Land Rover Defender wins Supreme car of the year

2021 Women’s World Car of the Year Supreme Winner

The 2020 Land Rover Defender has been chosen as the 2021 Women’s World Car of the Year Supreme Winner. It was voted on by a jury of Forty-two women in 34 countries. Currently, 50 female automotive journalists hailing from 38 countries across five continents make up the Women’s World Car of the Year (WWCOTY).

The voting process started with choosing the top three models in each of nine categories and then selecting category winners where the Defender was named Best Medium SUV. The Supreme Winner was then chosen from among the category winners, and the Defender came out on top.

The Defender returned to the US market last year after a long absence with stand-out styling, a luxurious interior, and renowned Land Rover capability.

Canada’s WWCOTY juror and Freelance Auto Writer in Oshawa, and Ontario, Jil McIntosh, praises the defender, “You can’t miss it on the road, and that’s a good thing; the styling manages to be both quirky and interesting. The interior is well-finished and comfortable, but above all, it’s a great vehicle to drive, with strong performance and a smooth but capable ride.

Ireland’s Motoring Correspondent with the Sunday Independent (Ireland’s best-selling newspaper) and WWCOTY juror is happy to have the Defender back, “On the road, the new Defender is a revelation. It’s comfortable and drives smoothly. And it is just as capable off-road as it ever. Now available with a plug-in hybrid option, it seems Land Rover has achieved what seemed impossible and produced a Defender for the modern age.”

Inside the Defender, there’s seating for up to seven with distinctive styling that includes narrow, rectangular windows at the roofline that let in extra light. The Defender is attractive and luxurious while still being durable enough to handle the mud and dirt that comes along with off-roading.

Women’s World Car of the Year juror from Australia, Nadine Armstrong, Consumer Editor, car sales, agrees, “I admit it’s very easy for me to accept because the Defender is a very logical and popular vehicle in Australia. Price, packaging, versatility – everything speaks to our market. Land Rover reinvents its iconic Defender, bringing 70 years of off tradition and 4×4 heritage to a new breed of buyer. A functional workhorse that is both family-friendly and off-road adventurer. In its 2020 guise, it adds finesse and glamour in line with its prestigious siblings, such as the Velar and Discovery. Its proven off-road capability is paired with top-notch safety and comfort features that acknowledge its dual role as a suburban family car.”

And then there’s its capability. There’s a choice of three powerful engines and standard all-wheel drive with hill descent control and the Terrain Response system. This lets the driver choose from normal, rock crawl, grass/gravel/snow, mud/ruts, or sand modes. It can even handle up to three feet of water. Whether your plans call for cruising on the pavement, a dirt path, or a rocky slope, the Defender is up to the task. Pricing starts at $47,400 for the Defender 90, with the ultra-luxurious Defender 90 V8 Carpathian Edition coming in at $104,000.

After seven decades of Landrover, the Defender is back and winning awards. And just as they get much, they are giving much.
To honor the 70-year history of the brand, Land Rover will award a specially outfitted Defender to seven organizations to help further their charitable efforts.

Organizations must be U.S.-based 501(c)(3)1 non-profits whose efforts fall within the seven categories below:

1. Search and Rescue

2. Coastal and Marine Conservation

3. Animal Welfare

4. First Responders

5. Environmental

6. Urban Improvement

7. Fire Services