Jurassic Larks
OH, YES. ON THE ROAD, THE 2020 Defender does everything the previous vintage refused to even try to do. Like run straight and true and smooth, irrespective of surface. Like steer without random surprises. Like accept a stab at the brake pedal as an order, rather than a polite request to be dealt with in good time. Like relishing towns, motorways, and country lanes just as much as enjoying crossing a mountain range. And all without deafening the occupants above 50 mph (80 km/h).
The latest Land Rover is a dynamic revelation. It rides at least as smoothly over most surfaces as today’s key rivals: the Mercedes G-Class and Jeep Wrangler. The brakes are reassuringly strong. Directional stability is no longer a theoretical target but an accomplished mission.
Without mastering those absolute essentials, the long-awaited, hotly debated Defender would be no more than a marketing tool, a design exercise… an irrelevance. But take it from me, this drives like no Defender before it, while retaining the legendary ruggedness and off-road ability.
Just as well, since it arrives at a time when serious questions are being asked of Jaguar Land Rover as a business, particularly Jaguar, and some very promising newcomers are getting ready to join the fray, from the Ford Bronco to the Ineos Grenadier. A sub-standard product now would wilt into insignificance.
Historically, these three SUVs started life as rudimentary offroaders driven by customer needs rather than by lifestyle-obsessed marketing gurus. Great in one particular area, they were hopelessly outclassed in other disciplines such as ride comfort and active
