overview
For years, the Land Rover Defender was the UK’s answer to America’s pitiful Jeeps, but with the latest generation, luxury brand designed for greater comfort and go-anywhere capability for off-road drivers. Both two-door and four-door body styles are offered with a comfortable and practical cabin, a modern infotainment system and technological features, and a distinctive style reminiscent of the worthy Defenders. old glasses. A turbocharged four-cylinder is standard, with the more powerful V-8 and inline six available; All Defenders come standard with all-wheel drive. From there, buyers are offered a lot Advanced off-road equipment, which includes a locking differential, a height-adjustable air suspension and a special mode for wading through deep water. But the biggest benefit to the new-generation Defender’s setup is its superior on-road driving behavior, giving it a level of refinement that rivals like Jeep car and Lexus GX cannot match.
What’s new for 2023?
One Defender 130 . variant joins this year’s lineup, with the bodywork extended to accommodate the third row of seats, bringing total passenger capacity to eight. The new 130 is available in the exclusive Sedona Red exterior color option and comes standard with desired features optional on the 90 and 110 models, including a larger 11.4-inch infotainment screen. The Defender, on the other hand, is largely unchanged in 2023, except now that its Pivi Pro infotainment system comes standard with Amazon Alexa integration. One 30th Anniversary Edition will also be offered in limited quantities. Only 500 will be produced, and they are based on the four-door 110 and powered by a 296hp turbocharged four-cylinder engine. They wear white with steel wheels. The second anniversary edition celebrates the 75th birthday of the Land Rover brand. The so-called 75th Limited Edition features Grasmere Green paint, 20-inch aluminum wheels, a fabric sunroof and a P400 six-cylinder powertrain. The Trophy Edition returns for the 2023 model year, this time based on the two-door Defender 90. Only 250 will be produced and all will have the chance to compete in Land Rover’s annual Defender Trophy; only 90 candidates will be selected.
Price and which one to buy
While we like the look of the two-door 90, the four-door 110 and 130 are more practical for most buyers. The basic drivetrain P300—a 296hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder—seems powerful enough for everyday driving, so we’ll stick with that; Those planning to tackle serious off-road may find the optional six-cylinder or V-8 the better choice. We recommend the SE trim level because it adds some desirable features to the Defender’s spec sheet, including 19-inch aluminum wheels, automatic high-beam headlights, 12-way power-adjustable front seats and digital gauge display. Land Rover offers several accessory packages, each of which equips Defender with specific themed features. There’s also a bunch of personalization options, but we’ll leave the customization up to you.
Engine, transmission and performance
Defender is equipped with a standard turbocharged four-cylinder engine mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Of course, every model has four-wheel drive and a locking differential to navigate treacherous terrain. The Defender is also available with a 3.0-liter inline-six that uses an electric supercharger and a 48-volt hybrid system. The 130 long wheelbase model we tested with this powertrain went to 60 mph in 6.2 seconds. Buyers looking for additional performance can opt in 518 hp supercharged V-8which Accelerate Defender from 90 to 60 mph in just 4.4 seconds in our test. Unlike its predecessor, the Defender has a monolithic construction compared to the body-on-frame setup, and it replaces the old solid axles with a fully independent suspension. The basic suspension uses coil springs, but it can be upgraded with an air suspension that allows for height adjustment. Defender has a ground clearance of 11.5 inches and the ability to cross 35 inches of water, surpassing Jeep Wrangler its maximum ground clearance and wading ability.
Real-world fuel economy and MPG
EPA fuel economy ratings for different Defender models are similar no matter what’s under the hood. The 90 with four-cylinder gets 18 mpg city and 21 highway ratings. Step up to the six-cylinder engine and the 90’s city rating drops to 17 mpg but the highway rating rises to 23. The 110 model with the six-cylinder has the same estimate as the 90 six-cylinder. , but the length-wheelbase 130 is rated for 17 mpg city and 21 mpg highway with the six-cylinder. The V-8 variant of the 110 is rated for 14 mpg in the city and 19 mpg on the highway; 90 with V-8 is suitable for 15 mpg city and 19 mpg highway. Above our 75 mph highway fuel economy route, a Defender 110X with the optional six-cylinder powertrain delivers a disappointing 18 mpg; model 130 only managed 19 mpg in the same test. For more information on Defender’s fuel economy, visit EPA’s website.
