Auto Review: The Land Rover Defender is back – and it's better than ever - Los Altos Town Crier

From 1949 to 2016, the Defender was the Land Rover that conquered the world by being able to go just about anywhere. Safaris, expeditions, rescue missions – if you needed to get somewhere virtually unreachable, you wanted a Defender.

After a four-year absence, the Defender is back and all-new. Our tester was a 2020 model, but changes for 2021 are few.

Under the hood is a 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine making 395 horsepower and 406 pounds per foot of torque. It’s mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission and has all-wheel drive with a twin-speed transfer box, Terrain Response with selectable driving and off-road modes, hill descent control, adaptive dynamics and air suspension. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency fuel economy average is 17 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway.

The result is a powerful machine capable of on-road cruising or off-road exploration in comfort and an overwhelming assurance that you’re ready for whatever lies ahead.

Beyond rugged excellence, there’s the aesthetics, which are simply a knockout.

Every single thing about the new Defender – inside and out – says, “Let’s go see what’s on the other side of every mountain we can find.”

The base price of the 2020 Land Rover Defender 110 SE is $62,250. Among the standard equipment highlights at that price are premium LED headlights with high-beam assist, fog lights, rain-sensing wipers, rear privacy glass, dual-zone climate control, navigation and a 400-watt Meridian audio system. Our tester also had $8,580 in extra-cost options. With $1,350 destination and delivery, the as-tested price is $72,180.

That’s an exceptionally reasonable price for the capability, power and comfort you’re getting. Jeep dealers were charging that and more for loaded Gladiators not that long ago, and I’m sure Ford dealers will try to get that for the first few dozen Broncos. But this – this is the source material.

I drive 104 cars a year, and I can’t remember the last time I wanted to keep one as much as I did the 2020 Land Rover Defender 110 SE.

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