The British are known for things like putting milk into hot tea and adding extra vowels to words. They are not, however, known to bring back nostalgic nameplates just for the marketing of it, which is why I test-drove the Land Rover Defender.
The past 20 or so years have seen a resurgence in off-road vehicles. The pandemic just spurred it further, as people tried to find ways to have fun and social distance at the same time. For some, the night club, bar, or other social-gathering spot was replaced with activities such as outdoor camping and off-pavement driving. That trend has stuck around, and now off-roading is serious business.
Land Rover saw this and embraced it, having never really dropped its heritage to begin with. The new Defender debuted in 2020 with mixed results. I thoroughly liked it, but many enthusiasts were less than thrilled. “Yet another modern SUV with a nostalgic nameplate,” they cried. Like Ford debuting a “new Bronco,” the Defender looked like it could be just another carmaker cashing in on well-loved old names. Also like the Bronco, the new Defender proved itself worthy of its name’s return.
The 2024 Land Rover Defender comes in three body styles, a bunch of trim levels, and with a long list of engine choices and vehicle options beyond that. My test drive was the Defender 110 S P400 with a bunch of add-ons. Its price tag was about US$68,000 with delivery; the $950 Tasman Blue paint job included. That’s about $10,000 more than the base model in the smaller size would cost.
The three sizes for the Defender are designated by numbers. The bigger the number, the bigger the SUV. The 90 is the smallest, a two-door model with seating for five. The 110 has four doors and the same number of seats, though a two-seat third row is an option. Both the Defender 90 and 110 can have the option for a front passenger jump seat to replace the storage bin between seats, adding an extra spot. Finally, the 130 comes with three rows of seating (seven seats in total), unless the Outbound model is chosen, in which case the third row is dropped in favor of more cargo space.