Defender

Make
Land Rover
Segment
SUV

The Land Rover Defender is one of the most-loved off-roaders in the world. It's been used for expeditions in some of the most inhospitable places on the planet and while the U.S. Military would rely on the Humvee, the British would wade into enemy territory in a Defender. Its mettle has been tested on numerous occasions and it's always pulled through, but these days, most SUV owners rarely if ever take advantage of their vehicles' off-road capabilities. This means the Defender needs to adapt to stay relevant and that means electric assistance. Thus, the 2021 Defender is coming with a plug-in hybrid model called the P400e, at least in Europe. 2021 details have already been announced for the US, including mild-hybrid assistance, but the PHEV appears to be Europe-only for the time being.

The new plug-in offering will be fitted with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-pot alongside a 141-horsepower electric motor for a total output of 398 horsepower and 472 lb-ft of torque. In all-electric mode, the new Defender is promised to offer a range of 27 miles. Combined economy figures are rated at a whopping 71 mpg. As you can imagine, the instantaneous torque of an electric motor will help the Defender scurry over boulders and through streams with even greater resolve. On the asphalt, the Defender PHEV is claimed to achieve 0 to 62 mph in just 5.6 seconds - not bad for a heavy Landy. Top speed is 130 mph while towing capacity is rated at over 6,600 pounds.

On a DC rapid charger, the new model will charge to 80 percent in 30 minutes, while a 7 kW AC wall box charger will achieve the same in two hours. Standard equipment for this model will include 20-inch wheels, privacy glass for the rear windows, tri-zone climate control, solar attenuating glass, and air suspension, while you will have the option of a five- or six-seat layout. The future seems bright for the Defender, but it goes without saying that we're more interested in the arrival of a V8 model. Whichever you choose, the Defender is still one of the absolute best.