You can forgive yourself if you’re somewhat bewildered by the Land Rover Defender. If you live in North America, the Defender is something of an enigma.
First, the Defender has not always gone by that moniker. Since it was introduced in 1948, the rugged, go-anywhere 4×4 utility vehicle has been known by many model names and numbers. It earned the Defender label in 1990, and Jaguar Land Rover now calls older versions Classic Defenders.
Second, it has rarely been available in North America. The British version of the admired Jeep was sold in U.S. dealerships for just four years until 1997, when it encountered strict U.S. crash test standards. So its rebirth in 2020 was lauded as a big deal.
Much has changed since it was last sold here. The new Defender enters a crowded field of capable and luxurious midsize SUVs from the likes of Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz. But the Defender occupies a niche when it comes to its rugged all-terrain capability, not to mention its iconic status and rich backstory.
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The tested 2020 Land Rover Defender 110 X, the top trim level, sports a unibody, rather than body-on-frame construction, and available air suspension.
Styling cues echo its history, with its 6-feet-5-inch height and boxy shape and class-leading 38-degree approach and 40-degree departure angles for attacking steep hills.
Two prominent tow hooks in the rear bumper indicate the Defender means business. Plastic diamond-plate foot steps on either side of the hood (for show only) and the tailgate-mounted spare tire are other nods to history.
Overall, it is a clean, modern take on a classic. One negative is the tailgate, which swings horizontally left to right and, when open, becomes an obstacle to loading cargo from the curb.
Inside, the tested Defender sported a two-tone, vintage tan and ebony Windsor leather interior, with comfortable 18-way adjustable, heated and cooled seats up front.
The controls are a good mix of digital touch and analog knobs and buttons. They are well laid out, except for the stereo’s volume knob, which is set to the right of the center stack and requires a reach from the driving position.