New Land Rover Defender proves popular with Kiwis

The all-new Land Rover Defender comes as a three- (left) or five-door. Photo: Land Rover

Just as the first shipment of the all-new Land Rover Defender arrives in New Zealand, the brand has another reason to celebrate, as the sturdy off-roader is proving popular with Kiwis.

The first shipment of 110 models has been sold, with some customers pre-ordering the new Defender in August 2019.

The official launch of the Defender is at the end of July but Land Rover NZ reckons it is close to selling out its second shipment of vehicles before they arrive here later in the month.

The Defender is priced from $89,900, $125,900 for the First Edition and $159,900 for the 90X and comes as a three-door (aka 90) or five-door (aka 110).

Jaguar Land Rover’s general manager, Steve Kenchington, said the launch of the Defender “is a defining moment for the Land Rover brand”.

“The rooted history of the Defender is acknowledged throughout the new model without flaw. The new Defender is an old soul in a new, improved body fit for the 21st century. The Defender is the final piece to the Land Rover Brand puzzle,” he said. 

The Land Rover Defender combines old design features with new ones. Photo: Land Rover

“The new Defender is a standout in the SUV and Luxury SUV sector, it is no surprise it has been received so well. Our retailers have had an influx of pre orders and test drive requests since we teased the new model over one year ago. We have pre-sold most of our Defender stock and are on track to sell through our second shipment prior to arrival.” 

The Defender, which was discontinued from manufacturing in 2016, has been completely reinvented. The new Defender is an entirely new model with anecdotes of previous models, such as its familiar silhouette, alpine lights and off-road accommodating approach and departure angles. While the model year 2020 highlights previous model history through its form, modern advancements and improved functionality across the board.

Land Rover NZ reckons it will sell 50 models a month. Photo: Land Rover

Land Rover has forecasted 50 sales per month across its retail network, and subsequent to recent COVID-19 circumstances, luxury SUV vehicles have experienced high demand, which has reflected on pre-sale orders for new Defenders and sales enquiry across the Land Rover range.

To date, customers have favoured the Defender Pangea Green colourway making up 51 per cent of the pre-sales volume, followed by Santorini Black, says Land Rover NZ.