will be able to pick up children from schools and daycare centers. As I pointed out in my 90 comments, the only thing that can stop it is its picky electronics and associated spot reliability. The usual small problems are stubborn tactile and touchscreen controls, door locks that occasionally choose disobedience, and various temporary error messages. This is the time when the vehicle is brand new.
Whether it's right or wrong, it's worth it
Still, there are thousands of buyers around the world desperately waiting for their Land Rover Defender. I understand. While I love the BMW X5, it ends up being too common. The same goes for the Mercedes-Benz GLE. The Porsche Cayenne is no longer like a Porsche SUV, but an SUV with the Porsche logo. Because of this, I would risk signing a 30 to 36 month lease with a defender to take on all of the above issues.
Tested, the 2021 X Dynamic comes with a towing and cold climate suite almost perfectly, as well as a few other options. Total: $90,500.