Forty Deuce
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Feb 13, 2016
- Posts
- 77
- Reaction score
- 27
So, I had a really cool opportunity to drive the new 2020 Defender at a Land Rover sponsored event in Coachella (CA). It had a fleet of brand new, just shipped in, Defenders for us to drive. I’ll be honest enough to tell you I didn’t particularly like the press images of the Defender I had seen to date. Having now seen one in person the lines come off clean and crisp. The lineage to the original Defender is much more clear and perceptible. The interior was well thought out and the right blend of comfort and rugged.
The handling of this vehicle was very impressive. The fit and finish was fantastic. The body was unbelievably rigid and I felt absolutely no frame twist as we worked through the designed course. The Land Rover Experience staff, of which every Defender had as a front passenger, told stories of their inroduction to the new vehicle in the day’s prior. They were also very impressed during some true off-road driving in the local mountains. Of the 12 instructors there, I was told 11 had preordered vehicles. One was holding out to see the 90 as all these were 110s.
The camera system, including the rear view “mirror” (which is not a mirror at all but rather a mirror shaped video screen with a very crisp and clear image) is unbelievable technology and will just amaze you. There was plenty of power in the 6 and 4 cylinder versions we I drove. This is a controlled and relatively safe test track but it had some nice hills and a 25 degree side tilt. I got a real feel for the new Defender. The factory winch seemed very sturdy and had clean lines. There was plenty of power plugs and ports inside. The third row seats seemed even smaller that the third row of my LR4, but had their own HVAC control for them too.
The shifting arrangement is awkward. It’s a dash mounted select lever but rather than the expected PRNDS set up it is RND (Putting the vehicle in park means pushing a small button marked “P”. Moving the gear select lever all the way forward or up can only get you in reverse. The drivers told me that I was yet another driver who has placed the car in reverse intuitively. I can’t see this as a good design and can only imagine this one wasnt well thought out.
All in all it was a truly impressive design and if I wasn’t so in love with my LR4 I would be waiting the day they rolled in stock at my dealer. I can definitely see getting one though but it may take a few years before they work out the bugs that every new model car has inherently
The handling of this vehicle was very impressive. The fit and finish was fantastic. The body was unbelievably rigid and I felt absolutely no frame twist as we worked through the designed course. The Land Rover Experience staff, of which every Defender had as a front passenger, told stories of their inroduction to the new vehicle in the day’s prior. They were also very impressed during some true off-road driving in the local mountains. Of the 12 instructors there, I was told 11 had preordered vehicles. One was holding out to see the 90 as all these were 110s.
The camera system, including the rear view “mirror” (which is not a mirror at all but rather a mirror shaped video screen with a very crisp and clear image) is unbelievable technology and will just amaze you. There was plenty of power in the 6 and 4 cylinder versions we I drove. This is a controlled and relatively safe test track but it had some nice hills and a 25 degree side tilt. I got a real feel for the new Defender. The factory winch seemed very sturdy and had clean lines. There was plenty of power plugs and ports inside. The third row seats seemed even smaller that the third row of my LR4, but had their own HVAC control for them too.
The shifting arrangement is awkward. It’s a dash mounted select lever but rather than the expected PRNDS set up it is RND (Putting the vehicle in park means pushing a small button marked “P”. Moving the gear select lever all the way forward or up can only get you in reverse. The drivers told me that I was yet another driver who has placed the car in reverse intuitively. I can’t see this as a good design and can only imagine this one wasnt well thought out.
All in all it was a truly impressive design and if I wasn’t so in love with my LR4 I would be waiting the day they rolled in stock at my dealer. I can definitely see getting one though but it may take a few years before they work out the bugs that every new model car has inherently