2020 Land Rover Defender Review – Rugged Heritage Meets Modern Luxury

Buckle up—this is the Defender reborn. The 2020 Defender blends the timeless ruggedness of its iconic predecessor with 21st-century tech, capability, and presence.

Performance & Engineering

Built on the durable D7x aluminium unibody, and assembled at JLR’s Nitra, Slovakia plant. It features permanent AWD, centre and rear locking differentials, and a two-speed transfer case. Air suspension is standard on the 110; the 90 offers optional coils or air springs.

Engine Range & Driving Feel

Petrol:
- P300 (2.0L) ~300 PS, 0–100 km/h ~8.0 s
- P400 MHEV (3.0L mild hybrid I6) ~400 PS, 0–100 km/h ~6.0 s
Diesel:
- D200 (2.0L) ~200 PS, D240 ~240 PS, D300 (3.0L I6) ~300 PS, with 0–100 km/h from ~10.2 to 6.7 s
This is a big, capable 4×4 that flexes both muscle on road and defies terrain off it.

Practicality & Interior Tech

Configuration flexibility: Defender 110 offers 5-seat or 5+2 layouts; the 130 steps up cabin space with stadium-style third row.
Boot space (110): 231 L with third row up, or 2,233 L folded. The 130 pushes it to 389 L, expandable to 2,300 L—massive
Clever features: side-mounted “Gear Carriers,” waterproof containers, robust interior trim, plentiful USB/12v ports, huge front console tray, and the handy centre front jump seat.

Running Costs & Resale

Fuel economy is unremarkable—diesels average ~30 mpg; petrols much lower; V8s can hover around 15 mpg.
Operating costs are steep: Sust-it estimates ~£2,423 per year (diesel, 12k miles) and ~£1,835 (petrol, 7.5k miles)
Insurance is pricey—entry-level 90 in group 41/50, top trims even higher.
On the plus side: strong resale—Defender 110 retains 57–68% of value after 3 years; 90 retains 53–67%.

Reliability & Owner Feedback

Reliability is a mixed bag: Carbuyer notes 40.6% of owners report issues in the first year, though safety and customer satisfaction are high. Euro NCAP 5-star rating, extensive safety suite.
Even so, What Car? ranks Defender second in its segment reliability, with just 14% reporting faults—mostly minor and repairable. Some recalls (water pump belt, exhaust fasteners, seat-belt components) are from 2024.
Real owners online reflect this duality: “In my 11 months, trim rattles, trim came loose, sunroof leaked… dealer service poor.”
But others report smoother ownership:
“At 34k on my 2020, only small PIVI resets and sticky rear door—overall, pleasantly surprised.”

Final Verdict

The 2020 Land Rover Defender is an icon reinvented for our era. It’s a bold, ultra-capable adventure machine with premium tech and interior versatility. Just be prepared to budget for fuel, insurance, and upkeep—and do your homework to avoid software gremlins or trim bits going rogue.

Where to Buy (UK)

Used 2020 Defender Listings:

Autotrader UK
eBay Motors (UK)
CARWOW (Used section)
Gumtree UK
Motors.co.uk

These platforms offer a wide range—90, 110, and available 130s across trims and engine choices.

New Defender & Land Rover Models:

Listers Land Rover – Multiple UK locations, strong service.
Sytner Land Rover – Premium experience, well-stocked.
Arnold Clark Land Rover – Huge network, solid availability.
Stratstone Land Rover – Good reach and options.
Marshall Land Rover – Competitive pricing and deals.

Insurance Comparison Tools (UK)

Confused.com – Fast comparisons, handles Defender’s higher insurance bands.
MoneySuperMarket.com – Wide insurer reach, good for off-road and premium models.