A look at the new Land Rover Defender while spending the weekend at 4XFar in California

Before we get to my thoughts on the new Land Rover Defender, I must address the elephant in the room: The Classic Defender.

The Classic Defender is an icon, plain and simple. If you want the new Defender to be just like the Classic Defender then get a Classic Defender. Not getting either but complaining about the new Defender is like arguing over which version of Batman is the best. At the end of the day it’s just nonsense and we all know the right answer is Christian Bale.

The first thing I noticed when walking up to the Defender 2, which is what I refer to this iteration of the Defender, is its size. The truck is much larger in person, not overpowering big yet you feel its presence. From ten feet away you know it was purpose-built. If I had to sum up my first viewing of the vehicle in one word it would be that it’s SOLID.

Like most Land Rover purists, I wanted the lights to be round and wasn’t crazy about the angry eyes lights as they have been dubbed. Standing for a long pause in front of the Defender, I felt my head leaning to the side like a confused dog. I was so ready to feel disappointed and let my internet rage troll out but it didn’t happen. I didn’t want to admit it at first but after several minutes of contemplating their design in relation to the look and feel of the Defender, I’ve concluded the lights look quite nice with the lines of body. By the end of my weekend with the vehicle, I stopped noticing that they were not completely round.

Moving from the front to the back I stood five feet from the truck and just smiled. Not a kid getting a cookie type smile but instead a full Grinch smile. The kind that makes your ears hurt. Simply put they got the back of the truck right. It looks fantastic! The door-mounted spare tire that sits above the rear bumper has plenty of room for a larger tire if needed. 35” tire perhaps? The taillight setup is perfect as it’s modern behind body LED lights that stay out of harm’s way but feel reminiscent of the old style with light guards. The rear end folded metal trim in the body is a direct call back to the galvanized end caps on the Series Rovers. It’s reminiscent of the classic Defender belt line; pure beauty. When you get to see one in person just stand and look at the back of the truck. You will feel the adventurous spirits of past generations begging to make their own stories with the Defender 2. If you don’t buy a Defender 2 you will definitely enjoy following one on the trails.

The next stop in my must-see list was the body color landing pads. These are the floating squares that act as protection from the side mounted accessories. With the ladder and side box attached you can’t see them. Without those accessories they stick out and feel like an afterthought. That is my biggest visual complaint about the new design. As an enthusiast I am conflicted to complain about a function over form design. Land Rover gave the truck an extra option to help it on adventures off road yet it’s an aesthetic complaint some may agree with.

Getting back to the front of the vehicle, the reason the Defender 2 has a more round front end is to conform with global laws. One must then consider that the engineers at Land Rover are on the side of enthusiasts fighting the “play it safe, everyone gets a trophy” world we now live in to make the Defender 2 the best they can. What a daunting task that must have been for a low volume manufacturer to keep their thirsty signature off roader world-compliant. Let that thought settle for a moment. Now ask what has the Land Rover enthusiast base has done to thank the engineers tasked with this endeavor? Endlessly complain of course because the Defender 2 does not look like a toaster.

As for the Defender 2’s driveability and off-road prowess, Land Rover’s embargo prohibits me from sharing those thoughts with you just yet. That said, a 40 degree departure angle and aesthetics you’ll grow to love make it an eye-catcher.

Photos generously provided by Chris Jeyes. Part 2 of this Impressions series will highlight the new Land Rover Defender’s interior. A full review of the 2020 Land Rover Defender will publish in an upcoming issue of OutdoorX4 Magazine once the embargo has lifted.

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