It’s finally here. A little more than 2 years after its international debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2019, Jaguar Land Rover Malaysia (JLRM) has launched the all-new L663 Land Rover Defender.

For now, only the 5-door Defender 110 is offered here and JLR Malaysia is mum on the shorter 3-door Defender 90’s local launch.

The Defender 110 is available in Malaysia with two variants:

• Defender 110 2.0L (From RM 798,800)
• Defender 110 3.0L MHEV (From RM 998,800)

Both prices include insurance and are exempted from 50% SST (valid until 31-Dec 2021) and the Defender 110 is fully imported (CBU) from Nitra, Slovakia. Yes, this quintessentially British SUV is not built in England.

Then again, this is a completely revamped and modernised Land Rover Defender. It shares the same name as its tough and dependable predecessor but that’s about it.

A completely different 'Defender'

Still, Land Rover claims the all-new Defender remains the toughest and the ultimate 4x4 vehicle for overland adventures in spite of the more urban and modern design.

The trademarks of the old Defender and Land Rovers of yore remain in the L663. From the upright stance and Alpine light windows on the roof, to the side-hinged rear tailgate and externally-mounted spare wheel, it is pretty much a Landie for the 21st century.

Even the Defender’s platform is all-new. Sitting on a lightweight aluminium monocoque architecture, the D7x platform is among the stiffest body structure Land Rover has ever produced.

Powering the Defender is either a twin-turbocharged 2.0-litre P300 inline-four (300 PS/400 Nm) or a turbocharged 3.0-litre P400 inline-six mild-hybrid (MHEV) unit (400 PS/550 Nm). Both engines are paired to a ZF 8-speed automatic transmission with a 2-speed transfer box.

A feature-packed Defender

The Defender is also laden with lots of technologically advanced features that aid with off-roading including ClearSight Ground View which “sees through” the bonnet, giving drivers a view of obstacles that lie ahead and configurable terrain response.

The terrain response optimises the Defender’s engine, gearbox, centre differential, and chassis systems to match the desired settings, of which there are 6 including:

• General Driving
• Grass, Gravel, Snow
• Mud & Ruts
• Sand
• Rock Crawl
• Wading

The last setting works together with the SUV’s electronic air suspension and the Defender has a wading depth of 900 mm. So, flash floods aren’t exactly an obstacle this Defender can’t overcome let alone the rivers or streams of some of the toughest jungles.

Also read: 900 mm wading depth! Top 5 best cars for driving through floods in Malaysia

A liveable Defender

Inside, the Defender feels like a modern Landie with a head-up display, a 12.3-inch interactive driver display, and a 10-inch infotainment display with Land Rover’s Pivi Pro system. Don’t worry, it comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity as well as a 14-speaker Meridian Surround Sound System for audiophiles.

The one feature that you can’t deny the modern Defender trumps over the original is safety. The SUV comes with 6 airbags as standard and an ADAS suite that includes Adaptive Cruise Control, Blind-spot Assist, and Lane Keep Assist.

The L663 Defender 110 comes with the Land Rover Care program which is inclusive of 5-year warranty, 5-year free service, and 3-year roadside assistance.

Defender vs the world Germany

Though this is an entirely new Defender, its prices are closer to its traditional rival, the Mercedes-Benz G-Class which starts from RM 1 million. That being said, the first batch of units have been fully booked while the second batch is expected to arrive in 2022.

Would you rather go for the old-school G-Wagen or would you prefer the tech-laden L663 Defender?