Furniture, amenities and merchandise
The Defender cabin pushes the line between premium and functional, with just enough design cues from the rest of the Land Rover lineup to make those familiar with the brand feel at home. Exposed studs on the door panels add a solid look, and a magnesium beam running the full width of the dashboard isn’t quite cosmetic—it’s also structural. Below the infotainment screen, the dashboard’s trapezoidal extension provides locations for buttons and switches for the climate control system and driving modes. The gear lever and ignition switch are also located on this center stack instead of the center console. In some models, the center console can flip back to form a jumping seat between the driver and the passenger, similar to the three-person horizontal bench on some full-size pickups. Cargo space behind the rear seats in the 90 and 110 models is limited, but on par with rival off-roaders like the Wrangler; The rear seats can be folded to open up a much larger cargo compartment, but those looking to carry people and equipment may want to look at the larger vehicle. Land Rover discover or invest in a rooftop freight house. The longer 130 model offers more cargo space with the third row of seats stowed, but when in use there isn’t much room for luggage.
Infotainment and connectivity
The Defender’s dashboard features a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system that runs a new interface for Land Rover called Pivi Pro; A larger 11.4-inch screen is optional. Compared to the rest of the Land Rover lineup’s Touch Pro Duo interface, Defender’s system relies on a single touchscreen instead of two, delivering faster response times and handling Software update online for future releases. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both standard, as is an in-dashboard navigation system, a six-speaker stereo, and an onboard Wi-Fi hotspot. Both the 10- and 14-speaker Meridian stereo systems are optional features, and higher-end Defender buyers will receive a digital gauge cluster and windshield display.
Safety features and driver assistance
Among the many available driver assistance technology, Rover has a number of unique systems designed specifically for off-road and towing. For more information on Defender crash test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) web pages. Key safety features include:
- Standard automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection
- Standard lane departure warning with lane keep assist
- Adaptive cruise control available
Warranty and maintenance coverage
Like its stable mates, the Defender will come with a standard four-year or 50,000-mile warranty. The Lexus GXA similarly luxurious off-roader, offers more value here in the form of a six-year powertrain warranty and one year of free maintenance.
- Limited warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
- No free periodic maintenance
specifications
specifications
2023 Land Rover Defender 130 First Edition
Vehicle type: front-engine, 4-wheel drive, 8-seat, 4-door
PRICE
Original/Tested Price: $86.175/$92,075
ENGINE
turbocharger, turbocharger and intercooler DOHC 24-valve inline-6, aluminum block and head, direct fuel injection
Teleport: 183 in32996cm3
Power: 395 hp @ 6500 rpm
Torque: 406 lb-ft @ 2000 rpm
TRANSMISSION
8-speed automatic transmission
FRAME
Suspension, F/R: multi-link/multi-link
Brakes, F/R: 14.3-inch ventilated disc/ 13.8-inch ventilated disc
Tires: Continental CrossContact LX
HL275/45R-22 115W M+S LR
SIZE
Wheelbase: 119.0 inches
Length: 210.9 inches
Width: 79.1 inches
Height: 77.6 inches
Cargo weight, rear F/M/R: 81/44/14 ft3
Limited weight: 5931 lb
CD TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 6.2 seconds
1/4 Mile: 14.6 seconds @ 97 mph
100 mph: 15.7 seconds
130 mph: 33.6 seconds
The above results are ignored deploy 1 ft of 0.4 seconds.
Start rolling, 5–60 mph: 6.9 seconds
Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 4.0 seconds
Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 4.6 seconds
Top speed (gov ltd): 131 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 167 ft
Road Hold, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.71 g
CD ENERGY SAVING
75 mph highway driving: 19 mpg
75 mph highway range: 370 miles
EPA SAVING FUEL
Combined/City/Highway: 17/19/21 mpg
Land Rover Defender 110 SE 2020
TRANSPORTATION
front engine, 4 wheel drive, 7 seat, 4 door
PRICE AS TESTED
$82,575 (original price: $63,600)
ENGINE TYPE
turbocharged, supercharged and inline-6 cooling; aluminum block and head, direct fuel injection
Move
183 in32996cm3
Power
395 hp @ 5500 rpm
torque
406 lb-ft @ 2000 rpm
TRANSMISSION
8-speed automatic transmission
FRAME
Suspension (F/R): multi-link/multi-link
Brakes (F/R): 14.3-inch ventilated disc/ 13.8-inch ventilated disc
Tires: Goodyear Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure, 255/60R-20 113H M+S LR
SIZE
Wheelbase: 119.0 inches
Length: 197.6 inches
Width: 78.6 inches
Height: 80.6 inches
Passenger weight: 132 ft3
Cargo weight: 11 ft3
Limited weight: 5773 lb
CD TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 6.3 seconds
100 mph: 17.3 seconds
120 mph: 33.9 seconds
The above results are ignored deploy 1 ft of 0.3 seconds.
Start rolling, 5–60 mph: 7.0 seconds
Top gear, 30–50 mph: 4.0 seconds
Top gear, 50–70 mph: 4.6 seconds
1/4 mile: 14.8 seconds @ 94 mph
Top speed (governor limit): 120 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 204 ft
Road hold, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.70
CD ENERGY SAVING
Observation: 15 mpg
EPA SAVING FUEL
Combined/city/highway: 17/19/22 mpg
