The first examples of the redesigned 2020 Land Rover Defender have finally been delivered in the United States, ending a 23-year stint since the nameplate was last sold here officially.
The newest Defender made its world debut last fall at the 2019 Frankfurt International Motor Show and is available in the U.S. in two body styles, with the bigger, more practical option actually the more affordable.
The first to arrive is the five-door Defender 110 which is priced from $50,925; a smaller three-door Defender 90 priced from $66,125 is available to order and should commence deliveries shortly. The Defender 90 is only available as a special first edition right now, hence the much higher starting price. Both prices include destination.
2020 Land Rover Defender
The Defender 110 is also being offered with a 296-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 as standard while the Defender 90 gets a 395-hp 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-6 and mild-hybrid setup as standard. Add the mild-hybrid inline-6 to the Defender 110 and the price grows to $63,275. The inline-4 will also be made available in the Defender 90 once regular versions of the three-door are available.
The Defender 90 with the inline-4 has an EPA-rated mileage of 19 mpg combined, versus 18 mpg combined for the Defender 110. Opt for the mild-hybrid inline-6 and you're looking at 19 mpg combined for both body styles.
Though it's yet to be confirmed, a V-8 option and a stretched body style supporting up to eight seats are expected to join the range in the near future.
2020 Land Rover Defender
The new Defender has some big off-roading shoes to fill, and luckily for Land Rover the handsome SUV has a lot going for it. It rides on an aluimum platform and features the stiffest body of any Land Rover yet. It also comes with standard air suspension, permanent four-wheel drive with a low-speed transfer case, a high ground clearance (0.8 inches higher than other Land Rovers), and a massive 35.4 inches of wading depth. Approach, breakover and departure angles come in at 38, 28 and 40 degrees, respectively, and towing capacity is up to 8,200 pounds.
Land Rover also fits its Terrain Response off-road driving mode selector as standard. However, you'll need to pay extra if you want the more advanced Terrain Response 2 version which automatically selects the ideal mode depending on the situation. The configurable version of Terrain Response is also an available feature. This enables drivers to precisely fine-tune the system to suit specific off-road conditions.
For more on the Land Rover Defender, read the in-depth reviews at The Car Connection.
