If you want a vehicle from Land Rover’s most daring SUV line, consider the 2023 Land Rover Defender 80; it’s more affordable and sportier.
With this model, you can use “military-inspired” and “cute” in the same sentence because that’s what it is. The defender 80 is the brand’s smallest offering to date, but its modest size does not prevent it from providing a more practical package in the Land Rover Defender line.
The Defender 80 is the Land Rover’s revitalized classic piece; it keeps its fresh feel with a few infotainment upgrades and a simplified lineup.
The Features
The Defender 80 is an adventurous model thanks to numerous off-road technology aspects like the off-road driving modes and air suspension that adjust ground clearance.
The new Pivi Pro infotainment system from Land Rover is standard, with a 10-inch touchscreen display. The system is the newest in Jaguar-Land Rover technology for managing and controlling over-the-air software updates.
Optional options include Android Auto and Apple Carplay, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and in-dash navigation.
Additional standard features include lane departure warnings, forward collision warnings, rear cross-traffic alerts, and blind spots. Additionally, innovative technologies are available as alternatives.
Adaptive cruise control, a standard autonomous braking system for emergencies with pedestrian detection, and lane detection warning with lane-keeping assist are among the key driver-help features.
These elements are meant to increase both the driver’s and the passenger’s safety.
Engine and Performance
The engine is a turbocharged 2.0-liter Ingenium four-cylinder made by Land Rover. It has 246 horsepower. The base model comes with a 1.5-liter, three-cylinder engine that can make about 160 hp.
This type of engine is good enough for the 2023 Land Rover Defender 80 can go up to 135 miles per hour, and it can go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in just 5 seconds, which is pretty amazing.
Since it is a small SUV, it has good gas mileage. It gets 21 miles per gallon on the highway and 18 miles per gallon in the city, for a combined average of 20 miles per gallon. For a luxury off-roader, this is a great mileage record.
Even with its trim, the Defender 80 has a great look and is very good off-road, thanks to its strong four-wheel drive.
It also shows departure angles, a break-over, a large number of kind approaches, and ground clearance. When driving around town, stopping is easy because the brakes are easy to use.
The Exterior Styling
Although it had a new redesign, the Defender 80 still closely mimics the approach of the Defender’s exterior styling. The shape and front face are quite similar, except that it is smaller in dimensions than the Defender 90.
The exterior is styled to have a boxy appearance with reduced proportions and four doors. It appears cool, although the front end may look soft from most angles.
The Defender 80 is set to ride on all-terrain tires and has optional 20-inch axles, which, surprisingly, do not transfer the noise from the road vibrations to the interior compartment.
The standard wheels are 18 inches. These large, heavy wheels help to keep the Defender 80 firm when going over road imperfections and bumps.
There are average-sized mirrors and large windows, which enhance outward visibility. The surround-view camera, which turns 360 degrees, aids in parking the vehicle when going off-road, providing you with a comprehensive view of whatever obstacle you seem to be approaching.
The Interior
The interior compartment of the Defender 80 has enough space to accommodate four adults, with adequate room for luggage and gear at the back.
The second row is massive, and the tall roof gives the vehicle a roomy feel. There is a lot of leg, head, and shoulder room. However, the steering column can cause some obstruction to some drivers’ knees, especially tall drivers and those with long legs, when they try to get in.
This vehicle has more than eight airbags as standard equipment. The driver’s seat also comes with an extensive range of adjustments.
The upholstery is designed to allow easy cleanup and maintenance, being stain-resistant, and some models have carpet-less interiors.
For the most sophisticated and expensive models, the interior compartment is well-wrapped with leather upholstery and other luxurious features that make it even more sophisticated.
Some of these luxury items, like adjustable ambient interior lighting, ventilated and heated seats, and dual-zone climate control, help to improve the comfort state of the high-end Defender 80 models.
The Price
The base price will start around $30,000, with its trim levels having higher prices than this. You can expect a price above $50,000 to own a complete vehicle package of the 2023 Land Rover Defender 80.
There is no complimentary maintenance scheduled.
The limited warranty is 50,000 miles or four years, and the powertrain warranty also covers up to 50,000 miles or four years.
Pros
- Easy maintenance
- High technology safety
- Strong off-road capabilities
- Stain-resistant upholstery
- A host of customizable options
- Impressive off-road features
- Smooth ride for an SUV off-road-oriented
- A nice suspension configuration
- Vintage style
Cons
- The price of optional features can be high
- The rear hatch is heavy, and it opens toward the limit.
- Poor fuel economy
- The third row is rather too small
Conclusion
Even though the 2023 Land Rover Defender 80 is known for its real, impressive off-road ability, it doesn’t forget about comfort on the road.
The Defender 80 is a modern Land Rover with luxury features that make it easy to live in a big city. And when going outside to explore, it’s hard to find a better way to do it in grand style with another vehicle.
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