These features make the new Land Rover defender one of the finest British SUVs on the market in 2022.

The new generation of the Land Rover Defender was unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2019, replacing the original generation which had been in constant production between 1983 and 2016. In terms of its styling, it was a radical departure from the original car, with a modern, boxy look that was befitting of its all-new status. However, Land Rover made sure not to stray too far from the original DNA of the Defender, keeping its legendary off-road capability but enhancing it for this new era.

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For the 2023 model year, a few changes have been made, although nothing too drastically different from the previous year's model. The infotainment system, called Pivi Pro, now comes with Amazon Alexa integration, and there's a new special edition car on the horizon that celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Defender in typical Land Rover style. So, the 2023 Defender might not be too different from the outgoing model, but can it still keep up with its ever-evolving competition? Let's take a look at ten of the car's best features and find out.

The main selling point of buying a Defender is its all-terrain capability, and the 2023 model delivers that capability in spades. It comes with up to 11.5 inches of ground clearance with the optional air suspension added, beating its primary competition, the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, by 0.7 inches.

Total suspension travel stands at 10 inches, two more than the Jeep. The Defender's geometry has been designed to clear rocks and berms with ease, making even the toughest trails no problem.

Water is also not an issue for the Defender, as it comes with a class-leading 35 inches of wading depth, five more than the Wrangler Rubicon. Even the upcoming Hummer EV can't top the Defender, as it's only capable of fording 28 inches.

It's also worth noting that the maximum towing capacity for the Defender stands at 8,200 lb, a very respectable figure for a car that's designed primarily for rough trails rather than heavy hauling. So, it seems on off-road capability alone, the new Land Rover is very hard to beat.

Although it might anger a few purists, Land Rover is very aware that the primary demographic of SUV buyers are now suburbanites who will never take their cars off-road, and it's built the Defender around that market. One particularly attractive option for buyers who prefer sticking to the asphalt is the 518 hp supercharged V8 engine.

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It reduces 0-60 mph time down to 4.9 seconds, a significant improvement over the base car's 7.7 second time. Granted, this is still no super-SUV, but it's brisk enough to keep pace with most of its more road-oriented German rivals from BMW and Mercedes.

Every Defender comes equipped with four-wheel drive, a 2-speed transfer case, and a terrain-response system to ensure grip remains optimal no matter the surface. But, there are plenty of optional extras available to boost the Defender's capabilities even further.

A locking rear differential is one of those options, as is the aforementioned air suspension. A raised air intake, side-mounted gear carrier, and roof rack are also available for buyers of the Explorer Pack, alongside wheel arch protection and mud flaps.

The Defender differs from many of its off-road SUV rivals in that it's made with a unibody construction rather than a traditional ladder-on-frame setup. This helps give the car a more refined profile on the road than most of its competitors can offer.

This is also enhanced by the adaptive dampers and air suspension, although it's worth noting that the car still suffers from a noticeable amount of body roll at higher speeds. In comparison to a Wrangler, though, it's a vastly better experience.

The old Defender could have been said to be a lot of things, but luxurious wasn't one of them. The new Defender can't quite match the luxury of its German rivals, at least in lower-tier trims, but it's certainly a lot more premium inside than the old SUV was.

It's a distinctive design, too, with exposed riveting and bare metal giving the cabin a clean, industrial look. Every surface appears hard-wearing and many are rubberized, helping to make them easier to clean after a day on muddy trails.

The exterior of the Defender is certainly unique, taking its boxy shape from that of its predecessor but weaving in modern design elements alongside the traditional design that barely changed since its debut in 1983.

It's strikingly different from Land Rover's other offerings, and it's unlikely to be mistaken for any other vehicle, something that can't be said about the many cookie-cutter German SUVs currently on the market.

Anyone with the desire (and spare cash) to get something a little different can order a Carpathian Edition Defender, which comes with several unique upgrades. It's finished in an exclusive shade of gray, with a contrasting roof and a tail door.

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The easiest way to spot a Carpathian Edition, however, is the Xenon Blue brake calipers, an exclusive color that can't be optioned on any other Land Rover trim. The car is also wrapped in recyclable PU-based wrap that protects the paint against parking lot door dings or off-road bramble rash.

Another way to make the 2023 Defender more exclusive is to opt for the 30th Anniversary model, of which only 500 will be made. Each one will be identical, only available in plain white with matching white steel wheels.

The 30th Anniversary Edition comes with the base-spec 296 hp turbocharged four-cylinder engine, and it's only available as a four-door 110 variant. Demand for this special edition is likely to be strong, so anyone wanting one will have to get their order in quickly.

While the Land Rover certainly isn't the cheapest option on the market, it's fair to say that buyers are getting a lot of off-road and on-road capability for their money. In fact, some would even argue that there isn't a better SUV out there in terms of combining both highway and trail capability.

But, this British icon comes at a steep price, especially when options are taken into consideration. The base version starts at around $53,000, with the 30th Anniversary Edition rising to $76,000. The 518 hp V8 model will cost at least $105,000, and buyers wanting a top-spec Carpathian Edition will have to shell out an eye-watering $112,000. That's a lot of money for what's essentially a Jeep Wrangler rival, meaning buyers will have to think carefully before choosing a Defender, even if they're impressed with its class-leading features.

Mark covers a variety of topics for HotCars, from the latest pickup trucks to obscure Japanese sedans. A regular fixture at car shows around the UK and Europe, if there's a weird model or obscure manufacturer, he probably knows about it. Having previously worked as a radio presenter, he knows a thing or two about Top 10 lists, and enjoys writing them as much as presenting them. Mark is a graduate of the University of Sheffield's English department and is currently based out of Birmingham, UK.