CARVERSAL

When we talk about the “Bhaukaal” SUV, the first name that comes to mind is the Mahindra Scorpio. But let’s be honest, the Land Rover Defender is the ultimate “Bhaukaal” SUV in India. It has taken over from legendary SUVs like the Toyota Land Cruiser, LC Prado, Range Rover, Mercedes GLS, and Fortuner to become the go-to choice for big personalities (especially politicians). But beyond its status symbol, the Defender is also an absolute beast when it comes to off-roading. Since its launch, it has redefined the very meaning of off-roading, excelling in ways that few SUVs ever have. 

About the Land Rover Defender

The Defender’s legacy dates back to 1948, and over the years, it has evolved into an ultra-capable off-roader with the latest tech and premium features. The Indian market got the Defender in 2020 with its updated body style. 

In the Indian market, the SUV is available in three body styles – 

Defender 90 (3-door)

Defender 110 (5-door)

Defender 130 (extension of 5-door— 8-seater)

Unlike traditional off-road SUVs, the Defender proves to be an exception, as it offers a monocoque chassis, making it more refined on-road while maintaining its legendary off-road capabilities.

Design

An SUV that gave a boost to the boxy design in SUVs, back when it was launched in 2020. Defender is the reason why we get to see so many boxes running on the road nowadays. To speak of its design, the Defender is a no-nonsense, made-for-the-purpose SUV. Up front, it gets a tall nose with square housing for the LED Headlamps, which are surrounded by circular LED DRL and cubicle Indicators. The nose of the Defender shines with the ‘Defender’ lettering upon it. The Grille has been divided into many parts— starting from the top, it gets a small horizontal grille with an offset Land Rover logo; below that, it gets the same kind of grille; and at last, in the bottom half, it packs the main grille for all the air to pass through. 

Other than the face, the Defender gets a purposeful hood as well, with metal plates to keep anything you would like to put on it. 

The Side profile gets 20’ alloy wheels with different designs and color shades. The claddings over the wheels are minimal. It also gets Air suspension to adjust the ride height based on the terrain requirement. The rest of the Defender’s Side design is plain and simple, with no striking lines. Though it gets various Defender-like design elements— a body-colored panel behind the C-pillar and small Safari windows on the edges of the roof behind the C-pillar. 

The Rear profile preserves the design structure of the old Defender with its strong, protruding shoulder line. The side-opening Tailgate, vertically placed Tail lamps with Indicators, and Tailgate-mounted Spare wheel have been revived, too. It also gets two antennas, out of which one is not an antenna, but is a unit that houses the Rear-view Camera. There is not much to talk about the Defender’s design, as it has a simple yet purposeful design, as we mentioned before. 

The Defender also gets an OCTA edition, which is basically a bulked-up version of the standard Defender— It gets muscled-up wheel arches with taller wheels and off-road tyres. The OCTA edition is also meant to be the luxury off-road-like variant, as it gets some seriously tech-loaded interiors, as well. 

Interiors

Step inside the Defender​, and you’ll find a perfect mix of durability and luxury. The dashboard is dominated by an 11.4' curved Infotainment screen with Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 12.3' Instrument Cluster, a Head-Up Display, and a 360-degree Camera System, enhancing the tech experience. 

The SUV comes with premium Windsor leather upholstery, an optional Meridian Surround Sound system, and a refrigerated front Center Console. Rear passengers get their own Climate Control Zones, Ventilated seats with Heating and Cooling function.

Other key luxury and tech features inside the Defender include a Panoramic Sunroof, changeable Ambient lighting, Wireless charging with multiple USB-C ports, and an advanced Air Purification system.

Additionally, the Defender comes with Level 2 ADAS features, including adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and emergency braking for enhanced safety. The Defender is also known for its convenient and practical cabin, as all of its buttons and controls are mounted on the dashboard, which ultimately helps clear out the Centre console. 

Engine Options & Performance

Under the hood, the Defender has a line-up of engine options—

A 2.0L Turbo Petrol engine that produces 296 hp and 400 Nm torque. 

A 3.0L Mild-Hybrid Diesel that chucks out 296 hp and 650 Nm torque. 

A 5.0L V8 Supercharged Petrol engine that produces 500 hp and 625 Nm torque.

These three engine options are available in the standard Defender’s range. The OCTA edition hosts a BMW-sourced 4.4 L Twin Turbo Petrol engine that produces 625 hp and 750 Nm torque. 

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All engines are paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission and Land Rover’s intelligent All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) system. The Defender boasts an approach angle of 38 degrees, a departure angle of 40 degrees, and a water-wading capacity of 900mm, making it the most capable luxury off-roader in India, and one of the most in the world.

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