Land Rover Defender: 2020 carsales car of the Year Highly Commended

The all-new Land Rover Defender needed to be so much more than simply a modern take on an iconic nameplate to have any chance of making it into the winner’s circle of the 2020 carsales Car of the Year, proudly presented by Bingle.

Yes, tradition does count and Defender had to prove itself a worthy successor to the original Land Rover that dates back to 1948. However, in order to succeed here, it needed to stand tall as an equally outstanding multi-purpose extra-urban SUV that appeals to a whole new and much broader audience.

And so it did, vying for the 2020 carsales Car of the Year crown with a technological marvel and a large SUV that has not only redefined a crucial model, as Defender has done, but represents a new high-water mark for an entire brand.

The Defender has fallen short of the ultimate accolade, but throughout the judging process it was never really out of the running as one of the top three and easily deserves its Highly Commended award.

Built on more than 70 years of off-road expedition and 4x4 tradition, the reborn Land Rover Defender 110 nailed the brief in ably representing Land Rover as a brand ambassador and appealing in equal measure to Landie loyalists and newcomers alike.

Members of our senior team drove the Defender – and lined it up against established benchmarks in this class – for extensive periods across varied conditions, from inner-city environs to open plains and wild country, executing school runs, towing a van and, of course, heading deep into the bush.

For serious off-roaders, and those with adventure on their minds, Sam Charlwood found that the “recently snow-covered slopes outside of Lithgow … were simply no match for the off-road prowess of the new Land Rover Defender”.

“Creek crossings, slippery hill climbs, rock faces and steep descents hardly raised a sweat for the vehicle or its driver, such is the proficiency of its electronics and hardware, not to mention its giant 291mm clearance with the air suspension at its maximum height,” he said.

The new Defender delivers top-class off-road ability, but is also a consummate all-rounder – highly proficient on regular roads, easy to manage in the city, comfortable and practical for family duties, and fully up-to-date in terms of safety equipment and technology.

It also cuts a stylish path among the swathes of other prestige large SUVs lining the streets and double-parking in the pick-up zones of premier private schools in our state capitals.

Feann Torr found the Defender a sophisticated, refined and comfortable vehicle that never failed to impress at almost every turn, particularly during an extended period in the suburbs.

“Overall, the British mud-slinger’s slick interior execution, balanced chassis, intuitive technology and advanced safety features make it a better choice for those living in, and spending more time around, the urban jungle,” he said.

Other judges agreed, but Charlwood summed it up neatly: “It’s clear that the new Defender is tangibly better than the vehicle it replaces in every single area.

“This is the brave new guard for the Defender. Yes it’s different, yes it’s new, yes it’s a slightly different path, but the fact is that it future proofs this nameplate for decades to come.”

To say the reborn Land Rover Defender nailed the brief is an understatement. It absolutely smashed it, deservedly climbing high to claim a podium position in the 2020 carsales Car of the Year, proudly presented by Bingle.