New Delhi: This is perhaps one of the most famous cars in the whole world. The Land Rover Defender is an iconic SUV that really brought popularity to the term 'SUV' itself. Land Rover kept on making the Defender for many years before retiring it and then making a new one that you see here. The Defender is a proper 4x4 SUV that also does luxury but being able to go anywhere is important as that is what the Defender name is all about. In India Land Rover has launched it with a five door version while the three door would be coming in later. We took a good look around this SUV to find out whether the Defender name would still be as relevant today or not.

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The old Defender was more of an offroader with little in terms of comfort or modern features but the new Defender was started on a clean sheet of paper and is a modern luxury SUV that is also supposed to be an off-roader. Land Rover says the Defender is its most off-road focused product and a 4x4. So while it remains to be seen whether anyone would take their Rs 70 lakh plus SUV off-roading, the Defender would go places and do off-roading that nearly no other luxury SUV can go.



It certainly looks appealing for one as the Defender is boxy but looks unlike anything else with the square lines and big presence. It is somewhat like the old Defender but also new in some aways. It certainly stands out among the other SUVs plus the unique tail-lamps plus the generous ground clearance along with a spare wheel mounted at the back shows the Defender being a rugged SUV and not a typical crossover.



Underneath the new Defender has an aluminum monocoque construction which makes it lighter and also makes it much more capable plus being less heavy. Now most hardcore SUVs like a ladder frame like say a Fortuner but for Land Rover the Defnder has been made in such a way that it is three times stiffer than a ladder frame. Then there is the fact that it has a 291mm ground clearance and will wade through 900mm water easily. Which means come Mumbai rainfall, you would be sorted!



In terms of its capabilities, it has independent suspension, twin-speed transfer box and permanent all-wheel drive plus the terrain response modes which you can customize the way the car performs off-road in different terrain or the car recognises itself and adjusts it to handle the terrain. Plus the dimensions of the Defender are made in a way where off-road is easier owing to the better approach and departure angle.



So yes you can go off-road but it is also billed as a luxury SUV and with its price-tag you will expect that so what does the Defender offer in that? Well you get a massive 10inch screen and an equally massive 12.3 inch digital instrument cluster plus the latest infotainment system along with heads up display, connected car technology, powered seats, Meridian audio system etc.



There is also a rear view mirror which shows a camera view of the back! The interior itself is not as opulent as some of the Range Rovers or luxury SUVs since the design is more rugged with bigger grab handles, rubberised flooring so that it can be cleaned easily to a special leather which is mixed with textile for added durability. The Defender we get is the 110 5-door and it is spacious as we discovered with a comfortable second row.



On offer is a 2.0 four cylinder petrol engine which develops 300 bhp and 400Nm with an 8-speed automatic as standard. There is no diesel yet but it is expected to be coming. Priced at Rs 79.9 lakh the Defender 110 might seem expensive when compared with the Jeep Wrangler but it has more quality and on paper, more capabilities along with added practicality plus you can customize the Defender with four accessory packs. So while we will drive it soon, on first impressions, the new Defender is a mix of rugged appeal and luxury.

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