2020 Land Rover Defender – What to expect

Land Rover Defender was the king of off-road driving back in the day. With nearly 70 years of history to its name, it came to be known as a tough and dependable 4x4 that you could literally drag to the ends of the world – and it would still survive. 

Its legacy almost ended in 2016 when Land Rover discontinued its production. But now, the mid-sized SUV is back with a vengeance. Coventry Motors announced that the off-roader will soon arrive in the Philippines. Here’s what you can expect from the 2020 Land Rover Defender.

D7x Architecture

The new platform replaces the traditional body-on-steel construction of previous models. It is based on the Premium Lightweight Architecture (PLA) for larger vehicles and shares the same aluminum unibody as Discovery, Range Rover, and Range Rover Sport. However, the D7x is a more durable and off-road-capable version of the platform.

It makes room for an electric powertrain and independent suspension with the capacity to withstand 200 mm curbs at 40 kmph. The platform also provides impressive ground clearance of 291 mm and better off-road angles. Moreover, D7x is three times tougher than body-on-frame structures. It can withstand repeated and sustained impact which no other regular vehicle can possibly outlast.

Overhauled exterior

Built from the ground up, the new Defender looks familiar and yet completely different. It retains the box-like structure of the previous generation but its panels are no longer completely flat. Instead, it features smoother lines and more rounded edges – as seen on the hood, bumpers, and wheel arches.

Its front grill, alpine windows, and floating rear pillars are distinctive to Land Rover vehicles. However, the box-shaped headlights and taillights with circular LEDs are unique to the Defender. Overall, it has the combined aesthetics of a classic jeep and a modern SUV.

Updated interior

The cabin gets some much-needed upgrades in both style and function. Sitting behind the steering wheel is a new 12.3-inch digital cluster with a multi-information display. Front and center is a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and optional WiFi connectivity for weather updates, calendar information, and music streaming.

Unlike previous generations, its interior looks far more luxurious as it now comes with leather seats and faux wood panels. You can also opt for premium wool upholstery as an alternative.

All-terrain, all-weather capability

The 2020 Defender lives up to the off-road legacy of its predecessors. Land Rover made sure of this by equipping it with permanent all-wheel drive, a two-speed automatic gearbox, and center differential locks with the option for active locking rear differentials.

Prototypes were able to cover harsh terrains across the globe. From deserts to the Arctic, all the way up the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, the SUV emerged relatively unscathed. Since the Philippines is a tropical country, you might be wondering if the Defender offers any advantage at all for Filipino buyers.

Say no more, because the new Land Rover has a wading depth of 900 mm. Most SUVs only have up to 800 mm, with the previous generation lagging behind at 500 mm. If you happen to live in flood-prone areas like Metro Manila, you can count on the Defender to pull through without stalling.

Terrain Response 2

The configurable system is similar to the one found on Land Rover Discovery Sport. Basically, it allows you to fine-tune the vehicle’s performance for specific road and weather conditions. It also has a built-in water sensing program that measures the depth of water, so you can drive across floods with confidence.

Two variants: Defender 110 and Defender 90

Coventry Motors Corporation (CMC) is launching two variants in the Philippines. Namely, they are Defender 110 and Defender 90.

• Defender 110 is a standard five-door variant. It can hold up to 7 passengers with a 5+2 seating configuration. Its default cargo space of 1,075-liters can be expanded to 2,380-liters with the second-row seat folded.
• Defender 90 is a smaller three-door variant with a shorter wheelbase and a maximum passenger capacity of six.

CMC is also offering the First Edition Defender in local markets. If you opt for this trim level, you can get customized seating with the vehicle.

Accessory add-ons

Depending on your preference, you can upgrade the Defender with four accessory packs – Urban, Country, Adventure, and Explorer. The Explorer Pack will include a matte black hood decal with variant-specific detailing.

Here are the inclusions of the accessory packs:

Land Rover Defender Accessories	Urban Pack	Country Pack	Adventure Pack	Explorer Pack
Rear scuff plate	X	X
Spare wheel cover	X			X
Front undershield	X
Wheel arch protection		X		X
Portable rinse system		X	X
Exterior side-mounted gear carrier			X	X
Cargo partition		X
Trunk-mounted integrated air compressor			X
Expedition roof rack				X

Other accessories which you can purchase with Defender variants include:

• Remote control electric winch
• Rooftop tent with inflatable waterproof awnings,
• Roof racks
• Tow bar systems

Hybrid powertrain

All Philippine variants of Land Rover Defender will have an Ingenium P400 engine. The 3.0-liter six-cylinder turbo gasoline mill is accompanied by a mild hybrid electric motor. Together, they can crank out 395 hp and 550 Nm of torque. The powerplant will be mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission and can go from 0 to 100 kmph in just 6.1 seconds.

Safety features

Borrowing from the technology of Range Rover, the Defender also comes with ClearSight Ground View for improved driver visibility. It uses a camera to view the area impeded by the bonnet and displays it lives on the central screen. That way, you can get an accurate view of the terrain and be able to maneuver around tight spaces with ease.

Based on the spec sheet, Land Rover is also throwing in these safety features:

• Emergency brakes
• Cruise control
• Lane keep assist
• Driver condition monitor
• Traffic sign recognition
• Speed limiter
• Front and rear parking aids

Pricing and arrival

Land Rover Defender 110 is slated to arrive in May 2020. Below is their pricing:

Model	Pricing
Land Rover Defender 110	Php 6,090,000
Land Rover Defender 110 Urban Pack	Php 6,210,000
Land Rover Defender 110 Country Pack	Php 6,260,000
Land Rover Defender 110 Adventure Pack	Php 6,340,000
Land Rover Defender 110 Explorer Pack	Php 6,510,000
Land Rover Defender 110 First Edition	Php 9,290,000

Meanwhile, Defender 90 won’t arrive until July 2020. Pricing has yet to be revealed.

You can pre-order the Land Rover Defender for Php 250,000 which will be used as a reservation fee and downpayment for your selected variant. 

Also read: New Land Rover Discovery Sport – First impression