The all-new 2020 Land Rover Defender is a famous name brand from Land Rover that has not been sold in the U.S. for over 20 years.

The Defender has got an all-new chassis, all-new drivetrain, all-new technology, it’s actually quite advanced. We’re going to take it for a drive, off-road and on, to see if it can live up to the big shoes left empty by the previous Land Rover Defender. Let’s check it out.

The Defender’s all-new aluminum chassis is the stiffest ever created by Land Rover, and it sits under a new body that pays homage to Defenders of the past while offering modern features like LED exterior lighting, wheel designs ranging from 18 to 22 inches and cool metallic paint options.

The Defender’s short front and rear overhangs contribute to its off-road capabilities, with a 38-degree approach angle and 40-degree departure angle. The tall ride height offers up to 11.5 inches of ground clearance and 19.7 inches of suspension articulation. And if you’re looking to cross water, the new Land Rover Defender can wade through water over 35 inches deep.

Our first impression of the new Defender came within moments of sliding behind the wheel and driving it on smooth pavement. Despite the SUV’s boxy shape, elevated ride height and clear off-road emphasis it offered extremely compelling on-road driving dynamics.

The steering was precise and intuitive, braking was linear and confidence inspiring, and throttle inputs offered rapid acceleration with a broad torque band at low, medium and highway speeds. Our test car was fitted with Land Rover’s 3.0-liter V6 that’s both turbocharged and supercharged, confirming where that broad torque band comes from. Peak horsepower is rated at 395 while peak torque is 406 pound-feet. A smaller 2.0-liter four-cylinder comes standard on the Defender, making 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque.

With power going to an 8-speed automatic and then on to a two-speed transfer case and Terrain Response four-wheel-drive system the Land Rover Defender is ready to take on nature’s challenge, even if it is the most basic form. Our test vehicle was a mid-level Land Rover Defender SE with the optional Terrain Response 2 system, meaning a more advanced off-road system capable of identifying the best four-wheel-drive settings for varying conditions, automatically.

“Varying conditions” might be an understatement for what we did in the Land Rover Defender. From simple dirt-road driving to high-speed sand dune scaling to maximum suspension articulation, we drove the Defender more aggressively off-road than most owners likely will. But we confirmed every buyer will want to know – Can the new Defender go all-in in terms of off-road driving? Answer: yes!

Of course, if you simply want a premium SUV with premium features Land Rover offers a full range of luxury amenities. From heated and cooled leather seating to smart cruise control to a 10-inch touchscreen display with exterior cameras to aid parking and off-roading maneuvers. Options include a third-row seat, multi-zone climate control and an air suspension. As a roomy and comfortable SUV that rarely, if ever, goes off pavement the Defender still delivers an exceptional experience.

So there you have it. A long list of new features and technologies, giving the new all-new Land Rover Defender a lot of off-road capability, without compromising on-road driving dynamics and comfort.

Does it fill the big shoes left empty by the previous Land Rover Defender? I think it does, and I think fans of that model will find this one quite enjoyable if they give it a try.

#LandRoverDefender #LandRover

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