Review of Land Rover Defender 90 finds great things come in small packages

The reincarnation of the legendary Land Rover Defender has been warmly welcomed and now there’s a more compact version, call the 90 Series

Despite bigger often proving better, compact is suddenly in vogue.

Take a look at the pint-size Suzuki Jimny – the order book for Queensland extends into 2023. Scarce supply has seen used car prices skyrocket and some Jimnys are fetching almost double the $30,000 showroom cost.

Also escalating in value over the past year is Land Rover’s legendary all-new Defender.

The modern iteration has been a worldwide hit since hitting the market, and the contemporary Defender has seen prices increase by as much as $29,000 in the used realm, according to vehicle value service Redbook. Those results were for the long wheelbase 110 version of the Defender, but now a three-door derivative has arrived.

It’s not much cheaper than its larger sibling with a retail price a tick above $80,000, yet some dealers have been advertising fully optioned versions for more than $140k.

Our family sampled the base model diesel to see how it coped with daily duties.

Sterling the bulldog with the model year 2022 Land Rover Defender 90 D250 S.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

KEL: Awesome looks, but explain to me the appeal. I can’t see why someone would take the three-door when the five-door is available.

GRANT: Out of the box the short wheelbase Defender can tackle the toughest of terrain. The 110 is also super capable but the greater distance between axles means while there is more space and comfort, you sacrifice ability.

KEL: So this would appeal to those who really want to get down and dirty?

GRANT: Absolutely. As well as empty nesters who don’t need the back seats. You can drop the rear pew and throw in a heap of gear, or take a quick surfing trip to the most remote locations with boards on the roof.

KEL: What’s the price differential compared with the 110 for the model we tested?

GRANT: It all depends on specification but it could be as little as $1500. This was the base diesel that had a retail cost of $90,300. Although it has received a thorough makeover courtesy of the option list, which added $18k.

KEL: So drive-away we’d be looking at $120,000?

GRANT: That would be about right, which is a hefty investment for a compact four-wheel drive. Although in the current market, we’re seeing Toyota 200 Series LandCruisers fetch similar money with a few thousand kilometres on the clock.

There are a range of storage areas across the dash, along with a 10-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

THE LIVING SPACE

KEL: Cabin design is brilliant. I love the various storage spots across the dash.

GRANT: This is the modern interpretation of a legend, hence the exposed bolts and the rubber floor coverings to enable easy cleaning of mud and muck.

KEL: The 10-inch touchscreen that has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, digital driver’s display plus the cushy seats, it’s a cool place
to be.

GRANT: One interesting feature we sampled was the optional $1853 jump seat that sits between the driver and passenger. It’s
been years since I’ve seen three across
the front.

KEL: The pros outweigh the cons. While you don’t have a large console, there are still the dual cup holders as well as loads of other nooks and crannies for your gear. I’d rather have the extra seat.

GRANT: Our teenager gave it a test on one drive and he proved it’s probably best left to smaller passengers.

The Land Rover Defender 90 Series has go-anywhere ability and a 3.5-tonne towing capacity.

THE COMMUTE

KEL: Quick off the mark, I like how nimble this model feels in comparison to the five-door and other large SUVs.

GRANT: There are petrol options, including a chest-thumping V8, yet this twin turbo six-cylinder diesel is strong and the pick for those looking to tow with the ability to pull a 3500kg braked load – and that’s a genuine 3.5 tonne when you take gross vehicle mass into consideration unlike some brochure headline claims from other manufacturers.

KEL: Easy to steer, I found the driving experience relaxed and quiet.

GRANT: Air suspension was fitted to the test car (another option at $1309), which aided dynamics. But the diesel is strong and will complete the 0-100km/h sprint in a reasonably swift eight seconds.

KEL: Driver assistance aids that I like most were all there, including adaptive cruise control to look after braking and accelerating in traffic, as well as sign recognition to provide a reminder of the speed zone you’re within.

GRANT: The 110 achieved five stars through Australia’s safety authority. The 90 has no official status but it has a long list of tech aids.

Kel and Grant Edwards.

THE SHOPPING

KEL: Parking was a breeze. The smaller size, 360-degree camera view and the tech which monitors when other vehicles approach from behind is brilliant.

GRANT: Another cool inclusion was the “clearsight” rear-view mirror which is $1274. You can opt between the standard mirror view, or flick a switch to change to the camera feed from the top of the boot. The latter is far better given much of the mirror perspective is blocked by the rear headrests.

KEL: Fitting all the shopping bags proved a challenge, as did an overnight trip.

GRANT: There’s less than 250L of boot space, which, at best, can handle a couple of overnight suitcases. Dropping the back seat is a must for any decent load, but the side-hinged rear door can also be awkward in confined spaces.

During our test the diesel-powered Land Rover Defender 90 Series managed average consumption of eight litres for every 100km.

THE SUNDAY RUN

KEL: During our trip away we tackled some steep hills and tight corners on bitumen. There was a reasonable amount of body roll.

GRANT: This is a true four-wheel drive, so that’s to be expected and it had off-road rubber. It’s best work is done on the beaten track where little would impede the Defender’s progress. Buttons on the dash enable simple switching between drive modes to suit the terrain. Low range is standard but a rear locking differential is another option.

Getting dirty is well within the Land Rover Defender 90 Series’ remit.

THE FAMILY

KEL: Having three doors isn’t the most functional for kids.

GRANT: Climbing into the back isn’t too difficult, although it can be an annoyance for the front passenger to get out every time for entry and exit.

KEL: Leg and headroom were fine four our boys, and they had access to USB and
12-volt ports.

GRANT: Peace of mind comes with a five-year warranty, while a $2650 service plan covers maintenance for five years or 102,000km. Land Rover hasn’t built a great reliability reputation, so the coverage with roadside assist for the same period is valued.

Drive-away prices for the 22MY Land Rover Defender 90 D250 S start from about $105,000.

THE VERDICT

KEL: The more time we spent in the Defender the more I enjoyed the experience. For family duties I’d prefer the longer wheelbase option with its five doors, but the 90 has great looks and capability.

GRANT: The pricing and limited numbers deliver a level of exclusivity. Personality-packed, the Defender 90 combines ability
and aspiration.

AT A GLANCE

LAND ROVER DEFENDER 90 S D250
PRICE $105,200 drive-away (hefty, but holding value)
WARRANTY/SERVICING 5-year unlimited km warranty with roadside assist (good); 5-year service package $2650 (OK)
SAFETY AEB, adaptive cruise, surround view camera, rear collision monitor, traffic sign recognition, lane keeping (solid)
THIRST 7.9L/100km (accurate, 8.0L on test) 
SPARE Full-size (doesn’t get any better)
BOOT 240L (small, rear seats fold)

Originally published as Review of Land Rover Defender 90 finds great things come in small packages