Land Rover Defender review - Interior, design and technology
Impressively designed, well-equipped and with the latest on-board tech, the Defender is a thoroughly modern 4x4
Land Rover has done a great job in bringing the Defender into the 21st century. There’s a little nod to the previous model in terms of the overall look, but make no mistake – this new 4x4 is most definitely at the cutting edge in terms of off-road ability and on-board tech.
The proportions are clearly Defender-like, but everything is bigger, chunkier and designed with function clearly in mind. Inside, there are exposed screw heads, powder-coated aluminium surfaces, a magnesium bulkhead and even strips of body-coloured metal. While it’s not the usual Land Rover level of luxury, it brings a unique and refined rawness to the cabin that is as cool as anything else on sale.
Standard equipment across the range includes 20-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, heated seats and power-folding door mirrors. Stepping up to X-Dynamic trim adds privacy glass and a black contrasting roof, along with silver exterior trim, while X models feature additional trim upgrades in the cabin, a heated steering wheel and a sliding panoramic roof, along with a black-coloured roof and bonnet, Windsor leather seats, a 700w version of the Meridian sound system with an additional four speakers and a head-up display.
Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment
JLR's new Pivi Pro infotainment system is the slickest we’ve yet seen from the firm, comes with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone connectivity as standard, and allows for over-the-air software updates. Entry-level models are fitted with a 10-inch touchscreen, while higher-end versions get a 11.4-inch display. The bigger screen also comes standard in the Defender 130.
In addition to the Pivi Pro infotainment setup, entry-level Defenders feature Land Rover’s Connected Navigation Pro, a 400W Meridian audio system with 10 speakers and an online pack with data plan.
