FORTUNE FEBRUARY/MARCH 2021 107num. Yes, if you squint, you
can see the “design DNA”
of the original, but the new
Defender is definitely not
more of the same. It was a
big risk for struggling par-
ent company Jaguar Land
Rover (JLR), but one that
just might pay off.
Fortune reviewed the
Defender in its top-of-
the-line four-door 110 X
package, priced at $85,750,
which comes with a
395-horsepower, three-
liter mild-hybrid gasolineand a metal-lined trunk
that are begging to be sul-
lied by muddy boots and
dirty gear. This is a utility
vehicle with a capital U.
So while it has impec-
cable road manners, to re-
ally see what the Defender
can do, you need to give it
some unforgiving terrain.
Thankfully the New York
weather cooperated during
Fortune’s review, serving
up snow, sleet, and freez-
ing rain. Driving through
that mess on gravel and
dirt demonstrates what
makes the Defender spe-
cial in the indistinguish-
able landscape of SUVs.
Even though Land
Rover has equipped the
Defender with various se-
lectable terrain modes for
snow, gravel, and sand, its
normal ride mode, paired
with optional off-road
tires, is more than capable
on loose and slippery
ground. And while Fortune
didn’t have the chance—or
the nerve—to test it, JLR
says the Defender can
wade through water of up
to three feet, no modifica-
tions required. All this,
along with its superb
visibility and command-
ing presence, inspires a
level of driver confidence
that few of its competitors
can provide.
It’s in this realm that
the new Defender earns
its badge. It may look
different. It may drive
like a luxury SUV on the
highway. But Land Rover
has imbued the Defender
with the uncompromised
off-roading chops of its
ancestor. And that has
given the purists plenty to
smile about.engine (U.S. buyers are
denied the diesel options
available in Europe). That
power plant, which JLR
dubs its Ingenium engine,
packs quite the party trick:
Its electric-powered su-
percharger near-instantly
spins up when the throttle
is applied. The result is
snappy acceleration with
plenty of low-end torque
that gets you to 60 mph in
just under six seconds—in
a vehicle weighing over
5,000 pounds. Crikey.The Defender suc-
cessfully walks the line
between providing the
luxury expected of such an
expensive vehicle and be-
ing appropriately rugged.
The ride is plush, thanks to
adjustable air suspension,
and the tech is cutting-
edge—the rearview mirror
uses a camera when visibil-
ity is obscured, and there’s
an excellent touch-screen
entertainment and control
system. But the Defender
also has rubber floor mats321B U I LT O N
LEGACY
[ 1 ] The new Land
Rover Defender
earns its badge
with superlative
off-road
performance. [ 2 ]
Luxury materials
meet rugged
utilitarianism in
the Defender’s
cockpit. [ 3 ]
Queen Elizabeth II
and the Duke of
Edinburgh with
their Land Rover
Series IIa.FROM TOP: COURTESY OF LAND ROVER; PA IMAGES/GETTY IMAGES