For the first time in its nearly 40-year history, the Land Rover Defender has received an all-new treatment and it’s now available in the Philippines. The new Defender 90 has a contemporary look but still has the technical prowess to dominate the unpaved roads. It’s available in one variant only but can be had with different accessory packs to suit each individual better.
The new Defender 90 starts with the most significant change – the design. It still has the silhouette of the original, but has been subdued with soft corners and makes do without the boxy shape which is a far cry from its heritage look. There are qualms about it but being awarded the 2021 World Car Design of the Year puts all those into rest. This new design is supported by automatic headlights, 19-inch wheels with silver finish and off-road tires, auto-dimming side mirrors, and a 360-camera system with ClearSight ground view.
Just like outside, the interior was also redesigned to keep up with the times. It still makes extensive use of straight lines for a utilitarian look, but is simplified for a less cluttered aesthetic. There’s a widescreen display infront of the driver for the gauges and other vehicle info, while at the center of the dash is a 10-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, that goes out of Land Rover’s 6-speaker system. Below this is the new control cluster that has the gear shifter, climate controls, and media controls, among others.
Under the hood is a 2.0-liter twin-turbo diesel engine that puts out 237hp and 430Nm of torque. This is paired to an 8-speed automatic and an all-wheel drive system system. It’s accompanied by off-roading tech like twin-speed transfer box, terrain response, wade sensing, low traction launch, and roll stability control, among others.
Standard safety features include front, side, and thorax airbags, lane keep assist, driver condition monitor, 360-camera parking aid, tire pressure monitoring system, hill descent control, traction control, and stability control.
The new Land Rover Defender 90 starts at P5,690,000 with an Urban Pack and tops out at P5,990,000 with the Explorer pack. You may visit their showroom in EDSA Greenhills or at BGC.