One of the most recognisable vehicles in the world now have a new look for the 21st Century. Gone is the right-angled boxy off-roader and in comes a modern interpretation of the icon. Of course, you can still see the Land Rover Defender of old still running in Cameron Highlands.

Despite its modern design, the new Defender still remains recognisable. You won’t be smacking a small hill or getting stuck in a dip with the minimal front and rear overhangs. The 4x4’s upright stance, Alpine roof lights and chamfered roof line, side-hinged rear tailgate and externally mounted spare tyre are all throwbacks to the original.

The new Land Rover Defender 110, its official name, comes with two engine choices. One is a 2.0-litre Ingenium 4-cylinder block and the other is a 3.0-litre 6-cylinder mild hybrid.

The 2.0-litre Ingenium engine produces 300ps at 5,500rpm and 400Nm at 1,500-4,500rpm. The more efficient and powerful 3.0-litre mild-hybrid powertrain produces 400ps and 550Nm of torque. The hybrid engine features a conventional twin-scroll turbocharger and a 48-volt electric supercharger, capable of launching the SUV to 100kph from zero in 6.1 seconds.

The SUV would bring shame to the family if it could not be off-road driven. Hence, the Defender carries all of the off-roading genes synonymous with the family. Built on a lightweight aluminium monocoque construction, the chassis and new D7x body architecture is designed to withstand Land Rover’s Extreme Event Test procedure. The tests required the vehicle to survive repeated and sustained impacts well beyond that of a standard SUV and passenger cars.

The Defender’s strong body allows the carry of heavy objects on the roof, up to a maximum static roof load of 300kg. It also gives the Defender the maximum towing capacity of 3,500kg.

High ground clearance is good for an off-roader and the Defender sits 291mm above ground. The SUV’s wheelbase is 99mm longer than the Discovery’s at 3,022mm and has a breaker angle of 28 degrees. It’s world-class. The Defender has a maximum wading depth of 900mm and is supported by a new Wade programme in the Terrain Response system — a must for Malaysia.

Available with the Electronic Air Suspension is Adaptive Dynamics, which allows drivers to fine-tune the driving characteristics. The system’s adaptive dampers monitor body movements up to 500 times per second and respond almost instantaneously to optimise control and comfort.

The air suspension also gives the Defender a ride height lift of 75mm. An additional 70mm of lift means that body can be raised to a maximum of 145mm when needed. On the flip side, Elegant Arrival automatically lowers the body by 40mm for easier access.

Off-road manoeuvres become easier with the 3D Surround Camera, alongside a 360-degree overhead view. This also makes parking that much easier. The innovative ClearSight Ground View give drivers a clear view of the terrain below, giving drivers an idea of what the next steps will be.

ClearSight also extends to the interior rear-view mirror, which comes in handy when the boot is stacked to the roof or there are very tall people sitting at the back. This system uses the rear-mounted camera to display a wide-angle camera view of the, well, back. The feed is projected on the rear-view mirror. The Defender features a Pivi Pro infotainment system hooked up to the Meridian Sound System.

The Defender is also a respectable cargo haulier. The rear boot space offers 1,075 litres when using full height, and can expand up to 2,380 litres with a maximum payload of up to 900kg. It also has an option for 5+2 seating, if the standard five seats aren’t enough.

The Land Rover Defender with the 2.0-litre Ingenium is priced from RM798,800 whereas the 3.0-litre MHEV starts from RM998,800. The pieces are inclusive of the Sales Tax Holiday and exclude road tax, registration and insurance. All Land Rover vehicles come with Land Rover Care programme which includes a five-year warranty, five years’ free service and three years’ roadside assistance.

A Land Rover Heritage Watch worth RM2,288 will be given with every Defender registered in 2021 to mark Sime Darby and Land Rover’s 40th Anniversary partnership. Watches are available while stocks last.

If you’re only just going to book one, take note. The first batch of Defenders is all spoken for. Will you be waiting for yours?