Globally unveiled almost a year ago, the updated Land Rover Defender is finally arriving in Malaysia, with Jaguar Land Rover Malaysia now opening bookings for the iconic 4×4 model.
At first glance, it may be difficult to spot what has changed unless you’re a keen Land Rover Defender enthusiast. The most noticeable update comes at the front, where the headlights now feature a cleaner design with the signature two-block elements more refined and filled in.
The bonnet gains a new textured pattern on its inserts and side vents, while the gloss black front grille is now standard, accompanied by a darkened oval “Land Rover” badge. At the rear, the Defender now features smoked taillights, along with bumpers offered in two new finishes: Silicon Silver and Carpathian Grey Satin.
The updated Land Rover Defender can be optioned with new 22-inch seven-spoke Diamond Turned Dark Grey wheels, paired with gloss black Defender-branded centre caps. Two new exterior colours have also been introduced, Borasco Grey and Woolstone Green, while the Defender Octa variant gains its own finishes in Borasco Grey and Sargasso Blue.
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Also new is the Patagonia White Matte Wrap protective film, which Land Rover says is planned to be extended to the Defender V8 variants.
Inside, the key change in the updated Land Rover Defender is the new 13.1-inch centre infotainment display, which replaces the previous 11.4-inch unit. The centre console has also been redesigned with a sliding section for improved storage practicality, while the gear lever has been subtly revised for better ergonomics, according to Land Rover.
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In the UK, the updated Land Rover Defender can now be optioned with Adaptive Off-Road Cruise Control, an adaptive system designed specifically for off-road use. Land Rover describes it as an evolution of the previous All Terrain Progress Control, allowing drivers to fine-tune comfort levels when tackling rough and rocky terrain.
Alongside this new technology, the Defender also gains a driver attention monitoring system, with cameras mounted on the steering column to track driver focus.
Jaguar Land Rover Malaysia has yet to announce official pricing for the updated Land Rover Defender, though it likely won’t be long before it arrives on local roads. For reference, the outgoing model is offered in three variants: Performance Octa 3.0-litre, 110 V8, and 130 V8, priced from RM998,000 to RM1,198,000 on-the-road and without insurance.
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