The new Land Rover Defender is one of the most eagerly-awaited vehicles of the past decade and recently landed on the shores of the United States.
Those in the U.S. have two different powertrains to choose from at the moment. Sitting at the base of the range is the Defender P300 that features a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder rated at a very respectable 296 hp. Sitting above the P300 in the family is the Defender P400 using a mild-hybrid 3.0-liter six-cylinder with 395 hp. A variant with Jaguar Land Rover’s well-known 5.0-liter supercharged V8 is expected to launch in late 2021 or early 2022.
While recently reviewing the new Defender in First Edition form, Doug DeMuro didn’t have the opportunity to take it off-roading, but did have the time to explore the SUV in depth, in particular its cabin.
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Obviously, as the new Defender is a utilitarian-focused vehicle, it is not as luxurious as a Range Rover. Most notably, the materials used throughout are designed to be long-lasting and durable. For example, the seats in the example tested by DeMuro have black leather centers but then a rugged cloth material on the edges. In addition, the hard plastic surfaces you often find in modern cars have been ditched in favor of rubber that should last longer.
Don’t be confused into thinking the ruggedness of the cabin means it isn’t loaded with technology, however. Found in the center of the dashboard is a responsive infotainment system that is loaded with features you won’t find in any other Jaguar Land Rover model. For example, the Defender has a wade sensing feature that tells you just how deep the water is of the river or stream you may be crossing – but you can watch the review and find out all of this(ss) new Defender’s quirks and features.