This is one of the best looks we’ve had yet.
The 2020 Land Rover Defender is due out in September, but we’ve already seen it a few times out in the wild. We saw it testing in Moab, and even in our own back yard here in Colorado. Now, we have a new round of spy shots, and they reveal something we haven’t had a great look at up to this point: the interior.
What first jumps out at us is the center console. All the controls are mounted high up on the dash, and the climate controls are actually angled upward toward the ceiling. Next to those controls, we see the buttons for the Terrain Response 2 system endemic to other Land Rover models.
The photo below, posted by @landroverphotoalbum on Instagram, caught another interesting shot of the Defender below:
The shifter more closely resembles a joystick, but it’s nothing too unlike what we’ve seen in other Jaguar Land Rover SUVs, like the Jaguar E-Pace. Its placement, however, means more storage down between the front seats. The infotainment screen looks unlike anything we’ve seen in other Land Rovers, as well. I’m curious, though, how easy it’s going to be for the drive to use with that chunky shifter in the way.
This 2020 Land Rover Defender test model also sports a unique steering wheel. It’s still as luxurious as you’d expect from a modern Land Rover, but it also has a more utilitarian look to it, which is fitting with the Defender’s reputation. In fact, that’s the theme of the interior design as a whole. Despite the digital dash and modern infotainment system, everything looks chunky and rugged. Even the key fob, which you can see in the bottom center of the picture above, is big and blocky.
Checking out the suspension
When we were alerted to the 2020 Land Rover Defender testing in Moab, we also saw the car’s independent suspension. These shots show that the car will be available with air suspension as well, but you can opt for traditional coil springs instead. Even with independent rear suspension, most of the lower-hanging components look like they’re out of the way. We’re curious just how much ground clearance this new Defender has.
And, of course, we’d love to find out how the new suspension setup in the 2020 Land Rover Defender copes off road. The car will appear at the Frankfurt Motor Show this September, before it goes on sale in early 2020. Stay tuned to TFLcar.com for more updates!
2020 Land Rover Defender photos
Click the photos below for the enlarged versions.