2020 Land Rover Defender review

1. Off-road heritage

Lots of vehicles tout their off-road abilities, but few have the pedigree and history of the Land Rover Defender. The Defender returned for the 2020 model year and no matter which trim you go with, you'll get electronic air suspension that allows you to dial in the right ride height for your off-road situation. The Defender will even wade through up to 35.4 inches of water (just a reminder, never drive through standing water during bad weather), and naturally, all 2020 Defenders have standard AWD. Naturally, there are loads of off-road options like the All Terrain Progress Control system that sets a low-speed to cruise over a variety of terrains.

2. Interior configurations

If you want to maximize your interior space, take a look at the four-door Defender 110. It has standard seating for five, while an optional front jump seat ups that to six, or you can take up to seven out on the trail with the optional third row. If you live in the big city, take a look at the two-door Defender 90, which became available in 2021. At a full 17.2 inches shorter than the Defender 110, it still delivers 34.0 cu-ft of cargo space and it also has optional seating for up to six people. Land Rover even offers an optional 0.7-cu-ft seat backpack that attaches to the rear seat to give you more carrying capacity for your next adventure.

3. Great engine options

The 2020 Defender has a great standard turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder with 296 horsepower, or you can opt for a turbo 3.0L six-cylinder engine with an impressive 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque from a mild hybrid system. No matter which Defender you go with, it will come standard with an eight-speed automatic transmission, a two-speed transfer case, and all-wheel drive. That means you'll have plenty of power to tackle your favorite trails or head out on the interstate for your next big road trip.

4. Maximum luxury

Since the Defender comes from Land Rover, you are sure to find just the right one to match your comfort and refinement needs. Even though the Base trim is very well-equipped, if you're looking for interior upgrades like leather you should check out the S trim. The HSE adds premium leather upholstery with heated and ventilated front seats, a panoramic sunroof, and more. Keep an eye out for the 2020 Defender First Edition, which not only has heated front-row seats and heated steering wheel, it even has a refrigerator in the front center console!

5. The latest tech

The off-road tech is pretty amazing in the 2020 Defender, but it also has standard driver aides like a lane-keeping system, forward collision mitigation, blind-spot monitor, and a 360-degree camera system. All trim levels get a good-looking 10-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay^® and Android Auto^™ smartphone integration as well. To see all of the relevant driving information on or off the road, you'll find a standard seven-inch gauge cluster information display or an optional 12.3-inch all-digital gauge display. No matter the terrain, or your destination, you'll stay connected with your 2020 Land Rover Defender.