Earlier this year, the Land Rover Defender 110 was named a first-time winner in the Premium SUV category of the 2021 #CarsAwards ­­– powered by WesBank. Recently, a compact, short-wheelbase Land Rover Defender 90 joined the acclaimed 110 in the South African market.

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The Defender and its Series predecessors have been Land Rover hallmarks for more than 71 years! The latest-generation Defender, which debuted in 2020, has an unmistakable silhouette that is instantly familiar, yet looks totally fresh… It’s a design that has been inspired by the past – not constrained by it – and exudes kerb presence, practicality, and, of course, legendary all-road capability. It is no wonder the Defender was named 2021 World Car Design of the Year at the annual World Car Awards.

The cabin of the new Defender is as futuristic as it is a nod to its heritage. It is not only impressively equipped but technologically advanced. For example, the colourful touchscreen can be customised to display a layout of your choice and the 3D-camera screen allowsyou to rotate your view around the entire SUVwhile looking at things like steering angle, lean angle and differential settings.

When it comes to the practical side of things, the Defender 90 might have a shorter wheelbase than the 110, but a unique jump seat, which sits between the front seats, is available… If specified with a jump seat, the Defender 90 can accommodate 6 occupants quite comfortably. This just shows one of the ways that the Defender can be made to work for you. Speaking of which, the Defender is almost entirely customisable… there are Cosmetic and functional Accessory packs aplenty.

A wide rangeof derivatives to choose from

And you can choose from the top-of-the-range Defender X derivatives and mill through visually appealing X-Dynamic trim specifications, all the way down to S, SE and HSE trim levels.

The Defender S is fitted with standard features such as LED headlights (with automatic high beam assist), keyless entry, Ebony grained leather (with woven textile facings) and a 10-inch Pivi Pro infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. The Defender S is also equipped with Terrain Response, 3D surround camera, emergency braking lane-keep assist, 360-degree parking assistance, as well as wade sensing.

The Defender X-Dynamic is distinguished by Narvik Black gloss for the door and wheel-arch cladding and is fitted with Silicon Satin skid pans. Durable Robustec material (applied on the seat ribbons and console) is designed to survive the rigours of the outdoors and serves to protect high-wear areas. The Defender X-Dynamic is offered in SE and HSE specification.

The Defender X gains gloss black inset contrast bonnet with gloss black claddings. Front and rear skid pans and other details are finished in a Starlight Satin finish. This derivative is also identified by its Orange brake calipers. Inside, the dashboard cross beam is finished in a dark grey powder coat brushed finish and the door sill tread plates feature ‘Defender’ lettering.

The Defender X is also equipped with air suspension and an electronic active rear differential, Terrain Response 2, a sliding panoramic sunroof, Matrix LED headlights, 14-way heated/cooled seats, heads-up display and Land Rover’s ClearSight rearview mirror.

The Defender Launch Edition is available in Pangea Green, Gondwana Stone or Hakuba Silver and fitted with a folding fabric sunroof, air suspension, 12-way heated seats, electrically adjusted steering column, ClearSight rearview mirror and 20-inch alloy wheels.

A choice of 4 accessory packs

Land Rover also offers 4 accessory packs to kit out your Defender. The Explorer Pack includes a 132 kg roof rack, 24-litre side gear carrier, matte black bonnet decal and wheel arch protection.

An Adventure Pack includes a portable rinse system, 20-litre seat backpack, rear scuff plate, mudflaps, a spare-wheel cover, integrated compressor and a 24-litre side-mounted gear carrier.

The Country Pack includes Classic font and rear mudflaps, loadspace partition, wheel arch protection, scuff plate and a portable rinse system.Lastly, the Urban Pack offers metal pedals, rear scuff plate, spare wheel cover and front under shield protection.

Highly capable on all road surfaces

The Defender 90’s engine line-up comprises 2 turbopetroland 2 turbodiesels.The 2.0-litre P300 turbopetrol delivers 221 kW and 400 Nm, while the P400 3.0-litre, 6-cylinder option with Mild Hybrid Technology produces peak outputs of 294 kW and 550 Nm.On the turbodiesel front, buyers can opt for the D240 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine with 177 kW and 430 Nm or the D300 with 221 kW and 650 Nm.

It goes without saying that the Defender is one of the most capable cars off-road ever produced. With a maximum ground clearance of 291 mm, it can tackle 45-degree side slopes and inclines of 45 degrees with customary composure. Its maximum wading depth of 900 mm is supported by a new Wade programme in the Terrain Response 2 system, which also allows drivers to set up the vehicle to suit the precise off-road conditions.

The Defender is made for everyday living while also being an adventurous off-roader. Some would say it is the perfect all-rounder. The iconic Defender 90 is priced from R1095600, which includes a 5-year/100 000kmwarranty and a 5-year/100 000km maintenance plan. It is available at Land Rover dealerships nationwide.

New Land Rover Defender Specs & Prices in South Africa

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