JLR is tending to its tremendously square Defender this upcoming model year, gifting it the likes of new seating options and an updated four-wheel drive system.
We’ll start with the 4×4, since off-road prowess is part of the brand’s reason for being – even if most Defender owners will only venture onto that cracked concrete at the mall. It seems the guts are equal to previous iterations but a series of specification packs can bundle features deemed desirable by the buyer. For example, an Off-Road Pack throws together an electronic active diff, all-terrain tires, and wade sensing amongst other items. The latter does not warn you when Uncle Wade is about to drop by unannounced, sadly. Elsewhere, a Dynamic Handling Pack adds air suspension and so-called adaptive dynamics to the mix.
New captain’s chairs in the Defender 130 offer up a pair of heated/cooled thrones to second-row passengers in addition to individual armrests and a raft of cupholders. Third row packages serve the expected tri-zone climate control but can also add seat heaters to perches in the Way Back. While you’re checking boxes, go for the package that adds a Meridian sound system and center console fridge compartment.
As a reminder, Land Rover offers numerous engine options in the Defender including a burly 5.0-liter V8 making over 500 horsepower and a fantastic racket. JLR is attempting to put focus on three brands of 4×4 these days, separating Range Rover out from the Defender and Discovery lines, marketing them as a trio.
The updated Defender line-up will be available later this summer, starting at $56,900 for the Defender 90 and $60,800 for the Defender 110. Stepping up to the Defender 130 will require at least $69,700.
[Images: JLR]
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